Baby Eagle or CZ 75 P-01 in 9mm?

[Scotticus]

Baby Eagle or CZ 75 P-01 in 9mm?

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Looking for a reasonably priced semi-compact 9mm that will fit small hands. These are two of my top choices. Any pros or cons for either?
(BTW--This is my first post on the highroad)
Thanks for any opinions.

 

[pippin53]

Get the Baby Eagle. It's better built, better looking. Down sides are lack of aftermarket grips and accessories, and the slide mounted safety, which drives a lot of people crazy but doesn't bother me.

 

[tnieto2004]

GET THE CZ!!!! GO GO GO!! Thats my next gun hopefully

 

[modifiedbrowning]

Scotticus, welcome to THR.
Of your choices I would say get the CZ, but only because I own one. It is a nice pistol and mine has been very reliable and accurate (not that I am).
CZs are one of the best deals going in pistols. As far as the BE being better built, I have never seen one, but my P-01 is very nicely built and finished.

 

[armoredman]

I tend to argue the other side, of course. the BE is a mix of Tanfoglio of Italy, (good company, make the Witness CZ clone), and Israeli.
I believe the CZ is better built, but either will probably suit you well.
Better looking? Hmm...



And it's brother...

 

[MikePGS]

What might help, is to go to www.madogre.com (he's a moderator here) and click weapons then look at his reviews for each. Really going by the reviews both sound wonderful, but he gives particular praise to the P-01.

 

[LoadedDrum]

I had a pair of Baby Eagles. They are great guns. However, occasionally I would activate the safety/decocker while racking the slide. In case of need for serious use, this was a liability I could not live with so I sold them. The decocker on the P01 is only a decocker, and is frame mounted so it does not suffer the woes of slide mounted placement. Plus mags for the CZ are usually cheaper than for the Tangfolio guns such as the Baby Eagle.

 

[waynedm]

Baby Eagles can't touch CZ's quality, especially the P01. If you think the BE is better quality than the p01 you don't know anything about the P01.

 

[Richard]

I have mixed feelings on this one. I owned and sold a TZ75 Compact, I had jams and I gave up on it. I sold it to a friend and he worked the problems out. That TZ75 Compact is now one sweet shooting pistol. I would pass on the CZ P01 as I do not care for rails on carry weapons. I have a CZ PCR; it is a good solid weapon in the same class as a Glock 19 and that says a lot. Lastly, I own a CZ75 Compact and it feels as good in my hand as a Browning high-Power. Jerry's has CZ75 Compacts for $295, one hell of a deal. Regards, Richard

My thumb plus my CZ75 Compact:

 

[Cokeman]

Jerry's has CZ75 Compacts for $295.

Link?

 

[DirksterG30]

Welcome to the forum, Scotticus.

I had a pair of Baby Eagles. They are great guns. However, occasionally I would activate the safety/decocker while racking the slide. In case of need for serious use, this was a liability I could not live with so I sold them. The decocker on the P01 is only a decocker, and is frame mounted so it does not suffer the woes of slide mounted placement. Plus mags for the CZ are usually cheaper than for the Tangfolio guns such as the Baby Eagle.

That's why I don't like the Baby Eagles either. I'm sure they are fine guns, but the stupid slide-mounted safety/decocker is a bad idea in my opinion. I'd go with the original, the P-01 (or the PCR if you don't want a rail). Another thing to consider - the Baby Eagle is all steel, so it will be heavier than the P-01/PCR (unless you go for the polymer frame version, which has inferior ergonomics IMHO).

Here's a pic comparing the P-01 & PCR:

 

[kerank]

get the P-01

I don't have any first-hand experience with the baby eagle, but the P-01 is an excellent pistol. I recently got one, and it has quickly become my favorite. I wish I had known about them earlier.