CZ CTS Custom... anyone?

[cundiff5535]

I have read that these are probably the most amazing pistol some folks have ever used... ranks right up with the XFive.. but with better trigger. From what I have read, everyone from Masters on down who have shot it say that it is easily one of the finest pistols they have ever pulled the trigger on. Unfortunately they probably even more rare than XFive's!

I was going to buy an XFive but, I am learning toward the CZ as a close friend has told me that he CTS is every much of that and probably then some.

Does anyone have one... how do they like it? What do you think a fair price would be for one? I have the opportunity to get one!

Thoughts?

[CAGLS]

Says available in May 2013 @ CZ Customs. $2400 For a few hundred more I'd get the Cz Checkmate.

[cundiff5535]

There are some built ones already floating around...

[zfields]

You planning on running in USPSA?

[cundiff5535]

I may... its not 100% though. I am just into nice firearms!! I have over 17 1911's and figure its time to look at what else is out there! This popped up and I really like everything I am reading... I just trying to get confirmation that this thing is that good and worth the $$.

[daybreak]

Isnt the CTS just a Shadow frame and a TS slide?

[zfields]

Well, if you do just remember to get it in .40 if you plan on shooting limited. To shoot open 9 major it may need some extra work to get it going well.

[cundiff5535]

Isnt the CTS just a Shadow frame and a TS slide?

Day... I am not really sure... like I said, I am pretty unfamiliar with this pistol... other than what I have read. I have to admit, I do not know much about CZ either... so in saying that, I am only going off what a few good friends have told me.

Well, if you do just remember to get it in .40 if you plan on shooting limited. To shoot open 9 major it may need some extra work to get it going well.

The one I have a shot at is a 9mm... not a 40.

[daybreak]

There are better guns to shoot limited with. If you're shooting limited-10, it might make more sense. Limited, you might as well go for the TS for mag capacity.

If you're getting it just for range fun, a single action shadow will probably give you 95% of the shooting experience you'd get with a CTS. I haven't shot a CTS, that's just my best guess. The only immediate advantages I see are more nose weight and a longer sight radius. More weight I don't care for as I went with the 75 framed shadows over the SP01. Longer sight radius might be nice but I like the standard shadow sight radius fine.

[cundiff5535]

Yeah, the sight radius is huge for shooting (in my personal opinion). This will most likely be for fun at the range and personal collection. Its not a very common pistol so, that is what has me wanting it.

[CAGLS]

Hmm, I should find a TS slide to swap into my Shadow Target.

[limitdown]

I shoot a TS40 in Limited Major
The CTS40's frame looks just like my TS40 frame, just that the CTS is shortened and the color finishing is different.
My TS40 doesn't have the "Accu Bushing" like the CTS. Maybe the bushing helps with the accuracy.
I've done quite a few upgrades to my TS40 that the CTS has.
- Extended firing pin (from CajunGunworks)
- Reduced power firing pin spring (from CajunGunworks)
- Slim aluminum grips
- Magwell
- Long steel guide rod
- Straight aluminum trigger
- Wide safety
- Competition hammer

[cundiff5535]

I shoot a TS40 in Limited Major
The CTS40's frame looks just like my TS40 frame, just that the CTS is shortened and the color finishing is different.
My TS40 doesn't have the "Accu Bushing" like the CTS. Maybe the bushing helps with the accuracy.
I've done quite a few upgrades to my TS40 that the CTS has.
- Extended firing pin (from CajunGunworks)
- Reduced power firing pin spring (from CajunGunworks)
- Slim aluminum grips
- Magwell
- Long steel guide rod
- Straight aluminum trigger
- Wide safety
- Competition hammer

How do you like the pistol?? Thoughts on the cts??

[limitdown]

Most of the guys shooting Limited Division are shooting STI's like the Apeiro, Eagle or Edge.
I shoot a scoped STI Trubor in Open Division, but in Limited Major, I chose to go with a TS40. I wanted something that was different, yet can perform well.

The TS40 feels very different from my SP01-Shadow. The TS40's are much bigger, thicker and heavier. The grip diameter/circumference is much thicker than the SP01's and also slightly thicker than an STI's. If you don't have big hands, replacing with thin grips is a must.

The stock trigger is polymer (ie polite way to say plastic) and is slightly spongey so an aluminum trigger is a must. The aluminum trigger from CZCustom is adjustable for reach and reset. I've got the trigger set up so the reset is super short.

The stock main spring gives a very crisp 4-ish pound pull. Just for fun, I dropped in an 11.5lb mainspring from Cajungunworks. The pull was just too ridiculous at like 2lb. So I went back to the factory spring.

Factory sights are terrible. They're way too high so you're retraining how your eyes to see the sight picture. I changed out the rear to an LPA TRT adjustable sight (CZC item #30049), and the front to a shorter fiber optic sight (CZC item #10087)

As with any 40SW round, the kick and flip will be harsher than with a 9mm round, and this is the same with the TS.

In terms of parts availability of parts, CZCustom is really the only place you can get lots of parts here in the US. Midway has some parts scattered here and there on their site and Cajungunworks has triggers, hammers and springs. Whereas STI's have 80%+ parts compatibility with 1911's.

I don't really remember how much I paid for the TS40, but I think it was around $1,200. I probably spent another $250 in upgrades and it shoots really nicely now. Although the CTS seems like it would shoot quite accurately with a hand-fitted slide and "Accu-Bushing", I don't think the $2,400 price tag can be justified. At that price you're getting close to the price a scoped and comped Open gun.

For the price, I think the TS40 is a great gun. I spent $250 in upgrades and I compete head-to-head with STI's in Limited Major.

[Dan Wang]

Hmm, I should find a TS slide to swap into my Shadow Target.

There is a guy on the CZ forums that put a TS slide on a SP-01 frame. It took some workings and fittings, but they (CZ Custom and the original owner) figured out a way to make it happen.