New CZ-75 D “PCR” Failure to Feed from Magazine!

[Jonbre]

Hey all,

I purchased a brand-new CZ-75 D “PCR” in 9mm about a week ago. I field-stripped it and gave it a little lube (it came almost bone-dry).

I went today and shot it for the first time. After about 50 rounds, the pistol had consistent failure to feed from the stock magazines (bullet tip up, halfway into barrel every time). I did notice during the initial 50 rounds that it didn’t like chambering a round using the slide stop.

I tried two different kinds of box 115 grain (Magtech and Federal), and tried both mags - they both have completely normal lips and look perfect.

I’m shocked, as I’d heard that CZs have a fantastic reputation for reliability. This wasn’t an issue where I could clear the round and the next round would feed - every round was sticking.

I’m afraid to even clean the thing in case either the place where I bought it (gun store) or CZ will simply say “well, YOU must have done something,” even though I really want to - both because I hate leaving a gun dirty, AND because I’d like to try and find the problem.

Scary, as if this had happened “when it counts,” I’d be dead.

Anyone have any thoughts?

Thanks!

 

[amnesia]

@draco88

 

[Mitch Rapp]

Two things to know about CZs from the factory: they are notoriously over sprung and have extremely tight tolerances.
Since you said magazines, Im assuming that it happened with both mags, right?
If so, sounds to me like the extractor is a bit too tight and just needs to be broken in some or theres some shipping grease/gunk in the channel where the spring sits. You can knock the pin out, remove the extractor and spring, clean everything out pretty good, and put it back together.
While youre at it, pop the mags apart and give them a good scrub, too. Cant hurt, but I really think your issue is a tight extractor.

 

[Jonbre]

Two things to know about CZs from the factory: they are notoriously over sprung and have extremely tight tolerances.
Since you said magazines, Im assuming that it happened with both mags, right?
If so, sounds to me like the extractor is a bit too tight and just needs to be broken in some or theres some shipping grease/gunk in the channel where the spring sits. You can knock the pin out, remove the extractor and spring, clean everything out pretty good, and put it back together.
While youre at it, pop the mags apart and give them a good scrub, too. Cant hurt, but I really think your issue is a tight extractor.

Thank you for the response and expertise.

Would the extractor play a part if the round (the first one and every subsequent round) is getting stuck right from the magazine, without firing the pistol?

I had the thought that it’s difficult to break in a pistol if every round is not feeding, and I’m dubious about any new gun that I would need to significantly mess with (or take to a gunsmith) in order to be reliable.

Is this really normal for every CZ?

 

[Mitch Rapp]

Thank you for the response and expertise.

Would the extractor play a part if the round (the first one and every subsequent round) is getting stuck right from the magazine, without firing the pistol?

Yes. As the slide moves forward picking a round up from the magazine, the extractor does not snap over the case rim in order to move to its rest position. The case rim actually slides under the extractor between the extractor tooth and the slide to its final postion. A tight extractor wont allow the round to slide fully upward to its rest position resulting in a round held low. This, in turn, causes the bullet nose to strike the feed ramp at the incorrect position and angle, which in turn, can result in a round nosing upward into stoppage.

I’m dubious about any new gun that I would need to significantly mess with (or take to a gunsmith) in order to be reliable.

This does not require a smith and is definitely not significantly messing with. Knock out one pin, wipe parts off, toothbrush the extractor channel, align parts, knock pin back in.

I had the thought that it’s difficult to break in a pistol if every round is not feeding

Difficult, no. Aggravating, sure.

Is this really normal for every CZ?

No. Ive owned a lot of them...probably forty or so...and Ive never had any one of them do it. However, it has happened to other folks...and not just with CZs. Every manufacturer has had this issue at some point or another with one of their products.

 

[TRaGiK]

I've had this problem with two different CZ's. A P01 and a 2075.

In both cases, it was weak mag springs. In both cases, the gun was brand new.

New mags made the problem go away. New springs in the original mags made the problems go away.

 

[Mitch Rapp]

Was it both mags each time @TRaGiK ?
I ruled out mags since OP said it was both mags, but this could definitely be a cause also.

 

[TRaGiK]

Was it both mags each time @TRaGiK ?
I ruled out mags since OP said it was both mags, but this could definitely be a cause also.

Yup. In the p01, both mags. 2075, both the 10rd and 15rd (I think one was a 15...been a few years). Surprised me, but mag springs was the issue for both guns.

 

[Mitch Rapp]

Wow, the pistol gods hate you lol.
Those are longer odds than hitting the powerball

 

[TRaGiK]

The first one (2075) had me scratching my head. I ordered a new recoil spring (lighter and stiffer) thinking that was the issue. It wasn't. Bought another mag and the issue vanished. Then bought new springs for the original mags, and they worked fine after that.

The second gun, a suppressor ready P01, had the same exact failure. I ordered a pile of mags for the gun the same day I picked up the gun, and with the new mag, the issue went away.

The guns were purchased probably 5 years apart from each other, so it wasn't like it was a one time run on mag springs that had the issues.

I've owned 7 or 8 other metal frame CZ's, and handled a pile of them that my friend had, and never saw the issue with any others.

I typically win the lottery on stuff giving me problems though. I owned 4 or 5 vehicles in a row that the transmission crapped out on me within a month. I've owned 3 S&W revolvers that promptly went out of time or the barrel twisted in the frame. I went through two faulty wives before getting a 3rd that wasn't defective. Etc etc. Lol

 

[Desolo]

One of my Brothers favorite carry guns is a PCR, he never has had a problem with it.

It seems you have a couple directions to come at this from, and I cant see a through cleaning being going against you on your warranty ( many gun companies manuals indicate you should clean them thoroughly before the first outing)... and it doesnt hurt to have more magazines so perhaps test it with some others. (Heck, clean the magazines up really well too.)

If you see an improvement in spring tension and function, respring the others to match.

Im sure you will get this sorted out, just dont give up.

 

[Jeppo]

Ive owned a lot of them...probably forty or so.

40?




Amateur! 😂

 

[Jonbre]

Thanks for the replies and thoughts, everyone.

I took it in to where I bought it (Fuquay Guns & Gold), and they’re taking it out to the range this week to see what the deal is.

I’ll update you all when I hear something back from them! Whatever it is, I hope that the information might help someone in the future.

 

[CZfool68]

The only problems I’ve ever had was ammo related. I had some cheap MaxxTech stuff from Walmart that gave 2 of my CZ’s the hiccups. Switched to any other ammo and issues went away. Not sure if that was a bad batch of ammo or there was some other issue and haven’t bought any since.

 

[Jonbre]

I’ll be really disappointed if it ends up being some kind of ammo issue. I’d read and heard about CZs being incredibly reliable and high quality guns, but not Swiss watches - that they’re tough.

Having a pistol for defense and carry that needs a special diet, etc., is never a good thing. But I suppose it’s about finding a balance. I never shot well with Glocks and wanted a tough, well-built pistol with heft (but not a cinderblock), at a reasonable price (I know - a unicorn). Oh, well - we’ll see with Fuquay ends up finding.