CZ 75B or 75BD; Safety vs. Decocker?

[CaveLake08]

I've often stumbled on this forum while doing google searches, and decided to join. I'm looking to buy my first handgun (though I have some experience shooting them) and have pretty much decided on the CZ 75. But, I'm debating between the 'B' and 'BD' versions. This will be a range and home defense gun, not for conceal carry. Which would be better, a safety or decocker?

 

[devildave31]

have you handled one? Which would you be more comfortable with, thumbing a safety or thumbing a hammer? You gotta use it so get which works best for you.

additional thought, if you decock, can you lower the safety afterwards, before the hammer is cocked again? If not then you have an aditional step with the decocker.

 

[nalioth]

additional thought, if you decock, can you lower the safety afterwards, before the hammer is cocked again? If not then you have an aditional step with the decocker.

There is no manual safety whatsoever on the Cz75BD. It has the usual transparent safety features and the decocking lever.

First shot after decocking is double action, unless you cock it for some reason.

 

[Fastcast]

I'd go with the 75B but than I'm not afraid to lower a hammer myself, some are.......75B allows you double action or single action on your first shot, cocked and locked so all shots are single action and a better trigger system for a trigger job.....75B for sure!

 

[unclenunzie]

In it's home defense role, will you keep a round in the chamber? Will you extract it on a daily or regular basis? You'd would want to feel comfortable with decocking manually on the safety version if you will do it frequently. The decocker version will reduce risk, but so can a 5-gallon bucket of sand as a decocking station.

Depends on what you're comfortable with and your approach to safety discipline. Either will work, though I think the safety version needs a little greater care administratively in the home.

 

[atakawow]

I own both and prefer the BD. No matter how comfortable/familiar you are with lowering the hammer manually, it is still a very dangerous procedure and should not be attempted if can be avoided.

 

[Fastcast]

I own both and prefer the BD. No matter how comfortable/familiar you are with lowering the hammer manually, it is still a very dangerous procedure and should not be attempted if can be avoided.

Honestly, all firearm handling is dangerous, not just lowering a hammer. How did we ever get by before decockers? If losing the additional options of the regular (B) makes you feel fuzzy safe than I guess the BD is for you.

I'll stick with a regular B and see if I can keep my sterling record, of not shooting my toes off.

 

[armoredman]

For a non shooter beginner, the decocker is a good idea, IMHO. I used a Witness with standard safety for 13+ years, and survived manually decocking it a few more times than once, , but the exact same attention to detail and care has to be taken every single time it's done.

 

[leadcounsel]

I love CZs. But I wish they incorporated BOTH the decocker AND the safety in the design like an HK.

For a 75, I'd prefer the decocker. The safety isn't a 'positive' safety like the 1911, and there's no grip safety. It takes little effort to slide the 75 safety from safe to fire. Hence I would NEVER rely upon the safety for carry. So it's almost a uses feature in my mind.

Conversely, the decocker is very useful. If you want to carry it, you can load the magazine, rack the slide, and then 100% safely decock the weapon. Without the decocker, you have to very carefully lower the hammer. And I don't like doing that.

 

[ClickClickD'oh]

No matter how comfortable/familiar you are with lowering the hammer manually, it is still a very dangerous procedure and should not be attempted if can be avoided.

Nonsense. I lower the hammer on either a CZ-75B or CZ 2075 (depending on uniform or civie wear that day) every day at least once. Multiple times some days depending on what buildings I get to visit. It's only dangerous if you do it wrong.. that is, use the idiotic two handed pinch the hammer method. Instead, use the thumb of your shooting hand on the hammer. Place it sideways (thumb pointed perpendicular to the barrel) so that you thumb is partially between the hammer and the firing pin. That method, which I've seen taught by many people that should know better (including CZ-USA) is inherently dangerous due the the possibility of a slip in gripping the hammer while the trigger is released.

