TriStar P120 vs. CZ 75

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JeffTC

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Greetings all, I just acquired a new TriStar (Canik) P120 9mm, 19+1. So far, after about 200 rounds, I'm generally very pleased, it seems to me to be one very solid chunk of well made steel (call me old fashioned, I'm not the biggest fan of polymer guns, no beef, just personal preference I guess). I'm told that these are based on the CZ 75. The Mec-Gar clip it came with is advertised for a CZ 75. I was wondering (I've never owned nor am I familiar with the CZ 75) from those who are familiar with both the TriStar and the CZ, is the TriStar P120 a clone or merely based on the CZ 75 design. What are the major differences? In your opinion which would you prefer for a typical open carry personal defense sidearm in a suburban and rural environment? I would appreciate your two cents on it. Thanks.
 
I don't know anything about theTriStar so I'll only be 50% helpful.L.O.L. I'm glad yours is running well.That is half the battle. If it's dependable and you shoot it well, that's a win-win.I just recently purchased a CZ 75B and like you I've ran 300 rounds flawless rounds through it. It fits my hand like a glove and it shoots dead on. I was in love as soon as the first mag was finished. The fit & finish is very good.The TriStar & the CZ seems IMG_20191208_164646118.jpg IMG_20190924_145642116.jpg very close in quality and dependability. Looks like you did OK sir! Congrats!!
 
I don't know anything about theTriStar so I'll only be 50% helpful.L.O.L. I'm glad yours is running well.That is half the battle. If it's dependable and you shoot it well, that's a win-win.I just recently purchased a CZ 75B and like you I've ran 300 rounds flawless rounds through it. It fits my hand like a glove and it shoots dead on. I was in love as soon as the first mag was finished. The fit & finish is very good.The TriStar & the CZ seemsView attachment 882784 View attachment 882786 very close in quality and dependability. Looks like you did OK sir! Congrats!!
20200106_232810.jpg 20200106_232855.jpg
On the surface there appear to be some differences which would seem to be cosmetic, but judging by the similar configuration of the safety and slide lock levers I would not be at all surprised if the two are indeed very similar internally. Speaking strictly from aesthetic point of view (I see guns as works of art as well as weapons), I like yours better, though I've always been partial to stainless steel finishes. When I fired mine I was shooting at empty soda cans and tore them up pretty good, so I have no pictures of the spread but it was at a range of about 20-25 yards and the groupings were more than sufficient to saw the cans in half after about 20-25 rounds so I'd say the accuracy of our two weapons is probable very similar also. The TriStar P120 has a good bit of weight to it, takes some getting used to in fact, but this does make it very easy to handle recoil and keep the muzzle on target after the first shot. In a tactical exercise, I may not be able to drive a nail in at 30 yards but the spread is certainly close enough to practically guarantee a kill when targeting center of mass (God forbid I ever have the need to put that to the test).
 
I might be remembering this incorrectly...

Tanfoglio in Italy has been making "clones" of the CZ75 since forever. They look and feel like the original, but the parts are not interchangeable. (The Tanfoglios imported to the US are called an "EAA Witness".)

I think I read that the Canik/Tri Stars are actually based on the Tanfoglios, rather than on the original CZ's.

The basic design is a good one. If it's executed well, and the fit and finish are good, there's no reason to consider it to be inferior to the original. My Tanfoglio pistols are every bit as good as my FiL's CZ's.
 
Can't speak to the "120" model but the Tristar 100 is almost identical to the "CZ PCR" 9mm which I sometimes use for practice in order to limit the number of rounds.It's every bit as good as the CZ PCR, just a little different in it's construction and function of safety and trigger. They seem to be very good pistols for the price.
 
Hey there.

The P120 is a copy of the CZ SP-01. Mags should be interchangeable.

The weird named canik fanatic forum could be used to confirm though.

Canik is the maker. Tristar is the importer. Canik is imported by the less than reputable other company.

That's the difference.
 
I might be remembering this incorrectly...

Tanfoglio in Italy has been making "clones" of the CZ75 since forever. They look and feel like the original, but the parts are not interchangeable. (The Tanfoglios imported to the US are called an "EAA Witness".)

I think I read that the Canik/Tri Stars are actually based on the Tanfoglios, rather than on the original CZ's.

The basic design is a good one. If it's executed well, and the fit and finish are good, there's no reason to consider it to be inferior to the original. My Tanfoglio pistols are every bit as good as my FiL's CZ's.

Not sure which way this worked. But I did see a Tanfoglio slide on a CZ75 frame or the other way around. I kept looking at it and almost put a bid in on it as it kept coming up each time I searched for CZ75's on GunBroker. It was a import from Israel as I recall.

WB
 
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