My SP-01 is DA/SA with the decocker (called Tactical). I have my 85 Combat (shown in the photo that I posted above) converted to single action only with the CGW (Cajun Gun Works) 6SAO trigger and several additional CGW parts in it, plus the Pre-B short trigger reset. It has an awesome action and trigger pull. The entire range of fore-and-aft trigger movement is within the thickness of the trigger. Anyone familiar with the factory CZ triggers will know how much of a change that represents.Is yours a single action only or a decocker model?
I was actually just talking about that pistol with a relative this last week at a Christmas party. He uses it for 3-gun; says the gun shoots great but the double-stack grip is a little too fat for his tastes. He's in the market for a single-action 9mm 1911 now.
As far as other metal-framed 9mms, I love the way the Beretta 92s feel - the grip is absolutely spacious, plus the gun is lighter than you might think because of the aluminum frame. But I just never got the hang of the long trigger. YMMV; I've seen people shoot the lights out with 92s so I know it's not the gun.
Are you asking for an all steel gun or are you asking for an all metal gun? Many of the guns you have listed are not all steel. Sig Legion P226s & Beretta 92FS have alloy/aluminum frames.
Small hands? CZ75 or Hi-Power.
Larger hands ? Beretta 92FS, 92A1
You can get a Beretta 92A1 for 499 plus your transfer these days and that is a HELLUVA. Gun for a fantastic deal. 3 17 round magazines and a gun built for far more abuse then the 9mm will give it. Accurate/cheap/reliable/3 mags. Tough to find better this hot second.
OP wants all metal. Nothing wrong with that. No reason to push a G17 or whatever on them. I own and have experience with a WIDE range of small arms and a metal framed semi auto does “feel” better then many polymer counterparts IMO. Not that a Glock 17/19 is ever really a wrong answer just saying that they are not always the right answer for everyone.
Beretta M9A3 $763
I really like the Vertec Grip setup a lot better.
Agree with this. The shadow 2 is not way better than the sp01 tactical. I own both. Although I have not yet done any CGW work i am considering it.Get an SP-01, then later when you can sneak it under the divorce radar, get a Cajun Gun Works Pro Package https://cajungunworks.com/product/75664-pro-package-for-decockers/ (or the one for safety gun if you go with a safety). If you want to convert to Single-action-only at some point, you'll need to get the safety gun instead of the decocker.
IME, the above SP-01 path will give you a BETTER action and trigger than the factory Shadow, and you'll have your full-size steel, 18+1 rounds, and a rail, AND your marriage intact.
My SP-01 is a fantastically accurate shooter, so I really question whether a Shadow or a worked gun would shoot any better in my hands. I assume accuracy is a little bit more of a luck-of-the-draw with a standard gun than with a Shadow or higher level gun, but my SP-01 leaves little room for improvement, and I've read the same from quite a few other people.
Get an SP-01, then later when you can sneak it under the divorce radar, get a Cajun Gun Works Pro Package https://cajungunworks.com/product/75664-pro-package-for-decockers/ (or the one for safety gun if you go with a safety). If you want to convert to Single-action-only at some point, you'll need to get the safety gun instead of the decocker.
IME, the above SP-01 path will give you a BETTER action and trigger than the factory Shadow, and you'll have your full-size steel, 18+1 rounds, and a rail, AND your marriage intact.
My SP-01 is a fantastically accurate shooter, so I really question whether a Shadow or a worked gun would shoot any better in my hands. I assume accuracy is a little bit more of a luck-of-the-draw with a standard gun than with a Shadow or higher level gun, but my SP-01 leaves little room for improvement, and I've read the same from quite a few other people.
My SP-01 is DA/SA with the decocker (called Tactical). I have my 85 Combat (shown in the photo that I posted above) converted to single action only with the CGW (Cajun Gun Works) 6SAO trigger and several additional CGW parts in it, plus the Pre-B short trigger reset. It has an awesome action and trigger pull. The entire range of fore-and-aft trigger movement is within the thickness of the trigger. Anyone familiar with the factory CZ triggers will know how much of a change that represents.
You CAN convert the decocker/Tactical model to single action only but it's not a good idea because you have no safety. CGW will not install the SAO trigger in a decocker gun, and they strongly advise customers not to do so.
Agree with this. The shadow 2 is not way better than the sp01 tactical. I own both. Although I have not yet done any CGW work i am considering it.
Para ordnance has their tactical recon 18 round double stack magazines and a rail as well.
https://www.para-usa.com/firearms/tactical/black-ops-recon-9mm.html
The only all metal pistols that meets your requirements that I'd buy is something from the Sig 226 family. Or a BHP or clone thereof.
