first impressions on my CZ 75

With input from people here I ordered a CZ 75 compact from Buds. I wanted a PRC alloy frame CZ but the only one Buds had was a steel frame 75D with decocker and rubber grips. So I ordered that one. Well when it showed up it had an alloy frame and the rubber grips. Buds tend to be less than precise on their listing sometimes. But I was happy because it was just what I wanted. It had a rail and I can take them or leave them. Anyway I found that the rubber grips made the gun just a little too thick for my hand so ordered a set of VC grips which fit my hand much better. The gun is close in size to my Sig 239 and looks as well made and points better than the sig. The double stack mag is just a very little bit larger than the single stack sig. All in all I like it better than the sig. If when I get to the range the gun shoots as well as it looks I will have found my perfect carry gun.

Yes you did until you start looking for holsters. I had the PCR and YES I wish I kept it, but I sold it because I could not find any holsters that met my expectations. I put the aluminum grips on mine and that thinned it down a bit. I spend more than I want to admit looking for holsters that the PCR mated with.
Great pistol, just not a lot of accessories for it.
Congrats and I am sure it will be a keeper for you.

The 75D sounds like a 75 P01 (I want to day that the 75D is a P01, but I think sometimes the 75D is a PCR?). I have a triple K shoulder holster, made for a Glock 19, that fits about right, and a OWB holster that I cannot tell you where I got that is made for the P01. You can find plenty of holster recommendations on the CZ forums.

I also changed the grips out for aluminum. The grip with the standard grips on them a little wider than I like, but the main reason is that I only prefer rubber grips when needed to dampen recoil (e.g. S&W m19). Otherwise I like fancy looking grips that don't grab clothing.

EDIT: for mags, you can take off the standard mag rubber end to make it easier to draw. The rubber foot always caught my shirt somehow. The aftermarket Mecgar mags have a metal plate.

CZ can be a little weird in that sometimes they ship European models here. If I'm not mistaken the PCR is a 75D in Europe.
Nice choice though! I'd take a CZ over a Sig any day.

Holsters are no problem. Going through my holster box I find that my CZ 75 compact fits in my holsters I have for my Sig 239. Fits like like they were made for a CZ.

grover99 said:

With input from people here I ordered a CZ 75 compact from Buds. I wanted a PRC alloy frame CZ but the only one Buds had was a steel frame 75D with decocker and rubber grips. So I ordered that one. Well when it showed up it had an alloy frame and the rubber grips. Buds tend to be less than precise on their listing sometimes. But I was happy because it was just what I wanted. It had a rail and I can take them or leave them.

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Cardboard_killer said:

The 75D sounds like a 75 P01 (I want to day that the 75D is a P01, but I think sometimes the 75D is a PCR?).

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The all steel, w/o rail, with safety is a 75 Compact.

The one with the aluminum alloy frame, w/o rail, with decocker is a 75D PCR.

The one with the aluminum alloy frame, rail, with decocker is the P01.

I'm not an expert nor do I claim any credibility, but I think the U.S. market P01 is the European Market 75D. They sometimes import the European Market 75D's into the U.S. and cause some confusion.

Zebra War Wagon said:

Yes you did until you start looking for holsters.

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Lots of holster recommendations and pictures on the CZ forum. It's where I found a Kydex IWB tuckable holster to my liking. I found an OWB retention holster on E-bay from the seller "europe-military".

As for grips, I'm still on the fence. I like the stock rubber grip panels. I'm not overly happy carrying the gun with the stock grip panels, but I'm not so unhappy to put me over the top to buy new ones.

The one thing I ran headlong into was swapping out the sights. I couldn't rig my generic sight pusher to accommodate the CZ slide. Taped up the slide, broke out the non marring hammer, derlin punch, and a roll of duct tape to act as a block. The front sight was a challenge. If the replacement sight isn't already notched out for the front sight roll pin, you have to drill it. In my case, I used a dremel to remove the bulk then a round file. File, insert front sight, look through hole, file, look through hole, repeat.

Make sure to order a few more front sight roll pins from CZ before swapping out the front. I thought I had removed enough material from the front sight, but there was just a little tiny bit more to go. I boogered up a front sight roll pin. Ordered on a Saturday and had to wait a week for the replacement pins to be delivered.

Bonkers said:

I
For ME the problem was the polymer guide rod...

...noticed the polymer guide rod as all bent and twisted.

