Being a backyard competitor only, I really do like this bottom metal for the quality. The extended mag release is much nicer then the factory and I can easily get my fingers in there. Is this more of a nice to have vs a need? Definitely.

 

Plus it has a bee on it!

 

Looking at your pictures, I can see where it would help. Looks good on your rifle also.

Might have to check out one of these for my Grandson's rifle.

 

Seems like the prudent choice over the two-peice OEM option, plus getting the extended release lever eliminates the cost of adding a DIP (or other)

It's on my short-list, even for my backyard plinkers

 

The bigger question; is their 13-round magazine worth it!?!

 

Oh 100%. They're function flawlessly, look great, and are super high quality. We don't even use our OE magazines anymore. I originally picked up two when they came out. Now we have 7.

 

What advantages do you see to justify the $130 price? I'm considering one for my NRL22 rifle just to assist with quick and easy magazine insertion. What else?

 

I'd say this is kind of a loaded question. I'd say that it's the highest quality CZ bottom metal that offered anywhere. That being said, not everyone wants or even needs the top tier of anything so it's just a personal decision. It absolutely makes blind mag changes easier, looks better (subjective but I love the M5 look), built more solid, and made is the USA. If you're looking to replace one then it's easy to see.the value but if you like the stock one then this is just a pleasant add on and not an absolute requirement

 

Very nice I just may have to save my Pennie’s up

 

I'd see where stuff like top-quality bottom level (pun accidental) and 13-round mags are important to NRL-style competitors. If you're looking for utter reliability and shaving seconds or even fractions of seconds ... it all matters.
Me, my games are bench-top and have relatively generous time allowances. All I really need is reliability.
What's always puzzled/irritated me: Why won't CZ distribute its 15-round 455/457 .22lr mags in the U.S.?

 

I know the 15s are somewhere in the US because a customer had one lol. No idea where he got it though

 

I'm sure there are a few here and there, and I've heard of guys getting them from overseas. Whether they make it to your door seems to have something to do with the mood of the customs point they enter through.
What I've never figured out is why CZ USA or their Czech parent just won't stock 'em in the US. God knows we'd buy 'em.

 

If you compete and it's an advantage and legal then it seems like a reasonable price. If you just like it and can afford it then it's reasonable. I mean I bought a Bergara B14-R and almost immediately dropped a $300 trigger in to the overweight little porker. Zero regrets. I know zero people who have a nicer trigger in any of their guns.

 

Selfishly I'm hoping they run out and people decide they should buy billet 13rd mags lololol

 

I would like it better without the front barricade stop. I have had an Anarchy Outdoors extended magazine release and it is the bomb! The factory release is much to short and the DIP release is only about 1mm longer. The AO release is about 12mm longer and looks very similar to the one shown. You pinch the mag between your index finger and thumb and the mag is removed with near zero effort.

 

Thought this was a relevant update as we've been running this bottom metal for over 6 months and have decided to make an adjustment. We still really love the funnel system/design that makes inserting the mags a lot easier. However, the front part of the metal that is shaped like a tiny barricade stop has turned out to be more problematic an initially thought.

I think the idea was to protect the mag release lever or function as a tiny barricade stop (or just to mimic the styling of the Manners TCS centerfire bottom metal). However, in our situation it just made it hard to access the mag release. This is probably less of an issue for those running 10 round magazines.

You can see it's quite tight in there with the magazine inserted. The bag stop we use also adds a bit of an obstacle. I though about trying to make something that could engage the mag release more easily, but that just seemed like too much work. I decide to just cut off that extra bit to make getting to the mag release easier.

It is now much easier to and quicker to pull the mag release lever and we still have the mag funnel to help with mag insertion.

Not the prettiest thing and I kind of felt bad cutting up such a nice piece. However, since we are after ultimate function and performance, I felt the sacrifice was worth it.

 

Good thread,
Been contemplating this bottom metal for a while. Never seen one in person. Was worried about the space in the barricade stop being too small to get my finger in there comfortably. I have big hands and It looks to be too small for me to use.
I like how you solved you issue.

 

How wide is the magwell (opening) at its widest? It doesn't look like it add a lot. It's too bad they didn't start with one size up bar stock and really flare that sucker like a race pistol.

 

It isn't crazy wide and I'm sure they could have gone a bit wider. It's definitely a good 50% wider than the factory bottom metal though and because it is raised it's easier to index off of. One of the challenges with the factory (or other flush) bottom metals is you can't quickly find them blindly. We got pretty good with the factory one with lots of practice, but it was still slower than this raised and funneled system.

It would be flared about another 1/16" on each side probably. I'm sure a different design could flare out even more, but it would probably look funny and a lot of people are picky about aesthetics.

 

For those of you wondering, the L3i magwell is ~43% wider than the stock CZ...~0.570" versus 0.400".

@Mark_Dorman what arca rail is that?

 

Area 419 weighted rail.

 

An alternative you might consider is DIP's aluminum offering:
CZ 457 Bottom Metal

It's less chunky, cheaper ($99), adds a wonderful beveled magwell, and looks great.
The only downside I can see so far is that it's 0.03 thinner at the rear action screw which requires you to file or grind down the screw by that ammount or it protrudes up into the bottom of the bolt.

-WV