Marko Kloos
Moderator Emeritus
About two weeks ago, I got my hands on an AT-84S, a Swiss-made CZ clone. I instantly fell in love with the CZ ergonomics, and I had pretty high hopes for the AT-84S as a carry gun.
Early last week, I had a chance to test the AT-84, and I was sorely disappointed. The gun had FTE and double-feed problems at least once per magazine. Cleaning and lubing didn't help, and changing mags didn't do any good either. I was Bummed, with a capital B...I loved the feel of the gun.
The magazines for the AT-84S are very difficult to find, so I decided against having my gunsmith try to get the gun running. I traded it off to him as a tinker toy and parts gun. That and a few bucks got me a used Glock 17 with night sights.
Sunday I stopped at Outdoor Sports around the corner from my place, and they had two CZ-75 models in stock. I traded the G17 straight across for a CZ-75BD, the full-sized model with decocker and no external safety.
I liked the fit and feel of the gun so much that I went back yesterday to pick up their other CZ, a Compact PCR. I did some research on the PCR after seeing it at the store, and it looks like it's a favorite with the CZ crowd...and hard to find. Lacking the spending cash outright, I parted with a SIG P226 with night sights. (They gladly took it in trade, in all fairness making sure I knew that I was "trading down".)
Today I took both CZs out to Tamara's backyard range to test them for function and feed reliability. Both of them got a few mags each of ball and HP ammo, and they digested everything I fed them. Both pistols are very accurate, and a joy to shoot. Both of them functioned 100% with the pre-ban Baby Eagle mags I had bought for the CZ clone.
The PCR in particular has the makings of an outstanding carry piece. It is much lighter than the steel-framed full-sized CZs, and it's exceedingly well balanced. All the corners are rounded nicely. That said, even the steel-framed 75BD carries much better than its weight on paper would suggest.
All in all, I'm pretty pleased with this duo.
Early last week, I had a chance to test the AT-84, and I was sorely disappointed. The gun had FTE and double-feed problems at least once per magazine. Cleaning and lubing didn't help, and changing mags didn't do any good either. I was Bummed, with a capital B...I loved the feel of the gun.
The magazines for the AT-84S are very difficult to find, so I decided against having my gunsmith try to get the gun running. I traded it off to him as a tinker toy and parts gun. That and a few bucks got me a used Glock 17 with night sights.
Sunday I stopped at Outdoor Sports around the corner from my place, and they had two CZ-75 models in stock. I traded the G17 straight across for a CZ-75BD, the full-sized model with decocker and no external safety.
I liked the fit and feel of the gun so much that I went back yesterday to pick up their other CZ, a Compact PCR. I did some research on the PCR after seeing it at the store, and it looks like it's a favorite with the CZ crowd...and hard to find. Lacking the spending cash outright, I parted with a SIG P226 with night sights. (They gladly took it in trade, in all fairness making sure I knew that I was "trading down".)
Today I took both CZs out to Tamara's backyard range to test them for function and feed reliability. Both of them got a few mags each of ball and HP ammo, and they digested everything I fed them. Both pistols are very accurate, and a joy to shoot. Both of them functioned 100% with the pre-ban Baby Eagle mags I had bought for the CZ clone.
The PCR in particular has the makings of an outstanding carry piece. It is much lighter than the steel-framed full-sized CZs, and it's exceedingly well balanced. All the corners are rounded nicely. That said, even the steel-framed 75BD carries much better than its weight on paper would suggest.
All in all, I'm pretty pleased with this duo.
I'm sorry, once you've shot a CZ it is unavoidable.