So, I went to Home Depot, snagged a 1/4" stainless steel BOLT, turned the head down to match the polymer guide rod, cut it, and sized it to work, then drilled out the slide nose and installed the new, IMPROVED, seriously BEEFY .25" stainless steel guide rod with Wolff 22# recoil spring!

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For the alloy framed owner, this may not be the best idea. Steel guide rod, aluminum alloy frame.

CZ does make an aluminum guide rod. I ordered and returned it. The aluminum guide rod isn't compatible with the flat recoil spring in the PCR (not sure what's in the P-01). I'd have had to order a recoil spring from Wolff to make it work. The CZ gunsmith/tech warned me that they've seen instances of galling when using the aluminum guide rod. I'll just stick to the plastic one.

For my full-size steel frame CZ's, won't be an issue to swap out to a steel guide rod.

Bonkers said:

People need to realize that the .40 S&W is fully capable of kinetic energies above 600 lb-ft of KE!

This CANNOT be said of the 9mm which top out around 500 lb-ft, and the .45 ACP which tops out at 380 lb-ft UNLESS one is handloading it to beyond ACP specs!

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Agreed. No arguing numbers.

The issue for me is that out of a compact pistol, I evidence faster follow up shots and more accurate shot placement with 9mm v.s. .40 S&W. I evidence more accurate shot placement with .45 ACP v.s. .40 S&W. I evaluate the numbers on paper in context of how I handle the combination of pistol and caliber. In the context of a carry pistol if am unable to achieve accuracy on both the initial trigger press and follow up shots, then I see no advantage in that specific pistol/caliber combination.

I agree with Bonkers. A very accurate shot with .38 spl, 9MM, etc. will
stop the bad guy in his tracks, but the key is "very accurate".
Jim Cirillo was involved in numerous gunfights and put down 19 bad
guys. He only saw 2 one-shot-stops. Both shots were to the brain.
He said even shots that hit the heart were not instant stoppers.
Chicago Police Sergeant Bob Stasch was in 14 gunfights and said that
he only experienced 1 one-shot-stop.
We should carry the biggest caliber we can handle and shoot accurately.

Let's not hijack grover99's thread about a new CZ, with yet another caliber debate.

My fav OWB carry piece is my 4" 357 mag , under my jacket I always carry my 41 mag , custom shoulder holster rig . Both are loaded with factory stuff . Both are history proven " stoppers of attackers " .

I know I really like my CZ-85, and my Jercho 941FL.

I just had a custom made holster from Clinger holsters. I'll post some pics and a review when it comes. It's for my CZ PCR.

Hey Bonkers. You and I agree. We're just taking approaches from the opposite ends of the same argument. There is no arguing against physics. F = ma

If I could easily conceal a S&W Model 629 .44 Magnum loaded with soft points, I would.

wbraswell said:

I know I really like my CZ-85, and my Jercho 941FL.

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I have a cz85db it's the amberdexterious cz75. There's nothing better in a 9mm pistol than the cz75. Check the reviews on yt.
I waited many decades to buy a 9mm pistol. I'm glad I did it was love at first fondle.

I can conceal a shoulder holstered 10 1/2" barreled SBH 44 mag. I have more frequent carry miles with a 7 1/2" redhawk 44 mag.

grover99,

Congratulations on your new CZ. My last purchase was the CZ75 P01 and I really, really like this gun!!! I also replaced grips with VZ frag in cherry black and got fiber optic combat sights from Dawson. Sent it down to Cajun Gun Works for their pro package tune up. And ordered IWB & OWB kydex holsters from Simply Squared Tactical. Lots of holster options out there, just need to research the CZ forums.

One piece of advice - DO NOT put a stainless steel recoil guide rod in the aluminum frame! It will mare the aluminum and CZ will not cover any damage done. CZ customer service stated stainless steel guide rods are for steel frames only. You can order extra replacement polymer guide rods for $5 from CZ website.

Good shooting and enjoy your new gun. Paul

Stainless steel guide rod

Oh

JaPes said:

The all steel, w/o rail, with safety is a 75 Compact.

The one with the aluminum alloy frame, w/o rail, with decocker is a 75D PCR.

The one with the aluminum alloy frame, rail, with decocker is the P01.

I'm not an expert nor do I claim any credibility, but I think the U.S. market P01 is the European Market 75D. They sometimes import the European Market 75D's into the U.S. and cause some confusion.




