Thoughts on a trade? Tz75 gov't for sig 250

I have a full size TZ 75 series 88 in chrome finish that I had traded away, but at the first chance I had I traded to get it back.
I am very glad I did as it is a wonderful shooting pistol with a great trigger and reliability.
IMHO that Sig is new enough you would easily find another if you felt you made a mistake, but the TZ 75 maybe not so much.
Good luck and hope you are happy with your choice.

I'm with the above response for the same reasons. Also, I've had a good number of polymer handguns and have moved back to all steel or even alloy frames. Most of shooting is at the range and I simply prefer the weight and feel of the all steel guns. It seems that these things go in cycles.....revolvers are being marketed and sold in increasing numbers. I like my current polymer handguns and will not get rid of them but my steel framed guns...I cling to.

Pelo801

Actually I really like the look of your gun, especially with tho we grips on it. If your TZ Government is a decent shooting gun and you have no problems with it I would hang on to it. I'm not all that impressed with the SIG P250 and have a preference for all metal guns anyways.

I've not seen a compact (or sub-compact) Tz75 like the one pictured. That is a relatively rare gun. That rarity doesn't necessarily increase it's value, but does make it almost impossible to replace should you later regret your trade.

Yours look like an early model, close to the original CZ design upon which the Tanfoglio models are based. (It even has the small pin hole in the safety found on some of the oldest CZ pre-B models.) Over time, Tanfoglio diverged a good bit from the original CZ specs, while keeping the general look, feel, and design pattern. Their changes are neither bad nor good -- just different -- probably done to simplify production. Some of the changes, like their firing pin block system (probably not present in YOUR gun, but found in later models) are arguably improvements to the original CZ design or better than the CZ version.

The SIG P250 is, by most accounts, a fine gun, but many don't like the DAO trigger. They are not rare guns.

If you just want a SIG and are tired of your TZ75, go ahead. But unless you have a compelling reason to get rid of your TZ, I'd suggest keeping it. Especially if it shoots well and you think you might want to carry concealed (if you don't already do that.)

.

This looks like another trade today, regret tomorrow situation. As others have pointed out, you will always be able to get a SIG 250 if you feel a desperate need for one. 'Common as dirt', I think is the correct description. Your TZ is no longer made, your example looks to be in fine condition, and your chances of replacing it if you want one are slim. I'm sure the person offering the trade will be more than glad to get your gun, while you will have a gun that, after the new wears off, is just another Tupperware appliance.

Personally, I think you would be trading up - as long as it is an even trade. The Tanfoglio is a nice gun but it's a clone. It is a good gun but the Sig P250 is way underrated and is a better gun.

Now, with that said - CAVEAT - - - - DO NOT trade if you don't like heavier triggers or can't shoot revolvers well in double action.

Onward Allusion said:

The Tanfoglio is a nice gun but it's a clone.

Click to expand...

Nearly all of the 1911s available, today, are clones (or near clones). Colt only makes a few of the 1911s sold. The main potential problem with any of these older guns is parts availability -- and that can be a problem even if they're made by a company like Colt or S&W or SIG. Numrich is sometimes the only hope. Or Jack Frost.

Re: clones. Only the very earliest CZ-like guns were clones. ITM built a licensed clone of the CZ-75, called the AT-84; a firm in Great Britain later made a clone, too. The AT-84s, also built by ITM, was based on a subtly different Tanfoglio version of the CZ. Most of the Turkish made guns, along with those made in Israel, were originally based on the Tanfoglio design, and the earliest ones were made from Tanfoglio parts, with the guns assembled in those countries. The latest CZ-like guns made in Turkey seem to be a mix of CZ and Tanfoglio designs.

It remains to be seen whether these Turkish-made weapons will be durable and whether the firms importing them will be around to service them, over time. If these guns were all true clones, it might be better -- but they aren't.

Onward Allusion said:

Now, with that said - CAVEAT - - - - DO NOT trade if you don't like heavier triggers or can't shoot revolvers well in double action.

