New-to-me Pre-B CZ75

Love the pre-B 75.

She's a beauty....congrats.

Nice CZ. 1988 model?

I used to sort of ignore CZs when I'd see them at gun shows or in display cases. Then I handled one. Then I bought one. Now they're multiplying in my safe! I wish old guns could talk. What a story some of them would tell.

I like the HK too, btw. I've got a matching set of USPs... one USP and one USP Compact.

They're all good! Have fun with them!

Nice honest wear on that CZ. I like it.

The serial number should be stamped in the little oval area by the ejection port.

Plastic guns hold near 'bout zero appeal to me but I like that CZ. It would be interesting to know the history on a gun like that -- how exactly did it get the patina?

Can anyone help me with "pre-B"?

AlfonsDeWolf said:

Can anyone help me with "pre-B"?

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Assuming you are asking what the "pre-B" part means, it means that the gun was the original version of the 75 (there are a few minor variations among this group) and was produced before they added the firing pin Block. It would also mean that the sights are a little smaller, the trigger guard is rounded, the firing pin is retained differently, and a few other minor differences.

NOTE that there are modern 75/85 platform guns that, like the pre-B, do not have the firing pin block, and therefore are not "B" guns; such as the 85 Combat. IMO, the 85 Combat is often overlooked by 75B buyers, to the disadvantage of many. Some 85 Combat advantages (to me) are that it has no firing pin block and a slightly better trigger, has an over-travel adjustment on the trigger, drops the magazine free when you press the release, accepts the pre-B short reset as a drop-in, and it has fully adjustable LPA sights. I also have a 75B, 75 PCR, P-01, and 97 B. I think the 85 Combat is the bargain in the bunch, my favorite to shoot, and probably the last one I'd let go (unless I was keeping a carry gun, in which case it'd be the PCR).

Sweet!

Damn, that looks nice!!!! Congrats.

Thank you I6Turbo.

I6turbo, I think last weekend I sold a buddy on CZ's after letting him shoot my stock SA.
I use it as a range gun and he's more intrested in "combat" type handguns, I'll call him up and give him the run down in the 85 as I forgot it has most the extras if the SA, but is DA/SA.

Do you know if the 85 has the same beaver tail as the SA's and SP01's or the smaller, lower one of the regular 75's?

Shame, that frame on my SA feels great.
It's not a big difference, but sealed the deal on the SA.
The Stainless CZ75B's have the same frame too.

gotboostvr said:

Shame, that frame on my SA feels great.
It's not a big difference, but sealed the deal on the SA.
The Stainless CZ75B's have the same frame too.

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As Dragonfly said, the 85 Combat has the same beaver tail shape as the 75 B.

Here's a photo with both guns showing (but the 75 B has the Kadet kit on it in the photo). Looks like the 97 B has the SA/SP-01 style. That gun is super comfortable shooting the 45 ACP, to the point that you almost have to compare them back to back with a 75/85 to determine which has more felt recoil (the .45 does, slightly). I wonder if any of that is attributable to the beaver tail design....

I've never had a semi-auto bite me with the hammer, including the BHP shown in the photo, and haven't had a beaver tail dig into my hand, so I'm okay with either configuration. But the 97 B sure is comfy. (You *need* one, BTW. )

I think the OP's 75 has the old-style safety (which has an internal coil spring.) If so, be very careful if you ever remove that component, as the little spring can go walkabout and if lost, will be almost impossible to replace. (Insert a pin in the opening on the lever to help hold it in place if you need to remove the lever.)

They're great guns. One of my first CZ was an early pre-B (without the half-cock notch.) It may have been a short-rail model, but I didn't know about that rare model when I had it.

Triggers are very nice on every pre-B I've owned, and that's 4-5. I've given up on them because of the increasing rarity of some key parts, and B models, with a little care or attention, can have equally good triggers.

The best option is one of the special run of 75 Commemorative models introduced some years back: they look like a pre-B (i.e., rounded trigger guard, old style slide release. spur hammer) but have the firing pin block (which I consider a plus) and all other parts are standard, and you can use the B-model Kadet Kits. Kadet Kits won't always work with pre-Bs, as some of the pre-B hammers are two wide to fit the rear of the Kadet Kit slide.) Then just have some trigger work done (or become adept and do it yourself, following tips on the CZ Forum website.)

Dragonfly said:

The pistol worked great with the 115 gr Sellier & Bellot ammunition...

I had forgotten how pleasant these pistols were to shoot—excellent triggers, smooth and mild recoil, and a wonderful feel in the hands. I much preferred this to the HK45!

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Sounds like a great time with your Dad and the guns!

Liking the CZ 75 like you do (and like I do), you might want to try a CZ 97 B if you want a similarly sweet-shooting .45 ACP. I find the 97 B to have almost the same great feel as the 75-based guns, and the recoil generally isn't much (if any) greater than a 75 with the 115 grain S&B (which is hot 9-mm ammo). I love the 97 B.

The only NEGATIVE thing about the CZ-97B is that the grip is larger than the 75B-based guns... and some find them just a hair too big. In my experience, the 97B and the SIG P220 are two of the best DA/SA .45s in terms of out-of-box accuracy and reliability (and reasonable costs.)

The Tanfoglio-based [i.e., Witness] larger-framed guns are slightly smaller through the grip than the CZ-97 and a bit easier to handle.

Dragonfly

Same experience with the CZ 97B as you had; smaller size hands that find the CZ 75 grip design and controls to be perfect in terms of their ergonomics. The CZ 97B; just a bit too large for me to make for a comfortable grip. One of my favorite compact 9mm.s is the P01.

viking499 said:

The serial number should be stamped in the little oval area by the ejection port.

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Nope. On a pre-B the two numbers in the oval behind the ejection port are the year of manufacture. Mine is a 90.