Author Topic: Help me choose my first CZ pistol  (Read 6896 times)

Offline Agarcia1720

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Help me choose my first CZ pistol
« on: February 20, 2019, 07:06:08 PM »
Hello,
This will be my first CZ and I really cant decide.
Since its my first should i go with the classic 75b?
Should I go all out with the shadow 2?
Sp01, p01?
I know that I want my first to be a metal frame 75, but I do like the modern sp01 variant  looks.
Should  a go SAO?
I also know i want it "tuned".  CZ custom or cajun?  Is there a big difference between  sending it in and drop in kits at home?
Omega trigger?
Are cajun and CZCS worth the extra $?
Im sure you CZ vets get this question a lot so I'm  sorry.  I know, I know, "get one of each".  Not going to happen.  I only allow myself  one major gun purchase a year.  I would love some before and after info too, from the kitchen table smiths  out there .  If you can do it all over again where would you start?  If you could only have one?
Pics would be awesome  too. 

Offline J Mercurio

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Re: Help me choose my first CZ pistol
« Reply #1 on: February 20, 2019, 10:03:05 PM »
What purpose will the gun serve, self defense or competition (USPSA or IDPA)?   If its USPSA, the Shadow 2 is the way to go,, IDPA, SP-01 Shadow.  Self Defense I'd choose the Shadow as the Shadow 2 is pretty heavy.  Both my Shadow 2's were built by CZ Custom so I'm partial to the them.

Offline chfields

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Re: Help me choose my first CZ pistol
« Reply #2 on: February 21, 2019, 05:52:46 AM »
Welcome to our forum!! My first CZ was the CZ 75B SA. I bought it for home defense and a range gun. I soon got involved in competitive shooting and had it "tuned" by CZC specifically for IDPA. I do use it for USPSA, but that is just for fun. It really depends on what you want to use it for as to which way to go....I prefer SA and a safety but YMMV...
Again, welcome to our forum!
CZ 75B SA
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CZ Compact (Steel, No Rail)
CZ Rami BD 9MM
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Member IDPA
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Offline luv2fly

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Re: Help me choose my first CZ pistol
« Reply #3 on: February 21, 2019, 10:10:52 PM »
If I could have only one, it would be my PCR.  Not just one CZ, but one pistol.

Offline Dvrdwn72

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Re: Help me choose my first CZ pistol
« Reply #4 on: February 24, 2019, 06:52:06 PM »
I still love my sp 01 shadows. That is what I would get if it were me.

Offline Agarcia1720

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Re: Help me choose my first CZ pistol
« Reply #5 on: February 24, 2019, 08:40:38 PM »
Thanks for the replies and  the welcome.
Definitely  not  for ccw.  Range and maybe some competition in the future.  Home defense too. 
The question is, if you can have only one CZ. 
Shadow custom shop, or shadow  2?
Sp01 sent to czcs or cgw, or stock shadow 2?

Offline PappaWheelie

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Re: Help me choose my first CZ pistol
« Reply #6 on: February 24, 2019, 08:57:40 PM »
I would love some before and after info too, from the kitchen table smiths out there .  If you can do it all over again where would you start?  If you could only have one?
Pics would be awesome  too.

Hi Agarcia1720,
If I had to start over I'd take the same path with 20/20 hindsight and all: 2075 RAMI BD for concealed carry and global-best (via extended mag) ergonomics, then buy CGW trigger job parts and enjoy the DIY satisfaction. BUT: you might have to wait to get it to begin with, they're relatively hard to come by.
http://www.defensereview.com/cz-2075-rami-big-gun-performance-in-a-sub-compact-dasa-9mm-40-sw-pistol/
http://www.czforum.com/forum/index.php?topic=5054.msg21403#msg21403
http://www.czforum.com/forum/index.php?topic=4798.msg20513#msg20513
https://czfirearms.us/index.php?topic=95318.msg732479#msg732479
https://czfirearms.us/index.php?topic=99762.msg769614#msg769614
https://czfirearms.us/index.php?topic=96929.msg746657#msg746657
http://www.czforum.com/forum/index.php?topic=5463.msg23034#msg23034
http://www.czforum.com/forum/index.php?topic=5426.msg22929#msg22929
-lots more under "Show Posts" for my Avatar
Have fun with your decision!!!


