scottrallye

FYI: A very close friend of mine I've been shooting with over the last year (he's a master now) and a guy I've been squadded with at almost every match we've shot in that year had been shooting a Glock 35 up until a month or so ago. He began running a SJC frame weight with thumb rest back in Feb/March. Since then, he began breaking the main trigger pin in his frame with alarming regularity. I mean, like a couple a month. Several times the break resulted in a zeroed stage and/or a subsequently disappointing match result that could have been avoided. He started carrying several pins in his range bag because they broke so much. Myself and an engineer buddy we also shoot with eventually guessed that because the Glock polymer frame is actually designed to flex during it's recoil cycle, the added weight and torque on the frame was resulting in the forces being shifted to that pin. He later stopped running the weight and the problem disappeared. I wouldn't repeat random hearsay... this is first had stuff I witnessed myself and helped diagnose/fix. Now, he did love the way his Glock shot and performed with the weight in place, so it does have an advantage... but it could be argued that the Glock wasn't designed for a big chunk of aluminum to hang off the front and/or get torqued away on by the shooter. And it begs the question... if you want the advantage of a heavier framed pistol, why not buy a metal-framed pistol? Maybe the weight alone wouldn't have this effect, but in this case he had the thumb rest to go with it so perhaps the issue is related more to that. Just my two cents. Again, he DID enjoy the way his gun shot with the weight, but it did appear that the broken-pin issue was directly tied to that weight/thumb rest.

Someone mentioned replacing the trigger, which I take to mean the trigger "shoe"... I assume because the factory unit is polymer. I shot the TS in that state for a long time, and it's hard to fault a 1 lb 10 oz factory trigger (even if it's polymer), but yes, it does feel better with the aluminum units available from CZ UB. I'd hardly say it "needs" it but I'll be ordering a long finger/large hand trigger for the Czechmate as well. My background knowledge with the platform is a big reason I bought the Czechmate, and I can mix and match with parts and mods I've made to my TS! Literally the only thing I need to pick up from CZC that I don't already have is the aluminum base plate for the big stick mag. The big thing seems to be reaming the chamber. I do all my own gunsmithing, but I don't know if I want to do that in my shop at home. I know someone locally that can help though. I know the max length you can fit in the TS/Czechmate mags is 1.170 OAL, so I assume reaming it to 1.150-60 would be ideal? As far as the 90 degree mount goes, I understand that's personal preference, but with my tendency to tinker I'm sure I'll try it eventually. kneelingatlas, I'll PM you from some load info, thank you!

I really appreciate the feedback everyone. It was tempting at the last minute to go with an STI, but I have thought through (and just plain wanted) a Czechmate for so long that I decided to go with my gut, what I'm familiar with, and what I've drooled over for the last couple years, and I bought a Czechmate today. No matter how I spin it, it just adds up for me. I figure someday down the road when I'm ready to try something new, have experience shooting open, and know what I like, I'll cough up the money for a higher end 2011 rather than going with the less expensive end of the spectrum. Until then though, I'm going to have a LOT of fun with the new Czechmate. Now, as soon as FedEx gets it to my FFL I'll get some pictures posted. Meanwhile, any other advice on switching open division is certainly welcome! I already have a variety of reloading supplies ready and I've been doing homework as to what I should expect reloading for the Czechmate (i.e. shorter OAL, which I'm already familiar with in my Tactical Sport) so hopefully I'll some kind of starting point.

Keep it coming guys, lots of good advice here. I love my TS, but I should point out that I am very much a tinkerer and can break the TS into it's tiny parts and back in no time. Learning a platform isn't a big deal, I figure I'm going to spend so much time on it that it won't matter THAT much if it takes a few extra weeks to learn. Also, part of me would love a whole new platform to learn and tinker with. Thanks for all the awesome advice, I'm more like 60/40 now...

