Review & Range Report > CZ 75 SP 01 Shadow

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Review & Range Report > CZ 75 SP 01 Shadow

Česká Zbrojovka claims that the CZ-75 (and variants) are in service with "more Governments, Militaries, Police and Security agencies than any other pistol in the world."

The CZ-75 has a mystique all its own. The late Jeff Cooper loved the way the pistol, with its distinctive humpbacked grip, felt in the hand and styled the grip of his legendary Bren Ten after it. A long-time advocate of the Colt M1911, hailed it as the best-designed double-action autoloader available. It has become one of the most popular pistols of its class.


THE SHADOW

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CZ 75 SP-01 Shadow is a vatiant of the CZ 75 SP-01, which is the first full size handgun (4.72” bbl) from CZ to feature the improved manufacturing technology and ergonomics of the NATO approved CZ 75 Compact P-01 model. Featuring an integral 1913 accessory rail on the dust cover, rubber grip panels, and CZ’s corrosion resistant black polycoat finish, the SP-01 is the newest model to join the family of pistols based on the CZ 75 (SA/DA) platform. Borrowing from the improved grip geometry of the CZ 75 Compact P-01, the SP-01 utilizes an extended beavertail to protect shooter’s strong hand as well as allowing for a deeper and more secure grip. The new grip geometry with checkering in key areas on the front and back straps combined with the redistribution of mass provided by the accessory rail noticeably decreases the perceived recoil from previous models and allows for more rapid target acquisition and transitions.
[Courtesy: czusa.com; czub.ch]

While the SP-01 was designed as a military and law enforcement duty sidearm, the new generation CZ 75 SP-01 pistol is especially adapted according to suggestions as proposed by users from Law Enforcement, Military and Police communities worldwide, with an additional input from the Team CZ world premier shooters Angus Hobdell and Adam Tyc.

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Typical features:

- The CZ 75 SP-01 SHADOW features no firing pin block, which consequently helps to slightly reduce trigger pull weight, reduces distance of trigger reset, and improves trigger travel properties.

- 85 Combat Style trigger with over travel adjustment helps to remove excess rear ward trigger movement.
Shadow is fitted with a newly redesigned hammer originating from the CZ 75 Champion. This hammer is slightly wider and has modified sear engagement for smoother release and more positive ignition.

- Pistol frame which comes from a new mould incorporates alterations such as recess beneath the trigger guard and beavertail to enable a higher grip of this handgun.

- Slightly “weaker” recoil spring originating from standard production CZ 75/85 pistols facilitates loading and enhances the shooting comfort.

- Sights consisting of fiber optics front sight and tactical “Novak style” rear sight to promote much easier, faster and more accurate target acquisition.

- Round off edges of magazine well, substantially improve reloading. This new generation of CZ 75 SP-01 Shadow pistol is appropriate for service use, self-defense and sport alike.

- Higher cuts beneath the trigger guard and beaver tail enable a higher grip on the gun, which helps to reduce felt recoil and muzzle flip.

- Lighter recoil and main springs originating from original CZ 75 Specifications help to create a smoother more consistent action.


BASIC SPECS

Model: CZ 75 SP-01 Shadow
Manufacturer: Česká Zbrojovka, Czech Republic
Caliber: 9x19 mm Parabellum
Dimensions: L=210 mm, H=147mm, W=37mm
Barrel: 114 mm
Weight(unloaded): 1170 grams
Capacity: 18 rounds, 19 FMJs easily loaded, JHPs limited to 18 (& half!)
Slide: Steel
Frame: Steel
Trigger: SA/DA, CZ85 Combat style, adjustable pre and over travel.
Safety: Manual Safety, hammer safety notch. (No firing Pin Block).
Front Sights: High Viz Fiber Optic, Red - Dovetailed.
Rear Sights: Novak tactical, dovetailed secured by a screw, adjustable for windage.
Grips: Soft rubber, Full checkered.
Finish: Dull Polycoat.


TO READ THE COMPLETE REVIEW AND RANGE REPORT, CLICK HERE
 
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I have the SP-01 tactical and am a HUGE fan... I doubt i would feel much different about the shadow.
 
review or rehash?

This so-called 'review' appears to be mostly cut right from the manufacturer's marketing.

Why not go shoot the thing yourself and tell us how it does?
 
@ TWO FIFTY,

:banghead:

Thankyou.

Few targets which are NOT from the manufacturers' website:

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I want one. But I just traded for an old (2003 I think) 75B Tac. that I really like. Haven't quite got past the somewhat cheesy looking OD green frame but I will grow to love it. The weight will take a bit more time and a much different shoulder rig. Your SP 01 makes me wish I had checked one out first.
 
I have a 75D and have put 10,000 rounds thru it and never had a malfuntion. The grip seems to be made for all people. More and more shooters are finding out the atributes of the 75's.
 
