CZ SP-01 Upgrade - Review and Pics

[trigger945]

First of all, let me acknowledge that there have been many other SP-01 threads before this. What's so different about this one? Well, it's my gun

Secondly, I would like to thank CAGLS for helping me out tremendously with the upgrade. He did a lot and even had to use the trigger bar on his Shadow to replace mine as my SP-01's was out of spec. That left his Shadow out of commission until I could have CGW ship the part to him. And he did all the talking with CGW and CZ Customs as I would not have known what to say anyways, hehehe. Talk about going the extra mile.

And I would like to thank himurax13, as well for his help.

My goal was to keep it SA/DA and with FPB, while making the trigger pull light and smooth. I am hoping to use this for competition - IDPA ESP and USPSA Limited - someday.

So without further delay, below you will find the upgrades, as well as some pics:

Parts installed/replaced (all from CGW):

- 85C Trigger
- Production legal "drop-in" Hammer Kit and Sear
- Type 2 Disconnector
- SRS-2 Master Kit
- Recoil Spring Yellow 11#

- Polished contact points on the trigger bar (after replacing it), under the sear cage that contacts the trigger bar, hammer engagement surface that contacts the underside of the sear

- Modified and polished the slide stop to feed longer OAL ammo

- Mirror polished the barrel's hood, lugs, feed ramp muzzle end

- Machine finished the length of the barrel (holds oil better)

- Smoothed out the hammer strut

- Smoothed and polished the lower sides of the CGW hammer (was a little snug) and applied a bluing compound to match the polycoat

- Applied red Loctite on the set screw of the billet adjustable sear and set it to the safety's pad

- Adjusted the over-travel on the 85C trigger and applied blue Loctite to the set screw

- Retained the firing pin block but replaced the firing pin block spring

- SA Pull using a digital trigger gauge and a 10-pull average: 2 lbs 6.8 oz (2.425 lbs)

- DA Pull using a digital trigger gauge and a 10-pull average: 5 lbs 15.0 oz (5.9375 lbs)

I think I was able to capture everything, but if not, I ask CAGLS to chime in.

I went to the range and this thing shot beautifully. Wow, I am very impressed. So smooth, so easy to shoot, so nice. CAGLS did an awesome job!


Below are some pics:

Machine-finished barrel:







Modified and polished the slide stop to feed longer OAL ammo





Mirror-polished barrel hood








More pics below

[trigger945]

Slide with new 11-lb recoil spring (yellow)




Polished barrel and 85C trigger




85C trigger




More porn below

[trigger945]

Some more pics (some have been enhanced just because...)


















Target pics below

[trigger945]

I wasn't sure which targets to use to test the SP-01 so I decided to use the target for this month's challenge. In freestyle at 10-11 yards (pics below), I think I shot better with the SP-01 than I did with my Elite Witness Match in 9mm (the one I used in the challenge)







That is all folks. I hope you enjoyed it.

Again, thanks to CAGLS and himurax13. If you have any questions on any of the above besides the pics, ask CAGLS, lol!

And oh, @himurax13, pics are up now. Patience, my friend...

Best,

trigger945

[himurax13]

Nice review. How does one determine if the trigger bar is out of spec?

What weight hammer spring did you go with? If I had to guess, at least the 13lb or higher. Is the lighter trigger return spring and extended firing pin installed?

I have never considered polishing the entire barrel before, just the feedramp. I typically use grease, like slide glide.

I would have gone ahead and installed the extended magazine release while all of this was going on.

If you are going to use the stock night sights for competition, I highly reccomend taking a black magic marker and covering up the rear dots. It will help you focus on the front sight.

I also use Browning High Power Wolff recoil springs since they fit the guiderod better. It sounds silly but I like the 12 lb progressive recoil spring.

I also reccomend getting the CZC magazine brake since it replaces the flimsy factory part and makes swapping hammer springs easier.

Although this would be good for Limited minor and ESP, The SP01 would probably be better utilized in SSP and Division.

If you were going to use this in limited minor and ESP, installing the extended safeties from the SA would probably help out since they are easier to manipulate.

[ruddogg]

very nice!

[trigger945]

How does one determine if the trigger bar is out of spec?

This was determined after CAGLS spoke with David at CGW while exchanging pics of the trigger bar

What weight hammer spring did you go with? If I had to guess, at least the 13lb or higher.

I believe it was an 11-lb hammer spring per my conversation with CAGLS. I could be wrong though. IIRC, it was part of the "Production legal 'drop-in' Hammer Kit and Sear" that CGW sells.

I would have gone ahead and installed the extended magazine release while all of this was going on.

Good point. I did not think of that so I did not order one

[trigger945]

Although this would be good for Limited minor and ESP, The SSP01 would probably be better utilized in SSP and Division.

I spoke to an IDPA match director when I was getting ready for competition and he mentioned that since the SP-01 is effectively SA all the way (first shot and subsequent shots in SA), I would have to compete in ESP if I were to use it.

[himurax13]

I spoke to an IDPA match director when I was getting ready for competition and he mentioned that since the SP-01 is effectively SA all the way (first shot and subsequent shots in SA), I would have to compete in ESP if I were to use it.

Well then tell him to read the rules.

If you start hammer down, then you can use it for SSP.

IDPA seems to have a hard on for CZ's, especially the SP01. It can only play in ESP if it meets all of the division requirements for SSP. So the silly people who add SAO triggers to it effectively mod themselves out of being able to play IDPA as well as production.

[CAGLS]

Glad you like it trigger945, nice shooting btw. The CZ comp hammer was tight in the frame which caused felt friction and affected the smoothness of trigger pull. I had to clearance both sides of the lower area of the hammer that contacts the frame, then polished and reblue. Trigger945 the trigger pull weights will lighten up more as you shoot the gun so check it again after several hundred rounds.

[morrcarr67]

Why a yellow recoil spring?

Are there different colors?

Sent from my DROID RAZR HD

[iluvmycolt]

Sweet pistol OP. Thanks for sharing.

[himurax13]

Why a yellow recoil spring?

Are there different colors?

Sent from my DROID RAZR HD

CGW color codes his springs.

This is a smart idea because I have tons of unmarked 1911 and glock springs lying around.

[morrcarr67]

CGW color codes his springs.

This is a smart idea because I have tons of unmarked 1911 and glock springs lying around.

That's a good idea. [emoji41]

Sent from my DROID RAZR HD

[trigger945]

Thanks for chiming in CAGLS.

@morrcarr67: Yes, there are different colors for different spring weights. There are plenty

@himurax13: Good point. Will talk to him when I am ready.