Until fairly recently I have never really known much about CZ firearms other than hearing people claiming how good they are.
I was perusing a lgs yesterday and just happened to take a close look at a used CZ 75D Compact they had in the case.
CZ makes some nice guns for the money, color me impressed. Fit and finish....perfect. Ergonomics....perfect....for me. And the aluminum frame made it capable of all day carry, unlike any of the all steel guns out there, imo.
The price was $450, but since I wasn't buying "today", I didn't dicker.

Tell me more about these awesome guns, and pics would be helpful.

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Sure you did

I own a CZ 50 which is a Walther PP size .32 acp...Czech surplus from the 1950's 60's I think. It's a quality little pistol.

A couple years ago I bought a new CZ 75B superb shooting pistol...I can find nothing to complain about. Comfortable grip and feels light for a full size hi-cap all steel 9mm pistol

I currently own 3 CZ pistols, a full size CZ75B Single Action, a CZ-P01, and a CZ 75D PCR. The CZ75D Compact you described with the aluminum frame is almost definitely a PCR. It is not uncommon, but is highly sought. The $450 selling price is good. If it is still available I would go back and get it.

CZs are probably one of the best bag for the buck deals out there. The internal, full length frame rails contribute to their accuracy, and I haven't found any ammo yet that doesn't feed reliably in any of mine. The grips are some of the best designed, and fit me like a glove, I have seen this comment repeated more often than not. The trigger is probably the most repeated complaint, but after a few hundred rounds it smooths out really well, and if it is still too heavy, it is easy to replace the spring.

There are two primary shops that provide aftermarket parts, accessories, and services for CZs below:

Cajun Gun Works Custom CZ Gunsmith & CZ Pistols - Cajun Gun Works

CZ Custom CZ Custom - Custom Parts, Accessories, Shooting Gear

There are probably others, but these are the most popular.

Of course you can also buy parts & accessories directly from CZ CZ-USA Home - CZ-USA

CZ also makes great rifles. I have a bone stock CZ452 22LR bolt gun that shoots 1/2 groups at 50yds. I'm not sure about their shotguns as I haven't tried any.

Hope this helps.

One of the counter guys at my range got a PCR as his EDC and took his out and handed it to me. The ergo's were so good I think it took me a half-hour to give it back to him. In the meantime, the owner saw how much I liked it and ordered one for me without telling me.

When I got my own, it shot as good as it felt to hold. I'd say it shot as good for me as my full size 75B, at least at the distances I shoot. My husband went with me to pick it up, and we shot it right there after a quick bore swab. He loved it also and went to the owner about getting one for himself. Luckily the owner ordered two, so hubby unexpectedly got one the same day. Had them 14 months now and put a little over 2000 rounds (124gr Speer Lawman) through each one, and not a single failure. It's flat out fun to shoot, and gets used at pretty much every range outing.

It is both of our EDC, in an Aliengear CT 3.0. It fits my gun handbag as well.

Confusingly, there are two 75D compact versions with identical names, but different configurations. The less expensive one, that does not match the one on the CZ USA website ( CZ-USA CZ 75 D PCR ) is an overseas model that has found it's way here. The most obvious difference is the overseas model has the Picatinny rail.

If I have a nit to pick, it's that the standard sights could be better, but a little nail polish helps fix that. Also, the magazine butt plate has a protrusion to the front that is annoying (you can see it on the magazine in the polished stainless 75B), and I replaced it with one formed to the grip.

In the personal preference category, I favor the DA/SA decocker w/o safety for carry. It's the only action type that I don't have errors with in stress drills. And for me, this trigger and reset pushed my abilities to a higher level than any of my other handguns.

If the one you saw was the version without the Pic rail, that's an excellent price. I paid 604 OTD.

CZ's are good pistols for the price. I have a 75D PCR, great carry gun. Ergos are great for me, and for rapid fire threat-focused shooting I can do very well with the gun.

One "non-issue" with the guns are their single action triggers on the DA/SA models. They can have a bit of creep. However, it's not a target pistol, it's a carry gun, so I'm fine with it.

I have a 75B as well and love it!
Also added some CZ's older models to the collection, the 50 and 70
All well made handguns!

I have several CZs. Most recently bought a full size CZ 75, one of the Israeli surplus guns in like new except for some handling marks and storage dings...I wanted one of the older ones from Czechoslovakia rather than the Czech Republic. Wonderful gun.

