CZ 75 vs CZ Shadow 2 Orange

[George Dickel]

I've shot my friend's Shadow 2 twice now and am quite impressed with it's accuracy, ability to control recoil, fits my hand great and looks cool. I shoot it better than my Kimber KHX Custom. My main hang up with the Shadow 2 is the price. I can get it at a local store for a bit over $1,600 and the 75 for a bit over $700. My limited internet searching shows that the Shadow 2 is an improved 75. Is it enough of an improvement to justify the price? I've been trying to find someone who has a 75 that I can shoot so I can compare the two. I believe in "buy once, cry once" but only if the "improvement" is that much better.

 

[sevt_chevelle]

Are you pricing a S2 orange or a regular S2 at 1600?
If you look around one can pick up the Oranges for 1400.
Regular S2 can be found for around 1k.

The orange S2 in case you don't know differ from the regular S2. They are hand fitted slides and frames, tuned triggers with different parts and a 1911 type barrel bushing. The orange lineup from CZ is basically a semi custom pistol.

A S2O is in different ballpark then a regular 75. I would try out a 75 before you bought one, coming from a S2O, you'll be sadly disappointed.

 

[Gork10]

I had a S2. Shot great. Bought a SAR K12 sport X on a whim for 599 at a local range. The SAR was just a bit more accurate. The CZ had just a bit better SA pull. No DA on the SAR. Replaced the front sight on the SAR with a FO from Dawson for less then 50 bucks including shipping. Both have good
Adjustable rear sights. I like the SAR rears better. Both great guns. I traded the CZ at another shop for a Colt diamondback a few weeks later. Kept the SAR. I'v not shot a newer plane Jane 75 in years so I can't comment on them. To be honest, my old tuned Tangfolio out shoots them both.

 

[Terry G]

I have a CZ 75b and a CZ TS2. The 75b is an accurate gun, no question. The TS2 is a Super accurate gun. I maxed out the LEOSA Qualification today with a 250 out of 250 score. I always scored high with the 75, P01, and the 97b but I just couldn't miss with the TS2.

 

[George Dickel]

Are you pricing a S2 orange or a regular S2 at 1600?
If you look around one can pick up the Oranges for 1400.
Regular S2 can be found for around 1k.

The orange S2 in case you don't know differ from the regular S2. They are hand fitted slides and frames, tuned triggers with different parts and a 1911 type barrel bushing. The orange lineup from CZ is basically a semi custom pistol.

A S2O is in different ballpark then a regular 75. I would try out a 75 before you bought one, coming from a S2O, you'll be sadly disappointed.

I'm looking at the Shadow 2 Orange. The best price I have found for the S2 O is $1,540 but then I have to pay the receiving FFL's fee. A bit of savings over the local store but instant gratification is tempting. I figured the S2 O is in another league compared to the 75. The Shadow 2 O will be my next purchase and I'll apply the "buy once, cry once" doctrine.

 

[Mizar]

Shadow 2 Orange is a real competition ready pistol (IPSC production division), that is an upgrade of the Shadow 2 Blue - comparing it to a standard 75B is pointless, except for a guy who searches only for his next "range toy" and doesn't really care what the pistol in question is capable of.

 

[InTheSwamp]

Shadow 2 Orange is a real competition ready pistol (IPSC production division), that is an upgrade of the Shadow 2 Blue - comparing it to a standard 75B is pointless, except for a guy who searches only for his next "range toy" and doesn't really care what the pistol in question is capable of.

Exactly. What's the intended purpose of the gun? Competition, Range Fun, SD?

My limited internet searching shows that the Shadow 2 is an improved 75.

For fun yes, for SD you want the 75B, P-01, SP-01, etc. The Shadow and the Tactical Sport variants don't have the firing pin block safety (not drop safe), rendering them "inferior" for combat situations. Yes, you can use them, but keep that in mind.

 

[sevt_chevelle]

Product Search Results | Family Firearms

www.familyfirearms.com

The 1911 and hi power don't have fpb and they saw plenty of combat. Not to mention the 1911 is still CCW carried and home defense by a lot of people.

You could remove the fpb, add a zero disco and CZ performance hammer and have the same trigger as the S2O. The 75 just has more parts and requires about 7mm of travel to activate the fpb.

The S2 line, redesigned the slide removing weight from the reciprocating mass. Added weight to dust cover, increased barrel diameter, undercut triggerguard and beavertail added useful front and rear serrations.

The only pistols in my collection that can exceed my S2 is the DWX and TS2 Orange.

