You cannot avoid replacing springs, even if you are completely satisfied with your CZ just as you took it out of the box. They are subject to wear and tear, so from time to time you have to replace them for purely maintenance reasons.
Spring stiffness also fundamentally affects the behavior of the gun – how unpleasant the recoil is for you, how easily the gun racks, how reliably it ejects the casing, or how hard you have to pull the trigger.
Different shooters require different things from their pistol:
- sports shooters prefer a light trigger,
- those who have guns for self-defense, on the other hand, do not want it to fire accidentally.
To help you understand what each spring affects and how changing its stiffness changes the handling and behavior of your pistol, we have written a series of articles for you about individual springs. In this article, we focus on the recoil spring. You can find other articles here:
ATTENTION: For CZ models, we must distinguish between two versions of pistols: classic hammer-fired models (e.g., CZ 75B, CZ 75 SP-01 Shadow 1, CZ Shadow 2, TS 2) and modern striker-fired models (CZ P-10 series). Each of them has its own specifics, also when it comes to springs.
Where to find springs on our website
You can find complete tuning spring sets, individual springs, and original CZ parts in several places:
- in the Springs category (focused on tuning sets),
- in the Spare parts category (original CZ parts),
- and in the Spare parts and Springs subcategories for individual models under the By model category.
TIP: Also check out Pins, which the springs cannot do without.
Extractor spring
It is hidden in the upper part of the slide under the extractor claw. On the CZ 75 and Shadow 2 models, it is accessible after pushing out the vertical extractor pin; on the CZ P-10 series, it is located in the rear part of the slide.
How the extractor spring works
The extractor spring is a strong spring that ensures the operation of the extractor. It acts on its rear end, thereby pushing its front end with the claw toward the center of the slide. When feeding a new round into the chamber, the extractor claw catches on the rim of the cartridge case. During the backward movement of the slide, it holds the empty casing firmly pressed against the breech face and pulls it to the ejector, which then flings it out.
When to replace the extractor spring
This small spring is extremely stressed by the cycling of the gun and requires regular replacement. We recommend replacing it during every major cleaning of the slide, approximately after 15,000–20,000 rounds.
How to recognize a worn-out extractor spring
Typical signs of excessive wear include:
- stovepipe – the casing jams in the ejection port (just like with a worn-out recoil spring),
- or double feed – the claw slips off the empty casing and the slide tries to feed another round.
Recommendations for sports shooters
In sports shooting, you definitely need to be sure that the extractor will extract any round (even reloaded ones). Therefore, the factory extractor spring is often replaced with an extra-power one.
Recommendations for self-defense
For self-defense, we recommend staying with the factory stiffness of the extractor spring or replacing it with a slightly stronger one.
TIP: When replacing the extractor spring, do not forget to thoroughly clean the area under the extractor claw. Particles of carbon and brass accumulate here, taking away space for the claw to properly catch the rim of the cartridge case.
Can I replace the extractor spring myself?
Yes, completely without any problems. You only need a 2mm pin punch.
Magazine catch spring
You can find it in the frame of the gun under the magazine release button. On hammer-fired models (CZ 75, CZ Shadow 2), it is "V" or "U" shaped, while on striker-fired pistols, it is a standard small spring.
How the magazine catch spring
The magazine catch spring pushes the body of the magazine catch into the notch in the magazine body so that it fits and holds securely in the notch.
You can hear the function of this spring as a click the moment you insert the magazine. When you press the catch button, you overcome the spring pressure, it releases the notch, and the magazine drops out.
When to replace the magazine catch spring
The magazine catch spring does not break very often, but it can get worn and weaken over time. You can recognize this easily when the magazine starts dropping out on its own or the magazine release button starts having too much play.
For preventive reasons, carry out the replacement after approx. 20,000–30,000 rounds.
Recommendations for sports shooters
In sports shooting, every second counts, which is why sports shooters strive for the fastest possible magazine drop. This can be achieved by replacing the magazine catch spring with a lighter one, but be careful not to overdo it – otherwise, the magazine could drop out of the gun during a firm grip of the palm.
TIP: The magazine will also slide out faster and easier if you weight it down with a base pad of larger capacity or made of heavier material.
Recommendations for self-defense
For self-defense, we recommend staying with the factory spring weight; here, tuning for greater lightness is unnecessary, if not counterproductive, as it could lead to accidental magazine release in a stressful situation.
Can I replace the magazine catch spring myself?
Yes, you can manage with a flat-head screwdriver.
TIP: If you are looking for a simple solution to tune all the springs together, choose a complete spring set according to your model: