What can you tell me about CZ?

[jashobeam]

Hey everyone, how are CZ pistols in terms of reliability, accuracy, comfort, pointability, etc?

Though I really cannot say that such a gun will fill any "need", I've been thinking lately about purchasing some type of single action, non-polymer, traditional looking automatic. I want something accurate that feels good in my hand and looks good sitting on my coffee-table. I think that CZ's have a great look, but I've never held one.

Or what about the Hi Power? Or EA Witness?

Until recently, I've been sort of blinded to anything that wasn't high-capacity and light weight. I've even been considering some type of 1911 or clone thereof. I don't know anything about these guns and would appreciate any and all insight and comments.

I currently have a Glock 17. I wouldn't mind getting another 9mm but I also wouldn't mind a .40 or .45. What do you think?

 

[SwampWolf]

Great looks, great ergonomics, lousy triggers . My advice is to try one (or several) out, including shooting one before spending your money.

 

[Stainz]

Some years ago, my wife tried a bunch of semi's in 9mm - settled on the CZ-75. It was great - ate el-cheapo Blazers perfectly, as it did everything else we tried. It never had a misfeed - or ftf. I would say it was the best semi I ever owned - better than my ho-hum boring G21 of years ago. It came with a hi-cap mag - and I bought a pair of American made hi-cap's from a mail order site for $38 that worked flawlessly. The fellow we sold it to a year and a half back shoots it all of the time - and still rates it as the best he has.

Of course, I am jaded... I have three rimfire CZ rifles - and they are definite keepers. The CZ-97, the enlarged .45 ACP version of the CZ-75, in my pusher's case is nice... if I buy another semi, I'll consider it first.

Stainz

 

[jdkelly]

One of the first things you will hear about CZ handguns...

One of the first things you will hear about CZ handguns is that they are a very good value for the price, and they are! They are pretty accurate and point very nicely.

Some seem to have extraction problems but I think that has been addressed. I like my CZ-75Bs very much even though I've broken two slide stops on my 9mm and have found it difficult to find good adjustable sights to replace the factory sights.

I think you will be happy with a CZ, most people are.

http://www.czforum.com/


Respectfully,

jkelly

 

[kahr404life]

The CZ-75 is a very nice handgun. Mine is accurate and very reliable. The only thing I did not like about it was the magazines not dropping free. I contacted CZ who advised me to take the grip off and straighten the magazine retention piece (forgot part name) in the mag well. I did and it works the mags drop free. I also own one of their nifty 22lr rifles and if I miss the target its not the rifles fault. I think CZ is a class company with very good products.

 

[Shear_stress]

I have two CZ pistols, a P-01 and a recently purchased CZ85 Combat. While I can't speak for the entire product line, the guns I have are superb. They fit my hand perfectly, point well, and are very, very accurate. My CZ85 has digested 500 rounds of WWB without a single problem, while my older P-01 has experienced possibly two FTEs over a couple thousand rounds of WWB and Sellier&Bellot, all with a minimum of cleaning or maintenance. As you can tell, I am a big fan of CZs.

The only wrinkle has been the triggers. Out of the box, they are not great. However, they improve substantially with use. My P-01 now has a very, very smooth and light pull. My CZ-85 is getting there. . .

 

[gvass]

Isn't it a revolver forum?

BTW: CZ once made revolvers, too.

.38 Special and .22 LR Colt-style double action revolvers, and a world-class .38 Special single action target revolver,too.

 

[pauli]

new cz revolvers would rule.

 

[Mulliga]

They've acquired Dan Wesson. Currently I only see the DW 1911s on their site, but that may change.

CZ pistols are quite good, too.

 

[R.H. Lee]

My CZ75B is dead on accurate and reliable. The only mods I've made have been to remove the magazine brake and add skateboard tape to the front and backstraps.

 

[cookekdjr]

CZ is one of the best arms manufacturers in the world.
-David

 

[Lone Star]

jdkelly--

Will you please elaborate on your broken slide stops? How many rounds went through the gun, under what conditions, before one broke?

One sees posts like this, and it sometimes develops that the shooter is into action style matches and shoots a thousand or more rounds a week. Simply saying that a slide stop broke can alarm the man wanting a gun for real world use, when it might prove quite durable, given normal amounts of firing.

I am very satisfied with my PolyKote 75B, and plan to to get the new stainless one, too, once we see feedback enough to know if they have metallurgy or heat treat problems with stainless steel, which is new at CZ.

Thanks,

Lone Star

 

[Stainz]

I suppose that the slide stop is also the dissassembly pin. Mine had many, many thousands of Blazer 9mm's through it when my wife tired of it (She now shoots my wimpy .357M's from a 3" 65... a proper revolver!). The fellow who bought it had his break while dissassembling it (His general luck is horrible... I'd never be near him in a thunderstorm!). They charged him for the piece - he called back after finding out on a forum that they had some bad units... they sent him another one, so now he has a spare. He isn't soured in any way - and loves the CZ. He does gripe about the aftermarket hi-cap mags' springs wearing, however. If I ever go towards the dark side again, I'll get another CZ pistol. Not likely, of course, given my affinity for proper 'round guns'.