I'm officially making the move to (as I've read many other open shooters call it) "The Dark Side". A Little Background: I've been shooting Limited Major for about 14 months, starting with a Glock 35, and switching to a CZ 75 Tactical Sport back in April. My life can pretty much be defined in two parts: life before my Tactical Sport, and life after my Tactical Sport. I've posted plenty of pics and info in the CZ pic threads, so I won't go into any more detail than saying I've made most of the "upgrades" (you could argue the TS doesn't need any) you can make via the Custom Shop, and some grip/frame modification and Cerakoting. The gun has been phenomenally reliable and shoots soooo good. So naturally, since I have an awesome pistol I love, it's time to buy another. I had initially planned on shooting Limited for another year, but as this year was wrapping up, I got impatient and decided it would be WAY more fun to just take the plunge. I've put aside just over $3,000 at this point, and I'm ready to make a purchase. I looked at all kinds of options, and I've whittled it down to a Czechmate... or an STI Trubor. I'm probably 90/10 on my choice. The Czechmate is an obvious choice for me for a LOT of reasons: It's built on the exact same gun I'm shooting currently. Aside from learning to pick up the dot and a much different recoil impulse, I would theoretically have a shorter learning curve, and going back and forth from Limited to Open would be easy. All the parts and upgrades I have for my TS (mag extensions, extended safety, etc.) could transfer back and forth between the two guns. It's an awesome value. I wouldn't need to purchase additional mags, etc. My TS is so phenomenally reliable (and I have a lot of working knowledge of the platform) and I can't help but assume the Czechmate would be as well. I want to shoot 9mm Major, and these forums seem to indicate the Czechmate runs very well in 9mm Major. An STI 2011 is obviously enticing for a number of reasons, but these are the major considerations that still have me on the fence: Absolutely ridiculous amount of aftermarket support, knowledge, and market share in shooting sports. Based on the survey data that USPSA published in Front Sight from the 2014 Nationals, everyone and their mom shoots the 2011 platform, including the most successful shooters in the sport. Therefore, they MUST be awesome... right? However, I have also heard a fair amount of negative things about some of the (arguably) "lower end" STI's like the Trubor that you don't hear about in custom 2011's, Infinities, etc. I won't get into the things I've heard (and witnessed at matches) but I do have a silly belief that spending this kind of money on a competition gun means it should run and run and run. Based on the background I provided, can you guys give me some input on my choice? If you think the 2011 is the platform to go with, please explain to me why. Basically, I'm buying a Czechmate unless some experienced STI owners can convince me here that the Trubor (or similar) is the better choice. One last thing: I know spending some more $$$ can get me a 2011 that will run like a sewing machine. However, at this point in my life, $3k is what I have to work with. Also, I wouldn't be opposed to shooting a used 2011 open gun, but they seem to be in pretty high demand, and I don't want to sit around too long waiting for that "perfect deal".

Whoa! Awesome!Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

I arranged a back order with CZC (basically they just made an order for me that they sat on until they were in stock) back in mid Summer, and got it at the beginning of November. I guess the extended safeties are outsourced, and they had some kind of issue with their old manufacturer and had to start all over with a new company. They got it sorted out and started getting them in during October. Sounded like the first shipment mostly went to their own custom guns that were waiting on that part, so obviously those were at the top of the list, and by the second shipment they started shipping the individual part to customers on the back order list. It wouldn't hurt to shoot them an email about back ordering one so you can get one when they get another shipment. It literally would have been the first mod I did to my gun when I got it in April. It's absolutely worth the wait.

How do you like those grips? I'm kicking the idea around of picking up a pair. You got a review to share? I don't have them on a TS but have the SSI scales on my CZ shadow and my Tanfoglio eric custom (closer in grip size to the TS). I LOVE them. I've tried more than half a dozen grips on my shadow and about 4 types on the tanfoglio and never really love anything. the best I had till now was stock rubber on the CZ (ugliest but most functional) and henning curve grips with grip tape on the tanfoglio. The SSI scales have a nice curve to them and fill out medium to large sized hands very nicely. They allow me to finally get a decent amount of my weak hand on the grips. They look cool too. Rad, thanks for the feedback!Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

Updated pics of my TS. Figured it was okay to post again as there are two threads going for CZ pics Tallied up just under 10k rounds on it since April 11, 2015 when I purchased it. I shoot limited division USPSA (A87873). Here's the list of mods: Stainless Guide Rod 14lb Recoil Spring (also have 12,13,15, not installed) Extended Firing Pin CZ 2075 Rami Firing Pin Spring CZC Comp Hammer CZC Fiber Optic Front Sight, 8.0mm x 1.5mm (also have 6.5mm, 7.5mm, and stock) LPA Adjustable Sights (Not Installed Currently) Holes drilled and tapped in frame in C-More Pattern w/IPSC Alex Thumb Rest (also have a *thumb rest [generic]*) CZC Extended Safety, Left Hand Side CZ UB Long-Finger/Large Hand Trigger, Silver CZC Non-staked reusable trigger pin CZC Aluminum Grips Thin, custom anodized black by CZC CZ USA Rubber Grips for bad weather (not installed) CZC Large Magwell, custom anodized black by CZC CZC 140mm Extended Aluminum Base Pads, 3 Black, 1 Silver CZC Extended Mag Spring CZC Mag Follower (Fit 21 rounds) Grip and Backstrap/Beavertail Reduction/texture removal Frame Cerakoted "Gunmetal Grey"

How do you like those grips? I'm kicking the idea around of picking up a pair. You got a review to share?

Is that the IPSCAlex rest? It is. I drilled the holes in my frame in the C-More pattern, allowing use of a few different types of thumb rests. I've gone back and forth between the IPSC Alex and the *thumb rest [generic]*, and while it's really effective, the *thumb rest [generic]* felt a little overkill for a limited gun.

A little video I did on the recoil management I'm achieving with my thumbrest-equipped TS: https://youtu.be/QvTeSgb0Ut0

I've made some more changes to my TS since my last pics, and except for maybe some (more) Cerakote in the future, I think it's finally "done".

