cz 75 SA vs Witness Elite Match

[SureThing]

I thought this may have been asked before, but I could not find the thread. I have never seen a Elite Match in person, but I was wondering which is better. They seem close, but here is what I know

CZ, smaller grip, 2 mags, cast frame,

Witness, stainless cast frame, adjustable rear sight, larger grip


What are the actuall differences on paper, or at the range?

Does anyone have both who can give us an unbiased opinion?

Thanks


PS...Hags where are you, I think you answered this once to me via PM.

 

[floydster]

Well SureThing, looks like not a single member on this forum knows anything about the Witnees Match, but I can tell you about CZ, I have two of them, a 75 B and a 75 PCR, both are excellent guns.
As far as the Witness Match, I am looking to get a Elite in the 38 super.
Floyd

 

[schmeky]

Sure Thing,

I had a new Witness EM, a fine gun. The frame is chromed carbon steel, the slide is blued carbon steel. The out of the box trigger on my .45 EM was superb. Accuracy was also top notch. Overall fit and finish was impressive. The grip was not to my liking but I solved it by slightly altering the stock rubber grip panels. You can engage the safety and cycle the slide, a nice feature. For the price, it's a sleeper bargain.

I sold it recently.

Why? My CZ's fit me better and are just as accurate for me as the EM. I did not care for the EM hammer mainspring set-up, but there's nothing wrong it. The stock EM sights were good but I had to jack the rear waaaay up to get it to hit center. I also did not like the sheet metal roll pin used for the hammer, it was kinda' cheesy in my opinion. Upgrade parts are very expensive if you use the EGW items sold by Hennings in Colorado.

Example, EGW EDM EM sear is about $100.00. A new CZ original sear is $9.00. Trying to change the hammer mainsprings in the EM is frustrating, it's a snap with a CZ.

If you like the EM, by all means, get one. I think you'll be pleased, but for me, in a side by side comparison, I just prefer the CZ.

 

[wally]

I have both. IMHO the Elite Match is a much better gun for the money at current CZ 75B prices.

If you want 9mm or .40S&W the CZ75 is smaller enough in the grip it might make a difference for you.

OTOH if you want .45ACP the Elite Match is what the CZ97 should have been. You can also get the Match in .38Super and 10mm. Supposedly if you send you gun back to EAA they can fit a different caliber upper for about $300.

I'd suggest handling them both before you decide.

--wally.

 

[SureThing]

I can't find the EM's, and bought the 75 SA, but it is not in yet. I guess I'm having second thoughts. But since I got a good price, and I have the Stainless 75 B already, the 75 SA will suit just fine.

 

[Lucky Strike]

I've got a Elite Match in .45ACP.....wanted a SA .45 and it just seemed like a lot of gun for $500. Very accurate and very sharp looking ( i always get compliments from people on it).....can't really help with comparisons to the CZ though as i've never shot one. Only think i don't like about the EM is that parts/accessories for it are expensive

 

[wingman]

I have an elite match in 45acp and a CZ75B in 9mm, I used a set of CZ75B Hogue grips on the match by applying some heat from a hair dryer and stretching the Hogue's to fit, works great and feel is similar to the cz75B. Both are excellent pistols, I'm a big fan of 45acp my reason for buying the Elite Match, you would not be disappointed in either gun.

 

[hags]

Example, EGW EDM EM sear is about $100.00. A new CZ original sear is $9.00.

For one thing you're comparing apples and oranges. You're comparing a high quality, EDM, hardened, aftermarket performance part and a stock, cast part.

Also, the sears are $30 from EGW not $100.

Trying to change the hammer mainsprings in the EM is frustrating, it's a snap with a CZ.

Frustrating? I can change the mainspring and hammer in minutes in my EM without removing any other parts. Try that with a CZ.


Look, I'm not trying to piss on anyone's parade. This whole issue about which is better is rather academic. Handle them both, shoot them both and you be the judge with regard to which is better.

