CZ 75 9mm or 40S&W
- Thread starter Ronyo
- Start date
Morning Ronyo, morning here in NM anyway. I have a CZ75B in 9mm and love it. Personally, I would lean toward the 9mm. I have 4-40S&W pistols and one carbine (Beretta). I enjoy them all however 9mm has some advantages. Dealing with less pressure is one. 9mm is so forgiving in pressures and load variability. I cast 102, 105, 120, and 125 gr. bullets for 9mm. So much fun to work up test loads in 9mm with all the old and new powders. In comparison, I cast only the 175 truncated for the 40S&W.
Secondly is the bulge issue you have to be aware of in 40S&W. Not a big deal as long as you are aware of it and properly size your cases.
Third is arguable accuracy. For me, I get a little more accuracy from 9mm.
Fourth is 'Kick'. Quite a bit of difference between the two. Some 9mm loads you can shoot all day and pick up the brass right by your foot.
Finally, if you reload, 9mm brass is a dime a dozen at ranges. I've picked up over 5000 cases in the last couple of years. 40S&W brass is usually available as well but not in the same quantity.
A fun decision for you! Good Luck
Secondly is the bulge issue you have to be aware of in 40S&W. Not a big deal as long as you are aware of it and properly size your cases.
Third is arguable accuracy. For me, I get a little more accuracy from 9mm.
Fourth is 'Kick'. Quite a bit of difference between the two. Some 9mm loads you can shoot all day and pick up the brass right by your foot.
Finally, if you reload, 9mm brass is a dime a dozen at ranges. I've picked up over 5000 cases in the last couple of years. 40S&W brass is usually available as well but not in the same quantity.
A fun decision for you! Good Luck
sirgilligan
New member
I traded my only 40 S&W. I decided to standardize on 9mm. Keeping it simple. My family and extended family all of 9mm. We can share.
If you don't have 9mm already then I guess it is a toss up. You should consider costs, recoil, availability, etc. But those are all pretty minor things. Good luck and let us know what you get.
If you don't have 9mm already then I guess it is a toss up. You should consider costs, recoil, availability, etc. But those are all pretty minor things. Good luck and let us know what you get.
Walt Sherrill
New member
I've had a bunch of CZ-75Bs and a few CZ-75s. Two of the 75Bs were .40s, and I also had a 40B. Of the .40s, the 40B was the best, and I regret selling it, now. (I wasn't a fan of .40 S&W back then.) While others love them, only the 40B really seemed a good fit for me. (I also had a CZ-100 in .40, but I don't want to talk about that...
) I much prefer the 9mm CZs to the .40s and the performance of 9mm rounds has improved over the years.
The CZ-40B, and the two FNS-40s I now own (one a standard FNS-40 and one an FNS-40L [longslide], are the best shooting .40s I've shot or owned.
(I've also had a P226 X-Five in .40, a SIG P226 and a P239 in .40), a Glock 35, a S&W M&P Pro in .40, and a few others, and I couldn't shoot any of them worth a hoot. The 40B and the 2 FNS-40s have been the best shooting .40s I've handled, and they shoot and feel like 9mm guns to me.
) I much prefer the 9mm CZs to the .40s and the performance of 9mm rounds has improved over the years.The CZ-40B, and the two FNS-40s I now own (one a standard FNS-40 and one an FNS-40L [longslide], are the best shooting .40s I've shot or owned.
(I've also had a P226 X-Five in .40, a SIG P226 and a P239 in .40), a Glock 35, a S&W M&P Pro in .40, and a few others, and I couldn't shoot any of them worth a hoot. The 40B and the 2 FNS-40s have been the best shooting .40s I've handled, and they shoot and feel like 9mm guns to me.
I have two CZ75Bs in 40 S&W and I love them. Just be advised that the CZ75B platform works great for 40 S&W. If you prefer 9mm then that would be the way to go, as I'm sure that the CZ75B works great for 9mm. In fact I am DROSing a 9mm CZ75B in 9mm right now.
But in 40S&W the CZ75B is terrific. That's all I'm saying.
But in 40S&W the CZ75B is terrific. That's all I'm saying.
Walt Sherrill
New member
Keep in mind, too, that the .40 version of the 75B has a slightly different slide and a full-length guide rod. Not a big deal, but different.
Here's a .40S&W 75B SA with a 9mm conversion barrel from CZ Custom;
https://czcustom.com/new-firearms/cz-pistols-custom/cz-75b-sa-40-9mm-custom.html
i.e., I'll always prefer my own prized 9mm 75B over the DuoTone .40S&W 75B I used to own, although if I had a 9mm conversion barrel for that .40, I'd probably still have it, since I've always liked the way that the DuoTone CZ's looked.
https://czcustom.com/new-firearms/cz-pistols-custom/cz-75b-sa-40-9mm-custom.html
i.e., I'll always prefer my own prized 9mm 75B over the DuoTone .40S&W 75B I used to own, although if I had a 9mm conversion barrel for that .40, I'd probably still have it, since I've always liked the way that the DuoTone CZ's looked.