Your Tactical Sport looks great! Nice work on the checkering removal

Oh I did. Your welcome...kid.So you just had to ignore the fact I tried to make amends and go keyboard - commando anyway. Well played.Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk Keyboard....no I earned my knowledge of the CZ. I didn't listen to hearsay and stories. Am I fan boy yes...but they earned it. How ever you tried to clarify your first post you still came in saying to not buy that via second hand knowledge. Not having a clue if say they were feeding it wolf or bubba joes reloads. You can sit there and be pissy if you like but I'm gonna call it how I see it.Good, I'm glad you are... because ignoring everything said after my first post simply because you wanted to rant at someone would just come off as being a pompous jerk if you aknowledged anything I had said later. Better to avoid that. Next time I see someone having issues with a gun (or really, any product under the sun according to your logic) or hear them telling me anything negative, I'll assume THEY must be some dummy with crap handloads, find the specific person at a factory somewhere who built their gun, and call that person up to explain themselves before I relay anything to someone else. No one is that crazy, and I'm positive you've repeated things you'd heard, even if it wasn't about a CZ. I apologized to Stewart and acknowledged I could have been less of a dick about it. Kinda lame that you decided to use me as a punching bag, because having seen images of your guns and posts, and assuming you were a fellow CZ fan, I would have thought we had that in common. Having shared what I have about my CZ (honestly), encouraging every shooter I know to buy them and often succeeding, (except in this one instance you are pissed about) I would have thought that put me in the "CZ fanboy" club. If unnecessarily bashing other owners for stepping out of line exempts me from that club, I'll pass. Thanks for calling it like you see it.Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

Oh I did. Your welcome...kid.So you just had to ignore the fact I tried to make amends and go keyboard - commando anyway. Well played.Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

Evidently you didn't read my follow up with CZ Custom. Additionally, when discussion occurs within a thread, are we supposed to blindly stick to the topic and refrain from any sort of criticism because the thread was only for "fans"? I explained my reasoning to Stewart from CZC and apologized for going off of what owners of the CTS told me (first hand, by the way), but I can tell you this: if I went into some "Mustang forums" (since this was your comparison) after hearing from critical, unhappy owners of specialty custom models that had some issues, and I had great first hand experience modifying a stock model, I'd still share that opinion, even if I could have been more courteous about my comment in this case. That picture wasn't someone showing off their gun, they shared a stock photo of a CTS explaining it's what he'd like. I guess I don't have the blind brand loyalty you do to ignore the info that other owners have shared.. If you had seen any of my other posts raving about how much I love my Tactical Sport (or the pics of it decked out with CZC parts), have convinced multiple friends to buy them, and encouraged them to equip them with CZC stuff, maybe you wouldn't be laboring under the delusion that I'm some troll out spouting off on topics I don't have any business discussing. Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

Is your Gold Custom in 9mm?

Maybe I missed it, but is this in 9mm? I'm really considering one of these but kneelingatlas is saying that it takes a LOT to make power factor because the v12 ports bleed off so much gas. I'd love to go this route but I'm hesitant if I'm going to struggle with working up a load that works well. I forgot to ask on the thread where kneelingatlas said that, but would running a lighter recoil spring help? I kind of assume he would have sorted that angle out, but what's your experience been?

It looks like they will, there is a comment on the site somewhere that talks about them fitting with the stock and CZC magwells.

Would you mill the slide, for weight reduction, could look and be very cool You don't want this. You are better off buying a stock TS and upgrading it. I have met several owners of these, and they ALL had to send them back because of ejection issues. They apparently run good after they got them back months and months later, but spending that kind of money on a gun that doesn't run like clockwork is insane. I really dont recall any coming back? Stuart, I'll explain what I heard in this regard that led me to the conclusion I posted. Might have been a bad conclusion, but here's what led me to this: I left that post shortly after I was in Hamilton Montana this summer shooting "Montana Mayhem", an 8-stage level 1 match. I was on a squad with a bunch of Montana natives that I had never shot with before. I'm usually the only person at small level one matches who has a Tactical Sport, but here I saw sever other Tactical Sports around, and two CZ Custom CTS-40's that a couple was shooting on my squad (I believe they were from Missoula). I immediately started gawking the guns. The couple went on to tell me all about how, when they first got the guns, they had a lot of ejection issues. They told a rather unfortunate story about having to send them back, and waited months before finally getting them back, with some other service complaints mixed in... but in the end, they got them back and were (obviously) still shooting them and (I assume) liked them. I had heard another story a month or so before from a shooter in Spokane, WA. with an Accushadow who also told me an unflattering tale about having to send his gun back and ended up buying a factory Tactical Sport because he was so put off with the Custom Shop... so, between these (admitted) "tales" and my own positive experience buying a stock Tactical Sport and buying the parts from you guys to trick it out myself, that led me to comment that you'd be better off going that route. I apologize for going off of "tales" on here, and should probably stick to my own personal experiences. I will say that I relied on myself to do all my own work to my TS, largely using CZC and CZ UB parts, and absolutely love it and have had nothing but good luck... so it was easy for me to suggest that route after having just heard that story from the shooters from Montana. In all fairness, I have not gone through you guys for gunsmithing services, so I will not claim to know any more about your custom guns than what I've personally experienced in future.

Have you played with the set screws on the trigger? If you are getting more and more creep I suspect one of them is backing out.