Stainz

 

[armoredman]

Well, I bet my life on a CZ 75 PO1 every day, and my wife bets hers on a CZ 2075 RAMI 9mm. There are no handguns in this house that don't say CZ on them....we might be said to have a slight affinity towards the CZ brand name....
I will state, as you asked, EAA Witness pistols, made by Tanfolgio of Italy, is a very good pistol, as well, as I have had 6 of them in the past, and only money issues forced me to sell any of them....dagnabbit. :banghead:
I reccomend trying the CZ PO1, the PCR, (both alloy frames, since you like lightweight), and the CZ40P, the PO1 frame with the CZ40 slide, a semi-compact lightweight 40SW, at J&G Sales for $299.99...for grins.

 

[Ash]

I have 3 CZ-75's and a CZ-85 Compact. I recommend all of them.

Ash

 

[varoadking]

CZ's are perhaps the most accurate bricks ever...as accurate as most any higher priced fine handgun...

 

[PCRCCW]

Well Ive had 24+ CZ's. I wouldnt say they ALL have crappy triggers and break slide stops. They are great in the hand, accurate, well made, reliable and so on. Look at them seriously..........
Shoot well.

 

[jdkelly]

Lone Star, good luck with the coming storm.

jdkelly
Will you please elaborate on your broken slide stops? How many rounds went through the gun, under what conditions, before one broke?--- Lone Star

My CZ 75B has been my third or fourth most used semi-auto hand gun (by round count) over the last five years and is the only one to break the slide stop.

This is from memory so please don't hold me to exact round counts. The first slide stop broke at about 7,000 rounds (a good guess) the second at less then 5,000 rounds. When the second slide stop broke CZ-USA (not Mike) said that slide stops were warranted for only 3,000 rounds. I bought two at that time ($35.00 ea I think) so I would not have to wait several weeks when the third slide stop breaks, as I had to when the first slide stop broke.

Much of the ammo used before the first was mil surplus (hot) with a good dose of WWB. Almost all of the ammo used between the first and second slide stop breaks was soft gammer loads (yeah I reload 9mm).

I had been using a heavier recoil spring (around 18 lbs) when the second slide stop broke. But I believe that I had a factory spring when the first slide stop broke. I think Walt Sherill thought this might have been the problem.

Again, this is from memory and could be wrong. The only thing I can accurately tell you is that I've broken two slide stops in a moderately used gun and that I haven't shot it much since. I still like the CZs I own, and will used them again, I've just moved in another direction.

I had a post over in the CZ Forum with slightly more accurate information at the time I was having problems but could not find it this morning, sorry.



Respectfully,

jdkelly

 

[Ash]

I have never broken a slide stop, personally, and one of my CZ-75's is 18 years old, now. My newest 75 is 9 years old, a "B" model, and it is still purring along.

Ash

 

[GunGoBoom]

CZ pistols - the best there is, in my book. Hi-powers are awesome too.

 

[Northslope Nimrod]

Love my CZ RAMI and I desperately want a CZ PCR or P-01. Very comfortable to hold & shoot.
Best handguns: Browning Hi-Power, 1911 (browning design), CZ (inspired by Browning).

 

[Gary G23]

I was in a gunshop in January and spotted a new CZ-75B SA 9mm at a reasonable price. I looked it over and ended up taking it home with me. I have since bought three more CZ pistols and have to switched to CZ's for all my IDPA competition this year, including three major matches. I'm impressed.

 

[jashobeam]

CZ97B or 75B SA?

How is the trigger on the 97B--the single action trigger pull, I mean? I'm not really concerned with the double action pull, although ofcourse it'd be nice if that were smooth too.

I think the 97 has a great look. I've held one recently. It felt pretty good, but the trigger might be a little far out there. I'll have to go hold it again.

Obviously, since I don't reload, the 75B SA will be more economical to shoot.

I just want an accurate autoloader. I do decently well with my Glock 17, but, as stated originally, I would like to get something more traditional that can be fired single action.

 

[Werewolf]

Obviously, since I don't reload, the 75B SA will be more economical to shoot

Ummmm... I'm curious why you think that?

I've got a 75B SA in .40S&W - very accurate and is my IPSC gun.

Plastic Trigger froze up at around 1000 rounds - never did figure out why. Replaced it with steel trigger.

I've also got 75B in 9mm. Not as accurate as the .40 for some reason but my wife mainly uses it and I can still keep 'em all in the 10 ring at 10 yards so it's accurate enough.

I like my CZ's (I've also got a CZ-550 American Rifle). Accurate, easy to maintain firearms and with the exception of the SA have been very reliable.

Mucho bang for the buck.

 

[MachIVshooter]

Best handguns: Browning Hi-Power, 1911 (browning design), CZ (inspired by Browning).

IMO, the CZ-75 is somewhat of an improved, TDA version of the Hi-power. Ergonomics and overall appearance are very similar, and both use linkless barrels. But I personally believe the lockwork of the CZ to be superior, and I also like the inverted slide rails.

BTW, you should add the Beretta 92 to your list

I don't own an actual CZ, but I own a Baby Eagle 9mm and a Witness 10mm and both are superb firearms. I prefer the Baby Eagle to a real CZ for a variety of reasons, non of which is quality. The advantage the Witness' have going is that they offer the CZ-75 platform in a host of chamberings from .22 LR to .45 ACP. Currently, the Witness is the only CZ-style pistol in 10mm. Both the Witness and Baby Eagle are made by Tanfoglio, though IMI adds their own touch to the Baby.

Be it a CZ or Tanfoglio/Baby Eagle, you'll be pleased. And you won't have to spend a fortune (between $300 and $500 will get you just about any of them, excluding semi-custom or competition models).