CZ 75B or Sig 226? Which is a better buy?

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The most unrelible guns I've ever owned were the CZ's I used to own. I own a Sig 226, great gun, but still not my first choice, very near the top though.

Depends on the use. CZ's, while not as reliable as others, are above average in accuracy. If I wanted a gun to punch holes in paper they would be a good choice after some tweaking by a good gunsmith. For a SD gun, I'd look elsewhere.
 
The most unrelible guns I've ever owned were the CZ's I used to own.
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I hate it when I have a gun that doesn't run right.

Which CZ's were they?

EDIT:

I searched to see if I could answer my question. I found this post by jmr40:

Between my brother and I we owned 5 different CZ's at one time. 3 were 75 B's a 75 BD and a PO-1. We had troubles with all of them. We fell for all the internet hype and thought we were pretty smart getting great guns for much less than the big name brands.

We came to the same conclusion several years ago, sold them all and moved on to better guns.
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[EDIT]

I have had issues with pistols too. Any can have problems. As long as the design is sound it is up to the manufacturer to deliver. I edit this post because after reading it again it sounded like sauer grapes.

I guess the only lesson from this is name doesn't guarantee anything, internet recommendations don't guarantee anything, and you never know until you shoot them for a while.

I think I have made myself depressed. :(
 
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I do not own a SIG. I have a CZ75 that is sleek, handles beautifully, is accurate, and so far, as reliable as can be expected. Having said all that, I feel the P226 is a first rate weapon, reliable, accurate, and except for the fact that the CZ is nicer looking, I would not mind owning one. I do feel that, from an investment standpoint, the SIG is probably a better investment, as SIG's hold their value probably better than the CZ. You do pay more for the 226, but I think it retains more of what you pay for resale. If money and value are the primary considerations, that matters; if, however, you are like me, I like my guns to sometimes be a little more aesthetic. Glocks all look alike, and for the most part, SIG's are a bit blockish and similar looking to each other. A CZ is just....different. I have a witness (my shooting buddy) to the accuracy of my CZ, and I must mention that I have more than once, picked a shotshell (lying horizontal on the "head" of my pepper popper target) off without touching the steel target, at 25 yards. Some CZ's are that accurate, once they are broken in.
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Limited experience with Sigs. I really like them. However, they are more expensive and refined.

I have a lot of experience with CZs. Dollar for dollar, the CZ is a better gun. I've never even seen a problem with a CZ75 style pistol.
 
I don't really see how anyone can objectively convince anyone about which one is better. No one can argue the Sig and CZ are world class designs.

Everyone can have problems with anything at any time. I had an unreliable Sig (P-220) but I still own a P-220 (not the same one). My P-220 is stone cold reliable. I have CZ's that have never missed a beat. Ever.

Something that can't be argued is the fact that Sigs are nearly always compared to CZ's (and vice versa). Guys on the Sig forum love their CZ's. Go check it out. Many CZ owners also own Sigs.

So at the end of the day, you can't go wrong with either, that's why I own both.
 
scmecky is right. They are both great guns. The thing I like best about Sigs is their quality, and just fantastic reliability. CZ's just fit me better.
 
The OP mentioned "better buy", which implies money and value for it. Anyone making a comparison on return on the dollar between the two?
 
SharpsDressedMan said:
The OP mentioned "better buy", which implies money and value for it. Anyone making a comparison on return on the dollar between the two?
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I believe a few did, I know I specifically said that I thought the CZ was the better buy. As I said before any gun purchase is highly subjective, but for the money that I think the CZ is the better buy. Now that doesn't mean Sigs are bad guns or not worth the money, I just like CZ better. Key word being "I".

If one gun fit everybody then all gun makers would only be making one model.
 
Nothing anyone says will REALLY convince you.

You need to buy both, as soon as you can afford to buy both. Get the CZ to start with -- and look for a used one. Then, get the SIG. Shoot them both for a while. It'll take 500+ rounds for the CZ trigger to smooth out if new, and it'll probably be close to right if you buy it used.

I've had a bunch of CZs, and a bunch of SIGs. I don't particularly like the 226, but have a GrayGuns 228 that is superb. I also have a custom CZ, and a custom AT-84s (an old Tanfoglio-based CZ assembled in Switzerland.)

I prefer the AT-84s to any of them. (I also have a Swiss Sphinx, another CZ clone, which is as nice as the GrayGuns 228.)
 
Right now, there is a growing market for modifying CZ's. DA pulls in the sub 5# range, reliable SA trigger pulls in the sub 3# range, trigger relocation options, hammer options, springs, pins, sights, etc.

Although there are a few upgrade options for Sigs, I would like much more.
 
I think i will eventually get both of them when I can afford it. I am going to a big gun show out in Harrisburg PA this weekend and will be looking for both. The CZ I will prob get new w/ the extras thrown in and the sig will be a used German made p226 which seems to be an all time winner. I hope to at least get my hands on a worked over cz...the cz75b that I handeled had an average trigger at best.
 
