What is the difference between the CZ 75b and CZ 75 SAO?

[Kingofthehill]

Czs are new to me and i want a SAO 9mm but I can only find the 9mm in cz75b. I am a died ard 1911 guy buy I'm getting confusing reports on which is more 1911 like and I want a 9mm more. Been reading and seems you can get a cz75b 9mm parts kit and convert your 9mm cz7b to a SAO 9mm CZ.

Any truth to this? Any must haves for the CZ 75?

Thanks.

 

[frgood]

I'd recommend talking to some of the folks at czforum.com and czfirearms.us.

I, like you, am a 1911 fan. I recently have started working the CZ 75 into my routine. I am comfortable with the form and function of the 1911. I do find the CZ very comfortable to grip and am getting excellent accuracy.

Within the CZ 75B family, you can find an SA model 'out of the box'. The DA/SA model is basically an SA model until you lower the hammer manually, and the 'BD' simply has the de-cocker in place of the safety.

The SA model is also differentiated with an ambidextrous safety. The CZ 85 is a CZ 75 with an ambidextrous.

The one other consideration, at least for me, is the CZ 75 Omega. The Omega is a simpler functioning trigger. While I am not familiar with the technical details of the trigger group, I found the Omega trigger not wanting.

It is a great handgun and I hope that you find it to be as enjoyable as have I.

 

[hAkron]

A standard CZ 75B can be converted to SA. There are two main places to get the parts
http://www.cajungunworks.com
http://czcustom.com

I'm not aware of kit to convert a CZ 75 Omega though...I don't know if the regular kits would work.

Keep in mind the CZ 75 is one of the few SA/DA pistols that can be carried cocked and locked like a 1911 (there are a few others, but this was quite a distinction when the CZ 75 was designed). One never 'needs' to shoot it in DA unless you want to, or unless you have a bad primer and don't want to thumb back the hammer.

 

[Thompsoncustom]

If you want a SAO gun I would go with the SAO model. Not because of the action tho. The SAO model comes with a more up swept beavertail, ambi safeties and full length rails.

If you do get a CZ 75b or a cz 75 shadow than all you have to do to convert it is drop in a SAO trigger and remove the disconnector.

Now to get a great SAO 1911 style trigger pull your gonna want to do a few things. Get a trigger with pre and post travel adjustments, a reduced trigger return spring and you might need to bend this more, bend the sear spring, stabilize the sear cage, trigger job, remove firing pin block, comp hammer, and normal or heavier main spring.

You don't have to do any of that but for the best trigger say 1.5lb with a Crisp like glass break that's how to get it done.

 

[railroader]

Here's my cz 75 sa and my cz75 compact. The compact has the same beavertail and safety as a full size 75b. The mag release is extended on the sa also. If you want to go single action I would hold out for the sa model.

 

[railroader]

Kingofthehill, check your PM. 75sa in stock.

 

[Walt Sherrill]

The SAO models, have a number of differences, all minor, but quite nice:

• A slightly different frame, which includes an extended beavertail.

• The slide/frame rails are slightly different, but appear to be mainly cosmetic, as the rails (while longer) are not as high in the exposed (visible) may not provide much functional advantage.

• The SAO uses a full-length guide rod on the .40 version, but not the 9mm version... but both slides and frames are different than the DA/SA versions in the same calibers.

• The ambidextrous safeties of the SAO models are larger and easier to use -- and one of their best features. I don't think these levers can't be easily added to non-ambi DA/SA models, which have much a single, much smaller safety lever.

• Drop free mags. (This feature is increasingly standard in most CZs, and can be easily retrofitted to most CZ by simply bending the mag brake plate in the grip.

• The trigger of the SAO model is different, and at least one version of the trigger (which now may be standard) can be adjusted for both overtravel and takeup. Getting rid of the slack in the take up is a nice feature. The SA trigger is much straighter, and shortens the reach to the trigger. You can install this trigger on the DA/SA, but doing so means giving up the DA function.

You may want to have some gunsmithing done by a CZ-familiar gunsmith, as a lot of the guns coming from the factory have hammer camming (i.e., the hammer moves back as the trigger is pulled, before it releases.) Fixing that takes some hammer/sear angle modification. An aftermarket hammer, from the providers cited above, can fix that. Properly gunsmithed, the SAO CZs are very impressive handguns.