After all the hype I've heard over the years about CZ I'm ready to add one to the wish list.  Which basically means I can't really afford one at the moment but I want to put in the research so when the time comes I can just buy what I want.  

My current semi autos are a Beretta 92A1, M&P40, G21, SCCY CPX2, STI Elektra .45acp & Walther P22 so I have pretty much all the bases covered.  The CZ would be slated as pure fun to shoot at the range gun.  No carry, no home defense or anything, just a fun shooter.  

The CZ 75 seems to be the most talked about and I like the looks of it but after reading some of the other threads on here it seems like their trigger isn't very good from the factory.  I just watched a video about how CZ's were famous for their excellent factory triggers so?  

I definitely don't want to have to spend money to fix a new gun.  I had to do that with my M&P40 1.0 because it's trigger was terrible and it still irritates me.

So what do you CZer's recommend?

CZ 75

Bren 2Ms 7.62 x 39 with 11 inch barrel

CZ P10 tactical in 9mm

What is your budget?

If below $1,000: CZ 75 SP-01

If just over $1,000: CZ Shadow 2

If over $1,500: CZ TS2 or Shadow 2 Orange

...honestly though the trigger isn't horrible on the regular ones like the 75B or the SP-01.  If you're good with polishing and whatnot you can even nice them up a bit yourself.

Now... the $1,000+ guns all have exceptional triggers.  My Shadow 2 SA has a 3.25# trigger pull.  If you get the DA/SA Shadow 2 the SA pull is under 3# (can't remember the exact weight on mine), and the double action was like 4.8# on the one I had.  Basically, any of their competition/target guns have NAAAASTY triggers.

The original SP-01 Shadow or Shadow 2 is what you want, just a fun shooter out of the box.

Another vote for the Shadow 2.

Yep, my TSO has a 22oz trigger.

With the lightest mainspring I still set off all primers and it only had a 19oz break.

I preferred a slightly heavier break so I put a heavier spring in.

To me:

My CZ's are more accurate than I am.

CZ 's typically have a better trigger than most guns out of the box after a few 100 rounds
The CZ's with the Omega trigger are smoother than those without

If you want a really smooth trigger you will get some Cajun parts to put in it.

If you want a classic -  look at the CZ 75 either 75 B, 75 BD, or  75 BD convertible with the Omega trigger.


If $$$ are no problem the Shadow is really the best option.

As much as I love P10 series, they don't do much other striker guns don't.  I just made them my preferred.  

Another vote for Shadow 2.

Shadow 2 single action.

Shadow 2 or 75B

I owned a 75B in 40, sold it because I got out of out of caliber but liked the gun.

The P10C that I had was built as a Glock competitor and it did that too well.  I sold it.

I have shot a Shadow 2 and thought it was a really nice pistol.

I recommend you go to a gun shop, see which ones fit into your budget range, handle them, and pick the one that feels best with the features you want and fits your needs/wants.

I've determined over the years that's the best way to purchase a gun. Don't buy what some stranger on the internet wants you to buy...unless thy're paying for it.

Shadow 2 Optics Ready would get my vote.

My first and only cz was a p01 omega tactical and it’s now my main carry gun.

I’ve got about 1k rounds down the barrel and a trigger spring kit and full polish job I did and this gun is slick.

The action is like glass sliding on glass smooth. The lockup is tighter than any other compact pistol I’ve ever fired. And the trigger after a good polish and a lot of trigger time (almost 1k rounds and tons of daily dry practice) is phenomenal for a duty DA/SA gun.

I’ve felt the TS orange in the store and I will own one one day. But for now my P01 gets driven hard 1-2 days a week at the range and has been fed a steady diet of cheap lead reloads and +p and it’s been stellar

For your first? Either of these (leaning more towards the P-10C).

Attached File

Did I read that right? The gun performed "too well" so you sold it?

First CZ for me was a PCR, basically same as yours, minus the rail, and fancy internals.

Only thing I did was the $50 spring kit to lighten the DA pull up a bit, making it feel like my 686 more, and it's my EDC.

My P10S is the other one that gets a decent amount of carry duty. P-09 is go to home gun, and SP-01 does get carried when I want a full size gun. It's also a fucking tack driver, as they all are, and a personal favorite for range shooting. The PCR is the only one I've changed any parts on.

This.

A spring kit for $25-30 from CZ Custom does wonders for a stock 75 trigger. The accuracy will already be there, you won't need anything to help that.

I'd start with a 75B since it sounds like you're not financially ready for their higher end offerings. Also, the 75B is their foundational pistol and if you get into CZ's, you'll eventually be getting one, anyway.

P-01

If you can find one, a SP-01 Shadow. When I got mine a while back it was the best bang for the buck CZ for what you get out of the box.

Just got my first, a CZ 75 SP-01 Tactical, in Urban Grey on Sat.

https://cz-usa.com/product/cz-75-sp-01-tactical-urban-grey-suppressor-ready/

Put about ~200rnds thought it this weekend. Love it! I highly recommend it!

I love all of my cz pistols.   my favorite has to be the 85 combat, discontinued but may be able to find a used one.  If buying new cant go wrong with an sp01 or shadow.