Also have a CZ-82, in the 9mm Makarov caliber. Also a CZ 50, a CZ 70, and a CZ 52. All are great little guns. The Czechs are innovative designers and I admire their guns a lot.

Here's my CZ-75 from 1991:



Here is the unusual CZ-52, Which is chambered for the 7.62x25 Tokarev cartridge, and with its unique roller locked action can handle the higher powered MG rounds (or so I've been told, I'm no expert on these guns):



Here is my little CZ-50, in the .32 ACP round:



The Czechs updated the little CZ-50 twenty years later with the introduction of the CZ-70 (at least thats what I call them, more accurately, I guess would be VZ ...for "Vzor", or "Model"):



And finally, the last member of my little mini collection of CZs, the CZ 82, in 9mm Makarov caliber:



Let me say that I agree fully with scoobysnacker's post below (#15) and his comments on the Czech arms industry. I have visited the country and observed many of their manufacturing plants, from beer to crystal to firearms, and was extremely impressed. I'm a big fan.


Best Regards, Les

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SWCA 3084, SWHF 495, PGCA 3064

I first shot a competitor's CZ 75B at a steel challenge match. Was hooked instantly.
There are a number of factors contributing the (IMHO) greatness of the CZ platform.
Begins with the slide inside the frame, made famous by the legendary Sig P210.
The ergonomics, as mentioned, are near perfect for many (most?) shooters.
The unique action lends itself wonderfully to tuning. Many available performance parts also facilitate this.
CZ USA and its sibling, CZ Custom offer a wonderful array of specially tuned competition pistols such as the Shadow 2
When the masses move in one direction, I generally do the opposite.
Of late it appears that 40 S&W is falling from favor.
So, there are bargains to be had. I've always been a fan of the "low hanging fruit".
Grabbed a cheap old 40 as a project gun with a goal of setting it up for my club's pistol matches.
Did a complete action polishing, added Cajun springs, firing pin and comp hammer.
10X bushing. Had a machinist friend mill the slide for a Tactical Sport adjustable sight.
Just finishing load development. Currently using a Missouri coated 170 LSWC over 3.3 Bullseye. 766 FPS.

I use this one in club matches. Plates, bullseye, different distances. They throw lots of different challenges at us.
First time out, I won the match and a number of others asked to try it. Maybe sold a few that day.
Next up is one of a limited number of all-steel P01 compacts that made it to these shores. Added a Shadow hammer (big deal, remember?), bushing, springs, polish. DA 6 pounds, SA 2-1/2 pounds.

Just finished setting it up for steel challenge. New sights, safety and SAO trigger:

I could go on and on, but you get the idea.

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-jwk-
US Army '72-'95

I was just like you. Didn't know anything but had heard good things. A CZ 75 compact presented itself to me in a good deal and I took it.



My version does not have a decocker but has ambi safety and set up to be SA trigger but the trigger can be lowered manually if desired to fire DA/SA.

The grip fits my hand like a glove. Trigger is nice. It's more accurate than I am. And it's reliable.

I probably won't carry it as there's little things about it (at least this model) that I don't prefer for carry. But it's a great shooter, looks good, feels good. Great little gun

Mine is the same "limited number" model here.

My PCR just says "CZ 75D Compact" on the slide (no "PCR" rollmark), but the box is labeled as a PCR, and the frame is definitely aluminum. It is one of the earlier versions. No rail of course, none of the PCRs had one as far as I know.

Yeah the sights aren't the greatest, but I put a set of Cajun Gun Works night sights on mine.

Good guns. Very much copied by others. Good quality.

They do have some minor hiccups that aren't necessarily problems but may or may not turn you off.
1) the slide is thin and narrow because it rides inside the frame. This is good for accuracy not so much for someone with large and/or meaty hands. There isn't much to grab to slingshoot. It's not a function problem but I have always had issues with it.

2) Complicated trigger mechanism. Only really matters if you do your own gunsmithing

3) slide stop needs to be checked every so often. If you don't shoot a lot it's not a big deal. If you shoot 10k + rounds a year you need to keep an eye on it. They can shear off

These are more little nuances that you may or may not like. Otherwise solid guns, accurate, reliable. My (personally me) only major dislike is the lack of surface area on the slide and the DA trigger (that's more about any DA gun and not specifically CZ). And a few other things that are specific to me

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Yep copied by Tanfoglio, and several others. The Springfield P9 is an excellent copy (if you can find one), but they only made it for a couple of years.

