CZ Standard vs. Compact

[elmangosta]

Hi friends! A forum newbie here! After a few months of research & visiting stores/gun shows, I am convinced that CZ makes the ideal defensive semi-auto handgun for me. I plan to use it for both home & concealed carry once I obtain a carry permit. Standard size has the advantage of higher capacity, probably less felt recoil & slightly better accuracy, more options and the availability of .22 Kadet conversion kit so I would probably opt for the 75BD/SP-01 if all else were equal. My question then is how much more difficult would the standard size CZ 75BD/SP-01 (4.7in. barrel) be to carry concealed than say the 75Compact/PCR/P-01 (3.8/3.9in. barrel)? Also, I would greatly appreciate any suggestions as to best, specific, concealed carry holsters for these particular weapons. Thanks Much!

 

[blutarsky]

go get a cz p-01 (or other compact)

you claim the following pluses for the full size ones: 1) higher capacity, 2) less felt recoil, 3) better accuracy, and 4) availability of kadet kit

p-01 has:

1) 14 round capacity (only two less than standard 75, although is five less than the big brother sp-01). still, 14 round capacity is nothing to sneeze at. you can even use the 16+ round mags in a compact (and can supposedly get a rubber base/extension to make it look not half-bad, too).

2) although it might have more recoil, i honestly was surprised how mild recoil was on the p-01. being that i haven't shot a full size cz, i have to just leave it at that observation.

3) you said you're looking to use it "for both home & concealed carry" - at those ranges accuracy is essentially the same.

4) kadet kit can indeed be used on the compact models (although i believe the mag sticks out some at the bottom).


i might also point out, i have fairly large hands, and personally i liked the feel of the p-01 over the sp-01. if you haven't held the larger models, make sure you do before you buy one ... i thought for sure the sp-01 would feel fine, but the p-01 just melted into my hand.


but above all, for your intended purpose of concealed carry, i think that trumps all other considerations if everything else is so close... get the smaller, more easily concealable compact.

anyway, since you're already sold on a cz -- you can't really go wrong either way.

 

[Starcheck55]

conceal-ability wise, it is going to depend on your general shape of your body, what style of clothes you wear, the weather/season, and some other factors that i'm sure i'm forgetting.

personally i'm not a fan of looser fitting clothing, so it would be much harder for me to conceal a fullsize CZ, and IWB would probably be out of the question.

i don't think anyone can really give you a definitive answer other than: buy both of them, one for carry and the other for HD!

 

[bikerdoc]

I carry the CZ 75 compact, in a JPB iwb leather holster, works for me

 

[SCKimberFan]

I too carry the CZ75 Compact, mine is in a Galco Combat OWB holster. It is quite comfortable all day long. Round capacity is 14 (+1 if you so desire). I don't have any problem with the recoil (its a 9mm after all ). It is also the gun in my nightstand.

Having said that, try them both to see which feels best in YOUR hands.

 

[burningsquirrels]

go to a gun store and try them on.

get a good holster.

i thought i could never carry my 40b IWB, which is blockier than a 75 compact. with a cheapo holster, it was all over the place. with an HBE holster, i now carry it everywhere i want something lightweight. heck, even my SP-01 fits in there, and that's a BRICK!

lesson i learned: with a good holster, most anything is possible.

for everyday, i'd get an alloy one.

barrel length: it depends on your body shape. with the SP-01, as comfy as it is to carry, i always feel it poke into my fat butt cheek when i'm sitting in my bucket seat sports car. it makes sitting down a little less comfortable than my 3" subcompact. you'll never forget it's there - but again, with a good holster, anything is possible.

and again, try stuff on at your gun shop.

 

[NG VI]

Go compact for a dualpurpose gun, I have a PCR that I love to carry around in a Comp-Tac MTAC for the P01, exact fit, and I love it. I would also reccomend alloy, the compact alloy framed CZs are still about 27-28 ounces, so they are lightweight but not featherweight. Steel framed compacts are 32-33 ounces I think, and the fullsize is heavier than that. Since you settled on CZ, you are basically all set in every way except figuring out what is most comfortable to carry.

 

[EAJ]

I would recommend the CZ 75 D PCR Compact or CZ 2075 RAMI Sub-Compact for concealed carry.

 

[burningsquirrels]

he just needs to be aware that the ergos of the RAMI are slightly different than those of the 75 series.

 

[Norinco982lover]

I have the CZ-75b fullsize. It does not conceal very well and the double stack handle is fairly wide (especially with hogue grips).

However, the gun shoots like a beaut and is very very comfortable in my hands. I would trust my life on it. YMWV (your mileage won't vary, it's a CZ!)

~Norinco

 

[Pilot]

My main carry is the CZ-75D PCR. Its very accurate. I also have the full size 75B that I use mostly at the range. The .22 kadet kit fits on both pistols.

 

[glassman]

I bought the 75 compact and like it a lot. When I carry it, it goes in a Bianchi belt holster which is high riding, has a forward cant and a retention strap. The double stack 14 round mag makes it a bit harder to conceal but not undoable. I have big hands and my little finger rides under the frame. It is very accurate and reliable. Down side is the weight but a good belt helps with it. You can get a kadet conversion that works well but you might have to use a small file on the internal slide rail of the kadet to make it run smooth (I used a metal fingernail file and had it done in about 15 minutes). The 10 round mag for the kadet does drop below the bottom of the mag well, as someone mentioned. I usually carry a S&W 642 but occassionally will carry the CZ with the 642 as a backup. Hope this helped.

 

[skers69]

EAJ. Where did you get those grips? They look great on that PCR and I bet they would look good on mine. Does it still shoot well with those on? Any difference in felt recoil? Very nice pic and nice looking rigs.

 

[saltydog452]

My 75 Compact is a DA/SA. Carried in DA mode, its a looong reach to the face of the trigger.

You can carry in half-cock or SA though.

The thumb safety, if you carry in SA mode, is, for me, easily missed at speed. You can have the 'ledge' built up though.

George, at EGW built mine up.

I have lots of respect for the obversations of gents like bikerdoc and armoredman.

For me, with non-NBA length fingers, the DA/SA CZ 75 Compact, as issued, did not live up to its hype.

salty

 

[gwnorth]

The SP-01 is a heavy weapon too (it's all steel, versus alloy frames for the P-01 & PCR) - something like 43-44 ounces empty. You should consider that weight too when thinking about daily carry.

 

[EAJ]

EAJ. Where did you get those grips? They look great on that PCR and I bet they would look good on mine. Does it still shoot well with those on? Any difference in felt recoil? Very nice pic and nice looking rigs.

Hello skers69,

Thank you. They're Nill Grips (CZ0358), which I purchased through Mac-Tec about a year ago. Very good quality/finish, and comfortable to shoot with my average size hands. They seem to absorb a little more recoil than the OE grips, but I honestly never found the recoil to be uncomfortable with the OE grips.

CZ also makes some handsome wood grips which are avaliable through Ghost Products (CZ Custom)online. Check out this thread for additional ideas.