Question for CZ Owners (75 Compact vs PCR Compact)

[g_one]

According to their website,

The PCR is identical in size to the CZ 75 Compact, but thanks to its forged aluminum alloy frame it weighs in at a full 1/4 pound lighter, making it more comfortable for everyday carry.

Aside from the safety/decocker, in looking at pictures of these guns there do appear to be some differences:
The dust covers appear to be shaped differently, as well as the bottom of the slide that extends beyond the dust cover
The mag releases appear to be different
The trigger guards appear to be slightly different.

While aesthetically these things don't really matter in my opinion, I'm curious if a kydex holster for one will fit the other? Anyone have any experience with one vs the other (trigger pull?)

As for grips, they appear to be truly identical, no concerns there I wouldn't think.

 

[kokapelli]

The PCR Is lighter because it has an alloy frame.

 

[Pilot]

My PCR rides in a Bianchi Shadow II holster which was made for the Sig P228/P229. It actually fits better than my P228!

I don't know for sure, but I doubt you will have trouble with the CZ Compact holsters.

 

[chicharrones]

A

Aside from the safety/decocker, in looking at pictures of these guns there do appear to be some differences:
The dust covers appear to be shaped differently, as well as the bottom of the slide that extends beyond the dust cover
The mag releases appear to be different
The trigger guards appear to be slightly different.

Also, the PCR has a sloped rear sight and a loaded chamber indicator* in the form of a pop up button on top of the slide. My particular PCR came with a silver colored serrated trigger from the factory unlike what the CZ website shows.

*can be seen here from pics of another CZ PCR owner.

 

[Walt Sherrill]

If you find that a Kydex or other "plastic" holster proves to be a bit tight, just borrow a heat gun (or buy one from Harbor Freight - about $9 and useful for other things), heat up the holster (but be careful), and insert the gun. It'll remold slightly. Heat it up too much, and it'll be ruined. For the thick ones, it's hard to mess them up. For a Fobus, less hard.

 

[NewGuy1911]

Keeping in mind, "I'm no expert", the PCR has the nice rubber grips. De-cocker vs 1911 kinda thumb safety. A little more recoil vs a little less. Maybe newer vs older design.

 

[ClickClickD'oh]

I'm curious if a kydex holster for one will fit the other?

I do not believe that a PCR will fit in a holster for the CZ-75. Just basing that off memory. I'll check when I get home to make certain.... may be a day or two depending on the weather.

 

[Jim NE]

I have the Compact, a full size and a CZ40 P.

In retrospect, I sort of wish I'd got the PCR instead of the Compact. My 40 P also has an alloy frame, and I really like the hold-feel. Per my other thread, the added weight of the Compact may help with recoil, but it's negated by the hard plastic factory grips. I'm putting rubber on mine. You may feel the same way. Can't remember - does the PCR have rubber grips?

I like a decocker, but I don't mind the safety on mine either. A CZ decocker is my favorite, though. The PCR has a decocker, but you can get the Compact with a decocker, too, as I recall. Just harder to find.

I won't trade off my Compact, it's far too good of a gun. But if you're going to own only one CZ, you should really hold both in your hands to see what you like. Best wishes.

 

[Comrade Mike]

I have the compact but I've shot the PCR. I think the compact balances a little better with the extra frame heft.

 

[Walt Sherrill]

but you can get the Compact with a decocker, too, as I recall.

Not as far as I know. It isn't (and never has been) a model that can be ordered. But...

There are a few alloy-framed "Compacts" (the "capital C" denoting a compact gun equipped with a safety) floating around. That said, CZ has built a number of "one-of" guns over the years. That may be where you saw or heard of a steel-framed Compact with a decocker.

The 75BD is a full-sized steet-framed gun with a decocker. They also have made some DAO CZs, too. I've also seen and shot a semi-compact: Full-size frame with a compact slide. The opposite (full-size slide on a compact frame) might exist somewhere, too.