 

[InTheSwamp]

Anticipated comment. Because there was no other choice!
The candle lit many a homes of geniuses, Newton included.

 

[George Dickel]

I shoot in club bullseye matches so the pistol will be used for competition. I paid a pretty good price for the Kimber KHX and an S&W Performance Center 1911 that I've been disappointed with their performance, hence the questioning of the capability of the Shadow 2 Orange. Higher price doesn't always mean better performance.

 

[InTheSwamp]

I shoot in club bullseye matches so the pistol will be used for competition. I paid a pretty good price for the Kimber KHX and an S&W Performance Center 1911 that I've been disappointed with their performance, hence the questioning of the capability of the Shadow 2 Orange. Higher price doesn't always mean better performance.

Owners hold it in high regard. CZs don't have the fancy high-end 2011s triggers, they're not as refined either. But they are out-of-the box competition ready. No need to tune mags and they tend to shoot whatever you feed them - accurately! All for a lot less. Objectively, the Shadows and the Tactical Sports are "budget" competition guns, considering the intended purpose and the price of the competing models in matches.

I never shot a Shadow Orange, but I don't regret any of the $1800.00 I paid for my TSO...so much fun to shoot makes me feel I'm Jerry M! (Not even close)

Go for it!

 

[Reinz]

I have the CZ 75B, S2, and TS.
The S2 and TS blow the 75 out of the water in speed and accuracy, but at a price.
The S2 is a heavy gun and the TS even heavier.
I happen to like heavy pistols, however I no longer compete either.
I also have the Sar K-12. What a sleeper! Especially for $600. Best bang for the buck.

Original first Generation Tactical Sports.
vvvvvv

 

[gun'sRgood]

I had a S2. Shot great. Bought a SAR K12 sport X on a whim for 599 at a local range. The SAR was just a bit more accurate. The CZ had just a bit better SA pull. No DA on the SAR. Replaced the front sight on the SAR with a FO from Dawson for less then 50 bucks including shipping. Both have good
Adjustable rear sights. I like the SAR rears better. Both great guns. I traded the CZ at another shop for a Colt diamondback a few weeks later. Kept the SAR. I'v not shot a newer plane Jane 75 in years so I can't comment on them. To be honest, my old tuned Tangfolio out shoots them both.View attachment 1170054

Just wanted to thank you for the pic. Have never seen one of these much less, one available to demo.

 

[Riomouse911]

I have several 9mm CZ’s; the 75BD, SP-01, S2 Urban Gray for full sized guns, the 75D, P-01 Omega and 2075 RAMI for compacts. (Also an 97b .45 ACP.) All my CZ’s but the S2 and RAMI have Cajun Gun Works spring/firing pin kits installed.



As for out-of-the-box comparisons, comparing a stock 75b to the S2 orange is like a plain-Jane SA 1911 to an Ed Brown or Les Baer; the 75b is not hand fitted, is not equipped with a match barrel and bushing, doesn’t have adjustable sights, doesn’t have competition springworks so the trigger pulls are heavier and not as smooth, etc.

The 75b is nice, and can be very nice with some CGW upgrades and use, but the S2 is literally ready to race the day you bring it home.

Two magazines (34 shots) on a B-29 silhouette at 12 yds with WWB 124 fmj. One of my better days with the S2.



If you buy an S2 Orange, I believe that you will really come to like it. (If I could get an S2 Orange in Ca I would have one!)

I have yet to have an issue of any kind with about 3,000 rounds through the S2 so far, they really are nice guns.

Stay safe.

 

[JEBruns]

I only have one CZ, the S2O. Bought it almost 3 years ago as a range/comp gun. The S2 was, and still is, dominating in many competitions, so I figured why not get the top of the line Orange to start with? If I'd have bought the blue or OR, I think I'd always wonder what I was missing. I shoot the gun a lot, about 200 rounds a week. And I have the slide milled for an SRO. Just a fantastic gun. Accurate, fast, comfortable and reliable. I think you'll be very happy with the gun. Oh, the factory worked trigger is VERY light. Give yourself sometime to get used to that.

The TC's are nice too, but not legal in some production classes.

 

[J-Bar]

Riomouse911:

Do you ever carry your RAMI? Mine is my bedside gun.

 

[Cornhusker77]

I've got 6 CZ pistols, the nicest being a "SP-01 Competition Blue"
I'd like to get a Shadow 2, or the Orange, or the Green, but until my ship comes in, I'll be ok with what I have.