S&W 5906 vs CZ 75

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robinkevin

robinkevin

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So I am looking for a metal pistol in 9mm for range and maybe carry from time to time (depending on dress) and more so home defense duty. I have been looking at 3rd Gen Smiths for sometime and love the looks of them and keep seeing a lot of 5906s for sale. They are highly regarded pistol and american made.

However I also still have a soft spot for the CZ 75. These are not too hard to find either and seem to be great little shooters. They hold more rounds and more widely used worldwide.

But which would y'all pick between the two? Is there another DA/SA metal handgun that I am over looking in the same ballpark? Sorry Hi Power and 1911 fans, I just really am not too comfortable with a single action that would need to be carried cocked and locked.

Well there ya have it, give me your two cents worth if you will.
 
Beretta 92/M9.

I know the guys on the forum tell me I'm nuts about the cost of CZ75's, but in my neck of the woods, new CZ75's and Beretta 92FS/M9's sell for the same price.

There should be lots and lots of used Beretta's on the market.
 
Beretta 92 in my area sell for quite a bit more than the CZ75 which I have seen in the $400 ballpark, where as Beretta is usually a $700 or so usually. I have looked at the Taurus copy of the 92 however which I like the frame safety better (one of my dislikes on the 5906). However unless I find a used one (haven't seen any) they are even a little steep for me at this time.
 
CZ75 for sure. They are just so accurate and sweet shooting. I bought an SP01 this week!

They seem to have soared in popularity lately as well.
 
The CZ-75 is a fantastic handgun, one of my favorites. Great ergonomics, good looks, never saw one that wasn't a shooter.

That said, the 5906 is about perfection in a combat 9mm, IMO. It has everything the CZ does, but it's tougher. If I could only have one 9mm, it'd be the 5906. Only down side to the 5906 is that there aren't a lot of accessories for it these days.

CZ 75. ...........They hold more rounds and more widely used worldwide.
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They both hold 15+1 in stock form. I have flush fitting 17 rounders (Mec Gar) and slightly extended 20 rounders for my 5906, which also fit my Camp 9.
 
In my area the CZ75B and Beretta 92FS are $600 pistols. Glocks & their polymer friends are less, while the other metal 9MM's like the Sig and Hi-Power are more. Certainly, $400 for a new CZ75B is an outstanding deal, and I would buy one.

I have a 3rd Gen S&W, in .45 though, the 4506. It is a very well made gun, but it doesn't fit my hand like my 1911, and is a little top heavy.

CZ's do feel good when initially gripped. However, reaching the controls are difficult for some, and I'm one of them. Trigger reach in double action is long, and the little "half a jelly bean" thumb safety is also a long reach for me. As chuncky as the Beretta grip feels, I think it is easier to live with those controls, and those of the S&W pistols, even though many complain about the safety/decocker on these pistols.
 
So you are finding used Beretta's for $700?

As I mentioned in the earlier post, there are lots of used Beretta's available. I would think there are many more Beretta's available than used CZ's giving you many more options. Used Beretta's around me are in the same ball park as the price you listed for your used CZ. I'm not a big Beretta expert, so I couldn't tell you if they hold up well, or how easy they are to repair, but lots of police carried Beretta's and they always show up at the local gun shops in reasonable condition. Some holster wear, but with smooth actions.

Likewise, there should be bunches of 3rd Gen S&W's around since lots and lots of police carried them.
 
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I have them both (CZ 85B and Models 6906 and 4006), along with a Beretta Model 92FS, a couple of SIGs and an HK USP 40. I like them all but if I could only keep one, it would be a Smith 3rd generation variant of one type or the other. I think they're the most under-rated and under-appreciated semi-autos extant. Do a search on these pistols and the one descriptive word that will come up most often is RELIABLE. Most people having any experience with them swear by them. Check it out.
 
What about a Sig P226?

They're great guns with a well deserved reputation for reliability & accuracy.
 
Close to 2 years ago I bought one of the 5906's from Bud's for a pretty decent price. It was a little roughed up so I spent a little change on a new recoil spring and grips. I wound up trading it and can't really tell you what it was about it that made me think it wasn't worth hanging on to. It wasn't the most accurate gun ever but it was fine for the money paid and it's purpose, and the trigger was "thousand rounds" smooth... I just don't know. Didn't move me.

If I had to choose I would take the CZ, but there's nothing wrong with the 5906 imo. Just nothing overly right about it. Every one will be different.
 
Since you asked about the 2 pistols in particular and not something I think you should have instead, I note that your choice of Smith is quite specific in the 5906 but I'm wondering as far as the CZ, are you specifically asking about a CZ-75 or a CZ-75 variants?
 
CZ with Kadet Conversion kit. They feel great in the hand. Women love them. Great trigger.
 
For me it would easily be the SW 5906. My LGS has some NIB old stock. I dry fired a couple and they were SWEET!!

If I did not already have a couple P226s I might get on of those SW 5906 - still might. :D
 
They're both good guns.

And if either has had trigger work, that one could be more than just a "good" gun. I've had both, and like both.

Pick whichever feels best in your hand (or has the best trigger). If you like decockers, the 5906 might appeal a bit more than the 75B; if you like the option of cocked & locked, the 75B might be the better choice.
 
I have three 5904s (Black alloy-frame variant of the 5906). Yeah, I like them. As a daily carry/utility, I like decocker/safety protocol, and so does my wife. Never a malfunction, and accurate ...enough. Fairly inexpensive on the local used-market too.

I have a early/mid-90s mfg Beretta 92FS that I bought "as-new" with box and papers for $400 a year or two ago and I like it a lot too., but I consider it a tad large for CC, so it doesn't get fired as much.

I don't know anything about CZs except that people really seem to like them. Industry-standard popularity happens for a reason.
 
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Since you asked about the 2 pistols in particular and not something I think you should have instead, I note that your choice of Smith is quite specific in the 5906 but I'm wondering as far as the CZ, are you specifically asking about a CZ-75 or a CZ-75 variants?
Click to expand...

Should of specified more I guess... Most any 3rd Gen Smiths are on my list but leaning towards the 5906 as I see them for better prices usually and also the heavier weight of them would be nice at the range I believe, however not ruling out the 6906 either but I do read they can't shoot +p... not sure how much of a concern that is. On the CZ 75 yes the other variants are also in my mind set so long as in 9mm. I like the rami a lot and saw one a year ago that I wish I would of gotten, haven't seen any ramis in my price range since though I haven't look all the hard either... Hopefully that clears it up a bit.
 
5906 .......the heavier weight of them would be nice at the range I believe
Click to expand...

They're actually about an ounce lighter (38.3) than a CZ75 (39.5); The 4.7" CZ has a little more slide and barrel than the 4" 5906, which account for the greater heft, despite it's lighter frame.

Everyone thinks the S&W 3rd gens are super heavy for some reason. Reality is that they're all within a couple ounces of similar, all-steel models in a given chambering.
 
If you're going to be target shooting much with it I'd opt for the CZ without a doubt. Very hard to find a better shooter right out of the box than a CZ75. Most other autos don't even come close.
 
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