The CZ Custom Shop can probably work something up for you -- but it would be a costly undertaking, as a good bit of internal work would be needed.

 

[Pilot]

I do not believe that a PCR will fit in a holster for the CZ-75. Just basing that off memory. I'll check when I get home to make certain.... may be a day or two depending on the weather.

The OP is trying to compare the size of the 75D PCR (alloy framed compact), with the "Compact" model (all steel compact). He is not comparing the PCR to the full size 75B.

 

[Jim NE]

Not as far as I know. It isn't (and never has been) a model that can be ordered. But...

There are a few alloy-framed "Compacts" (the "capital C" denoting a compact gun equipped with a safety) floating around. That said, CZ has built a number of "one-of" guns over the years. That may be where you saw or heard of a steel-framed Compact with a decocker.

The 75BD is a full-sized steet-framed gun with a decocker. They also have made some DAO CZs, too. I've also seen and shot a semi-compact: Full-size frame with a compact slide. The opposite (full-size slide on a compact frame) might exist somewhere, too.

The CZ Custom Shop can probably work something up for you -- but it would be a costly undertaking, as a good bit of internal work would be needed.

Yes, it seems you're right. I thought I'd seen one at Bud's site, but I can't find it now. Think I was mixing it up with the PCR. Thanks for the info.

 

[Walt Sherrill]

I do not believe that a PCR will fit in a holster for the CZ-75. Just basing that off memory. I'll check when I get home to make certain.... may be a day or two depending on the weather.

Kind of depends on the holster material. The PCR comes in at least two flavors -- an older model that closely resembles the "Compact" (which is steel) except for the decocker and sights, and a newer one, which has a wider dustcover (along with the decocker), but is more similar to the P-01. The newer version is a little thicker on the front end and has a subtly different shape; it may be very snug in some holsters. Never bought a separate holster for my Compacts (I've had several); they worked fine in a 75B holster (no decocker issue, etc.,)

Some of the older holsters didn't accomodate the decocker, well, too.

If you've only got one holster, a leather one can be dampened and stretched, while a kydex can be heated and stretched (heat gun), but either approach will leave you with one gun that doesn't fit quite right if you have both styles and one holster.

 

[ClickClickD'oh]

The OP is trying to compare the size of the 75D PCR (alloy framed compact), with the "Compact" model (all steel compact). He is not comparing the PCR to the full size 75B.

Thank you, I'm well aware of what he's asking.

Except for barrel length, the CZ-75 compact is dimensionally identical to the full sized CZ-75 for holster purposes. Which means that if I can get home tomorrow and try to cram my CZ-75D PCR into a CZ-75 holster and it doesn't fit, we have an answer.

I seem to remember my PCR not fitting into hard sided CZ-75 holsters, but I don't want to make a claim of certainty until I can refresh my memory.

 

[viking499]

If I remember, the PCR is used in a holster all it's own.

 

[guyfromohio]

When holster shopping for my PCR, the holster makers listed the PCR with the P-01 and then listed the compact with the standard 75. My assumption would be that they would not be compatible in those holsters.

 

[Pilot]

Thank you, I'm well aware of what he's asking.

Except for barrel length, the CZ-75 compact is dimensionally identical to the full sized CZ-75 for holster purposes. Which means that if I can get home tomorrow and try to cram my CZ-75D PCR into a CZ-75 holster and it doesn't fit, we have an answer.

I seem to remember my PCR not fitting into hard sided CZ-75 holsters, but I don't want to make a claim of certainty until I can refresh my memory.

And I don't know if it will fit either, especially a hard sided holster. Leather, maybe, but Kydex, who knows.

I also didn't realize what Walt indicated, in that the PCR dimensions have changed. Maybe this is due from going form cast to forged? I have an early PCR, which was made in 2000, so I guess it is more similar in dimension to the all steel Compacts than the current versions.

