[Ian11]

Its down to 2 pistols. The CZ-75B or BD 9mm or the SA "Loaded" 1911 in .45.

Which would you "trust" more JUST in terms of sheer reliability and durability for self defense.

Please no arguments over caliber, type of action, price, country of origin etc, etc.

[10-Ring]

I'd go w/ the SA 1st and then the CZ down the line for 2 reasons:
1. I don't have any personal experience w/ the CZ
2. I like the SA 1911's.

[synoptic]

The 1911's are very nice. I had one for a little while (it was a friend's I was holding on to), hated the day I had to give it back. It's a good, sturdy gun that feels good in your hand...

[PATH]

The CZ is nice but I do so enjoy the 1911. Personal preference as CZ makes some nice stuff.

[rick458]

The SA will serve you well as will the CZ
both are very well made very ergonimic pistols
that will last a lifetime

[Dobe]

I bought a 1911 and a CZ 75 SA in January. Both are great guns. I prefer the 1911. Mine is a Kimber Custom Target. The trigger alone was worth the purchase. The CZ is a nice gun, but the Kimber was worth it for sure.

Funny thing though. The CZ is about $200 less and shoots just as accurate as the Kimber.

[ruger357]

1911.:D

[Tamara]

The SA Loaded I have needed the extractor and ejector replaced right out of the box.

[Marko Kloos]

Out of the box, I'd probably more inclined to trust the CZ than the SA as far as reliability goes.

Both are equally durable, being steel framed guns and all, and both have great ergonomics.

The CZ is a whole lot cheaper and probably equally accurate, not to mention cheaper to feed.

[Tamara]

Also, if you buy the 1911, you won't be able to go near a Brownell's catalog ever again without your wallet getting hoovered. :D

[ZekeLuvs1911]

1911! 1911! 1911! Go 1911, all the way! No one can call themselves a "true gun due or dudette" unless they have a 1911! 1911! :p

[Sean Smith]

Honestly? I'd say the CZ is a better choice if you want a trouble-free gun out of the box. They are just a stupidly good value, and in my experience super-reliable. If you get a SA Loaded, look it over carefully and choose one that is well put together... they seem to be really inconsistent in how well the "extra features" like the Novaks and thumb and grip safties are fitted. Some look sharp, and some have overflowing Locktite and gaps you could throw a cat through!

I wouldn't get a SA loaded if you want a 1911 though. SA's own Mil-Spec is a much better value... not as flashy looking, but the performance will be identical. If anything, I've heard at least one pistolsmith say he thinks the Mil-Spec is better put together than the Loaded! A new Colt 01991/01091 or a pre-Series II Kimber would probably be better 1911 choices than the loaded, too.

[BevrFevr]

Love taking my cz to the range and watching the 1911 guys clear jams all night. Most 1911 guys get it worked out a few hundred dollars later. When they finally get one to run they act like it was a gift from god. You won't get em to admit they went through a box of parts to get it relaible.

Get the 1911 if your idea of shooting is bang, bang, JAM, Bang, Jam, Bang.

Cz is more like bang bang bangbang bang bangbang bang bangbang bang bangbang bang bangbang bang bangbang bang bang until the cows come home.

It's your choice!
-bevr

[Handy]

Eventually, the CZ prices are going to go up and the 15 round mags will be gone. If anything, 1911s are getting better and cheaper. The CZ-75 is the better pistol to by right now.


I like that CZ offers too completely different "safety" controls. Think about what you're going to use the gun for. If you might want to be a bit of a gamer, the B model offers cocked and locked carry.

If you want a no excuses, never screw it up combat gun, go with the BD. The BD is essentially the same concept as the Sig pistols: the weapon is always ready to fire and offers the fewest opportunities to have an AD. The KISS principle.

[Stevie-Ray]

Kimber custom shop

[dairycreek]

CZ's and SA's are both fine guns. No doubt about it. So I really can't say that one is "better" than the other. At the moment I would recommend the CZ75BD. I have one, it has exhibited flawless performance no matter what kind of crappy 9mm ammo I have inflicted upon it, and high cap mags are readily available for it. FWIW. Good shooting;)

[blades67]

Which would you "trust" more JUST in terms of sheer reliability and durability for self defense.

SIG Sauer P220 .45 ACP.

Of the two guns you're looking at, I'd just flip a coin.

[jimbo]

Dead heat. A coin toss would have helped you more! (I voted 1911 by the way...)

[Ian11]

Thanks everyone :banghead: :scrutiny:

You've all been a lot of help:rolleyes:



Here's a question for all you CZ fans. Is the CZ 75B or BD
AS RELIABLE with various hollowpoints as say a Sig P226, Beretta 92, or Glock 17. Or would you say they're "slightly less" so?

[denfoote]

Hey, if Mr. "I hate the 1911" can break down and get one, so can you!!! :D

[New_comer]

I voted CZ 75 BD, prefer compact for carry option.

Since both are all-metal guns, they'll be durable enough for SD,

Reliable enough out of the box... then it has to be CZ. ;)

[Kahr carrier]

Spend a little more Springfield Trp Operator.:D

[ZekeLuvs1911]

Hey Ian,
No problem....glad to be of service.
BTW, I own several 1911's and they all go bang X8 when I pull the trigger..thank you very much. :p :D

[BevrFevr]

With hollowpoints it is 99.99% reliable. Depending on the crap you put through it 100% could be expected. Some owners have not ever experienced FTF's with cz's. Every problem I've had has been related to $14 promags. And that has been 3 FTF's in a few thousand rounds. I still use the mags for range work but that's it. -bevr

[makdaddy03]

CZ

[Ian11]

Sorry, I should have mentioned this before but I do own a very reliable (so far after 800 rounds) Colt M1991A1 that is pretty much stock except for a trigger job, new trigger, and new ejector. And that is why I didn't want a discussion between the 1911 design or any other. I AM a fan of John Browning's classic design.

Anyways, I went into the gunshop to handle both but unless you shoot a few hundred rounds through both you can't really tell can you? I really like the way the SA "Loaded" was put together. It really impressed me with all the "extras" you got for the price. But I just couldn't get rid of the nagging feeling I would have to do "a few things" to make it shoot perfect. Probably unwarranted but there it is. The CZ is a class act in itself. The finish was nicer than I thought, I like the DA trigger after it was decocked (length of pull is reduced), it looks like a very robust design, and it is flat out one of the nicest looking pistols around. A negative was the slide which is hard to grasp and I wished the ejection port was bigger. And oh yeah, its pretty heavy and large for a 10 shot 9mm.

Anyways, it was again a toss up but low and behold I saw a slightly used Sig Sauer P220ST :what: :evil: with only a few rounds through it and Trijicon night sights. I got a P226 9mm so I do trust the Sig name. He let me take it apart and the internals are the nicest I've ever seen in a production pistol under $1000. Bar none. I can always get a SA 1911 or CZ next time but P220ST's don't come down the road too often ya know.;) But I asked him to hold it for me for one day so I can sleep on it. I already put some money down so all he needs is a phone call and he'll DROS is for me. But I think the answers gonna be YES.

Since I couldn't get a straight answer from all of you look at what you all made me do!!!:neener:

[CZ-75]

CZ.

I haven't been too impressed by either the fit or finish of the SA stuff I've seen.

Maybe their stuff gets better with the more money you throw at.

Some of which they can divert to raising the wages at their factory by a few centavos, pasettas, dinero, or whatever, so that the stuff gets fitted better.