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The 9mm uses cheaper ammunition, has less recoil, holds more rounds, and the ammo is readily available at any place that sells any ammunition. There has been a great deal of effort getting match accuracy out of 9mms as well as they are currently the standard for service pistol matches. For those reasons, IMHO, the edge goes to the 9mm.
If it was me I would go with 9mm in the CZ75 as that platform was designed around 9mm and is considered one of the top 9mm double stack platforms in the world. Just as if I was buying my first 1911, I would go with 45ACP. And the majority of CZs out there are 9 which should make parts more available for 9.
Now if you already have one in 9mm, then maybe variety is the way to think.
And if 40 flips your stacks, CZ has been doing 40 for a while and they should be solid. I would do some reliability homework to make sure CZ and 40 are dialed in (one or two posts is antidotal).
Now if you already have one in 9mm, then maybe variety is the way to think.
And if 40 flips your stacks, CZ has been doing 40 for a while and they should be solid. I would do some reliability homework to make sure CZ and 40 are dialed in (one or two posts is antidotal).
HistoryJunky
New member
I have never owned the .40 CZ-75. I do own a 9mm 85b, which is the ambidextrous version of the 75b.
I would put my vote in for 9mm. My 85b is the most comfortable pistol to shoot that I own.
Sent from my SM-G930R4 using Tapatalk
I would put my vote in for 9mm. My 85b is the most comfortable pistol to shoot that I own.
Sent from my SM-G930R4 using Tapatalk
sirgilligan
New member
My "9's":
Hi. Which have you fired most before? Any chance you can try 'em both first?
Closest comparison of recoil(there really isn't a good one) is that a 124 grain 9mm at 1125 fps out of a 1.5 pound pistol has about 6 ft-lbs. of recoil. A 155 grain .40 at 1200 fps out of a 1.5 pound pistol runs 10.6 ft-lbs. A CZ 75 weighs more than 1.5 pounds, but it's the same weight in either chamberings. So the felt recoil will be similar with both cartridges.
Personally, I don't think one is any better than the other. Best you try 'em both and see which you prefer. Any rental shops where you are?
"...platform was designed around 9mm..." That's because it's a BHP clone.
Closest comparison of recoil(there really isn't a good one) is that a 124 grain 9mm at 1125 fps out of a 1.5 pound pistol has about 6 ft-lbs. of recoil. A 155 grain .40 at 1200 fps out of a 1.5 pound pistol runs 10.6 ft-lbs. A CZ 75 weighs more than 1.5 pounds, but it's the same weight in either chamberings. So the felt recoil will be similar with both cartridges.
Personally, I don't think one is any better than the other. Best you try 'em both and see which you prefer. Any rental shops where you are?
"...platform was designed around 9mm..." That's because it's a BHP clone.
TheGuyOfSouthamerica
Moderator
To put fuel into the caliber debate: many consider the 40 S&W "a dead caliber".
Basically the 40 S&W is an answer to an question nobody asked!
Get the 9mm Luger.
That is allways 'nough gun.
Personally I find even the 9mm Luger in an 22 oz Plastik gun to snappy. Never talking regards snappy of the 40 caliber.
T O Heir. The recoil of 10.6 ft-lbs (40 S&W) is almost double to 6 ft-lbs (9mm). The 40 cal recoils about twice as the 9mm.
Basically the 40 S&W is an answer to an question nobody asked!
Get the 9mm Luger.
That is allways 'nough gun.
Personally I find even the 9mm Luger in an 22 oz Plastik gun to snappy. Never talking regards snappy of the 40 caliber.
T O Heir. The recoil of 10.6 ft-lbs (40 S&W) is almost double to 6 ft-lbs (9mm). The 40 cal recoils about twice as the 9mm.
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ShootistPRS
New member
I bought my CZ 75B for 3 gun competition. If I had bought it as a self defense gun it would have been in 40. The 40 was brought out as an answer to "unmanageable" recoil of the 10mm. The 10mm is slightly more gun than a 357 and the 40 is slightly more gun than the 9mm. If you can get back on target and quickly fire subsequent rounds with the 40 it is a better caliber. If the recoil is too much for fast shooting then go with the 9mm.
I have carried my 357 for 45 years and fired more rounds in practice and competition than any of my other guns. I have always felt the 9mm fell short of the ideal self defense gun for me. For 3 gun I needed the capacity of the 9 to compete on a level playing field. it gives me the advantage of less recoil than I am accustomed to so follow-up shots are easier and quicker?
It comes down to what YOU can shoot quickly and accurately.
I have carried my 357 for 45 years and fired more rounds in practice and competition than any of my other guns. I have always felt the 9mm fell short of the ideal self defense gun for me. For 3 gun I needed the capacity of the 9 to compete on a level playing field. it gives me the advantage of less recoil than I am accustomed to so follow-up shots are easier and quicker?
It comes down to what YOU can shoot quickly and accurately.