I can tell you my personal EM .45ACP is one of my most accurate handguns. I can tell you that I like the idea and implementation of a full length guiderod, serated front and back straps, quality adjustable sights, a nice SAO trigger that is one of the best out of the box, extreme accuracy and a manual safety.

In my experience you have to do some, if not alot, of work to a CZ to get it to compare and perform like an EM.
There is a reason that most, if not all of the EM 9mms are sold before distributors even get them in stock.

I'm not saying I dislike CZs. They are great guns. I sell alot of them and own a few. They are fun and satisfying to work on, modify and upgrade.
Those are things that I'm not inclined to do to any of my EMs.

The new CZ Shadows that the CZ Custom shop is selling are top notch. One of my favorite pistols.
If I had to choose just one, it'd be an EAA/Tanfoglio Elite Limited. A work of art and probably my favorite range/match/target handgun.

 

[eerw]

hard to compare these two..they are similar..but very different.

definitely try both before commiting

 

[SureThing]

Thanks Hags

 

[hags]

No problem. Not so sure I helped you out here but take a look at this thread I just posted in:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=367897


This is what I'm talking about. Conservatively you're talking $975 by the time he's done with that CZ 75B SA.

Now, if you wanna spend the money then you'll wind up with a really nice SA. In the end it's still an SA and we both know what they are priced at and what they are worth.

 

[schmeky]

If you like the EM, by all means, get one. I think you'll be pleased, but for me, in a side by side comparison, I just prefer the CZ.

Like I said, the EM is a very fine gun. No doubt. I just "prefer" the CZ of the 2, strictly an opinion thing, like a Ford Chevy debate. I think the OP would be happy with the EM, but I think he stated he has a 75-SA on order.

I suggest you get both!!

 

[phrozenlikwid]

For those of you who own the Elite Match in calibers other than 45... How do the pistols run?

I've heard conflicting reports of the 9mm/40's, that seems to stem from magazine issues. From my understanding there is a new magazine style out that helps to correct the issues, but these aren't marked and sometimes hard to find. I imagine Henning would be able to fix you up?

A fairly local guy had a 9mm with such problems. He noticed the fix when he purchases several mags, and many wouldn't run (but some did, and flawlessly). I believe I remember him talking about Henning sorting it out for him and swapping his old style mags for new ones.

Eerw, You used to shoot the P9's pretty heavily back in the day didn't you? Did you ever run any other Italian stuff, or have you pretty much always been with CZ's?

 

[eerw]

My experience has mostly been with the small frame stuff..

I did shoot a couple of P9s in open division back in the day..great gun, ran fantastic. Also shot a small frame EAA in .40 when limited first started.

Now days, I am shooting mostly CZs for production. though have been tempted by the newer Tanfoglio Eric guns and a EM in 38 super, but have yet to do anything about it.

 

[neviander]

+1 on the Elite Match

 

[phrozenlikwid]

Gotcha. I thought I recalled you say something about them somewhere else. Was it the P9 you got your M card with?

I'm geared up to shoot Limited/L10 and Production with CZ's. I would like to get an open blaster, but haven't yet formulated how I'm going to go about it yet. Those Tanfoglios look like a pretty slick set-up though.....

 

[atblis]

The biggest problem with the EM is EAA. Give them enough time, they'll screw it up somehow. Sending out the wrong mags is a favorite trick of theirs.

Eerw, You used to shoot the P9's pretty heavily back in the day didn't you? Did you ever run any other Italian stuff, or have you pretty much always been with CZ's?

The P9 is a Tanfoglio.

 

[sqlbullet]

I have an EM in 10mm (yes, I am one of those guys). Runs fabulous. Not sure why anyone would buy the steel witness that is only $100 less. (Unless they, like me, bought the steel first.)

I don't have to jack the site up at all. Of course, the 10 shoots flatter than most.

 

[DA_BULLS]

I guess, except for my Taurus PT917C over the Beretta 92FS, I would rather have the original. Why get a copy of a CZ when you can get the CZ? And EAA does not have a clue about customer service or even how to spell it!