The CZ 75 pistol is now over 30 years old. This should tell one something about the timelessness of the design. While new pistols come and go the CZ 75 continues to gain a following. The pistol comes from the Czech Republic and may be one of that area’s most successful consumer products. It is a masterpiece of the Koucky Brothers.
Currently used by the Czech police force it is durable enough to withstand much use and abuse. It’s all steel construction reduces the felt recoil when firing the 9mm Parabellum round. It weights 2.47 lbs and has a barrel length of 4.7 inches. It carries 15 rounds plus one in the chamber.
Some consider the CZ 75 to be the best 9mm pistol in the world. It has been mentioned that if it was allowed in the US military search for a new sidearm a couple decades ago that it would have beaten out all other competitors. Its relatively safe firing system and accuracy makes a good fit for a regular shooter. Some prefer the frame mounted safety to slide mounted models from other manufacturers.
The CZ 75 is considered to be a reliable pistol. It has a relatively tight slide to frame fit but this does not appear to make the pistol more liable to malfunction. The ergonomics of the gun are better than many other 9mm’s I have held and fired. It is what I would call a point and shoot gun. The bullet goes where you point it. I recommend getting the optional Tritium night sights if you intend to use the pistol for serious self defense or professional use.
One bright side of the pistol is that is costs relatively less than other pistols of the same class. Compared to buying a Sig or an HK the CZ is a steal. It is one of the most accurate pistols in it’s price range and some even shoot them in competition. Just be sure to replace the springs after heavy use.
As with all other pistols some batches are not up to par. Once in a while you will get a lemon from CZ-USA but this appears to be a rare occurrence. If you have any trouble with yours feel free to contact customer reps and they should be able to work something out. If you are going to buy your CZ 75 used then you may want to have a gunsmith tell you before hand what to look for when buying pre-owned firearms. Also, pay close attention to the safety mechanism and the year of the manufacture when choosing the CZ 75. I believe some of the very early models do not have firing pin blocks.
According to CZ-USA “an entire family of pistols is available based on the basic CZ 75 design, Compacts, Decockers, Double action only, Single action only, Ambidextrous, alloy frames and even Competition pistols.” Hence, there are many variations of the original pistol design. The CZ 75 B is the most well known model. However, if you want a 75 with a tactical rail you will want to look into the SP-101 model. If you want to save money on ammo costs or just have fun plinking they have a Kadet conversion kit which allows you to shoot the .22lr cartridge.
I think the CZ 75 would make a good choice for personal or professional/law enforcement work. Yet, don’t take my word for it. Ask others about the pistol. Try one out at your local range and fire at least a hundred rounds through one. See if the weight is right for you if intended for personal carry. Do a simple field strip if the range allows you to do so. Get acquainted with the pistol. If anything else the engineering is beautiful to look at. Taken together the CZ 75 is a fantastic pistol that will see many more years of use.
