CZ 75 or Hi-Power?

[Bikeguy]

Cost being the obvious difference, what are the pros, cons, etc. of each? Convince me to buy one or the other!

Also welcome discussions of CZ 75 (and/or variants) vs. quality Hi-Power clones.

thoughts?

 

[clipse]

Shoot them both and then decide. I choose the 75B. I can shoot it better than my father-in-laws hipower. Both are superb firearms and you can't go wrong with either. I do appreciate having the option of SA or DA so that is another point for the 75B.

clipse

 

[wally]

Try 'em both and get the one you like best is fine advice indeed, but makes for a rather boring forum

I'll throw out a few things to consider.

FN Browning HiPower will be significantly more expensive to buy than the CZ and I'd bet the CZ has a better trigger out of the box, so I'd say you are getting more gun for the money with CZ.

If you think you might sell it, odds are the FN HiPower will have ended up being a better buy if you do sell.

OTOH, if you compare CZ with the cheaper FM or FEG HiPowers then the CZ is the more expensive gun and its a tougher choice. Extra HiPower mags are cheaper than extra CZ mags too, but CZ will probably have the better overall finish than the FM but not the FEG (if they still make 'em like mine).

I've both the FEG and FM HiPowers and a CZ 75. If I could only have one, it'd be the CZ, but its a tough call. Every time I get tempted by an FN HiPower its not hard to find something else I like better for the same or less money.

--wally.

 

[bratch]

I recently had the same problem. I shot a Hi power but could not shoot a CZ but was able to fondle it in the store. I went with a CZ for 2 reasons: felt better in my hand and was cheaper.

I suggest you atleast hold both of them but shooting would be better

 

[Mulliga]

http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/CZ-75 or BHP.htm

Pretty much all you need to know. Try em both and see what strikes ya.

 

[faustulus]

Just my $.02. If you are planning on making it a primary carry gun, I would go with the Hi Power. It is a smaller package for the same round count (using mecgars).
If it is mainly for range use, I would go with the CZ for its heft and price.

 

[WEPS]

i tend to like the cz 75 better. it shoots very very well, it's cheap and i like the added weight. i wouldn't use either one for ccw though

 

[nitesite]

When you throw the CZ-85 Combat into the equation, you really tighten the race. The -85 comes with a drop-free magazine design (unlike most -75s). Also add nice adjustable sights and an ultra sweet DA trigger.

Also add a superb ambi thumb safety on the CZ-85 Combat that a stock BHP (I'm talking Belgium assembled guns) doesn't have.

Current guns from Browning still need a better thumb safety and I don't feel it's all that positive. I like safeties that "click".

For concealed carry and not range pleasure, I vote the CZ-85 Combat hands down. It'll shoot with the BHP accuracy-wise, and is just a better CCW pistol compared to a stock BHP and it's safety features and trigger.

I'm nitesite and I approved this message.....

 

[Walt Sherrill]

I've had a 75B, have a 75B SA (that has been refined by a good gunsmith), and 85 combat, and a wonderful (made in 1963) Browning HP. A custom AT84S, a pre-B 75, and a 75B Compact. I like them all.

The Browning has had the mag safety removed, and except for that, its the way it came from the factory. Marvelous.

WHich is best? Sorry if its boring, but whichever one rings YOUR bell and fits your hand. At the range, all of mine are about the same, and if I had to give all of them up, but one, it would be -- nah. I just wouldn't. <grin>

I've also got an Asai One Pro -- and it has a trigger that puts them all to shame.

(And its real easy to make the 75B mags drop free -- by just bending the mag brake in the grip a little.)

 

[MrMurphy]

To satisfy my Hi Power craving, the Arcus 94 is a clone for $300 and shoots just as well.


For a carry gun the 75B or 85 would be my choice. The DA option is nice, as is the cocked and locked option. Whatever model of 75 or 85 that's got a decocker is also good.

