The CZ autos --

Dashunde said:
Thick paint-like finish that scuffs/scratches easily.
Very course machine marks all over inside, some outside and even on the barrel.
Terrible factory grips.
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I've not found that the finish on Glocks slides or SIGs are much better, and they are harder to patch up. Touching up a Beretta isn't easy, either -- if the frame is where the nick or scratch appears.

CZ's current polycoat finish seems about as durable as anything out there, and can be touched up with most auto-body matte black touch up paints. The finish has improved dramatically over the years. Older CZ-75Bs polycoat finishes didn't like some solvents; the new one seem very durable.

Dupli-Color auto-body touch-up paint is a perfect match. Get the spray can, spray the paint onto aluminum foil or a plastic cup, and then use a brush to apply it to small scratches -- the spray paint is thinner than the stuff in the small applicator bottles. I've had a couple of CZs with the satin nickel finish, and they seem to be almost impervious to scratches or wear. I don't care for the hi-gloss stainless models, but do like the matte polish level stainless guns.

The plastic factory grips aren't great -- but the same can be said about many factory plastic grips. The factory soft rubber grips are my favorites; I prefer them to custom wood.

The machining marks irritate some folks, but you never find them in places where the marks affect function. (It's arguably a design/production philosophy -- why waste time on things that don't make the gun shoot better.) The newer P-07/P-09 guns seem to be better, but I think it's because CZ has begun to bead blast those "machined" surfaces.

I've not seen machining marks on barrels, but it could happen. I've also got some photos someone sent me of some ugly marks on frame rails that should have never have left the factory. Stuff happens. But "stuff" isn't the standard.

(It's important, too, to understand that CZ carburizes their barrels -- it's a form of surface hardening. That carburized finish is dark colored, and scratches easily. Some folks just polish it off. The black finish is a byproduct of the hardening process, and it easily marked. I suspect some consider those marks scratches. Removing the finish won't affect the hardening of the underlying metal.)

The triggers break in after several hundred rounds -- and that's the part I like least about new CZs. I hate shooting a gun with a mediocre trigger, and generally just take it to a gunsmith, up front, to get it smoothed out.

The "camming" hammer is not something I care for either, but it can be easily fixed by proper gunsmithing -- or buy getting one of the after-market hammers (from CZ Custom or Cajun Gun Works.) That's something CZ ought to change: Tanfoglio guns don't do it.

Sights are generally mediocre, too.... but after-market options are available.

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I'm not really a very good shot, but I seem to do okay with my CZ75 BD and my PCR. Not fantastic, but overall very nice triggers out of the box. A couple of weekends ago, my friend took his wife to the range for the first time. She had a blast. She quietly asked my friend if I was a LEO. He asked why, her answer was because I shoot so well. This is 50 rounds of 124 gr reloads at 10 yards from the BD.

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Most of what's here is about CZ75B, etc. But don't forget the other CZs. I have three: CZ52, CZ70, CZ85B -- all are irreplaceable. My son has even got a CZ75 (original) which he likes much. You can't beat CZ autos.
willr
 
willr said:
Most of what's here is about CZ75B, etc. But don't forget the other CZs. I have three: CZ52, CZ70, CZ85B -- all are irreplaceable.
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Of the guns mentioned, the CZ52 and the CZ70 were built by a "different" CZ, another division of the company. That division/factory, under central Communist control later built heavy equipment, etc. The CZ-75, 75B, 85, 85B and 85 Combat represent a new design generation with no real connections to the other older designs.

They're all CZs, of course, but only the most recent models (75 and later) are really exceptional in any respect. And they're the ones initially designed for civilian and non-Communist Bloc usage; had there not been a Western embargo of Communist Block products, they likely would have been far more popular sooner.
 
If you do have girlie hands, CGW makes drop in kits to reduce trigger reach, and pull weight. Start with the 75 series, there are many variations.
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Well girls have previously told me that they like my hands. Does that count? ;)

Ok seriously. The ergos, accuracy, take down and capacity are all great, but I do think that having larger hands/longer fingers will help a lot.

I have an SP-01, which is essentially a 75b with rail and ambi-safety. It is comfortable and accurate. DA pull is a little challenging and I need the tiniest shift of grip to activate the slide release, but then I have fingers that are a little short in relation to my palm.

For the DA the half-cock option is good for the reach-challenged. Cocked and Locked is even better if you are comfortable with that. I probably wouldn't be, but that is nothing to go by.
 
I know a CZ collector and have been lucky to shoot most of his. They are superb handguns IMO. I found them to be very accurate and comfortable. The finish is very durable as well. The only CZ that felt a bit too large in my medium sized hands was the 97 B model in 45 ACP. Even so, it performed flawlessly and the sights were right on the money. I'm always a bit worried about non adjustable sight guns, but with the CZs I've tried, it seems to be a non issue.
 
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