Anyone shot a CZ?

[spareparts]

I'm in the market for a 9mm, not too interested in the polymer guns( I like steel) and have been researching the CZ75, they have a good reputation, but none of the ranges around here have one to shoot, any of ya'll had any experiance with one?

[chumbucket]

The current generation of CZ handguns seems to be much better quality than in the past. Like you, I was never a fan of the polymer handguns. I purchased a Glock 9mm back in the late 80's when they were first becoming popular. I brought it to the range, put about 2dozen rounds through it, boxed it up and returned it to the gun shop I bought it from. I took a loss on it, but went with a SigSauer P226. Very, very happy with that purchase. I did look at some CZ's, but didn't like the feel and what seemed to be sloppy machining tolerences. I haven't checked out the newest generation CZ's personally other than online reading and a couple of friends good reviews. But, most of what I read and hear of them are quite favorable.

[willy]

CZ has always had a good rep as far as durablity and overall design characteristics. There fit and finish has never been up to par with several other manufacturers pieces. They are of similar quality to Taurus Arms as far as overall production qualities, in fact Taurus as of the recent years has surpassed many of the other foreign made arms in overall quality.
That being said they make a fine durable arm that can often be bought at a reduced price. They are also often the basis for custom firearms and with those modifications can make a superior weapon for personal defense and/or competition.
Glock is a diffrent animal all together, like CB said they have had some minor issues in the distant past but were then a new firearm concept and first and foremost a military arm and serve extremely well in that capacity.
Over the past decade their weapons have improved dramaticaly to suit the police market of which they now are far and away the hands down major market share holder.
And it is not just because of price, their durability under adverse conditions is phenominal, there accuracy excellent and their durabilityand many designs have put the other manufactures on their heels.
I have spent thousands of rounds thru every manufactures weapons as the Range Master for our PD and as tester for both the county and our PD setting up trials for weapons procurement and have made the decisions for those purchases. Lives were always on the line.
Fifteen years ago Sig Sauer P226 and smaller variants for the diffrent uses in the PD's was far and away the weapon of choice. They were then and are today one of the best quality firearms you can purchase for any handgun purpose.
That being said there are numerous other weapons the past decade which provide as good if not better performance, Heckler and Koch, Glock in particular.
Personaly I carried for many years a Colt Government model which had some very competent work done to it to improve it for PD carry purposes. In the hands of a man that practices and who is well trained it is by far the best personal defense/close range anti personnel weapon available when selected in 45 Caliber. Today it is available as a stock weapon from the factory with unmatched capability from numerous makers.
But there is a caveat, these weapons are designed to be carried cocked and locked and unless you become intimate with this form of weapon carry it can be a safety nightmare and its image can be unnerving for the uninformed.
Today for a carry weapon I have one of the ten shot 45cal Glocks, it is small and easy to carry, incredibly accurate and reliable as a hammer. I removed the factory plastic sight which have always been problematic and installed a set of good three dot night sights and am very comfortable in meeting any close encounter with it. I highly recommend it. They are easy to work on and parts are available everywhere. In a good caliber 45 highly recommended for man sized shooters it is a very hard to surpass weapon and for the money a good deal.
I would recommend that in a close encounter situation for which I trained hundreds of officers for three decades, several of which had the misfortune to have had to apply those techniques, you spend the extra money on a good quality weapon from a major manufacturer in a good caliber with 9MM being the smallest exceptable, and practice practice practice practice. If you can afford to play and buy numerous handguns to play with God bless you, I have been very fortunate in that regard due to competition and desire to seek the ultimate by all means get the CZ and anything else that tickels your fancy, but alway remember the very tried and centuries old saying that is as true today as ever.
BEWARE THE MAN WITH ONE GUN

[willy]

Oh and CB, I will meet you at the Maytag guys house at dawn and we will make him dance for awhile before we run him out of town and confiscate his Sea Ox