 

[Walt Sherrill]

I also didn't realize what Walt indicated, in that the PCR dimensions have changed. Maybe this is due from going form cast to forged? I have an early PCR, which was made in 2000, so I guess it is more similar in dimension to the all steel Compacts than the current versions.

I THINK that's true, but compare your older PCR to the one now shown on the CZ website, and if I remember correctly, they're pretty different in the front of the frame and dustcover. If you see no difference, then consider my earlier statement WRONG. (I no longer have any compact CZs on hand -- just an 85 Combat and a custom AT-84s (Tanfoglio "Clone"), so was working from memory, and as I get older that doesn't work as well. <sigh> If it ever DID work well. <bigger sigh>

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

I don't believe the PCR and Compact are quite the same dimensions. Although it was several years ago, I tried a rigid plastic holster made for the Compact and my PCR wouldn't fit. A leather holster, which has some flexibility to it and can be softened if necessary, might work better. I have found that it fits pretty well in a leather holster for the SIG P228/229 without a rail. But I'm just not happy unless the holster is made for it.

This is mine:




The wood grips are a CZ factory accessory, and the bottom photo shows it with the new P-01 night sights. They fit and shoot to point of aim perfectly but there is a "step" or "shelf" in front of the rear sight now.

 

[Walt Sherrill]

The PCR shown in your photo is NOT the newest version... Its an earlier version, which is more like the Compact.

Compare the photo above to this one,and you'll see that the Compact and PCR are very similar -- but the PCR seems to be a bit thicker in the area above the grip. (See the line on the PCR? That line isn't visible on the Compact. I don't think the PCR is thinner through the grip, so that suggests its a bit wider above the grip.)

There may have been an even EARLIAR PCR model, too -- as the one in your photo looks like it has a reversible mag release, which I don't think was available with the earliest PCRs.

The newest PCR/75D has a frame that is similar to the P-01, with rail.

You're probably going to have to take the gun with you to a gunshow, or find one specifically made for your model...

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

The PCR shown in your photo is NOT the newest version... Its an earlier version, which is more like the Compact.

I bought it in November of 2007. There are subtle yet definite differences in the frame "dust cover" compared to the Compact in your photo. IIRC, that was where it hung up in that Kydex holster.

 

[Walt Sherrill]

I bought it in November of 2007. There are subtle yet definite differences in the frame "dust cover" compared to the Compact in your photo. IIRC, that was where it hung up in that Kydex holster.

I agree. The dustcover and upper assembly are somewhat WIDER than the Compact. (The "step" that make the line on the PCR that can't be seen on the Compact, adds material and width to both sides.) This is easily seen when you start examining the photos closely.

The newest PCR seems to have the heavier frame of the P-01, or shares key features of that frame's design.

If it's the only gun to use THAT holster, you can heat the holster up with a heat gun and enlarge it by inserting the gun. If you'd rather not do that, you'll just have to hunt around. Several have suggested that some SIG holsters (for the 228?) work fine.

 

[ClickClickD'oh]

Finally got home. My 02 manufactured PCR witg the step in the frame does not fit a safariland 6280 for a CZ-75. So hard frame holsters are out. With convincing, it did go into a leather High Noon holster and perfectly into a Bladetech IDPA holster for a P01

 

[Walt Sherrill]

Makes me wonder WHY they felt the need to widen the slide on the PCR -- they didn't need to do that on the full-size model, when they made a decocker version. (Wonder if alloy and steel just hang together differently, when the internal mechanism is subtly changed?)

 

[chicharrones]

Makes me wonder WHY they felt the need to widen the slide on the PCR -- they didn't need to do that on the full-size model, when they made a decocker version. (Wonder if alloy and steel just hang together differently, when the internal mechanism is subtly changed?)

Yeah, my guess is CZ wanted to beef up the area of the slide rails on that alloy frame of the PCR. I haven't seen a PCR without the frame step yet. If the PCR now has a frame without the step, does that mean the new PCR frame is forged? I don't recall the stepped frame PCR being forged.