That's a little over 42 oz, or 3 oz. heavier than an empty .45 Government Model empty. When you start adding steel for rails to guns, they get a little hevier. When you build them a little stronger and beefier, they get a little heavier. Want a light gun? Go polymer. Want a steady-in-the-wind target gun, go steel.
 
PabloJ- The weight is nearly 1.2kg. I'm passing on this one.

That's a huge reason to buy one. I like heavy guns.
 
Heads up--the SP01 has some extractor issues that may or may not be a problem down the road. It's a simple fix, but an annoying problem--a buddy had his go teats up on him after a couple thousand rounds. He sent it in and bought another gun. Now, his was from Angus' custom shop (USPSA gun) and he DID shoot the Hell out of it.

From what I could see, it was a great gun apart from having a pewter extractor. It was accurate, fast, and well put together (with the one exception).
 
@ HK Dan,

Which SP 01 was it. The Phantom, Tactical or the Shadow ?
 
Hmm, hadn't heard anything about extractors breaking. I intend to get the poly version of this excellent sidearm, the Phantom, this coming year. Recently adopted by the Czech Armed Forces as their new sidearm after extensive testing, and I'd like to see my Dept test it as well.
 
My son bought one and as a B-Day present I paid CZ Custom to do a trigger job.

If you haven't tried this pistol, you've missed a very pleasant experience. It is truly something special.
 
@ 1SOW,

Please explain the trigger job done and what was the result like afterwards ?
 
my two cents and a couple responses.

i shoot em and love em. i transitioned into production division in uspsa with an sp-01 and made some good strides forward. 50 yard groups were just over a foot two handed on the area 5 standards in about 7-8 seconds. best i've seen is 40 yards, 8 inches bill drill same time running a 124 mg jhp on titegroup and short oal. WWB runs about a 138 pf thru most standard cz barrels. never tried bullseye though, but i did several sight installs and when checking zero for 25 yards, i usually have groups around an inch or so.

speaking of changing sights and zeroing... perhaps a testament to how precise they are made. the front sights are installed from the front, so they are centered for you. the rear sight is drifted in. i use calipers to measure out and make sure the sight is centered to around .001 or .002 to the center. sometimes it takes a while. but once it's there, all the CZs have been dead center on the target in terms of left/right. only once did i have to adjust for elevation, but it was with an aftermarket front sight that was non-cz.

the extractor thing is mostly dirt. i had a couple people ask me to look at their CZs when the extractor could slip off the rim of their brass and had to use a pick to clean the hook of the extractor. at worst, on one i trimmed and installed a wolff extra power extractor spring.

three ways of improving the trigger. first and cheapest, you can replace springs. 11lb recoil and 13lb hammer work well for most average power ammo and lightens the DA pull. the second is to move to a competition hammer that shortens reset and further lightens and crisps up the da pull and sa break and reset. third and last is tearing it down and polishing. this makes the trigger move like it's a free-hanging booger from a nostril. a trigger job from angus or mink will shorten reset as short as a 1911. they charge reasonable considering parts alone is half the price they charge. i measured one at just over 1/16th reset. the short reset is the key to faster (aimed and on-target) shooting. lastly, an extended firing pin and some soft federal primers can allow you to further cut and tune the hammer spring to unreal DA pull weights.

reliability - i had about 8-9k last season from march to dec when shooting production division. i serviced the pistol twice. to me, service means i field strip, wipe it, spritz it with aerosol lube, run a pair of lubed patches, and keep shooting. otherwise lube it whenever i feel like it. lubed it once after being out in the rain all day and a couple other times before major matches in indiana and virginia. dirty or not it works, as long as it goes bang and hits poppers at 40 yards i'm happy. springs held up but will replace as my 10k interval. i forgot to put loctite once earlier in the year, but that is a separate story and my fault, lol.

supposedly the weak point is the slide stop, extractor, and trigger return spring. i htink the early 75s had problems with a previous design extractor. if you remove yours and it has a triangle 3-dot pattern, it is the newest style and durable. it should already be cut right to bite into the rim rather than sit parallel with the rim. slide stop, i've read (few) reports around high teens or more. i finally got to personally see a broken one on a gun with high teens on it. basically it wasn't locking the slide back, but it still worked. the lever had broken off, lol. trigger return spring, only really a problem for those who dry fire or are above 20-30k? either way, all the reports are few. all guns break sooner or later, the CZ breaks less than average among the quality guns.

yes the gun is initially on the heavy side, but just deal with it and go shoot. in no time it becomes 'normal'. if it doesn't normalize, either get some exercise or maybe you're not shooting enough. if it's that big a problem or you shoot idpa, short dust cover shadows are out this year. :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pORlVSNkEFE


Thumbnail pic.
 
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