A Good Dilemma: Sphinx SDP Compact or CZ P-01 with CGW Parts

T

TunnelRat

New member
Hi all,
I've managed to free up some funds for a summer pistol project. Specifically ~ $900. This will probably be it for me pistol wise for the summer. These days I mostly carry striker fired pistols, but I want a DA/SA hammer fired pistol for old time's sake. I've still got my West German P228 but I no longer have a CZ type pistol and would like to get one back. I've been looking at the following:

Sphinx SDP Compact ~ $900 out the door
CZ P-01 ~ $525 out the door + CGW upgrade parts (specifically the short reset system, race hammer for decockers, and aluminum grips ~ $250)

Now the sticky wicket here is this would involve me doing the install on the CZ (yes I could send it in but I've never been overly patient). I've done complete disassemblies of USPs and SIGs in the past but never a CZ. I have some faith, but I'm having trouble finding walkthrough videos or posts as easily as the other brands I just mentioned. Any tips or links on this would be awesome. If I have something to follow I can typically make it work.

Between the two pistols themselves I like both really. I've owned P-01s in the past but for some reason always trade out of them. I've handled a CZ with custom shop parts in it and was pretty impressed. I've also handled the Sphinx SDP and think it seems very nicely machined and I know we have a number of newly formed fans here. My only hesitation is the price. I can customize a similar sized CZ for even less money than a stock Sphinx and the trigger on the Sphinx doesn't impress me that much (though I would probably put a CGW spring kit in there too).

So there it is. Two configurations I've never owned. Any tips are appreciated.

-TR
 
Myself I would definitely get the Sphinx SDP over a customized CZ P01. I just found out on Sphinx website that my LGS is now a Sphinx dealer and plan to go shooting today and hopefully check out the Sphinx SDP.

My thoughts are that the Sphinx has no MIM parts - all metal parts are forged/machined. You won't get that with the CGW parts in the P01 and IMHO even with CGW parts it still will not be to the level of quality of the Sphinx.

If one ever decides to sell, IMO, a Sphinx SDP will have much better resale value than a customized P01.

Then there is the possible mechanical accuracy difference. IMO the Sphinx SDP will be mechanically more accurate than a CZ P01 even with all the CGW parts in it. Sphinx does some hand fitting of the slide and barrel with the SDP. The link below goes into details on the accuracy of a Sphinx SDP vs the CZ P07 and the Sphinx SDP was much more accurate between these two samples with group sizes off a rest less than half of the CZ P07 with four different ammo being tested.

http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2014/07/jeremy-s/sphinx_vs_cz/

As far as triggers I have heard of mostly outstanding reports on the trigger of the Sphinx SDP particularly in SA and ALSO a very short reset. I have heard some say the DA is heavy but that a simple change of hammer spring can change that.

Warranty. Sphinx has lifetime warranty to original owner and CZ only five years. Customization often will void a warranty also.

I've owned P-01s in the past but for some reason always trade out of them
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That is very telling to me. Probably time to try something different then.

I am sure others that actually own the Sphinx SDP will also chime in soon but these are my thoughts and I probably will buy a Sphinx SDP fairly soon. Hoping the standard size is available soon but just may go for the compact.

Good luck!!
 
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I have the Sphinx SDP 9mm pistol and the quality of the fit and finish and the tight tolerances is much better than the CZ . The accuracy is tops too. Yes it cost more as I paid $850 for mine but I think it is well worth it. I also like CZ and for the money you can not go wrong with them either.
 
I would go with the Sphinx but I've wanted one for years. Now that they have compact models, I'm more interested then ever. The only downside I see is the beaver tail.
 
I think sigarms228 summed it up pretty good. I got the SDP because of it's overall quality and ergonomics. Those alone were enough for me to decide to get it. While not bad, I've never found the CZ's to be the best feeling guns out there. The SDP's trigger is not up to par with a Sig but, the $20.00 + $3.00 shipping for the CGW kit is a pretty good deal. I got one but have not installed it yet. It'll help with the pull but won't help the reset distance which is a little shorter that average. SDP's magazines are pretty easy to come by and not too costly.

