I'm still looking for alternatives for a handgun.

G

George Hill

Staff Alumnus
I ran over to the AF Gun Range. That was a wasted trip. I don't know how those guys stay in business. They had only 2 autos on the shelves, and 4 revolvers in another case. Place is bleak. Last time I was there, they only had 4 autos on the shelves. That was about 3 or 4 months ago. These two still there, were there the last time I was there too. Pitiful. One thing that was also missing that I wanted to take another look at was the FNC. I can't believe they had one to begin with. Not surprised that it got snapped up. An FNC for only 1500 isn't something you see every day. On a whim, I drove down to Rangemasters in Springville. They STILL don't have the FFL. That sucks. Rangemasters in the best indoor range in Utah. What's special about it? Nothing really... Other than the fact that they have backstops able to stop any rifle you might have (even .50BMG). They have an interactive shooting system. They have plenty of lanes. The range systems are by Active Target, a good solid Utah based company. IT all works very well and the icing on the cake is that the people that work there know guns - are smart - are customer oriented - and are genuine good guys. Even the owners... Ron and Mike. You can talk with them, shoot the breeze... Good people. That's why Rangemasters is #1 to a great many shooters in Utah. It is to me. Admittedly I do most of my shooting out doors. I've probably only been there to Range masters 4 times this year. Anyways, While I was there I took a look at a couple guns that really liked. CZ-75b SA. The single action version of the excellent CZ-75 9mm handgun. If I was in the market for a 9MM, that is THE GUN. Another gun that I liked was a cousin of the 75. An IMI Baby Eagle. Let me just say that IMI would be on top of the sales charts with this pistol if it wasn't for the dumbass name. American sportsmen, shooters, and LEOs really don't want to drop large jack on something named "Baby" unless Baby is a blonde with a cup size of a "C" or greater. Baby Eagle is however a great pistol. They should seriously consider going back to the Jericho name. This gun was originally imported as the Jericho 941. The Jericho was beloved by all who touched it. It was just marketed very poorly. Instead of promoting it as a 9MM they promoted the .41 Action Express caliber and the guns ability to swap calibers. The .41AE is really just an odd sized .40... but back before we had the .40. So back then know one knew anything about it. Here is what I'd do if I had a position in the company. Introduce the Jericho 940. Promote the guns strong features and such... If you can make the 941, then the 940 should be no problem. This Baby Eagle has only 2 downsides. One is the slide mounted safety. Get rid of that. CZ's have frame mounted safeties... why change? Go to the frame. The other is the slide's finish. I really don't like Parkerizing. Make it a polished blue... powder baked... or stainless. Anything. I'm not sure what the finish is that it has, but it felt like a parkerized finish. Still. The gun felt great in the hand. Trigger was easy to reach and the grip fit the hand wonderfully. Very natural feeling... just like the CZ, but a hundred bucks less. Good option, but I'd rather drop the extra jack for the CZ. I am REALLY liking the CZ family of arms. Outstanding guns.
 
George, AF Gun is supposedly getting a new business partnership going with a big increase of inventory. I hope it happens soon. With the dismal inventory they have now I buy everything good that comes in. :) Watch-Six
 
I'm having as much fun as my Wiffy allows. (ahem... and budge)
AF has been talking about that merger for what? A year now?

Giving in?

"Hey George, I have a CZ-97B with 5 mags... Wanna trade you for your 1911 and your 5 mags straight across?"
"Yes."

"Hey George, I have a CZ-97B..."
"Yes."

"Hey George, I have a CZ..."
"Yes."

"Hey George..."
"Yes."

"..."
"Yes."
 
Goerge,
I will have to agree with you whole heartedly. AF is a great range IMO...I was playing with a little FEG SMC 918 they had in the counter and rented it alot. I shoot there with my father once in a while. They have NO GUNS! The guys who own it are nice guys but still have no guns.
I havent tried Rangemasters, sounds nice. Have you been to Arms+ in Ogden? Great folk and a nice range...they dont have that many guns either, but more than AF.
Seems to be a "trade off" thing going in UT...
Dougs has more guns than I can play with in a year and the range should be Bull Dozed and started over.
Totally/Custom Arms is kinda middle of the road on both...but getting better.
If you want a gun...Go talk to Marv. He has ALOT of guns..but no CZ's the last time I was in.
Gallensons has them and Impact and Kents in Ogden have them also.
Shoot well
P.S. You can put the S/A trigger on ANY fullsize CZ...Kev has one on his CZ97..along with MMC adjustable nights...nice
 
When I get around to it, I must give in as well and purchase a CZ75 in .40.

Speaking of the "Baby Eagle", do you remember when they were first marketed in the U.S. 10 or more years ago? Each and every one came wrapped in a "Disney Baby" diaper... Talk about scaring off the average gun owner!!! I always wanted one of them, but finally settled on a Taurus PT100 as my first... Probably would have been happier with the "Beagle".
 
Remember: the CZ75 was designed for combat applications in an era when Military forces were used to destroy things and kill people instead of paint schools and hand out pennicillin shots.

I am not a good shot but each time I take my El Cheapo Turkish overrun to the range a crowd gathers in wild wonder wanting to know what I am using and when their turn will come up.

Man I really trashed Osama's face the last time I went to the therapay cent----I mean gun range.

If you get one that has been on the shelf a while like I did, lube it up before trying to disassemble it. Mine was gauled a bit due to dryness and I ended up dinging the back of the slide a bit yanking it off the frame.

What I did learn is that the polymer coating is very, very thick. I easliy repaired the ding with a matte black birchwood casey pen and now it is a personal indentifying mark for me.

I will say this, the inside of the frame is very meaty and meaty is a good thing.
 
George, the gun store down the street from me has a brand new CZ-75 in for $350.

I still think you should keep your 1911 though. But if you don't I'll take your spare magazines and any excess .45 off your hands. :)
 
George,

I had a 3.7 inch barreled, 9mm Baby Eagle that had a frame mounted safety; it was just a safety like the CZ and not a decocker.....nice gun, but I saw a Kahr P9 that I had to have, so I traded the Eagle.......:rolleyes:
 
Baby Eagle is a Tangfolio done in different casting, with Israeli made bbl. Great gun, not as high quality as CZ. However it seems that you can end up with better trigger with Tangfolio, after some smithing.

.40AE is .40S&W with 9mm case head. Except it was produced first. Supposedly it was unreliable. I think it didn't catch on because guns and ammo are cheap in US, and in most states easy to obtain. No manufacturer here is going to sell you a gun in two calibers done with just bbl and mag change. Besides, more is better. For people that are interested in performance increase over 9mm, .40AE is alive and well in Israel and other places where guns and ammo are expensive and hard to obtain. You get a gun, test fire in .40AE. Shoot your range sessions with cheaper 9mm. Carry .40AE (.40S&W).

If you are in UT, use your situation to learn how to shoot rifle long range, and do some rapid fire pistol drills. You'll appreciate it if you move to states where there is no BLM land, and all ranges seem to have 1 second rule. Oh, and never again you are going to find an all day for $2 outdoor rifle (up to 300 yds), pistol, shotgun range. Talking about Lee Kay.

Finally, don't forget god ole prik Norm Van Wagenen for your CZ purchases. When he gets used one in, it's definitely going to be less than at other outfits. I saw a like new CZ compact (not PCR) for $300 with one hi cap in December for example.
 
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