What's the CZ attraction ?

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They aren't perfect as some would have you believe. They aren't the "holy grail" of guns. There are CZs with reliability problems (I personally know someone who had one that was so bad CZ replaced it, and the replacement was OK as a range gun, but never reliable enough for him to use for home defense- he bought a S&W 910 for that; I have another friend whose 85 Combat has only been OK, but has had some problems).

On the other hand, they are generally quite reliable (I have well over 10K rounds through mine with only a small handful of bobbles, and I had a CZ 40B that was fine before I made the mistake of selling it), they are accurate, and the ergonomics are terrific. I need to repeat how good the ergonomics are- for those of us they fit well (and that is most people) there is something almost magical about the grip angle and the grip radius isn't bad for a "high-cap" 9mm (they are very similar in that respect to the BHP/FN HP). For many people I've introduced to shooting it has been their favorite of my guns, and it has had that "honor" more than any other individual gun I own.

I think the biggest factor for why there is such a cult following is that for years CZs were selling for Ruger and Taurus prices (sometimes a tad less) while being a well made European engineered handgun that was near SIG, HK and other high end guns in quality. They were selling for $350-400ish, when they could/should have been selling for $500-600. Sure, the higher end guns had a bit better fit and finish, some of the internal parts of the CZ weren't finished to the same standards, but it was a darned good gun, and definitely ahead of the Ruger and Taurus they were priced with (I love Taurus btw, I'm not trying to bash anyone here).

Today, they have earned a reputation built up by years of underpricing their guns to get them in people's hands. Today, I hear the quality of the newer guns is possibly higher than it used to be (fit and finish, internal parts, they are all good guns) to bring them a bit closer to SIG in quality. They have a deserved reputation for quality (just as Glock, SIG, HK and others do). On the other hand, they are no longer the bargains they used to be as they seem to be priced about where they should be (they are priced just a hair under SIG, and a hair over Glock, quite a bit now over Taurus and Ruger). Now that they are priced right there is no longer quite as much of a reason to be jumping up and down about them as they aren't raging bargains anymore. However, they are still good solid deals in the handgun world.
 
I never liked the ergonomics of the gun, and the smallish ejection port combined with the DA/SA trigger. I've found many to be a bit gritty.

So I have the same question as the OP.

They just seem so imbalanced to me, but again that is just my personal take.

They are a good value, but so is a Glock and I don't own any of those.
 
According to CZ-USA,

"CZ 75 B is used by more Governments, Militaries, Police and Security agencies than any other pistol in the world."
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(There is a world out there beyond the USA.)

I love mine in .40. It points low for me though as I'm used to my Glocks. So it stays in the safe most of the time while I carry a Glock 19 most of the time.
 
CZs, IMHO, like other smaller manufacturers, simply doesn't have the marketing footprint of more famous manufacturers.
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CZ isn't exactly a small manufacturer, and there was a point in time where you could not get a CZ-75 here in the US on account if import restrictions, which drove people (up to and including Jeff Cooper) bonkers. The company has been around since 1919, with the CZ-75 having been introduced in 1975

Perhaps the biggest demonstration of how popular they are is too simply look at how much they are copied. EAA, Armalite and Tanfoglio all make CZ copies. Additionally, consider that there have been well over a million CZ-75's made since 1975, in addition to all the variants and other guns the company makes.
 
Dittos on ergonomics.
It was my favorite pistol for launching the .40 S&W cartridge. (It also made me realize that the .40 is not an "inherently inaccurate cartridge", as one gun writer put it.)
But for me the standard model is basically a single-action pistol because shooting it DA requires me to manually lower the hammer on a loaded chamber. Call me a wuss, but I just do not like doing that!
 
I just picked up a 75B yesterday because I like the ergonomics, price and reputation for dependability and accuracy. The quality is apparent even if it isn't finished to the luster of the Hi-Power. I think the one word that sums it up is "value". No other pistol approaches the value for the money in my eyes.
 
The first post says it all:
For me, its ergonomics and accuracy.

I have had many reliable guns, but the CZ are just as reliable, fit my hand better and they are noted for their out of the box accuracy.

That and they are reasonably priced. Sigs are great, but for the price of a Sig you can almost have 2 CZ's
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+1
 
+1 to the first post.

In my PCR, the grips and angle point the gun where I want it before I could focus on the sights on a Glock. It shoots where I point it like it's a laser.

Also, even the stock grips feel like they're made for me. It's like a favorite pair of gloves.

I have yet to get it to malfunction outside of my reloads having an overlong OAL. Right out of the box, it runs like clockwork.

And the function is exactly what I wanted. Very respectable trigger (which I may do a trigger job on), and CZ is one of maybe a few makers right now that put out a good hammer-fired DA/SA compact at anything approaching a good price.
 
They're very similar to a BHP, with excellent ergonomics and point-ability. They're also cheaper with much more options than the Browning. People who like a thin, all-steel gun love the CZ.
 