If I got a Hi Power it'd be the MkIII Practical.

 

[Marshall]

The FN/Browning Hi-Power is the original everyone tries to copy, even CZ. Yet, nobody has been able to do so with vengeance. Today's Hi-Power is a better gun than yesterday's gun. Everytime I try to make myself buy a CZ-75 for 389.00 I find that I just can't see myself spending 400 bucks for a non-FN/Browning Hi-power. I also prefer single action by far! The CZ-75 is a good gun, don't get me wrong but, it's no FN/Browning Hi-power. Try selling a used CZ-75B someday and see what you get for it.

Now, if all you have is 400 bucks and cant save more, buy the CZ, it's the best $389.00 DA/SA pistol on the market.


Hi-Power Forum

 

[Walt Sherrill]

The CZ and Hi-Power have little in common except a basic shape. The CZ is not a copy, a clone, or a knockoff. The internals are fundamentally different.

In some respects the CZ is more versatile. The CZ is a true double-action gun, designed that way from the start, but with the extra functionality of a single-action "cocked and locked" start possible. That extra functionality adds a lot of complexity to the mechanism. You can also "start" the CZ -75B from the half-cock notch without compromising safety -- as it has a firing pin block and a very robust sear. (Starting from the half-cock notch makes the DA trigger about a pound lighter.)

Properly tuned, the CZ trigger *CAN* match a properly tuned BHP. The disadvantage of the CZ trigger is that is a bit longer than the BHP, and the grip is a little (very little) larger. Both have excellent pointability and ergonomics.

The newest Brownings are not, in my experience, superior to the older ones -- being now burdened with crappier, heavier triggers than theoriginals; that's arguably built in to keep liability lawyers off their case. Newer models do offer .40 S&W, which is to some thinking an enhancement.

A finely tuned Browning is wonderful, but so is a finely-tuned CZ.

Which can be gotten that way easier?

Probably the BHP, but in terms of total dollars spent to get the same level of polish/finesse/refinement, it would probably be almost a toss up.

I like them both, and don't see a clear advantage of one over the other. My tuned 75B SA is every bit the match of my very fine BHP -- the BHP is a little smaller, narrower, etc., which could give it an edge in CCW. But they are so close in size that they can share some holsters.

 

[Atticus]

"I've also got an Asai One Pro -- and it has a trigger that puts them all to shame."
Aint that the truth!

 

[Bemo]

here's a different angle..

My experience is that you will eventually end up with both of them. Although the hammer bite from a BHP may change your mind. Get the one you can get the best deal on now and then start saving for the other one. It's harder to find a good deal on a BHP so if you see one for a good price, get that first or tell me where it is. They're both great guns.

 

[RON in PA]

I've had experience with 3 HPs and 2 CZs. The HPs have been 100% reliable over thousands of rounds while the CZs have had numerous malfunctions. The HPs also fit my hand better, but thats just a personal thing. If reliability is critical to you go with the HP.

 

[Jiml3]

I have both, B. Hi Power and a CZ PCR compact. Both very good but if I could only have one, it would be the CZ. It feels better and I shoot it better.

 

[Smoke]

I brought home a CZ-75 the other day a friend of mine was trying to get rid of. Included was 10 full cap mags. To good to pass up.

It took me a while to go out and shoot it. Functioned Flawlessly. Points well. Feels good inmy hands. Hits low and left (minute) of the point of aim. Trigger is OK, not great but not bad. It doesn't speak to me...I think it has no soul.

Hi-powers are nice guns....yes they need work out of the box, get rid of the mag disconnect solves a lot of problems. They feel good in my hands as well, points well. Hits where I aim. Has resale value. JMB is the Patron Saint of Firearms.

Hi-power wins.

Smoke

 

[cratz2]

The general consensus is, they're both great - with maybe a bit of work - so buy whichever your hand and budget prefers.