To do it safely, use your thumb to take the hammer pressure off of the sear. Now, while still holding the hammer tension with your thumb, gently pull the trigger to release the sear. If you do it right you should feel the slight click as the sear let's go of the hammer. Once you feel that the hammer is free, let it push your thumb forward just a bit to clear the sear, then let the trigger reset. Allow the hammer to slowly push your thumb forward until you feel it catch the half cock catch.

Unless you completely screw up, there is no way for the gun to fire using this method since your thumb is in the way.... and your thumb can not fire the gun.

Anywho, I have a few CZ models with de-cockers. Never really liked them in comparison to my safety models. Seems like there is a bit more trigger stacking on the de-cocker models.

 

[ClickClickD'oh]

The safety isn't a 'positive' safety like the 1911, and there's no grip safety. It takes little effort to slide the 75 safety from safe to fire. Hence I would NEVER rely upon the safety for carry. So it's almost a uses feature in my mind.

Have your CZ-75 looked at by a professional gun smith.

 

[JTQ]

I don't own either, but there is no pistol I want to like more than the CZ75 family. Very few pistols feel as good in the hand, to me, as a CZ75. However, I would make sure you can easily operate the controls before you buy.

In double action mode (hammer down, either by decocker or thumbed down in the B version) I find the reach to the trigger to be quite long.

When put into single action mode and with the safety engaged as available on the "B" model, I find the thumb safety difficult to manipulate (sure I could do it, but the relatively smooth and rounded shape and location is not nearly as easy or natural to operate as the 1911 thumb safety). I find the decocker to be much easier to operate, but then you have the long trigger reach.

For those two reasons, I don't own a CZ75. However, I haven't handled the CZ75 SA (Single Action) that has a different style thumb safety that may make it easier for me to engage/disengage and, for me, may be the best option.

 

[Fastcast]

For a non shooter beginner, the decocker is a good idea, IMHO. I used a Witness with standard safety for 13+ years, and survived manually decocking it a few more times than once, , but the exact same attention to detail and care has to be taken every single time it's done.

Good points!

Conversely, the decocker is very useful. If you want to carry it, you can load the magazine, rack the slide, and then 100% safely decock the weapon.

I will argue that de-cockers are NOT 100% consistently safe. They can fail, have failed and will continue to fail. Maybe on a rare occasion but anything mechanical will fail at some time or another.......There's no "for sure" in this world. At least not mine

To do it safely, use your thumb to take the hammer pressure off of the sear. Now, while still holding the hammer tension with your thumb, gently pull the trigger to release the sear. If you do it right you should feel the slight click as the sear let's go of the hammer. Once you feel that the hammer is free, let it push your thumb forward just a bit to clear the sear, then let the trigger reset. Allow the hammer to slowly push your thumb forward until you feel it catch the half cock catch.

Excellent explanation!

 

[Marshall]

I don't know how any of us revolver owners have made it all these years without a decocker?

 

[easyg]

I don't know how any of us revolver owners have made it all these years without a decocker?

By not cocking unless you intend to shoot.

 

[atakawow]

Just because you can do it right does not take away its inherent danger. Finger off the trigger and the gun won't fire, simple right? Guess how often folks ND? Now add in thumb here, thumb there, finger here, finger there, let go this, hold that, PULL the trigger with a loaded chamber. You get my point?

 

[Marshall]

By not cocking unless you intend to shoot.

Ahh yes, there's the answer I've been missing all my life. But not correct.
Did you read that somewhere or come up with it on your own?
Please say you read it somewhere.

 

[Ben86]

Welcome, and good choice. The CZ75B is my favorite gun to shoot, well at the moment.

The only reason to get the one with the manual safety is if you plan to carry it in single action mode. If you are like me and would rather a DA or half cock trigger with no safety get the decocker version. I didn't realize this until after I got the one with the manual safety. Its of no matter because I usually carry it in half cock-safety off. But, it does make me uncomfortable to decock the gun manually with the round chambered. I've seen a few accidents happen (other people) doing this.

 

[dcarch]

I'd go with the manual safety.