Lots of holster recommendations and pictures on the CZ forum. It's where I found a Kydex IWB tuckable holster to my liking. I found an OWB retention holster on E-bay from the seller "europe-military".

As for grips, I'm still on the fence. I like the stock rubber grip panels. I'm not overly happy carrying the gun with the stock grip panels, but I'm not so unhappy to put me over the top to buy new ones.

The one thing I ran headlong into was swapping out the sights. I couldn't rig my generic sight pusher to accommodate the CZ slide. Taped up the slide, broke out the non marring hammer, derlin punch, and a roll of duct tape to act as a block. The front sight was a challenge. If the replacement sight isn't already notched out for the front sight roll pin, you have to drill it. In my case, I used a dremel to remove the bulk then a round file. File, insert front sight, look through hole, file, look through hole, repeat.

Make sure to order a few more front sight roll pins from CZ before swapping out the front. I thought I had removed enough material from the front sight, but there was just a little tiny bit more to go. I boogered up a front sight roll pin. Ordered on a Saturday and had to wait a week for the replacement pins to be delivered.



For the alloy framed owner, this may not be the best idea. Steel guide rod, aluminum alloy frame.

CZ does make an aluminum guide rod. I ordered and returned it. The aluminum guide rod isn't compatible with the flat recoil spring in the PCR (not sure what's in the P-01). I'd have had to order a recoil spring from Wolff to make it work. The CZ gunsmith/tech warned me that they've seen instances of galling when using the aluminum guide rod. I'll just stick to the plastic one.

For my full-size steel frame CZ's, won't be an issue to swap out to a steel guide rod.

Click to expand...

CZ advises not to install a stainless steel guide rod in the cz 75 p01 aluminum frame. It could damage the receiver stop. Here's how it happens, when the pistol is at rest the guide rod rests against the barrel , when the pistol is fired everything moves rearward, as the barrel slides from lugs the guide rod slightly comes out of contact with the barrel and the guide rod will rub against part of the frame called the receiver stop. If this happens CZ will not warranty your pistol. Yes CZ Custom puts stainless steel guide rods in the custom pistols, CZ contracts them out to customize competition pistols. It may be that depending on how much you shoot you may never have a problem. Don't believe me? Call CZ. I don't know why people would customize or alter a pistol before calling the manufacturer anyway especially if it is a carry pistol. Field strip your CZ and put the end of the guide rod that mounts up against the barrel and rub just that part of the guide rod on the receiver stop, that is what it is doing during cycling. Nothing wrong with the polymer rod. If you still don't believe me go ahead with the stainless steel guide rod but keep an eye on frame damage.

Here is my CZ Custom upgraded CZ-75, adjustable sights and trigger job added;



Blade-Tech makes holsters for most of the CZ line, check with them on your needs. This thing shoots with my two custom 1911/2011 pistols for a third the price. I use it for plates, NRA Bullseye and PPC.

Stainless steel guide rod

And just to add when I hear people say or ask why firearm manufacturers like Beretta or CZ would put a flimsy plastic guide rod in pistols I guys these people know more than the engineers who design these firearms. Yes I have heard of polymer guide rods breaking but how hard is the pistol ran? What about other parts of a pistol? They break. So if your worried about a flimsy plastic guide rod breaking how much does that cost compared to a pistol lower? Also I highly doubt a polymer guide rod is going to break if you need to use a pistol. If you maintain, field strip and inspect your carry a couple times a month or maybe even a couple weeks and wipe everything down and clean and inspect after range use you won't have problems. A polymer guide rod isn't flimsy if you see it is bent just a little don't worry about it, it is suppose to flex and it acts as its own buffer. Again, if you don't believe me about installing a stainless steel guide rod in the cz 75 p01 contact CZ... Im not trying to be a know it all I was going to put a stainless steel guide rod in my CZ but I contacted CZ first. I'm just trying to save any of you from damaging your pistol.

Rosskale2,

Stainless steel guide rod + CZ with an aluminum frame = potential issues. If you do want to purchase a steel guide rod, buy one from the CZ factory store website.

Congrats on your newly acquired CZ. They are a highly under-rated firearm. I have carried and worked on them for years. Years ago it was somewhat difficult (but not impossible) to locate aftermarket parts and good holsters. That is no longer the case. Many people have caught on to the benefits of CZ's and use them to compete. Plenty of good holsters for CZ's now. And if it's aftermarket parts and/or customization you seek just go to "CZ Customs" or "Cajun Gunworks". Enjoy your new pistol.