There's like a dozen different companies that copy the CZ. Even North Korea has a copy

Chilean FN-750
Norinco NZ-75
CZ - TT
Italian G90
Bull Cherokee
IMI Jericho
Tanfoglio
Romanian model 2000
North Korean
Armscor MAP90
Swiss Sphinxs
Swiss AT88
Turkish TriStar
Turkish Sarsilmaz
Bren Ten
Vltor Bren Ten
Springfield P9

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I love CZ's.

People use phrases and stereotypes based on known examples, such as "German engineering" or "like a Swiss watch" to tout some industries.
Well, Czechoslovakia was also known for fine craftsmanship too, as people talk about Czech crystal etc. It ended up on the other side of the Iron Curtain, and the luster faded from Western perception for awhile. But the Czechs never stopped making their own stuff to a high standard, and that is reflected in the arms industry, of which CZ is at the forefront. If you look at the Communist arms, CZ never made a clone of a Russian design, they ALWAYS made their own stuff, and used the calibers required. The fact that they would be allowed to do so reflects on the quality of the weapons they produced.

I think the CZ 75 was the sidearm we "wanted" when the push came to move to 9mm for the military, and had the Czechs been on the other side of the wall, I think it would have been the pistol we adopted.

As far as I know, they don't rollmark the name PCR, just the markings you have.

This is the one I mentioned as a cheaper railed configuration with the same 75 D Compact name as the PCR. In the USA, it appears to match the gun rollmarked as the P-01.



Railed CZ 75 D COMPACT from Buds

Compared to the USA 75 D Compact.

A couple of mine

CZ 75, pre-B from 1992


CZ 27, with slanted serrations and some German marks, I suspect that puts it around 1938 or 1939


CZ 82, in the midst of a pack of other 9x18 Warsaw Pact guns, she88 to 1988

What a fabulous line of handguns aren't they?

I have an original pre- B configuration CZ75, 4-5 CZ75B's in 9mm and .40, 2 CZ40B's which are incredible and somewhat rare now, aCZ83 and am looking for an 82, a CZ452 rifle in .17hmr that the p'dogs and gophers in Montana HATE!!

I am always on the lookout for a CZ 550 in 6.5x55 as I am very enthusiastic about that caliber....

So, yes, I am a CZ fan!!

Randy

I had a CZ 82 and CZ 75 that both were excellent guns. I sold them when I downsized ten guns of my semi auto collection. Just because it was buy another safe or sell some to make room for some revolvers.

I've got one I bought at the Grafenwöhr Rod & Gun Club in 1979. I put a small truck load of GI M882 ball though mine in the late 80's just before I retired. Only drawback these days is magazines for the so-called pre-B models are hard to find. IDPA does not like them. Local club classes it SSP one month, then decides it is ESP the next. I'd rather shoot it than a bucket full of G17's

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My wife carries a CZ clone, Witness Pavona. She hated her Glock 22 I bought her so it was replaced with the Witness. For a clone it is accurate, ergonomic for her small hands, outstanding SA trigger pull. She carries condition 1 because of her short finger reach, but this also makes using gloves much better than most guns.

The Witness also has a firing pin block, not sure about the older CZ 75's.

For a very very short time Czechoslovakia did make AKs before switching to the VZ58. But yes, they've always went their own way with arms. Soviet SKS in 7.62x39.....Czech VZ52 with detachable mag and 7.62x45. Soviet TT33....Chech CZ 52. Makarov.....CZ82!!!! They typically kept the caliber

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CZ makes a great product. Had a SxS 12 ga and hunted with it for years. Would still own it but a Beretta 626 Onyx showed up cheap. Only hunt 3 weekends a year, don't need 2 shotguns so the CZ was sold. The buyer loves it.

Had a Drulov single shot .22 made by CZ. Very basic simple free pistol that was built strong and was a tack driver. Now own a Hammerli free pistol and the Drulov was sold.

