CZ 75 Compact vs. P-01 (opinion needed)

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Torokun

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Hello everyone~!

First post here. I've been visiting this forum for a while and it has been very helpful for me to get familiar with all the issues regarding owning a firearm as well as being responsible with it.

I am finally at a point where I am thinking about purchasing my first handgun. My main purpose is for protection of my family. Especially after couple of incidents in our neighborhood that involved with some serious home security issues...

Anyways, to make the long story short... everything came down to between CZ 75 Compact and the new version of it (P-01). And I am completely torn between those two.

I understand the improvement P-01 made over the old 75 Compact. Mainly...

-all aluminum frame
-Decocker instead of manual safety
-M3 rails

are the three main things that I can see as major changes on P-01.

I would like to hear from you guys if that is so significant that I should go with P-01.

The reason I like the old 75 Compact is the heritage of CZ's 75 has with its looks. yeah, it falls more on the emotional/subjective side of decision making... But I would love to hear your opinions regarding this matter.

Also, safety is a big issue for me. Is having decocking lever significantly batter than the manual safety? I wish they had both like HK's USP...

what's the going price for these pistols btw? according to their official site, they are listed at $598 (75 Compact0 and $637 (P-01) retail price. I thought CZs were supposed to be more on the "budget gun" range...

Thank you for your help with this...

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I just bought a P-01 from a friend yesterday and I'm thinking that it's probably going to be a keeper.
The only irritation I had with it was that I needed to take some sandpaper and smooth off a sharp edge on the trigger. Other than that, it will fit about the same role as the P-225 I sold long ago.
IIRC, the compact has a steel frame instead of the aluminum of the P-01. I wound up wanting the P-01 after handling and shooting this one when it belonged to my friend - I was actually responsible for about half the rounds shot through it BEFORE I bought it from her. I was also impressed with all the testing the P-01 went through before it was adopted by the Czech national police. Tough little guns.
Also, do the compacts have the same grip shape as the P-01? I had a couple full sized CZ-75's before and although they were great guns, there was always something about the grip that didn't quite fit my hand. That problem is gone with the P-01.

Overall though, I wouldn't feel nervous about buying either. CZ is one of the few brands that I've never had a real problem with.
 
Both should be closer to $500 or sο new.

I like the decocker better personally.

Mounting a light is important to me, because the P-01 is my only pistol, and I use it for home defense.

Personally, I have the P-01. I think it's a better 9mm than the Glock 19.
 
Compact if you will ccw. If not get the full size.
Click to expand...

They are both "Compact" class guns.

I was also impressed with all the testing the P-01 went through before it was adopted by the Czech national police. Tough little guns.
Also, do the compacts have the same grip shape as the P-01? I had a couple full sized CZ-75's before and although they were great guns, there was always something about the grip that didn't quite fit my hand. That problem is gone with the P-01.
Click to expand...

You know... I hear aobut that supposed three year testing of P-01. But couldn't find any detailed info about it. It's usually copy-pasted texts from the press info from CZ...

It seems like they have identical grip.
 
Maybe I won't get struck by a bolt of lightning, but the 75 Compact, in its double action mode (Ist round), has a looong reach. With the long reach comes difficulty with trigger pull. If you guys have NBA hands and fingers, no problem.

Maybe the single action only or double action only might be worth looking at. The 75 DA/SA, in DA mode, leaves a lot to be desired.

salty
 
well obviously both are going to be quality (they're CZ!), so.... do you plan on CCWing? I'm not sure on what Cali's laws are but I hear everything regarding firearms is a pain in the butt over there.

The regular compact is likely to absorb more recoil than the P-01 and will be a great shooter (not that the P01 won't be, its just that the steel will really make the other smooth). An issue is though that for ccw, it might feel like a brick. Also, on duty at home, you would probably need to have a light in your other hand. Especially if something is bumping in the night, that may be useful. Otherwise I see no reason for (me) the light rail.

The P-01 however, won't fit a ccw as well as the compact since it has that big honkin rail on it. Though the P-01 could attach a light for at home "bumps in the night".

Third possibility if you're willing, is the PCR. Its an alloy framed compact with a decocker. It is lighter than the compact but would fit a ccw role just as well. Still would have the light issue but it might be a good compromise between the two.
 
I have the compact, and it's a wonderful gun. I really don't like that light rail, although the rest of the P-01 really appeals to me.

I'm looking for a P-01 right now, so I can't say which one I would choose over the other, but I can say the compact is well worth the money.
 
I wish CZ made the PCR with a manual safety. That would be the ideal for me.

I've owned both a Compact and a P-01. The P-01 has a slightly shorter trigger reach due to the different trigger design. You will notice the difference in weight between the PCR, P-01, and Compact if you carry each model for a day.

I normally carry a S&W 638 Airweight Bodyguard. The Compact was too big and heavy for me. My job requires deep concealment, and I am used to carrying a small handgun. I traded the Compact for a P-01.

I really like the idea of a P-01, and they are good pistols. However, I could NOT get used to the decocking lever. (All of my other pistols are SA or have a manual safety like the 75B.) I would find myself manually decocking the pistol routinely. This is NOT good with the P-01, because the hammer isn't meant to be carried at full rest. You want to talk about a lonnggg gritty trigger pull, try a P-01 from full rest instead of half-cock. (The decocker drops the hammer to half-cock.) I had to get rid of it because it was messing with my consistency.
 
This is super interesting.

How hard is it to manually decock 75 Compact's hammer?

Do you think P-01's Decocking option really makes a huge difference?

Why do they get rid of Manual Safety with a lot of modern handguns? Does decocking mechanism really replaces the manual safety?
 
I became too used to Glocks and Kahrs with their absence of an external safety. The manual safety and ability to cock and lock a CZ doesn't do anything for me. I prefer the decocker version.