You can dislike plastic if you want, but that is the future. The classic all steel pistols will probably always be around, but designs made from aluminum alloy are slowly dying off. I believe that in my lifetime there will be a day when such pistols are no longer available new. Plastic does everything they do, and does it better.
I'm not enthused by polymer guns.
Here is the Beretta 92a1
https://shoot-straight.com/product/beretta-92a1-j9a9f10/
This is a helluva lot of gun for the dollar. I have one and it’s been stellar and is a bit overbuilt compared to a regular 92fs.
OP what is the realistic budget and how much of that do you want to spend?
Owning may different CZs from a P01, 75B, 75B SAO, Shadow 2, All Steel P01, PCR, 75B Compact etc.... there is a huge difference between the SP01 and the Shadow 2 if you are looking to shoot fast with combat or competition level accuracy. This does not make the SP01 a bad gun. It is a good if not great gun but it is not a Shadow 2. Right out of the box the Shadow 2 is one of the best values in a full sized 9mm today. It can be had for less than $1000 OTD give or take a bit depending on what you pay a local FFL for transfers. To the OP @fireside44 if the budget allow this would be my personal choice.
You can dislike plastic if you want, but that is the future. The classic all steel pistols will probably always be around, but designs made from aluminum alloy are slowly dying off. I believe that in my lifetime there will be a day when such pistols are no longer available new. Plastic does everything they do, and does it better.
Where did you gather that I disliked it? I looked at, and have shot glocks, xd, a couple other ccw size pieces as well. I was hot on a Glock for a minute until I see what I can get for similar prices. I come from revolver world. It just doesn't enthuse me when I compare them to steel offerings. I really liked the CZ p-09 but the 75 is steel, and legendary and proven. So really I'm looking at a cz75, a Beretta or copy, or some 1911. It's ok if polymer is the future, it's just not my future.
As little as possible, as much as necessary. I haven't bought a gun in 8 years. I just had my first turn-the-handle hot bath in almost four years yesterday. Been busting my hump, the pistol is a personal reward for my efforts so if I want to spend 1500 bucks my old lady can kick rocks. But a 1500 buck pistol would leave me in the negative for mags and ammo and the woman will surely get me back with her own spending habits and then I'ma kick rocks myself. If I kept the gun under 7-8 hundred I can justify a new used revolver in .38 later this year because I "went cheap" and she can't view my cash ammo purchases, lol.
Thanks for very informative post. I must be browsing all the wrong stores for guns because I cannot find a cz shadow 2 for less than 1100 bucks. I guess I need to look beyond buds and academy.
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Yes, the Shadow 2 that the OP is considering.Lots of confusing terminology being used in these posts. @I6turbo when you say Shadow are your referring to the out of production CZ 75 Shadow or the Shadow 2? I am going to assume you are referring to the Shadow 2.
I didn't say that a SP-01 would have a better trigger out of the box. I said that IME it'd have a better trigger with the CGW Pro Package in it. My 85 Combat has essentially the Pro Package (though I arrived at it in a different way) plus SAO, and based upon the couple of Shadow 2 and Tactical Sport Orange models I've handled, the trigger and action makes those guns feel like a stock 75B by comparison -- still a relative lot of camming back and a relatively heavy trigger pull.I am not sure how the SP01 which is essentially a factory 75B in a different frame is going to have a better trigger out of the box than a Shadow 2?
Yes, the Shadow 2 that the OP is considering.
I didn't say that a SP-01 would have a better trigger out of the box. I said that IME it'd have a better trigger with the CGW Pro Package in it. My 85 Combat has essentially the Pro Package (though I arrived at it in a different way) plus SAO, and based upon the couple of Shadow 2 and Tactical Sport Orange models I've handled, the trigger and action makes those guns feel like a stock 75B by comparison -- still a relative lot of camming back and a relatively heavy trigger pull.
To be clear, I don't OWN the Shadow 2 or TSO. I only have the CZ handguns in the photo that I posted above (85 Combat, SP-01, PCR, P-01, 75B, 97B, and some Kadet Kits). Re: the Shadow and TSO, I've only handled them, racked the slide, dry-fired them a bit, etc., which is enough to understand the trigger, but not how they actually shoot.
For range shooting, I'm sure I'd like a Shadow 2 or TSO, but I'm also pretty sure it'd end up with CGW parts in it. My recommendation for the SP-01 and CGW kit for the OP here was based partly on his thinking that a Shadow 2 might also come with a divorce, which would make it infinitely more expensive in several ways.