CZ-75's vs Clones (Steel and Plastic) - Any worth having?

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777funk

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I'm aware of the originals of course. Seems like they have a good following.

Are they far superior to the clones?

I've seen the real thing on sale at Wideners for $225 at times.

Which clones are good ones? Plastic ok or only metal frames?


Here's what I know of: EAA, Canik, and SAR Any of those good or bad? Others I should know?

I don't believe I trust in Bud's service enough nor the customer support of anyone but CZ to count on a good experience post sale. I've heard good things about CZ.
 
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Boutique version is the Sphynx. It is made in Switzerland. I will say one thing their Ruag-Ammotec 9x19 ball ammo is excellent. I practically eliminates need to gun cleaning.
 
I have a polymer Witness and a Sar compact. I also have a Bul impact that was imported by Charles Daly as a DDA. All run great. Good guns for the money. Other clones I can think of are Baby Eagles and Jericho 941s.
 
railroader said:
I have a polymer Witness and a Sar compact. I also have a Bul impact that was imported by Charles Daly as a DDA. All run great. Good guns for the money. Other clones I can think of are Baby Eagles and Jericho 941s.
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The Jericho would be good choice. Please see topic Israeli LEO retiree: the Jericho 941.
 
Depends on what you mean by "clones." The Tanfoglio guns (imported by EAA) are derived from CZ's, but there are basically no interchangeable parts. They're a CZ clone in about the same way that a Ruger Blackhawk is a SAA clone.
 
I've got two all metal CZ's and two Polymer CZ's, love them all. I see no reason not to go with the real thing. They really aren't priced high enough to look for a cheaper version.
 
I agree that its hard to beat a genuine CZ. I've got a CZ75B that is one of my favorite range guns. However, there are some good CZ type variants. I would't call them clones because parts typically are not interchangeable, and the guns feel different in the hand. Canik is a nice polymer choice and I like The Tristar T100 (or possibly the C100) as my favorite metal choice.
 
I don't believe I trust in Bud's service enough nor the customer support of anyone but CZ to count on a good experience post sale. I've heard good things about CZ.
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I have a CZ-75BD and like most if not all CZ owners, consider it as good or better than any 9mm ever produced. I also own a Tristar, C100 in 380 Auto and 9mm both 'clones' of the CZ. These guns are manufactured by Canik55 in Turkey, labeled as "Tristar C100 Made in Turkey" and marketed by TriStar in the USA. My C100's are excellent shooters in every respect. The 380 is a range gun while the 9mm is my primary carry. My next gun will be the C100 in 40 S&W. These guns are metal framed with the 380 Auto and 40 S&W in steel and the 9mm in alloy. The TriStar web site (http://www.tristararms.com/products/semi-automatic-pistols/) lacks the details of the guns so their specs are best seen on Canik55 web site. http://www.canik55.com/series/mkek-series/s120

Regarding 'customer support'...my C100 in 380 Auto, after several hundred rounds, developed an issue where the slide refused to cycle. I sent it to TriStar on a Monday, they received it on Wednesday, within hours of receiving it they removed a burr on the slide, replaced the slide stop, test fired the gun and shipped it back to me. They did not charge me for their work nor for the return shipping. I had the gun in my hands the following Monday.

Discussions of CZ clones can be found on the CZ forum: http://www.czfirearms.us/index.php?board=27.0
 
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Except for the CZ-like guns imported by TATCO some years back, most of the psuedo-clones seem to be pretty good guns. My concern would be customer service if you get a lemon. But, I've heard about so few lemons or real complaints that it may not be a problem. The lower price is what sells them, but the quality seems pretty good, and some of the designs have minor upgrades.

Most of the Turkish-made guns seems to be based on the Tanfoglio version of the CZ design, but a few of them seem to be a blend of original CZ and Tanfoglio features.

Everything about the Turkish-made guns, except the overall similarity of design, is different from the CZ upon which they are based: slides don't interchange, springs are different, pins are different... hardly anything is interchangeable. Even the firing pin block design may be different (the Tanfoglio design is better than the CZ design for that feature.) Most of the mags are interchangeable, however.

Some of the mid-priced Witness guns (made by Tanfoglio) are great values.