The SDP stands out of a crowd with some of it's unique design features. They seem to slowly be getting more popular day by the day. Most people that I let hold or shoot my SDP say they never heard of Sphinx. They usually tend to like the gun quite a bit and many comment of the build quality and great feel.
 
I would get the Sphinx. In fact I did get the Sphinx. Walt Sherrill and I exchanged a few PMs about them and we were considering this exact question. Is a CGW Custom P01 or P07 a better value than the Sphinx.

So I picked up the phone and called David at CGW and spoke with him about the Sphinx. It was his opinion that for the price point there is not a better gun out there. He can take a CZ and clean it up and install his parts and tune it but it requires replacing almost everything and you still have the CZ frame and barrel. With a Sphinx which is not perfect out of the box, DA trigger is extremely smooth but too heavy, you are very close to an amazing pistol. In his opinion a little polishing and the right springs make it hard to beat. With minor modifications you can take an Sphinx out of the box and it will run with a lot of custom guns costing a lot more.

I took his word for it and got my Sphinx Alpha Compact which I love. I tested a bunch of Wolff springs and for me the 16 and the 17 both produced light strikes with CCI primed reloads, Tula ammo and Greco ammo. So I ordered a CGW spring kit and installed it and the gun has functioned 100% since then.

Just a heads up CGW updated their spring kit in early May. There we some reports of light strikes with the older setup. If you have newer one you will know because the hammer spring is blue. Only a small number of people reported light strikes but because he cannot put hands on the guns to correct it he corrected the springs.

The trigger with the Wolff 17lb spring dropped the DA pull to about 7.5lbs and the SA to 4.7lbs. The new CGW's springs drop the DA pull to 8.6lb and 5lbs. Those are avgs of 5 pulls on a digital scale. The trigger feels lighter because it is smooth. It has a shorter reset than my Sig P228 and other Sig P Series guns.

The gun was incredibly tight when I first got it. You could barely release the slide lock. It took a bit of force to get the slide lock out to field strip it. Now about 350 to 400 rounds in the gun has broken in nicely. It is now butter smooth in all ways.

One thing I will point out which is often a trait of CZ and their clones is that the chamber is tight. It will not feed some RMR Hard Core Match flat nose bullets. They will not spin in the chamber when I do a plunk test. Something to consider when you look at hollow point ammo and if you reload flat nosed plated bullet. All round nose round have had no issues. I have not run any hollow points through mine but some people report that they don't like Winchesters.

As they can be found for $3 to $40 but you can also get the Canik Stingray mags by Mecgar and they function 100% I am told. They only run $24.

http://www.jgsales.com/canik-stingray-c-9mm-15rd-magazine,-blued,-new.-p-71206.html

In the end I would get yourself a Sphinx before the price starts to move up.
 
I was afraid this would happen Lol. I now feel enabled. Truth is the fact that I have never owned a Sphinx is part of the appeal and the beavertail design on the Sphinx is a bit more comfortable for my hand too. I ordered the CGW kit already since I'd like it for the weekend. I also read Dave's comments on the CZ forums about the Sphinx and he makes it hard to refuse. I keep trading CZs, maybe I'll hold onto the Sphinx.
 
Dang. I went to LGS to do some shooting and check out the Sphinx SDP and they did not have any. I said "you guys are on the Sphinxarms website as being a dealer" and the guys I talked to acted surprised LOL. Then one guy says "what is a Sphinx - one of those $200 guns?" :rolleyes: I said "no they are made in Switzerland and start around $900" . His reply "oh we could probably sell them then". Whatever :confused:
 
Dangit, now this thread is making me want to a Sphinx of my own. I swore to myself no new purchases until September unless I found a deal too good to pass up... what constitutes such a deal for a Sphinx?
 
I'd say $825-$850 is what I would call a deal. The best I've seen from an online retailer is $830 + shipping. You might be able to find one on Gunbroker too if you keep looking at listings.
 
I got mine for $799 + shipping and transfer. I was out the door at $844.00 I also got one of those Safariland holsters for free. They make a decent range holster to hold me over until by Bravo Concealment holster arrives.
 
I own both. I have a SDP Compact and a CZ Compact D with rail from 2000 (P01 frame with PCR slide essentially). Both of mine were actually purchased used. The Compact D was a Israeli surplus pistol that was in very nice shape and had a rather nice stock trigger. The SDP looked basically brand new so I doubt the owner shot it much if at all.