I picked up a CZ75 pre-B a few years back. Never had any experience or even held one when I said I'd buy it. While primarily a single action revolver person, I do have a bunch of HK pistols. Back to the CZ's...I am not a huge fan of them, they're not a glamorous gun but they work. I can also say, they're pretty darn comfortable - they fit my hand great.
My father-in-law had a CZ Rami in .40 S&W and it too shot great and fit my hand again, great.
 
I can see the all steel gun love. I'm sure the polymers are okay and maybe better in some cases. What I'm hearing is very similar to the revolvers. I love the all steel, ergo's, and fit of the GP100 even though it is not the Ferrari. Very cool info guy's, Thanks, $4
 
I'm happy with my CZs. I started with the 97B, then a 75B then the 83. All fit my hand, point well and are reliable and accurate. I sometimes carry the 83, the other two are a bit too big. These guns all are blued and nicely finished. I don't have a problem with the triggers. The 97B I have used in IDPA and the 75B in falling plates. Both eat my handloads with no problems. I also have CZ27 but that is in the collection.

I also have an XD9SC and a Radom Vis35 to round out my 9mm arsenal. I like the XD for carry and the Radom is just a treasure.
 
I have been carrying CZ for years. When I started at the range I worked at back in the day, they were disparaged as EuroTrash. When I left, the store was a stocking CZ authorized dealer. they fit me like a custom made glove, and I have to say they outlasted a lot of other guns I saw on the rental range, BIG names that fell apart quickly. Without getting into gun slamming, the CZ pistol line works very well for me, no malfunctions outside my own first generation fuble fingered reloads. I am no great shot, but I hit what I aim at with these, both rifle and pistols.
This is my defensive line.

whereveryouneedtogo.jpg
 
I always wondered what the CZ attraction was.
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For me it is the out of the box accuracy. CZ tends to use a shorter throat in their chambers. Shorter throats tend to be a main feature of aftermarket target and match barrels.
 
I've had a CZ-75B and the 75D PCR for about 10 years. I choose to carry the PCR daily over most of my other HK's, Sigs and Berettas. The only other gun I consistantly carry is an HK P7 PSP, but still carry the PCR more. The 75B is the perfect range gun and I use the Kadet Kit .22 conversion for practice and plinking on both guns.

The CZ are accurate, reliable, ergonomic and a great value.
 
I never hear or see much of them unless on THR.
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One could say the same thing about Baby Eagle/Jericho and Witness pistols. But I wouldn't be that one. I'd venture that just about all the major dealers in my area carry CZ pistols, even the local sporting goods store (Academy) has at least one on the shelves. Most of the dealers I frequent have a shelf or two of them and a good majority of those dealers also have EAA Witness and Jericho/BE instock.

I like all three since they are all variants of the same design. Only versions I don't care for are the polymer framed pistols, but mostly that is personal preference and my favoritism of heavier pistols rather than any defect of the guns themselves. I own a 9mm Baby Eagle and it is the most accurate firearm I own (or perhaps I am the most accurate with it). I've shot other people's CZ and Witness pistols and to me they are every bit as good as my Baby Eagle.

I recently considered a CZ Rami, but the Walther PPS won out in the end. But my research got me really interested in the EAA Witness pistols because of their ability to swap about 6 different calibers with ease. Plus the ergos are fantastic (same for the CZ and Jericho/BE).

The Match and Hunter pistols are especially nice.

So who knows if I'll get a CZ someday...I probably will at some point....probably after I get a Witness :p
 
I wondered the same thing, until I was shown a 75dPCR at a lgs. I was looking for a compact da/sa; while they are very comfortable to shoot I don't like dao outside of the range.

Handed one, fit my hand very nicely. The trigger pull is a little long, but comfotable. All around a nice little da/sa gun at a price closer to the 92 than the p229.
 
Over 14,000 people must have had some attraction to CZs.
Enough interest to register on CZForum.com over the last 9 years or so.

The slogan.

CZimply The Best!

Might not apply to everyone, but it does to myself
and a legion of other CZ fans/owners out there!

After you own/play around with Glocks, SIGs, H&K,s and XDs, ect,

You will come to see that there is something truly special about a CZ.

Notably: High quality products with a ever growing customer base- and
fantastic customer service from the equally fantastic people at CZ-USA
and the factory.
973.jpg
 
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The cz75b SA was my first gun. I have had it for about 6 months and I love it. Never had a jam or miss fire in well over 1000 rounds. It fits like a glove in my hands and is way more accurate then I am. It will not be my last CZ.
 
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briang2ad said:
The other VERY frustrating thing, is that the nice, light, slim PCR does NOT come with a manual safety. CZ cares not for the USA marketing thing - they just don't
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Why is this a problem? They aren't needed
 
briang2ad,
Since the initials PCR identify the version adopted by the Police of the Czech Republic why would they care? Beside that, it was a version of the CZ75D, the D meaning the Decocker version. CZ did import a CZ75 compact with the manual safety.
 
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