[spareparts]

thanks for the info, I'm looking at a 9 for punching holes in paper, I've got all the other needs taken care of thanks to Colt(& WIlson), and Springfield. I have a Hi Power that I enjoy shooting at the range, its in great shape, and I'd like to keep it that way( have you seen what a high power is selling for now?!!!!), I'd like to have soemthing that I can run a lot of ammo thru on a regular basis( the range is less that 3 miles form my house). I've seen the CZ being used more and more in the limited and production catagory in compitition( advertising and sponsership works), I know they are far from stock even in these classes, but they seem to be right there with every other major manufacture in the end. I looked at their new model (SP-01) and liked it, but I was not too crazy about the look of the finish, its done nicely, just a little heavy( nothing looks better than deep blueing)> I also looked at the armorlight AR-24(CZ copy), it looks about the same, both being priced about the same. It seems like everything out there is priced between$525-$650. I've shot a SIg, not doubting their quality, I just didn't like the feel. I'm not looking for a primary weapon, just looking for decent quality guns to run some ammo thru. Any other suggestions are appreciated

[chumbucket]

The S&W 910 is a very good value for the money.
I have their 4013TSW in .40 cal and is very solid.

[Big Grouper]

Spareparts,

I have a CZ75BD 9mm, CZ75PO1 9mm, and a CZ83 380. My wifw shoots the PO1 and I carry the BD. We together have shot over 2000 rounds through each of the guns. I have mixed 6 different brands of ammo in a 15 round clip and rapid fired to try and stove pipe or jam one of them. Neither has ever jammed!!! My list of handguns are the three CZ's, Ruger MKI 22Lr, Beretta Bobcat 22Lr, Smith Model 15 38sp, Taurus Raging Bull 454, Bersa Thunderbolt 380, Kimber 45 and a Stryker .223 with 3 to 8 Nikon scope.

My list of Autos shows I love them! My CZ 75 BD is the pistol I carry because I know it will always fire. I shoot bullseye at the range and on a slow fire pistol target, I can put 50 rounds all in the black. My kimber shoots this good as well but after 200 rounds, it must be cleaned or it will start stove piping once in a while.

The CZ 75 is an awesome handgun and when you consider the price. I am getting ready to buy a CZ97 45! I am afraid my Kimber is going to sit after that purchase.

[spareparts]

grouper, I've been thinking about the 75BSA, I have two 1911's and I'm more familiar with the SA than the DA/SA action, have you tried the BSA verses the B? Is there much difference in the trigger, is there enough to justify the SA over the standard set up? Another question with the BSA is having no decocker or grip safety, it shouldn't be carried cocked and locked( no difference from my High power). I'm not planning on this being a carry weapon( thats what the series 80 compact is for), so its not a big concern. Its good to hear that you are comapring it to the Kimber, I've shot a Kiimber several times, and its got my Springfield on the replacement list. I can't get my Springfield to shoot with the Kimber for the price difference between the two. I'm bouncing back and forth between Kimber and Para on that choice, but thats another topic all together.

Thanks everyone for all the feed back, gun show is here in two weeks, I may have to go see whats there. None of the shops around here stock CZs, they have all offered to order one, but they aren't giving any breaks on price on a special order, I would rather find one in inventory

[Big Grouper]

The BD has no safety and a decocker. I carry it with a full clip and a dry hole. But the truth is I carry all mine the same way. As far as the triggers, I don't notice any preference on my part as I treat the DA as the SA. Since I have to ratchet one in the hole for the first shot, the triggers are in the rear position anyway. Even my SW M15, I pull the hammer back. I never have liked shooting the long trigger pull for DA. I guess I should make myself, but I am 50 now and I don't break habits very easily now.

Good luck and have fun picking your next hand gun. I love em all, as long as they shoot decent and don't jam. I've been fortunate as even the little Bersa Thunder shoots like a dream. It is a very accurate little 380. I think I simply got lucky on that one. I bought it to carry on the boat and after I found out how well it shoots, I can't treat it that way.

[spareparts]

grouper,
I've got a thunder also, its a great little gun, shoots a lot better than it cost, I bought it brand new for $200 from a gun shop, I think they sell for closer to $300 now, I've seen a few used ones for around $225.

What you answered about not using the DA first shot is precisly why I'm interested in the 75BSA, being a single action only, its more like my other autos(except the bersa). the CZ web site also mentions that it has drop free magazines, do you have to pull the mags out of yours? I know finding a SA version is going to be harder, but if I have to order one, I figure I might as well get what I want