I've had a bunch of CZs, a bunch of Witnesses, a couple of Sphinxs, but none of the Turkish-made guns. I still have a CZ-85 Combat (with a Kadet Kit), a Sphinx SDP, and a custom AT-84s (the last two made in Switzerland.)
I like them all.
 
I recently bought a Sar B6P for $247 shipped. Best $250 of gun money I've ever spent. It's accurate, reliable, and a ball to shoot.

Would it be my first choice for a primary weapon? Can't answer that until I get a few thousand more down the pipe. But for an "extra" 9mm I don't see how you could go wrong.....
 
I posted in your other thread so I won't go into detail in this thread.

At around $245.00 I think the SAR is a good value. My idea of worth is tied to what I expect a gun to do. For me its a truck gun, its always by my right knee when I'm driving. Would it be worth spending $250 on a SAR to use it for competition? - not in my opinion, but for a truck gun or a a budget self-defense gun, I think it is worth it.

Since you mentioned Bud's customer service, the support for the SAR B6P is not great. If anyone ever needs to send the pistol in for warranty work – they're going to have to pay both ways. EAA won't issue an airway bill and the instruction for sending it in says to be sure to include $20 for return shipping.

Also there is only a 1 year warranty and only for the original owner.
 
I've seen the real thing on sale at Wideners for $225 at times.
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You're saying you can get a NIB CZ-75x for $225?

Unless they're charging $200.00 for shipping I'd jump on that deal instantly.
 
Those were old police trade-ins but still a good deal I'd guess. Didn't see one in person. If you google CZ-75 Wideners you'll find them. Wish I would have hopped on that. Don't know if it'll happen again.
 
I just saw this situation with a friend of mine,,,

I just saw this situation with a friend of mine,,,
He loves my CZ-75B but saw the Canik.

The Price of the CZ-75B at Buds is $535.00,,,
The price of their "Clone" is $465.00
For a mere $80.00 difference,,,
I said, "Buy the real thing."

If you truly like something,,,
Don't settle for a copy to save a few bucks.

If you just like the shape or feel of it,,,
The clone might be just the thing for you.

Every time I've "cheaped out" on a true desire,,,
I've ended up losing money because I later got the real thing.

I do know how difficult it often is to come up with $80.00,,,
But if it can be done then it is almost always worth the wait and effort.

Just my thoughts on this thing,,,

Aarond

.
 
My Witness 9mm is excellent. My FiL's CZ75 is also excellent. I overpaid ($330) for a used Israeli Witness, but am very happy with it. My FiL got his CZ for $420 + shipping and FFL. The magazines are interchangeable.
 
aarondhgraham said:
I just saw this situation with a friend of mine,,,
He loves my CZ-75B but saw the Canik.

The Price of the CZ-75B at Buds is $535.00,,,
The price of their "Clone" is $465.00
For a mere $80.00 difference,,,
I said, "Buy the real thing."

If you truly like something,,,
Don't settle for a copy to save a few bucks.

If you just like the shape or feel of it,,,
The clone might be just the thing for you.

Every time I've "cheaped out" on a true desire,,,
I've ended up losing money because I later got the real thing.

I do know how difficult it often is to come up with $80.00,,,
But if it can be done then it is almost always worth the wait and effort.

Just my thoughts on this thing,,,

Aarond

.
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I'm right there with you man. I've always regretted being cheap later on.
 
I noticed that the EAA Witness Poly and SAR B6P are near identical (at least on the outside). Seems the SAR is the best deal on a clone at under $250.

and yes Aaron, I don't understand why someone would want a clone at almost the same price as the original unless they truly like the clone better for some reason.
 
777funk said:
I noticed that the EAA Witness Poly and SAR B6P are near identical (at least on the outside). Seems the SAR is the best deal on a clone at under $250.

and yes Aaron, I don't understand why someone would want a clone at almost the same price as the original unless they truly like the clone better for some reason.
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My sar and witness slides interchange on the two frames.
 
The Tanfoglio Witness Polymer has a much more smoothed out frame where the safety is - compared to the SAR B6P. As I posted in the other thread, if I try to get a high grip on the B6P, the squarish polymer block in the back irritates the inside of my thumb of my shooting hand

attachment.php

attachment.php


And of course the Witness Polymer has a rail.
 

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