Click to expand...

Good advice. That's why I said a lot of folks don't like the trigger -- it's not a typical SIG trigger. I've never found a DAO semi-auto that I really liked. (I do have a S&W Model 66 with a marvelously tuned trigger that I love...and shoot well.)

I've owned two SIG 250s, 1st and 2nd Gen. Still have the 2nd. The 1st gen had a proprietary rail and old style mags that were hard to find. Both 9mm. Im not familiar with the firearm you have but from reading other comments it sounds like you should keep it. If you're wanting to "get into" Sig, the 250 isn't the way to go IMO. Its not the typical exposed hammer metal frame that is classic sigs. Think P220 and P239 (also own)

The trigger is pretty smooth, but as mentioned is DAO. A lot of people just plain hate it. Its grown on me, but is still a range only arm. For me it's too thick/big to carry comfortably considering its only a 9mm. Not downing calibers, its just not my choice for carry. Its a range caliber that's cheap to shoot. I don't have complaints on reliability or durability, its been fine. Mine has around 6k rounds downrange, most being lead reloads with not many issues regarding feeding and ejecting.

Good luck on your choice...

I'd keep the TZ.

I think you're making a good choice. They only made that gun in one year and I believe it was '91. If 'Government' is misspelled (Governement) it's even rarer. I have a HC version (WonderFinish) that unfortunately has the correct spelling. It's heavy but unique.
Whether any of that makes it worth more or less is immaterial to me as I like unusual guns.

Keep that times a bajillion.

I had to go back and make a correction. I misspelled their misspelling. Check this one out. It's a CZ-75 Pre-B I just picked up from Cole's. Someone exchanged an 'X' for the 'K' in Czechoslovakia.


The TZ's were one of the few things F.I.E. did right in my view. If they had pushed the Tanfoglio's a little harder they might still be in business. They are fine guns.

Hey, kindred spirits! I have a Series 88 full size 9mm/.41AE too. Bought it when CZ's were made of unobtanium and figured that was as close as I would ever get. Never regretted it for a minute. Picked up a couple of .41AE kits from CDNN so I'd have spares.

Are those factory grips on your compact? They look great. Mine are smooth wood coated with Poly I believe. Have you bought any spare mags for yours?
Guntoter

RE: spare mags...

The CZ compact mags and the Tanfoglio/Witness compact mags aren't the same -- the Tanfoglio mags are shorter and won't lock in place when used with a CZ. (The CZ mag would probably work in a Tanfoglio/Witness, but won't fit flush with the bottom of the grip.)

One of the other COULD work in his gun - and the OP may just have to take the gun to a gunshow to find mags that work.

Thanks Walt. I discovered the difference in the compact mags when I tried the mag from my CZ-75 compact alloy. Mag fits and locks but hangs out 1/4+ inches. CZ-75 and Tanfoglio full size (small frame) do the same but hang out further. Don't know if either will actually function on firing but do lock slide back.

I've done a bit of searching and found a number of folk going through the same trials with often contradictory results. One post says a particular Witness compact mag fits and functions fine and another says the same part number has to have the mag catch notch opened.

Even though this gun was only made in the last year of F.I.E.'s life, I've seen two different frames. One is the CZ type that uses solid hammer pin with vertical retaining pin and the other is the standard Tanfoglio roll pin. Don't know if this might be where the differences are or not but it does indicate a possible frame difference.

I wish we had real gun shows down here! Best we get is a once-a-year garage sale that rarely yields more than junk. My only option is to order a couple of different part numbers and see which one lands closest. I'll share results once I get them.
Thanks,
Guntoter

If they lock in place, they'll function. Tanfoglio full-size mags are the same size/length as CZ full-size mags.

If you can find them, I suspect a Tanfoglio "compact" mag will work, as you know that the CZ compact mags are too long. The Tanfoglio compaact mags are too short to work in the CZs. CDNN sometimes has them under the Witness label.