 

[easyg]

Ahh yes, there's the answer I've been missing all my life. But not correct.
Did you read that somewhere or come up with it on your own?
Please say you read it somewhere.

Really, why would anyone cock a loaded double-action revolver if they didn't plan on shooting something?

Cocking and manually decocking a loaded double-action revolver is just tempting fate and begging for an accident.
It's an incredibly stupid thing to do.

 

[CaveLake08]

Thanks for all the great replies so far! Just to clarify a couple of things; I've handled the gun (though not the BD model, just the B) and it is comfortable for me, though the only thing is that I have to twist the gun slightly to reach the slide release with my thumb (trigger is fine for me in DA). I don't plan on carrying this gun much, and can't ever see myself carrying it cocked and locked. I'm experienced and comfortable with guns (though pretty new to handguns) and for home defense I will not keep a round in the chamber and will have the magazine only about halfway in (I wouldn't want to do anything unconsciously in my sleep). So I'm wondering how this affects the safety vs. decocker dilemma.

 

[easyg]

and for home defense I will not keep a round in the chamber and will have the magazine only about halfway in (I wouldn't want to do anything unconsciously in my sleep). So I'm wondering how this affects the safety vs. decocker dilemma.

If you plan to only chamber a round when you need to, for self defense or for range practice, then I don't see the need for a decocker .
It would be a feature that you would never use.

 

[ClickClickD'oh]

Just because you can do it right does not take away its inherent danger. Finger off the trigger and the gun won't fire, simple right? Guess how often folks ND? Now add in thumb here, thumb there, finger here, finger there, let go this, hold that, PULL the trigger with a loaded chamber. You get my point?

No, I don't get your point.

Either you have never handled a CZ-75B or you didn't try the technique I provided above.

Do so before replying again.

If you follow the technique I provided with the thumb perpendicular to the barrel and between the firing pin and hammer the gun can not fire, even if the technique is not done properly.

Anyone at home with a CZ-75B can try this themselves. Cock the CZ. Place your thumb between the hammer and firing pin, perpendicular to the barrel as described. Now pull the trigger, and let go. That's right, I want you to intentionally ignore the safety precautions I previously stated and pull the trigger without taking the hammer pressure off the sear. The hammer will be resting on your thumb. Unless your thumb vanishes from your hand the gun can not fire. At this point I want you to intentionally screw up the procedure again and remove your thumb instead of lowering the hammer. The gun still won't fire because the hammer will catch on the half cock catch. Even if the hammer some how jumps the half catch the gun will won't fire because the firing pin block won't let it.

Even if you completely screw up the rest of the process, as long as you put your thumb where I told you the process is completely safe.

And if you can't remember step one, you don't need to be handling a firearm because suddenly we would be arguing the safety of de-cocker systems because some idiot might pull the trigger instead of depressing the de-cocker.


PS: Please do not count on a gun for self defense (especially a CZ) if you plan to leave the magazine out and count on your half asleep brain to rack the slide.

 

[Marshall]

Really, why would anyone cock a loaded double-action revolver if they didn't plan on shooting something?

Cocking and manually decocking a loaded double-action revolver is just tempting fate and begging for an accident.
It's an incredibly stupid thing to do.

Who said anything about DA? Did you realize your statement doesn't apply to SA revolvers and decided to qualify it?

As far as it being stupid, it's stupid only if you're inexperienced, have no idea how to deckock one and haven't spent the time with your firearm learning to do so. Which in itself borderlines stupidity, in my books.

I've been hunting with SA and DA revolvers since I was a kid. Many times you cock them somewhat in advance of a shot as to not spook your game and then decide not to take the shot for what may be numerous reasons. To make the statement that the only time a hammer should be cocked is if you're going to pull the trigger smells of inexperienced handgunning. It's one of those "internet sound bite" things to say. I hope I'm never at the point that if the hammer gets cocked I feel I MUST shoot because that's my decocking method.

 

[Walkalong]

De-Cockers =

Safety