CZ SP01 vs...

[wild cat mccane]

Hello!

Okay, as a range gun, I am considering a CZ SP01 (tactical probably). What might else be considered as an excellent range gun in 9mm? RIA 1911 Tactical? Tristar P-120? 92FS? What what?

Is the SP01 AMAZING!!! How is the single action reset? Much hammer cam? Sights?

I am starting to buy into the CZ hype, but I am also cautious. CZs are plentiful online but not in stores. Additionally, a lot of the hype threads always include professional pictures which as always left me feeling skeptical to amateur review.

Thank you!

 

[AustinTX]

I found the SP01's trigger very average, which is nicest thing I can say about any CZ trigger I've felt outside of my CZ 75 Champion (which is freaking amazing). The Beretta is easily the most refined of the ones you listed, and I do love the stock 92FS at the range, but if you want a truly "amazing" range pistol, you're going to need to go significantly upmarket. What's your spending limit?

 

[Mr.Blue]

After buying my first CZ, an SP01 Tactical, I have not bought another brand of pistol. 5 CZs in a row for me.

I used my SP01 for action pistol shooting competitions and it was great. I really think you can't go wrong with a CZ. While the trigger is sometimes criticized, I actually am so used to it that I like it.

 

[viking499]

The SP01's are awesome guns. To me, most CZ triggers are average, but get better with use.

CajunGunWorks sells whatever you need to make a CZ trigger awesome.

 

[wild cat mccane]

Average or needing work? Meh to that idea with a PPQ as an option too.

 

[ohbythebay]

Up to 3 CZ's now

CZ 75 SP01 Tactical
CZ Rami BD
CZ P-07 Duty

Not sure how Tex can say what he says about the trigger; especially whay he compared it to but everyone has their own taste I suppose

The 75 tactical trigger is awesome as is the Rami

so is the P-07 Duty however; in double action the reach to the trigger is a bit of a stretch

In addition, the CZ's have some of the lightest recoil of any 9mm's..Plus their grip angle is considered one of the best there is.

Its not hype, trust me. I have let others shoot my Tactical at the range. They are stunned...Wow...makes them feel like a better shooter - why ? Because they can be when the trigger is crisp and light and the recoil is small...

 

[Pilot]

The three CZ's I have, a 75B, 75D PCR, and dedicated Kadet pistol all have excellent triggers out of the box with the PCR's being the lightest and crispest. All break cleanly, and predictably. My friend's SP-01 has a great trigger also, and he made it even better by installing a reduced power main spring.

 

[Walt Sherrill]

Some say that CZ triggers have gotten worse over the years, and I agree, but all of them smooth up after 300-500 rounds. I would typically just get a trigger job when I got a new CZ, but I generally just buy USED, now.

The biggest complaint about CZ triggers, nowadays, is the "camming" of the hammer, meaning that in single-action mode the hammer moves to the rear before dropping. The fix for that is to recut the hammer/sear interface -- it won't get better with use. Not all of them demonstrate these "bad" behaviors out of the box, but most of them seem to. Some seem pretty good on all counts, but not totally refined.

Aftermarket hammers will fix the camming issue pretty quickly, and both the CZ Custom Shop and Cajun Gun Works offer other after-market parts that will smooth the trigger, shorten the reach, improve the sights, etc. for reasonable prices. With some of these things done, you'll be shooting a gun that matches the performance of guns costing a LOT more.

If you want something better, you'll have to spend a lot more. You'll have to move up the the CZ "Competition" line (most of which use a larger frame), look at CZ Custom Shop guns, have your own gun tuned by a gunsmith (or send it to Cajun Gun Works), look at some of the high-end Witness guns which cost a bit more, or buy one of the SIG X-Five and X-Six guns. Those SIGs will have you moving into the $1500 - $3000 range.

 

[ritepath]

CZ Shadow Target...

 

[JDGray]

Not hype, CZs are great pistols! The DA reach is the only thing I don't like, so all of mine are SA only

 

[sigarms228]

My Son has had a CZ SP01 for the past four years or so.

