millertyme
Member
Just out of curiosity, anyone with experience using bot pistols care to comment on the justifications choosing one over the other? Personally, I don't care for the safety on the SW, but Let's here what ya'll have to say about it.
CZ 75B or S&W 59 Series?
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dcarch
Member
CZ 75. No question. In my opinion it is one of the greatest handguns ever built, and second only to a good 1911. If you get one, you will love it. I promise. Join the fun!
As to justifiable reasons,
1) The ergonomics of the CZ are unmatched.
2) CZ's are very, very reliable.
3) They're built tighter than a stinkin' tank!
4) They are more accurate than I am.
As to justifiable reasons,
1) The ergonomics of the CZ are unmatched.
2) CZ's are very, very reliable.
3) They're built tighter than a stinkin' tank!
4) They are more accurate than I am.
Philo_Beddoe
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I sold my glocks, berrettas, smiths, rugers and kept my cz's
piece of meat
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people pay $2000+ for a 1911 thats as tight as a standard out of the box $500 cz
wally
Member
There you have it. The CZ 75 is a great pistol. The 59 series are DA/SA which is an operating mode I dislike, but otherwise are fine pistols too.
millertyme
Member
FWIW, I already have a CZ and I, too, have sold plenty of other pistols, especially once I found out how great they are. Here' my dilemma, and this might be a little off the deep end, but I CCW a KelTec P11. I don't know if I would get rid of the CZ for a 5906/5904, but I was thinking about it for a second carry option, especially since the magazines are interchangeable with the KelTec. However, it did just down on me that if I were to sell off my KT then I could take the money I would have spent on the SW and the money I got out of my KT and buy a 75D or other 75 based compact. But then I wouldn't have one more gun. Summit has the 5904's for under $300 right now. I've actually thought about getting one of those for the wife.
Red Cent
Member
For CCW I would choose the 59. When I carry the 59, I take the safety off. No fuss, no muss. I have modified my 59 to carry cocked and locked. Then the backward safety becomes a small issue.
I carry a Commander 98% of the time.
I carry a Commander 98% of the time.
I've owned both and fired several thousand rounds through both.
The CZ's were both 75B's in 9mm, one blued and one nickel.
I loved the ergos on the CZ's, but neither was 100% reliable. Both had extraction issues and triggers in need of serious help.
The Smiths were brutally reliable. Triggers were much better out of the box as well.
For a range gun, either would be fine. I enjoyed shooting the CZ's when they ran. However, for serious defensive purposes I'd lean towards the Smith. And no, I am not a Todd Louis Green disciple
The CZ's were both 75B's in 9mm, one blued and one nickel.
I loved the ergos on the CZ's, but neither was 100% reliable. Both had extraction issues and triggers in need of serious help.
The Smiths were brutally reliable. Triggers were much better out of the box as well.
For a range gun, either would be fine. I enjoyed shooting the CZ's when they ran. However, for serious defensive purposes I'd lean towards the Smith. And no, I am not a Todd Louis Green disciple
armoredman
Member
Had a Smith 59, had a Smith 39. Liked both, barrel was a bit too high for the grip for me. Niether was as reliable as I thought they should be, but the 39 was never really 100% reliable, being on of the first Smith autos, from what I am told.
My CZs have been excellent, and I bet my life on one every single day, a CZ P-01. My wife also bets her life on her CZ 2075 RAMI.
That's my take, yours may differ.
My CZs have been excellent, and I bet my life on one every single day, a CZ P-01. My wife also bets her life on her CZ 2075 RAMI.
That's my take, yours may differ.
If you're leaning toward CZ75B take a peek at "Jerico" or "Baby Eagle". The one I examined had better designed levers and fit small to medium sized hands just like legendary FN High Power. If you're willing to carry a "crowbar" make it good user friendly one.
1SOW
Member
I shoot a DA/SA 75B-a lot-, as a fun-gun. It is what others above have said--mostly.
The gun runs and shoots very well with factory loads. It was basically designed for 124gr ball full-strength ammo.
1. It has very long trigger reach & pull in DA.
2. NIB, the trigger is rough until the friction parts seat together--dry-fire and/or shooting 500+ rds will improve it quite a bit.
3 In SA the hammer cams back before releasing.
re 1. If you have smaller hands, it's a major problem. CZ sells some attractive "thin" grips in coco-bolo wood or aluminum that sometimes helps.
re 2. A little fairly simple DIY smoothing of the friction parts and reducing the 20# hammer spring to 15# ($7), makes a BIG difference/improvement in how the trigger feels. At 15#, the hammer spring will 100% reliably fire all common primers/ammunition.
re 3. Requires a hammer change or modification to fix.
I'm not bashing the CZ. I'm just pointing out some shooters complaints.
I really like it after it's had a little TLC. Mine has well over 20K rds through it. I've had to replace the extractor spring and the slide stop. I have replaced recoil, mag and hammer springs for routine maintenance or modification.