If it has the omega trigger and you’re feeling handy, you can get a cheap spring kit and a dremel and polish up the moving parts and lighten the hammer spring and trigger return spring a touch and make the DA 1/2 the weight as factory and still enough oomph to light off any primer no problem

Nearly 2k rounds and counting in the last 6 months I’ve owned my smaller p01 tactical in urban gray. Still flawless and only 1 stovepipe to date. Shooting 100% reloads

@airgunner
Not exactly.  It felt and shot so much like a Glock, that I sold it.  The HK VP9 does striker fired the best in my experience.

I have a CZ75BD that I love- it feels perfect to me and is just plain fun to shoot (I'm no pro).
Wife (upper 60's) shoots it very well, but doesn't like the weight.
I would buy another one but am saving up for a rifle (CZ527).

To me the CZ 75 is the classic CZ pistol that you should start with (even though my first was a CZ 52). I have mainly shot Sigs in the past so I prefer a decocker, hence mine is a BD, but many or most CZ pistols are based on the 75 (SP-01, P-01, compact, PCR, shadow, etc...) so it is a good starting point for the ones you'll inevitably get in the future.

IMHO it is nice that the 16 round full size mags I loaded up on will also work in the P-01 I just bought. Sights are also the same for most of the CZ 75 pistols.

FWIW I've purchased 2 CZ pistols in the past 2 months and am already on the hunt for a P-01 steel frame, a CZ 75 polished stainless, and an SP-01 tactical. I'ts basically a disease.

Shadow 1 or 2.

how big are you?

if you're a big guy a cz75 or cz75B.

cz75 has a better trigger but no firing pin safety.

cz75B less bettter trigger but with a firing pin safety (as per glock)

do you like a safety or a hammer drop decocker that reverts to half cock when activated.that will be a cz75BD for decocker or cz75B for a manual safety.

smaller hands call for a cz75D compact or cz75 compact or maybe a PCR(I haven't handled a PCR)

go to a LGS and try them all--your hands will feel the difference.

personally i like the cz75D compact because i have small hands.i do have a cz75 and cz75B.

Hmm...lots of good info here.  I don't see spending over a grand so that pretty much limits me from what I'm reading.  Thanks!

I went with the Shadow 2.  Now looking for more, many more.

There's an Urban Gray one at a local store that has been calling my name. I've fondled it several times.

I own:
75BD
P-01 Omega
P-10C
P-10S
Scorpion

My Omega is currently being replaced by CZ. Not repaired; replaced. There is a lot of info on the 2018 run of P-01 Omegas having a serious issue with the decocker springing out of position when tension is applied to the ejector.

My 75BD is a great pistol. Heavy, but nice.

I absolutely love both of my P-10's. I had Cajun Gun Works mill the slide on my C model for direct mounting a Holosun. Relatively fast turn around and clean work.

I like my CZ75 pre-B. Most reliable pistol I own.

Side by side shooting with a CZ75B, the B had less muzzle flip. I'd choose it.

Had a trigger job done on mine. Double action is glass but a long pull. Its as nice as my Python's DA.

I like my CZ75 pre-B. Most reliable pistol I own.

Side by side shooting with a CZ75B, the B had less muzzle flip. I'd choose it.

Had a trigger job done on mine. Double action is glass but a long pull. Its as nice as my Python's DA.

75b omega if you haven't purchased yet. Just my opinion you get a good trigger and the base model to build anyway you want.

75 SA with cajun goodness

No need to spend over a grand to get into the CZ platform IMHO.

CZ 75B - good starting point if you don't want to break the bank. If you want to improve it there are many options available from CZ custom and Cajun Gun Works, widely available even in today's market. Seen them locally for about $600-$700. Sights are not the best but at least they are not plastic. Magazines are cheap and widely available. Trigger is decent out of the box, some creep. Shooting the hell out of it and some polishing of the internals will improve it.

CZ 75B omega urban grey - another good starting point, has lots of upgrades to the 75B platform such as suppressor night sights, threaded barrel, can be switched from decocker or manual safety, upgraded frame with more of a beavertail. They're starting to pop up again not for the price they used to be but still well under $1k. Also, the omega's are easier to take apart than standard 75B platform. Less availability of aftermarket parts for Omega platform but they do have some parts that interchange with 75B platform. Internals can also be polished to improve trigger.

CZ 75 SP-01 - Basically a 75B with full length pic rail. Still available for around $800 in today's market. There are some models that come with night sights so that's better than regular sights. All steel gun so expect extra weight. Lots of aftermarket parts availability and can be improved significantly if you want to spend the $$$.

SP-01 Shadow - Non-firing pin block SP-01 so trigger is very smooth. Also comes with upgraded sights (Blacked out rear, fiber optic front). They started popping up again for less than $1k. Really doesn't need any upgrades unless you're a trigger snob. In that case if you spend some $$$ it can be improved significantly.

I own 2 of the 4 mentioned. When I decided to get a CZ, those were the models I wanted to get into. And it had to be manual safety not a decocker. The placement of the frame mounted decocker was uncomfortable to me. Because of that I passed on a SP-01 at first because all I saw locally was the SP-01 tactical model. Also passed on 75B when I got the 75B omega because out of the box it had a better trigger to me. The threaded barrel, suppressor sights and cerakote were a bonus to me. They were both priced the same when I bought mine about 3 years ago.

Good luck on your road to getting your first CZ. You won't be disappointed.

I'll leave you with some porn

Might not be the answer your after. It doesn't matter which one you buy first. Because you will eventually buy the others.