CZ pistols

[ladder13]

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.

 

[Stevie]

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

 

[p8riot]

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.

 

[bigwheelzip]

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.

 

[Pef]

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.

 

[loknload]

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!

 

[les.b]

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

 

[TAROMAN]

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.

 

[dubshooter]

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

 

[dubshooter]

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.

Mine is the same "limited number" model here.

 

[p8riot]

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.

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.

 

[Arik]

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

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

 

[p8riot]

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

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.

 

[Arik]

Yep copied by Tanfoglio, and several others. The Springfield P9 is an excellent copy (if you can find one), but they only mad 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

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

 

[scoobysnacker]

I'm sitting in my car right now, I'll have to come back later with pictures, but 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...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 inovative designers and I admire their guns a lot.

Be back later with some photos.....

Best Regards, Les

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.

 

[bigwheelzip]

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.

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.

 

[scoobysnacker]

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

 

[growr]

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

 

[gman51]

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.

 

[old tanker]

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