Member, Gun Owners of America
CC: CZ 2075 RAMI BD in PappaWheelie Invisible 15 Round RAMI Holster
Homeboy: CZ 97 BD, Underwood 45 Super 120 Grain Xtreme Defender ammo
UBG: CZ 75 SP-01 Tactical Urban Grey Suppressor-ready
-all w/ CGW Short Reset Kit/1485-T2 Disco, 5 "Thick" Trigger, polished SA tooth

Offline Dvrdwn72

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Re: Help me choose my first CZ pistol
« Reply #7 on: March 31, 2019, 07:06:22 AM »
Thanks for the replies and  the welcome.
Definitely  not  for ccw.  Range and maybe some competition in the future.  Home defense too. 
The question is, if you can have only one CZ. 
Shadow custom shop, or shadow  2?
Sp01 sent to czcs or cgw, or stock shadow 2?
If I had only 1 choice, I would send my sp01 shadow to cz custom. It is a great all around platform.

Offline MFI

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Re: Help me choose my first CZ pistol
« Reply #8 on: May 07, 2019, 11:21:58 AM »
Only been shooting a while but after testing several 1911's and a CZ 75 I think..I ended up with a Shadow 2...why..it was the same money as a nice 1911 and was better suited to what I'll do with it..target shooting on a Sunday morning. I liked the 75's trigger more than the Springfield 1911 I had been shooting...the Shadow 2 was so much better. And I'll never outgrow it.

Offline korinis

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Re: Help me choose my first CZ pistol
« Reply #9 on: May 21, 2019, 10:19:15 AM »
4 yrs ago decided to get a semi-auto handgun - for range and HD, not carry. Went to every range in Miami & Ft. Lauderdale and tested most every rental handgun in 9mm and 45acp - more than 40 over about a year's time.


Ergonomics and accuracy at 25yd (or less) in my hand were top criteria. No surprise that CZ and 1911s came out on top of the list that included Sigs, S&W, SA, Remington, Walther, Glock, FN. Beretta, H&K - steel, polymer, alloy. Specifically, CZ 75 SP-01 and Sig TacOps 1911 came out #1 and #2. i decided to get the SP-01 Shadow customized by CZCustom for about $900.


The CZ SP-01 Shadow is still my favorite handgun, most accurate (for me), most reliable after about 2500 trouble-free rounds. Therefore my recommendation would be a SP-01 Shadow from CZC - you can't go wrong with this gun. I also have an FN and Glock which are fine but they don't challenge the Shadow. I'm starting to think about another CZ - perhaps a Shadow2 or AccuShadow or maybe even a P-01/PCR/Compact for a carry gun - but that gun will have a hard time surpassing my Shadow :cheesy:


Hope my experience helps you. CZ is #1 as far as I am concerned.

Offline daviscc

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Re: Help me choose my first CZ pistol
« Reply #10 on: July 25, 2019, 09:44:16 PM »
My first was the 75B SA and I love it. Next was a P-01 and then an EVO3. Still looking for more.

Offline Black Wolf

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Re: Help me choose my first CZ pistol
« Reply #11 on: September 01, 2019, 09:06:34 AM »
Thanks for the replies and  the welcome.
Definitely  not  for ccw.  Range and maybe some competition in the future.  Home defense too. 
The question is, if you can have only one CZ. 
Shadow custom shop, or shadow  2?
Sp01 sent to czcs or cgw, or stock shadow 2?


Shadow 2.  That was an enjoyable gun to shoot.


If you were gonna CC, I'd say P01.

Offline Benderx4

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Re: Help me choose my first CZ pistol
« Reply #12 on: October 19, 2019, 01:54:58 PM »
My first was a classic 75B and my most recent is a Shadow 2.  Good luck!

Offline AITG

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Re: Help me choose my first CZ pistol
« Reply #13 on: December 13, 2019, 11:32:36 PM »
I wanted a compact 9mm decocker. I got a 75D-PCR from CZCustom. After 1,000 rounds I sent it back for a trigger change/clean up. It's my nicest handgun, ahead of a W. German Sig 228 (the Holy Grail of Sigs). That says a lot.

If you go the PCR route, have the trigger work done before they ship it. Doing it afterwards cost me an extra $90. for UPS overnight air plus return shipping. Ouch.