Just bought a CZ Kadet built on the CZ 75 frame. Happy so far, still playing with ammo to see which it likes. It's a fixed bbl .22 like the Smith model 41. Last shot hold open and all steel. Has a good feel to the grip and it doesn't flip up as much when it's shot. Very impressed with CZ so far, may buy a .22 rifle with a full length stock. They look sweet and have a reputation for accuracy. Larry

The one in the shop was so marked, no PCR roll mark.

Fine looking and handling gun.

I may go back and try chewing them down a bit, the gun looked as new. Came with the box, 2 mags, paperwork, and another set of grips. Grips looked "flattish"........ custom/aftermarket?

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Sure you did

The smallish slide was always a sort of turn off for me, but now not so much anymore.
My hands are large but I'll figure it out.

As I said previously, this gun just feels right, much like Spegels feel right on my revolvers.

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Sure you did

It was the non railed version, good, as I don't care for rails. Also had the polished trigger. I like the decoder also, no need for a manual safety.

Damn, what am I waiting for?

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Sure you did

Goooo

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You'll love it


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VCDL, GOA, NRA

It's hard to beat a CZ rifle......... rimfire or centerfire........my favorites are the FS/mannlicher models...... 452s in .22lr .22magnum and a 527 in .223.

CZ has 3 (or 4) size actions.... one for rimfire, another for the .223 and 7.63x39 and another for larger centerfire rounds....................

I still hope to own a CZ75 someday. I have owned a couple of clones. Not bad at all, but not real. Did it again! Bought an Israeli Military Surplus IWI Jericho 941 FS. Un-issued in a generic box. Not 1 mark on it. It is a .40 S&W. Talk about a solid feeling/ shooting gun! (my opinion of course) I certainly don't regret this 1. Bob

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I have owned CZ 50 and 70, 52 and 82...and still own an 83 and 85. All have been fine guns, and the ergonomics of the 82,83 an 85 are perfect for me.

I sold my CZ 75 PCR compact.... Only because I was funding the CZ 75 PCR Pro-Tek. Same gun but fully customized by CZ Customs with a fantastic trigger job. Also the gun was dehorned and just feels amazing. If I had to take a trip to hell and back, I'm bringing this guy. Apologies for the stock pic, Photobucket wiped mine out.

CZ?
Yes, please.

This is my 1996 CZ 75 B.







If I were going for a compact, the PCR sure is nice, the regular 75 Compact (steel) is also great but heavy. And for modern ones, the P-07 is fantastic.

And then you have the small caliber fest: Lots of awesome 7,65 Browning (32 ACP) and 6,35mm (25 ACP) CZ's out there. And mighty cheap to boot.

Love my CZ's! They do have some creep in the stock triggers but mine all smoothed out nicely with use. Haven't felt the need to mod them. Recoil management is very good, especially in the 45acp 97's. One thing to pay attention to as a reloader is that CZ's have short throats. Round nose bullets are usually no problem out to max length but conical nose bullets like Hornady XTP/HAP need to be loaded shorter than in most pistols.

I have 2 CZ 9mm pistols and love them both....a CZ75B and a 2075 RAMI. My only gripe is the hard to see white dots on their sights, which I remedied in a few short minutes with a dab on each dot with some white fingernail polish.

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I have a couple, kinda.


One is a Tanfoglio TZ-75 that I bought for $300 about ten years ago. It had issues with extraction because a previous owner tried to "clean" the chamber with a steel brush. I eventually got hold of a CZ 75 barrel for it and after some surgery on the TZ slide it now works great. I am thinking of doing some more surgery and see if I can get it to work with modern magazines.







Earlier this year I was browsing the CZ Custom site and saw the SP01 Shadow. I could not stop myself and I am very glad of that. It has great sights and a trigger in both DA and SA that has to be pulled to be believed. SA is 3 3\4lb, crisp and clean. As good as any 1911 I have fired, maybe better. DA is 9lb and as good as any of my J and K frames. The extended magazine release can be activated without having to change my grip.

Put a light on it and you have what is my perfect nightstand gun. One in the chamber, the hammer on half cock, safety off and a 19rd magazine. DA first shot that feels like a revolver and follow ups that feel like a 1911. Oh yeah, the grips fit me like a glove.

All good advice, and great looking guns, thanks. If time permits I'll swing by Sat or Sun and take another look, assuming it's still there.

