full-size DA/SA options?

Status
Not open for further replies.

westernrover

Member
Joined
May 4, 2018
Messages
1,613
I've been a "revolver guy," but I'm looking to start shooting autoloaders more and considering carrying one. I'm not sure if I'm going to go with a 1911, striker-fired, or DA/SA yet. I need to spend more with each. If I were to get either the 1911 or a striker, I feel well versed on the options. But my knowledge of DA/SA options is outdated.

I like a large gun with a long barrel, long sight-radius, and the best ergonomics. I have no trouble carrying a large steel revolver, and no interest in compact anything. I like guns that are easy to shoot well. I'm looking at the CZ 75 SP-01 or the Shadow 2. Their ergonomics are famous and especially in the case of the Shadow 2 I do not expect the trigger like it was from the eastern bloc era. Traditionally, CZ's compared favorably to SIG mostly on price, but with premium options from CZ prices are on par. How do the improved CZ's compare to current P226 etc.?

What else is there?
 
want a metal frame? Beretta 92/M9 series for 9mm, especially if you add some nice wood grips to it, it'll swell the grip out for big hands (I like mine.)
want polymer? H&K P30L v3 (9mm) or HK45 (.45ACP)
 
SIG, Beretta, HK are all good, but if you like CZ, they're good to. May as well get a CZ, they have lots of options.
 
It's interesting to get ideas and opinions, but as you probably know from your experiences with revolvers, you will have to try them yourself to see what you prefer. I've done that over the years, and my Beretta 92, Kimber 1911, and HK P2000 are gone. Remaining are the centerfire semi-automatics that I actually found myself shooting when I had an opportunity. Five of them are CZs, one BHP. If I ever buy another centerfire semi-automatic, I'm pretty sure it'll be another CZ. If you're one of the high percentage of shooters who love the CZ 75-based guns once you try one, you may end up owning multiples. :)
 
  • Like
Reactions: LAH
Their ergonomics are famous and especially in the case of the Shadow 2 I do not expect the trigger like it was from the eastern bloc era. Traditionally, CZ's compared favorably to SIG mostly on price, but with premium options from CZ prices are on par. How do the improved CZ's compare to current P226 etc.?

You will find lots and lots of CZ and their cousins, Tanfoglios, at the top of the practical shooting games in divisions where the Sigs would play (and relatively few of the Sig P-series). And not because of cost - we're usually talking the competition models, with kilobuck-plus guns. In terms of pure shooting performance, there is, therefore, pretty good evidence that the CZ-ish gun is better for combined speed and accuracy. Not that the Sig's aren't very capable, just that they have a pretty high bore axis, a weird control configuration that makes a high grip with the left hand troublesome, etc.

It's plausible to me that the Sig might fare better in really harsh environmental conditions (such as saltwater, mud, etc.). And the alloy frame probably makes them a touch lighter, especially compared to the full-dust-cover versions of the CZ-ish guns (such as the ones you mention). But for pure shooting and gun-handling performance? The old alloy-framed Sigs are now being outperformed by (people shooting) the plastic P320's in terms of most match results. The large number of shooters picking CZ and CZ-ish guns for those games aren't doing it because of price; there really isn't a price advantage, and the cost of the gun is trivial to the amount these folks are spending on ammo, match fees, travel, etc.

Note that, as is probably pretty obvious from the above, I'm a big believer that competition is an extremely useful test laboratory for what equipment performs well in the relevant dimensions to the game. Not everyone buys that premise. But I do.
 
As to striker fired, I've got a Ruger SR9c I'm happy with, comes with 10 round and 17 rond mage, the 17s with a sleeve, but the SR9 is the full sized variety. There's also a .40 version.
Since you didn't specify new or used, the old school DA/SA first, second and third gen smith autos would also fill the bill. Google a 5904 and go from there.
 
SIG "P" series, Beretta are my choices. I shoot them well.

I must respectfully disagree with Walleye on first generation S&W. I wouldn't have another one as a gift.
 
I dry-fired a bunch of CZ models (almost all metal framed) and live fired the SP-01 and P-01 (with "classic" triggers, vs the Omega model) and a P-10. The standard DA/SA were nice for the price. You can't go wrong with a CZ if you want a DA/SA. One 75BD was particularly good in DA. Maybe just luck of the draw in how the parts came together in that particular gun. The P-10 was also a good one: at least as nice as the other plastic-frame pistols I've shot (Glock, XD).

The Shadow 2 is fantastic! SA is not *quite* as good as a good 1911, but it's pretty freaking good. DA is excellent. The changes to the frame vs the standard 75 felt good to me, although that's obviously subjective depending on your hand size, etc. I was very tempted by that gun and didn't buy one only because I happened upon a 9 mm Dan Wesson 1911 at a great price at the moment of decision.

The SAO Tactical Sport may have had the lightest trigger I've ever felt in a semi-auto. It was a little bit frightening! The gun is kinda huge (as are all the SP-01 variants) and I wouldn't carry it for that reason and also the SAO trigger, which isn't my thing for SD. I was also put off by the fixed sights. If it wasn't for that feature, the thing would make a pretty good Bullseye gun.

My spousal critter ended up buying herself a P-01 with Omega trigger. The SA is fine. DA pull is frankly pretty bad: heavy and stacks considerably. It's as at least as bad as the EAA Witness base model that I sold last summer.
 
Last edited:
I've been a "revolver guy," but I'm looking to start shooting autoloaders more and considering carrying one. I'm not sure if I'm going to go with a 1911, striker-fired, or DA/SA yet. I need to spend more with each. If I were to get either the 1911 or a striker, I feel well versed on the options. But my knowledge of DA/SA options is outdated.