If you handled a NEW CZ-75B, that didn't come from the custom shop, encountering an "average" trigger was good. After 400-500 rounds (or a lot of dry-firing, maybe with a snap cap, which makes more sense), you'll notice a marked improvement in the trigger.

I had a rough Witness, and dry-fired it every night for a month, several hundred pulls a night. It took that long, but that trigger (which can be similar to the CZ) ended up silky smooth.
 
Both are reliable pistols. Personally I prefer the ergonomics of the CZ-75 but I also have a 226.
 
Walt Sherrill said:
I had a rough Witness, and dry-fired it every night for a month, several hundred pulls a night. It took that long, but that trigger (which can be similar to the CZ) ended up silky smooth.
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Funny thing: I have a Witness that came out of the box with a great SAO trigger. After a bunch of dry-firing, and several hundred rounds of live-firing, the trigger developed a bit of creep. A gunsmith took it out, and the trigger is now great again (even better than before), but I dry fired with the hope of improving the trigger and got the opposite. It is possible for triggers to get worse, by virtue of the hammer and sear surfaces working on each other in an uneven way, with use.

All that said, I've shot a number of CZ's and CZ-pattern guns and have always been impressed by the triggers. Maybe I've been lucky. They certainly are capable of having terrific triggers.
 
Both my 75B, and PCR had very good triggers out of the box, and have become better. The PCR actually has a great trigger. Light, and crisp. I think they put a lighter mainspring in the PCR.
 
Johnny Lightning said:
I think i will eventually get both of them when I can afford it. I am going to a big gun show out in Harrisburg PA this weekend and will be looking for both. The CZ I will prob get new w/ the extras thrown in and the sig will be a used German made p226 which seems to be an all time winner. I hope to at least get my hands on a worked over cz...the cz75b that I handeled had an average trigger at best.
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Hey Johnny, we do not live that far apart. I would be willing to meet you somewhere if you would like to shoot my SP-01. We can find a range and you can put as many rounds through it as you like. Then you could make your decision based on shooting one at least, unfortunately I do not have a Sig for you to shoot.

Completely up to you, but I thought I would offer.
 
The OP mentioned "better buy", which implies money and value for it. Anyone making a comparison on return on the dollar between the two?
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I own both of the pistols being compared (well, the CZ variant is a Model 85B) and would hate to part with either. Subjectively, I prefer the ergonomics and general handling characteristics of the CZ. Objectively, my particular SIG Model 226 is a bit more accurate than my particular CZ Model 85B. In terms of reliability, both pistols have proven to be flawless and are equals in that regard. In general, I have found SIG pistols to be slightly better finished than the CZ pistols I have examined.

But when it comes to which pistol is a "better buy", my vote goes to the CZ. I don't know if SIG pistols are over-priced or if CZ pistols are under-priced or a combination of the two possibilities but when my nib SIG costs almost $500.00 more than my nib CZ ($829.99 vs $369.99-albeit the SIG came with three magazines and night sights and was purchased four years after the CZ), I have to say that the CZ is much the better buy. However, one caveat in the SIG's favor in terms of long term value, I would expect it to offer a better resale price as compared to the CZ in years to come.
 
Darned few handguns are really worthwhile investments. They're just an expense.

SIGs may have a higher resale value, but they also cost more. Which holds it value better, SIG or CZ? Darned if I know. None of them really hold their value all that well from an investment perspective; few of them keep up with inflation.

I've had a bunch of CZs and a bunch of SIGs and I like them both. (I've had several 226s, and have never really had one I liked all that much. I am picking up a used P226 X Five this week, and that may change my mind.) When I pick up the X five, I'll have more SIGs than CZ for the first time in a long time. All of my SIGs were/are considerably more expensive than the CZs. I'd like to get a CZ Tactical Sport (their IPSC gun) one of these days.
 
I have a P229 in .40 and an SP-01. Love them both, but I haven't seen this mentioned in this thread, so I'll bring up the fact that field strip/takedown is easier and tool-less on the SIG. The only tool required on the CZ is the bottom of a magazine, but that is one minor point in SIG's favor. I still prefer my CZ, tho.

And what is this resale value thing? Someone would actually sell a SIG or a CZ? Weird.
 
And what is this resale value thing? Someone would actually sell a SIG or a CZ? Weird.
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Hah!!

I think a lot of shooters are like playboys with a bunch of girl friends (with guns = girls).

Darned few really settle down to a truly monogamous relationship. A lot like to play the field.

I'm not even serially monogamous when it comes to guns, practicing a form of firearm polygamy.
 
It really does depend on the person's tasts, I love my P226's. The feel the trigger pull/ function. I is really easy to take down and clean, and very dependable and accurate.
 
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