The size and weight are nearly identical between the two. The SDP is a hair bigger size wise. The one thing is the Sphinx shoots softer. I guess that built in recoil buffer really works well.

As for the triggers the SDP is too heavy for me stock. I put in a CGW Sphinx spring kit and it made a world of difference. The other day I took it apart more to polish it up. After I got the sear cage out of the gun I put it back in as it didn't need any polishing. That can't be said for a CZ of course as they benefit greatly from polishing/smoothing of the trigger components.

My Compact D has a CGW reduced power trigger return spring, SRS-2 kit, floating trigger pin and an 14lb recoil spring. It also has a Type 2 disconnector that I had to hand fit for both DA and SA reset. I didn't like the grooved trigger so I put in a smooth face trigger from my Pre-B. All of these mods made for a super short and crisp reset in SA. I didn't put in a new hammer to keep costs down and the stock one barely cams in SA so I left it in. I'm currently running the 11.5 lb main spring and get a 6.5lb DA/3.0lb SA trigger pulls. In comparison the SDP with CGW spring kit is 8 lb DA/4.5 lb SA. The spring kit in my case took off 3 pounds in DA and one pound in SA.

I haven't done a side by side comparison since I got the Compact D, but I bet the findings will be I shoot the SDP better even with a heavier trigger. Maybe the next range trip I will bring both along and compare them side by side to be sure.

My vote would be the Sphinx. I was so happy that fall day walking through the local Cabela's gun library when I spotted the SDP sitting in the back on a low shelf in the display case. I previously thought I would never own one as they often were usually going for $1k + when I found mine. But the price was really reasonable especially for Cabela's so it came home with me.
 
If you want to go all in get this one.... $1079 for the all steel Duo tone. It is a heavy beast but if you are not carrying it I can only imagine it is one soft shooter. If I did not have lust for a subcompact and a Standard when they hit the market I would have bought this one already.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=488271812

SDP-Compact-Duotone-pl_559_429_90.jpg
 
Tunnel Rat, they are calling for us! Bwahahahahaha [emoji48]

These three were at one of my LGS's back home (Jax, FL). Love my P-07, but definitely looking to add a SDP Alpha to my collection once funds get freed up, then do the CGW Spring kit (just to lighten DA a lil').

b201f4a5630dd266c22c1808844f38db.jpg
 
I'd say $825-$850 is what I would call a deal. The best I've seen from an online retailer is $830 + shipping. You might be able to find one on Gunbroker too if you keep looking at listings.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I saw a couple auctions go for $780 - $810 recently. Gunbroker shipping is typically $25, so that comes out to $805 - $835 plus FFL fees. Bud's is selling for $859 and free shipping.

I go on vacation in August, so I think September-October is a good time for me, as I'll have a much better idea on how much room I've got in the budget.

Then, of course, there's buying magazines, holsters... Aaaagh.
 
Just as I think I only "need" a couple more guns, another one pops up. Got involved with the forum discussion of the SP-01 and the B model. My shooting buddy jumped in with CZ75 Tactical Sport. I wound up ordering the Tactical Sport.

I've been looking at the Sphinx website ever since I saw mention of the guns on this forum. They really appeal to me. However, some of the info on their site just confuses me,e.g. alpha vs black. Some of the color names make sense, some of the stuff doesn't.

I think I'd prefer the standard model, which isn't here yet. Then I take another look at the compact. All of sudden my DW Guardian 9mm seems to fall in between them.

Can some of you owners of the compact model convince be I should buy one instead of waiting for a standard model, especially since I own a DW Guardian I've finally figured out how to shoot?
 
rt11002003 said:
Can some of you owners of the compact model convince be I should buy one instead of waiting for a standard model, especially since I own a DW Guardian I've finally figured out how to shoot?
Click to expand...

Haven't you learned yet? If you keep asking these jerks for advice, you're just going to end up with both. And when you finally end up divorced and bankrupt and have to sell your guns just to eat, there they'll be, ready to take advantage of your diminished circumstances to buy your guns at a steep discount.

I'm on to you, Firing Line. I'm on to you.
 
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