I like a large gun with a long barrel, long sight-radius, and the best ergonomics. I have no trouble carrying a large steel revolver, and no interest in compact anything. I like guns that are easy to shoot well. I'm looking at the CZ 75 SP-01 or the Shadow 2. Their ergonomics are famous and especially in the case of the Shadow 2 I do not expect the trigger like it was from the eastern bloc era. Traditionally, CZ's compared favorably to SIG mostly on price, but with premium options from CZ prices are on par. How do the improved CZ's compare to current P226 etc.?

What else is there?

In todays environment, I am uncomfortable carrying a pistols with potential energy stored in the trigger system. This limits the choices to a DA/SA pistol. I have worked with my pistols enough that I am good with the double action first shot and single action second shot.

The Beretta M92/M96 is one choice but I carry an H&K P30SK, a compact version with a V3 trigger. The full size option is a P30 or a P30L. H&K has several trigger options but I prefer the V3 trigger.

I used to have a Tangfalio com pact 40 S&W (Springfield P9C chambered in 40 S&W) and it would shoot itself to pierces). The 40 S&W pistols
from Springield/Tanfanglio are gone from my inventory.
 
Last edited:
I’ll just leave this here.....



The direction I will be going after the first of the year. Probably the full house trigger job, night sights, carry bevel, and Robar NP3 option.
 
I can't tell you about the latest incarnations, but I've always been a big DA/SA metal frame fan. Don't think you can go wrong choosing from CZ/Sig/Beretta on those lines.

One not mentioned above, that you might want to explore: the Lionheart LH9. It's a Daewoo DP 51 that has been fluffed up a bit and relabeled. I have an old Daewoo that has been quite agreeable at the range, and has good ergos (at least for me).

edit- just noticed that you like a long sight radius (and barrel). That would take the Daewoo/Lionheart out of the running, as well as the previously suggested S&W metal offerings; they are about 4" or so.

Judging from what I have, Beretta 92 is going to have the longest sight radius, then the CZ, then the Sig. I can confirm this due to my developing need for bifocals :mad:, as I find the Beretta's front sight is just a bit easier to pick up on than the rest. It's that hair's bit further away that I don't have eyestrain with.
 
Last edited:
Ah, gosh ... for me, it's only SIG, Beretta, CZ (all metal 75/85), H&K, and for nostalgia's sake, 3rd gen S&W pistols ...
 
My favorites are my CZ75's variants (in my case Tanfoglio "clones"). My full-sized Beretta (40 caliper) and Taurus clone (9mm) are nice. You absolutely can't go wrong with a Sig P226. For something cheap, the Ruger P series are out of production, but I bought three used ones recently that were incredibly cheap and are reliable.
 
My $0.02, coming from someone who traditionally doesnt care for DA/SA.

The CZ Shadows stand up very favorably to SIG line in terms of trigger and accuracy, so it's pretty much about what you like for feel at that point.

Me, I prefer the Sig trigger over CZ for DA/SA for a nebulous "feel" reason I cant explain and much prefer the SIG SAO due to safety placement. So, if it were me, I'd get a 226.

But those are very personal, me only, reasons. Spitting hairs, so to speak. The 75 platform is as solid as they come.
 
Cz75 SP-01, it’s my bedside gun and makes for an awesome target pistol. The night sights it comes with are good. Fix an Olight pl-mini Valkyrie on it and its an excellent rig. Swapped the grips for rosewood as well.

The gun is heavy and full size, which suits it well to target and HD use. It fits my hand like a glove and points well for instinctive shooting, especially with the extra low bore axis. I’d only want to carry it as a duty gun. Concealing it really isn’t an option. But concealability is not what it was designed for.

Cajun gunworks does a nice trigger kit to bring your trigger into race gun territory
 
Last edited:
I have a Sig P220 I like quite a bit and plan to pick up a P227, and maybe a P226 SAO at some point.

HK makes good guns but their traditional DA/SA trigger is rather heavy on their traditional models. TheExperts, Elites, and Mark 23 may be a different story, but for this reason I've become much more of a fan of their LEM trigger.

My Wilson/Beretta 92 Brigadier Tactical is a pleasure to shoot and the 92 platform in general is one that has a long service history.

CZ is really getting a lot of my attention right now, especially the Shadow 2. I handled one and really liked it a lot. I just don't have the money sitting around right now.

There's a lot of good options.
 
Last edited:
I love my SIG's, but I have been handling some of the CZ offerings lately, I don't think you can go wrong either way. Someone mentioned the CZ TSO and the super light trigger... Wow! I shot one too, and the trigger was TOO light. Dangerous in my mind!!!
 
CZ has great DA SA's, and 1911's.

CZ, 1911, Glock. Should own each of those before settling down on a favorite. For now I ccw Glocks.

Kinda big for carry but: maxresdefault.jpg

Don't ignore single action CZ's if you're after fullsize pistols.
 
Last edited:
In not particular order:
Beretta 92;
Beretta Px4;
SIG-Sauer P226;
CZ 75B and its various versions;
Tanfoglio clones of CZ 75B;
CZ P-09;
SIG-Sauer 2022;
HK P30L;
HK USP;
Grand Power K100;
Arex Rex Zero.
 
Kinda big for carry but:View attachment 816280
.

The Shadow 2 is an attempt by CZ to recapture the top position in USPSA production division from Tanfo' Stock II's. It has been greatly to the benefit of USPSA/IPSC shooters that Tanfoglio and CZ are basically involved in a little arms race where each is now "stealing" improvements that the other has made, coming up with new tweaks on the concept, etc.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top