Obviously, if you don't want single action, your out of luck with the BHP. I've owned probably five or six CZs now and a handful of EAAs and have enjoyed every single one of them. I've yet to buy my own BHP though I enjoy them very much as well.

For a carry gun, I really like the CZ PCR/P-01. I carried a 1911 for quite a while and feel totally safe cocked and locked though I believe that I would rather have a double action first shot if I ever needed to use my gun for a serious use. Actually, I'd prefer a light pull double action only. Either way, I love the CZs and I really like the BHPs.

Honestly, if you like one, you'll very likely enjoy the other as well. I do like the ligherweight guns for carry but for the heavier guns, a CZ75B SA with some trigger work is a wonderful range gun that can function well as a competition gun and a carry gun.

 

[Black Snowman]

Great site Mulliga, thanks for the link. One thing it didn't mention ( and I haven't really checked ) the trigger reset is a bit long on the CZs, how is it on the High Power? Not that it would sway my decision. The CZs are much more comfortable for me and point more naturally.

I have 3 and plan on getting at least 2 more.

 

[MrAcheson]

One thing it didn't mention ( and I haven't really checked ) the trigger reset is a bit long on the CZs, how is it on the High Power?

Hipowers have a notoriously long reset as well. I believe that a good smith can take some of that out with a set screw or two, but for the most part you need to learn to live with it. A short 1911ish reset isn't an option with either.

On thing that hasn't been mentioned, it is my understanding that the single action trigger on the CZ is pretty hard to make glass rod crisp. The mechanical motion of the SA trigger moves the hammer back a small amount before it releases. That small motion has to get translated to the trigger crispness and there is no way around it. But I'm not an expert on this gun.

 

[cratz2]

Well, as to the single action trigger on CZs, I assure you they can be made to be stunningly good. At leat with single action CZs, I've had an IPSC Standard with under a 2 lb trigger and only the slightest teeny tiniest bit of creep but that was right from the factory. I've also shot SAs with trigger jobs from CZUSA and from George Smith and EGW and both were stunning to say the least as well as two done by a local smith that was very, very good. I've never handled a a super top notch BHP, but I seriously doubt their triggers can consistantly be made to be radically better than that of a single action CZ.

Still the reset is an issue and I've never seen a CZ or BHP that even compares to a decent carry trigger job by a compotent smith on a 1911.

 

[W Turner]

I looked at both as a way to get into the ESP division of IDPA and ended up going with the BHP. The trigger of the CZ was better out of the box, there was no mag disconnect to deal with, the grip felt better in my hand, and it was a much better value for me.

With the BHP, I would have had a beavertail added to prevent hammer bite, had the mag disconnect removed, and had a trigger job done before ever competing with it.

With the CZ, all I did was load, practice and compete. I could have a trigger job done, but it is not a need like it would be for the BHP.


Just a better deal all around imo.

W

 

[Marshall]

I don't know where you guys come up with hammer bite on the newer FN/BHP's? The hammer has been shortened from the BHP's that did bite you, mine misses the web of my hand by a good 1/2". Heck, I have pretty large hands too. It's not just one, but all of BHP's miss me buy that much.

 

[Litlman]

I like them both. I have 3 CZ's . I have handeled alot of BHP's but have not found one for the right price yet and, now I am on a budget so ,you know how that goes. You would probably enjoy both. While we are on the subject of CZ's and the 85 combat was mentioned I would like to here how you guys with them cary them. If useing it double action do you keep it at the half cocked position because of no F.P. block safety. Hammer down on a loaded chamber wuold not be a good idea , right? Or do you just go with C&L? Thanks.

 

[Walt Sherrill]

I have an 85 Combat, but don't carry it -- I use my 75B Compact for that task.

When I shoot the 85 Combat in IDPA, I typically shoot it from hammer down, but have shot it ESP division from cocked and locked. Were I to carry it as a self-defense weapon, it would be cocked and locked.