I don't know the Smith. I don't like the safety shown either.
The gun runs and shoots very well with factory loads. It was basically designed for 124gr ball full-strength ammo.
1. It has very long trigger reach & pull in DA.
2. NIB, the trigger is rough until the friction parts seat together--dry-fire and/or shooting 500+ rds will improve it quite a bit.
3 In SA the hammer cams back before releasing.
re 1. If you have smaller hands, it's a major problem. CZ sells some attractive "thin" grips in coco-bolo wood or aluminum that sometimes helps.
re 2. A little fairly simple DIY smoothing of the friction parts and reducing the 20# hammer spring to 15# ($7), makes a BIG difference/improvement in how the trigger feels. At 15#, the hammer spring will 100% reliably fire all common primers/ammunition.
re 3. Requires a hammer change or modification to fix.
I'm not bashing the CZ. I'm just pointing out some shooters complaints.
I really like it after it's had a little TLC. Mine has well over 20K rds through it. I've had to replace the extractor spring and the slide stop. I have replaced recoil, mag and hammer springs for routine maintenance or modification.
I don't know the Smith. I don't like the safety shown either.
schmeky
Member
+1 on 1SOW's post ^^^^^
He pretty much mirrored my thoughts and I have a lot of CZ's.
He pretty much mirrored my thoughts and I have a lot of CZ's.
While I love the CZ, the springs aren't of the quality they could be and a basic upgrade is to swap out all the springs. Not that the originals don't work, but after a few thousand rounds I started seeing problems with my extractor spring. I tend to shoot a lot of rounds.
A trigger job, particularly coupled with a CZ custom hammer will make a huge difference. The long DA reach is not a problem since I carry cocked and locked. My next mod will be a SA flat trigger which makes the trigger reach more like a 1911.
Both guns should serve well. They are old school steel guns and heavy and easy to shoot. I'd pick the one that feels better, but clearly the safety is an issue and it sounds like the CZ is a better solution for you.
A trigger job, particularly coupled with a CZ custom hammer will make a huge difference. The long DA reach is not a problem since I carry cocked and locked. My next mod will be a SA flat trigger which makes the trigger reach more like a 1911.
Both guns should serve well. They are old school steel guns and heavy and easy to shoot. I'd pick the one that feels better, but clearly the safety is an issue and it sounds like the CZ is a better solution for you.
Stringfellow
Member
Ironically, the S&W 59 is the main influence for the CZ75 (NOT the Hi Power), but with the slide within dustcover design.
Janos Dracwlya
Member
I have and love both. However, I would vote for the CZ75BD. Mine has a smooth trigger and the trigger pull is just heavy enough for safety, but light enough not to interfere with aim.
Both the CZ and S&W have been 100% reliable for me and both are more accurate than I am. Further, the S&W makes a fine companion to my Marlin Camp 9. The only thing I don't like about the S&W is the way the safety works, though I'm making a point to practice with that.
Further note on S&W/Kel-Tec magazine compatibility: it only works with the factory nickel/stainless S&W magazines and my Kel-Tec doesn't even like those - I have to really push them to get the catch to engage (I even sent it back to the factory, but there was nothing they could do about this).
Still, it's hard to go wrong with either the CZ75 or the S&W Third Generation. Both are solid designs and well made. In my opinion, S&W did us all wrong to dump the Third Gen in favor of the M&P.
Both the CZ and S&W have been 100% reliable for me and both are more accurate than I am. Further, the S&W makes a fine companion to my Marlin Camp 9. The only thing I don't like about the S&W is the way the safety works, though I'm making a point to practice with that.
Further note on S&W/Kel-Tec magazine compatibility: it only works with the factory nickel/stainless S&W magazines and my Kel-Tec doesn't even like those - I have to really push them to get the catch to engage (I even sent it back to the factory, but there was nothing they could do about this).
Still, it's hard to go wrong with either the CZ75 or the S&W Third Generation. Both are solid designs and well made. In my opinion, S&W did us all wrong to dump the Third Gen in favor of the M&P.
Jed Carter
Member
I've had the S&W models 39 and 59, I actually got rid of the 59 to acquire a CZ PCR. CZ is a better shooter, old 59 probably needed a recoil spring, but it felt like a brick in the hand. 59 is a good looking step framed copy of the venerable model 39 single stack, but IME it has been a lack luster performer. PCR is smaller in size but shoots like it's fullsize brother the 75B, get the CZ and never look back to the 59, I did , I miss the 39 but not the 59.
1SOW
Member
GunTech: Many of the 75B springs are now supplied by Wolff springs. The extractor spring was a weak link. The recoil & hammer spring will last longer than recommended change inervals--See gunsprings .com (Wolff) , FAQ for their recommendations. Mags and mag springs springs are made and supplied by Mec-Gar.
I can't vouch for older pre-B models.
I can't vouch for older pre-B models.
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