Sitting in the reception area, I noticed a few people walking by in the building I was not yet allowed, a few engineer looking types with blue lab coats carrying paperwork. As I waited, a busload of what I assume were Czech special forces crowded the area. They weren't in uniform, but were lean and mean looking. Finally, the "assistant" came out to speak to me. It was Martin Kamenicek, CZ-UB team Open class shooter. He had no idea I was coming, so he called Milan, who was in Slovakia. After a short while, a few more phone calls were made, and everything worked out, and Martin took me back into the facility. The factory is not just one building, but a spread out compound with each building dedicated to different things. I was allowed to see some of the production facilities and the firing range. Much of what I saw concerned the production of the SP-01, which has been a huge success for Ceska Zbrojovka. One of the first buildings we visited was dedicated to barrel production. Carts of barrels lay about as workers performed machining operations on the things. A lady ran the rifling machine, which is supposed to be the oldest item in the factory in use (the machine, not the woman). Pictured is a worker with a cart full of SP-01 barrels who is about to machine the rear portion.
Next stop was the mold making shop, a place that smelled like 1000 melted birthday candles. The wax molds are produced in a machine and set in special holders before being assembled into casting trees. Pictured are SP-01 molds.
The foundry was next, but since the workers started at 5am, they were on lunch at 10am, so I got no photos of them pouring molten metal into the trees. There are shelves full of molds assembled into trees where they are stored until it is time to make them into the starting point for a CZ pistol frame. Martin points out a row of SP-01 trees waiting on the shelves and stands next to some in position to receive the hot metal.
The next building housed much of the operations where frames are machined. An oily odor filled the air (and helped to lubricate the floor,too) CNC cutting machines hummed, cutting parts for rifles, that I saw. I didn't notice any slides laying about. Wooden boxes of frames lay next to the machining centers, some on carts, some on the floor. The boxes pictured contain Tactical Sports frames. Martin holds a partially finished SP-01 frame.Notice that the rail has yet to be machined.
The last stop was the firing range. After passing a pallet of S&B 9mm next to a table with several magazine loading machines, I was introduced to the manager of the firing range, who introduced me to the gun vault, where they keep an example of just about every current CZ produced weapon..and I got to pick whatever I wanted to shoot. I started off with the guns I'd never get to shoot anywhere else. First up, the CZ-75 Automatic. While externally similar to a standard 75, the Automatic features a longer barrel with ports, and a spare magazine holder integrated forward of the trigger so the spare mag acts as a forward pistol grip. The gun converts to full auto by pulling out and turning the safety lever (I think). Martin demonstrated by firing the pistol in bursts, as the muzzle quickly climbs. I got to shoot next. Feeling just like my 75b, I gripped the pistol a harder than normal and leaned a bit more forward than usual, and let her rip. The gun is quite controllable firing 3 round bursts, and had no trouble putting the shots on paper at 15 yards. Lots of fun. The next weapon up was a vz61 Skorpion chambered in 9x18mm. The Scorpion is a sub-machine gun with an extendible wire butt stock, itty-bitty in size, but packs a punch thanks to it's 800 rounds per minute. It was also produced in 7.65mm Browning(.32 ACP). Also, very controllable in 3 or 4 round bursts. Empties pour out of the top of the gun. I then shot a vz58, the rifle of the Czech army, and the proverbial middle finger from the Czech arms designers shown to the Russians under Communist rule. While it looks like a Kalashnikov on first glance,the only thing the guns share is the 7.62x39 cartridge. I was discouraged from firing it in full auto at the indoor range, so I only got to run it in semi-auto. Despite the milled receiver, it was quite light, about the same as a stamped receiver AK, but more solid and precise. I didn't care for the folding butt stock on this one. I went on to shoot a CZ-75 Champion and an SP-01 Shadow..very nice trigger on the single action Champion. Their Shadow had a smooth trigger pull, but like most factory pistols, a lighter spring would be an improvement. The double action was on the heavy side. My personal SP-01 has a lighter trigger since it has a 15lb. trigger spring. I did like the safety lever on the gun. I believe it is the same a the CZ75SA and is wider and allows your thumb to sit lower on the frame over the standard safety. For an "out of the box" Production division pistol, the Shadow is difficult to beat.
We then went to the range next door where they test fire every rifle before it leaves the factory. Three shooters put the rifles through their paces from rests. I would guess these guys have callused shoulders from shooting all day. The one CZ rifle I want to shoot is the bolt action CZ 750 Sniper in .308. I was surprised how little recoil the gun had. I then tried out a CZ 550 Safari chambered in .416 Rigby, which pushes a 400gr bullet to 2300fps, enough to punch through the thickest of hides or skulls. I shot it one time, which was enough for me. You could say the recoil was substantial, but not up to shoulder dislocating levels. Another downside is a box of 20 rounds runs $106..ouch.
It was a great experience, and really good to see how busy they are producing the SP-01. From what I understand, CZ has a good bit of new stuff coming to keep them busy, including more polymer frame guns and other military weapons that are in the pipeline. Many thanks to Martin Kamenicek who was really helpful and took time out of his busy day on super short notice to escort me around.