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Sure you did

That Shadow is a big seller from what I'm hearing on other forums.
Again, as many mentioned, the grip on these CZ's are about perfect.

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Sure you did

When you consider the cost of the 75 Compact is about the same price as the Glock 19, it's no contest.

I talked a friend into buying a CZ pistol because I knew how good their reputation was. I always wanted to get one myself but I had other pistols like my Sig P220 that I thought were just a little better but at a much higher price of course.

My friend fell in love with that CZ and has since bought others for his family. He still carries it after 8 years and he uses it in shooting competitions. He does well with it too.

I do own a CZ. It's a 453 American .22. It has a set trigger and it shoots a lot of groups like this one. I guess it's been a while since I shot this one but trust me, it still shoots the same way. This is 5 shots at 50 yards.

Not even close.

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Sure you did

Anyone got a RAMI ?

The counter guy at the range who got me hooked on his PCR, got a RAMI after he got the PCR. He loves that one also.

He let me hold it, and my feeling was that it's probably a good sub-compact, though thicker and with a grip shorter than I like for "Sub" size.

I'd love to see them make single stack compact and subcompact decocker versions of the 75.

bigwheel...... I'd buy 2.........nothing better outside a war zone than a single stack 9mm for concealed carry......................but for the record.......

I think that's called a Beretta 92 Compact Type M......

LOL amazes me that Companies offer guns ..... that no one seems to want until they are no longer made..... then it's a, got to have, Grail gun.

The best examples that pop into my head are the 3913/14/NL and the 3" 66s Smith introduce in the late 80s......couldn't give either away back then cus they didn't have 15 rounds up their butts......................

The Beretta Type-M has a cult following over on the Forum.......bought my first in 94 as a hedge on the AWB and hi-caps......... 10 years later got a second from the same Police Supply house ...... that was from the same batch and had set on the shelf for over 10 year.......they gave me the 1994 price just to clear it off the books....................

but a single stack CZ compact would be a nice addition!!!!!!!!!!!!

My friends husband showed me his single stack compact Beretta. Never got to shoot it unfortunately, but when I held my PCR in my other hand, the Beretta was heavier and not much thinner.

If I'm giving up half my ammo, it better be for a noticeably lighter and thinner platform in the trade-off. I think someone will make one eventually, since it's an unfilled niche.

I thought I wanted a Rami, but after handling one, it's a bit too "thick and blocky" for me. The ergo on the Compact is perfect, imo.

A single stack Compact would blow away anything made yesteryear or now, imo.

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Sure you did

You are exactly correct....we can go back even further: how about the "Centennial" style guns, later called the model 40 and 42. Only a few thousand were sold from the early 50s through the 70s, and as soon as they were discontinued, everyone wanted one, and now there are a dozen or more variations, and one of Smith's biggest sellers.

For that matter, how about the Colt SAA? As soon as Colt stopped making them in the 40s, demand escalated, and now there are a dozen or more companies making variations, including the Rugers.

Or even the 1911!!! Except during wartime, only Colt was making them, and as soon as they were on the brink of extinction, everyone now has a number of models, including Colt.

I could probably go on, but you get the idea. BTW, after record (music) companies quit making "Records", and everything started being recorded first on tape, and then digitally, I understand that "Records" are now in great demand, and there are even companies producing them for purists.

Best Regards, Les

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SWCA 3084, SWHF 495, PGCA 3064

The original is best. Every time somebody starts an "If you could only have one" thread, this is it. Covers about everything although a little hard to hide under a cotton shirt. I have another dozen 9mm mags hanging about. Joe

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Wisdom chases me; I'm faster

Joe,

If you see my post above, I have one of the older, full size ones also. But...I only have one mag with it. My question is, do they still make the mags for the original CZ 75? There have been so many variations over the years since 1975, that I don't know which mag to try to get.

Best Regards, Les

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SWCA 3084, SWHF 495, PGCA 3064

Staggered double stack 9mm are not really not that much thicker than a single stack.....just... compare a 3913's butt to a 6906........IMO no practical difference.........except in weight.

a Browning HP is about the best feeling gun in the hand..... the CZ is close to 2nd.......

the single stack Beretta M ........ 'feels" better in hand than a Compact with 13+1.........is it half the weight?? No just slightly better in hand.....

but for concealed carry a 3913 with Hogue grips.... can't be beat IMO.