I have fired it quite a bit and it is a nice pistol and I can shoot it well. One thing I really don't like about it is the sharp curve in the trigger. The trigger in general was pretty atrocious when he first got at and even after a number of range outings. It is quite a bit better now at 2000 plus rounds. Reset is on the longish side but not a problem for me.

However I don't own any CZs and prefer my SIGs, HKs, and Walther PPQ.

Best to try out a CZ somewhere yourself and see how YOU like it.

 

[AustinTX]

Not sure how Tex can say what he says about the trigger; especially whay he compared it to but everyone has their own taste I suppose

I don't see what's hard to understand. I never said that I'd shot every CZ model available. The CZs I've shot have all had triggers that were mediocre at best, with the exception of my Custom Shop-tuned Champion, which is amazing. Seems quite straightforward to me.

 

[ohbythebay]

Tex...

Fair enough...

 

[EezyBeezy]

If the intended purpose is for the range only I would suggest getting the regular SP-01 w/ manual safety. That way you can really tune the trigger without the extra parts that comes in the Tactical model(decocker). With the SP-01 w/ manual safety you can convert it to Single Action Only(SAO) and have a trigger similar to a 1911.

If you need to find the cheapest place online try gunwatcher.com or slickguns.com

 

[wild cat mccane]

I appreciate you can work on the pistol, but spending gobs of money that starts to approach a high end gun...doesn't sound like a good idea if one were to go to sell

 

[Pilot]

I appreciate you can work on the pistol, but spending gobs of money that starts to approach a high end gun...doesn't sound like a good idea if one were to go to sell

If you read several of the posts, you will note that CZ triggers really improve with use. Many just dry fire them with a snap cap to achieve that result with no trigger mods or additional money needed. If you want a match grade trigger with a service style pistol, now that's a different story with just about any manufacturer.

The many CZ's I have either owned, currently own, or have shot have had as good or better triggers out of the box than most of my Sigs, HK's, and Berettas, and they did improve with use. YMMV.

 

[bannockburn]

Out of the box I would have to rate my CZ P01's trigger just a notch below that of my SIG P229. Somewhat heavy and a bit gritty when I first got it, it has smoothed out quite a bit with use.

 

[AustinTX]

Well, I'll just keep being the minority voice here and note that my underwhelming experience with CZ triggers has been entirely on guns that had already been broken in.

The grittiness may improve with use, but the hammer-camming is an issue of sub-optimal hammer-sear geometry, and without reworking or replacement of parts, the trigger's flaws are not going to simply disappear with use.

 

[Walt Sherrill]

Well, I'll just keep being the minority voice here and note that my underwhelming experience with CZ triggers has been entirely on guns that had already been broken in.

The grittiness may improve with use, but the hammer-camming is an issue of sub-optimal hammer-sear geometry, and without reworking or replacement of parts, the trigger's flaws are not going to simply disappear with use.

I think I'm generally considered a CZ enthusiast, and I've said the same things you said, cited above.

Not all of my CZs, over the years, have had pronounced hammer camming, but some did. And most of the slightly rough/gritty triggers smoothed up quickly (or got local trigger/action jobs.) But, not all were gritty, either. Unhappily, most of the Witnesses I've owned had better triggers, out of the box (or at lower round counts). That doesn't mean I prefer the Witnesses to CZ -- I like them both.

 

[JDGray]

The grittiness may improve with use, but the hammer-camming is an issue of sub-optimal hammer-sear geometry, and without reworking or replacement of parts, the trigger's flaws are not going to simply disappear with use.

Most if not all sear, hammer designs, have some degree of positive engagement built in. It is for safety Much like a Glock connector, you lessen the angle, the easier the pull. Not a flaw my any means... The CZ trigger is made for a service, a duty weapon, not a target gun. They are very accurate, livable, out of the box

 

[flphotog]

The three CZ's I have, a 75B, 75D PCR, and dedicated Kadet pistol all have excellent triggers out of the box with the PCR's being the lightest and crispest. All break cleanly, and predictably. My friend's SP-01 has a great trigger also, and he made it even better by installing a reduced power main spring.

I've got the CZ 75BD and if I can ever find one I'm getting the PCR, they seem to be a little on the scarce side at the moment.