Light rail? P01.
Steel frame? Compact.
Shorter trigger? P01.

I got the P01 and didn't regret it, until somebody told me about the PCR. The PCR is like a P01 without the light rail.

Why not just get both? ;)

czvsczplain_5990.jpg
 
in my 60 years I have owned and/or shot a lot of autos, my daily carry is a CZ 75 compact ymmv and just my .02 but i really like this weapon
 
Keep your eyes open for an announcement sometime soon from CZ, quite possibly...you may get what you ask for...
http://czechpistols82792.yuku.com/topic/18256?page=1
Click to expand...

Gah... everything sounded awesome until I read it has the polymer frame -_-

And the CG rendering that is supposed to reflect the design of the gun...

fe815f8fa018d4173e292accab4cb6b2173f7dd.jpg

I dunno...

Anyways... this is crazy... Now I am leaning back toward 75 Compact...

Look what you guys have done! :D
 
It's not really that hard to decock a standard CZ manually but it is "touchy" just because you're lowering a cocked hammer toward a live round.
Some have suggested pinching the hammer between your weak hand trigger finger and thumb, then lowering. I prefer to sort of stick my thumb between the rear of the slide and the hammer, making my thumb into a sort of de facto hammer block.
But I'm one of those who likes the decocker. It's a SIG style decocker that doesn't just let the hammer fly all the way home, it actually slowly lowers it. I like that.

As for the tests, I can't find them anymore either. It has been a couple years, probably 2006 since I read them. But the P-01's they tested went through a hell of alot of dry firing, live firing, dropping, freezing, and any abuse they could come up with to throw at them. They also had to have a service life of at least 25,000 rounds. At the end of the tests they didn't find any measurable wear on the guns (IIRC). So after all that abuse, they guns were still basically good as new. Hard to beat that.

Actual asking prices in my area are $499.99 for either.
 
I like your short list...

Well, the compact can be had in either regular format, with the manual safety, or in the "PCR" format, with a decocker just like the P01. So then when comparing the PCR to the P01, it's really 6 of one, half dozen of the other.

Basically, if you're gonna hang a light or laser on it, get the P01. If you're not, then get whichever one you can get the best deal on. When in doubt, get the P01.

FWIW. I have the compact "PCR" which I use for my primary carry gun, and it suits me fine - I do not have a light on my carry gun, so no need for the P01 (jeebus, it's hard enough just to find holsters for CZs, let alone a holster for a compact WITH a light!).

The PCR has the loaded chamber indicator which I don't believe the regular compact has. It's arguably more aesthetic than the P01.
 
I got my P01 about 2 years ago. I got a 75 compact about a month ago. Both shoot great. At this point I prefer the P01 probably because I'm more familiar with it. I like the decocker for CC. But the compact is no slouch. I love both of them. The mags are interchangeable too so I now have 1 10 rd, 2 16 rd and 8 14 rd mags.
Best of both worlds
 
Although I have 100 or so pistols, a dozen of them 1911 type .45s, the P0-1 is what is besides my bed with an M-3 light with LED conversion head. It is stoked with 127 grain Ranger +p ammo , which the NATO P0-1 easily digests and shoots into almost a ragged hole from 25 yards from sand bags! Never had a problem with the 1000 rounds of Spanish 147 grain ball I put thru it in 3 years (no the Spanish surplus ball prints into about 3" under same conditions!) jamming on anything.I put in lighter trigger springs and a heavier extractor spring this winter and the action is pretty good, as good as any crunchenticker I've had yet!
I like the decocker, having been trained by LAPD on the Beretta 92, and remember I grew up 40 years ago on the 1911 safety!I feel safer and more confident with the decocked hammer on a live round than I do with the 1911 type and certainly light years ahead of a ny Glock!
Anyway I highly reccomend the P0-1 to anyone who wants an allround 9mm pistol . I got a great belt holster from Comp Tac along with an extra mag/Surefire light carrier.
http://www.comp-tac.com/testground/product_info.php?cPath=27&products_id=66
 
Thank you for all your valuable input.

I've been looking around for the price of the gun as well...

Oh man... why is there such huge difference between pricing between local shops and online stores? It's almost +$100 difference!!!

I am leaning toward 75 Compact at this point...

all steel body and manual safety are what's attracting me. I did find the decocking mechanism on my brother's USP very handy. But still not convinced that I would lose manual safety to get the decocker...
 
I don't care for the light rail so I would go W/the compact. If you you don't intend to carry I'd go W/ the full size 75B ( actually I DO carry the fullsize 75B) .

When I decock my 75 I put a screwdriver through the hole in the hammer and use that to hold the hammer as I lower it .
 
If you shoot thumbs high (like a 1911) and ride the decocker at ALL the P01 will NOT fire.

I sold mine for just that reason. Great gun otherwise, but I'll stick with the traditional CZ's.
 
FEG said:
I wish CZ made the PCR with a manual safety. That would be the ideal for me.
Click to expand...
I posted a question to Angus on the CZ Forum about having a PCR built on a steel compact frame. He replied that it was possible. I'm sure that a manual safety could be built into the PCR instead of the decocker. My reasoning is that steel would last longer than an alloy frame.
 
Two very good choices. It boils down to which gun you prefer, and the compact looks better to me. I like the slim nose better, and put me on the PCR W/Man safety bandwagon:D
 
Torokun said:
what's the going price for these pistols btw? according to their official site, they are listed at $598 (75 Compact0 and $637 (P-01) retail price. I thought CZs were supposed to be more on the "budget gun" range...
Click to expand...
Don't be put off by the MSRPs. At the time (Nov. 2007) I got my PCR Compact, I paid $469 plus tax, and the P-01 next to it was $499.
 
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