These are some of the top handguns CZ makes.
In the gun world, '?eská zbrojovka, also known as Czech Armory or simply CZ for short, is one of the most respected arms makers on the planet. The company's main headquarters is in the Czech Republic, but they import fine firearms to the U.S. via their subsidiary CZ-USA.
Many will argue that CZ makes some of the best and most reliable semi-automatic pistols in the world. We won't get into the whole "Glock vs CZ" argument here today. Instead, we're simply going to go over some of the options in the extensive CZ line that will give the most bang for your buck. Pun intended.
Because CZ makes firearms that are ideal for concealed carry and home defense scenarios. Here are some of our picks for the top CZ handguns on the market today.
CZ P-10 c
We'll start things off with a striker-fired semi-auto that boasts a generous magazine capacity at a competitive price. The CZ P-10 c has a cold hammer-forged 4.02-inch barrel length and weighs in around 26 ounces for both the 9mm Luger and .40 S&W variants. It's a polymer frame gun that many people find a solid alternative to the Glock 19. This handgun gets rave reviews from users for its ergonomics and crisp trigger pull. It comes in either a black or FDE/black or urban grey finish to fit any shooter's tastes and the company does offer lower capacity variants for states with magazine restrictions. CZ also sells this handgun with an extended and threaded barrel for suppressors. This is a super-reliable pistol and for a little under $500, it's hard to go wrong with this as an everyday concealed carry option.
CZ Shadow 2
CZ builds a few different variants of the Shadow 2. This gun is rather interesting because it has an extremely heavy weight of 46 ounces thanks to the steel frame. In case you're wondering, that weight is by design to help mitigate the recoil and make this an extremely accurate pistol. That makes it a great choice for serious competitive shooters. It's a double-action/single action gun, but CZ builds an SA only option too. These guns come with fiber optic front sights and HAJO rears, but there is an optics ready variant also available. Chambered in 9mm, these guns have a capacity of 17+1. CZ offers this pistol in a variety of great-looking finishes including black and blue and a tactical sport orange. The guns have an ambidextrous manual safety. If you're willing to spend a little more, consider the AccuShadow by CZ Custom Shop. It has a better hammer, and CZ's 1911-style "AccuBushings" for tighter groups.
CZ 2075 RAMI
Looking for a sub-compact handgun that doesn't mean sacrificing magazine capacity? The RAMI is a gun to consider. CZ manufactures packages this 9mm with a standard 10-round flush mag and a 14-round extended magazine. The 2075 has a 3-inch, cold hammer-forged barrel and a frame made of 7075 T6 aluminum that helps keep the weight down to 26 ounces. It's also an incredibly slim gun at just 1.25 inches wide, which makes it a breeze for everyday carry. Owners of this gun rave about the manageable recoil and crispness of the trigger. CZ also makes the "RAMI BD" which features a decocker lever that makes the gun double-action for your first shot and single action for every other shot. The BD version also has nicer tritium 3-dot combat night sights, which will be ideal for most defensive scenarios.
CZ 75 B
Gun owners are notoriously picky about their firearms, but the CZ 75 is a rare exception. This full-size gun has received nearly endless praise since it was first introduced in 1975. In the 90s, they improved on the design even more with a firing pin block safety. That is why these later guns have a "B" designation. In any case, there are many variants of this gun including the CZ 75B 9mm and the CZ 75 B Omega. The latter is chambered in .40 S&W for shooters looking for a round with more punch. These guns weigh 35 ounces, but that's due to an all-steel construction that offers excellent durability. The barrels are cold hammer-forged and the whole gun has a polycoat finish. Most models come with 3-dot sights, but tritium night sights are also available. As if all that wasn't enough, there is also the CZ 75 BD variant. That one features a decocker and the CZ 75 Compact which features a shorter barrel, lighter weight and slimmer profile. If you're looking for an even better capacity, consider the CZ 75 Tactical Sport, which has a 16-round mag for .40 S&W and a 20-round one for 9mm Luger. For many shooters, the 75 is the only CZ handgun you'll ever need.
CZ 75 SP-01
We decided to list this firearm separately from the CZ 75 because the SP-01 has enough unique features that set it apart. Designed for law enforcement and military capabilities, CZ proudly touts that this firearm is "NATO-approved." The 9mm SP-01 takes many concepts from the compact CZ 75 and moves them into a full-size platform. This pistol has either a 10+1 or 18+1 capacity, black rubber grips and fixed night sights. The barrel length is 4.6 inches. It's on the heavy side at 40 ounces, which is why most users add this DA/SA gun to their wish list for competitive shooting purposes. Owners of this praise the ergonomics and crisp-breaking trigger. This gun also comes at an excellent price point of under $700, meaning it is easier than ever before to get into competitive shooting.
CZ P-01
Speaking of military and law enforcement, CZ recognized that these servicemen and women don't always want bulky, heavy firearms either. Enter the CZ P-01, an 7075 T6 aluminum framed military-style 9mm built for concealed carry applications. Like most CZs, it is simple in design with a firing pin block safety, a decocking lever and hammer safety stop. It's a DA/SA gun with a 3.75-inch cold hammer-forged barrel and rubber grips for excellent ergonomics. It comes in at 1.38 inches wide, making it slim for all-day carrying comfort. The double stack magazine holds 14 rounds, so you don't have to feel like you're having to give up capacity for easy carrying. The best part is the price, at just under $600, now anyone can own a compact and reliable semi-auto they can carry with confidence.
CZ P-07
We know that CZ is known well for their all-steel constructed frames, but they have hopped into the world of polymer guns too. The CZ P-07 comes in at just 27 ounces and is only 1.46 inches wide making it a solid choice for concealed carry. This DA/SA gun has totally ambidextrous controls and offers a 15-round magazine capacity. They also offer it with 10-round magazines in a California-compliant model. The barrel of this 9mm is 3.75 inches long and the gun has an overall length of 7.2 inches. This gun feature's CZ's convertible Omega trigger system. The company says this allows the trigger to be fully disassembled without any tools. Useful for anyone lacking a ton of gunsmithing experience. This gun has excellent ergonomics thanks to the stippled grips and interchangeable backstraps. CZ also offers this gun in a variety of different finishes including green, and urban grey. They also sell variants with threaded barrels for shooters looking to add a suppressor device.
CZ P-09
This gun is quite similar to the P-07 in that it is a polymer frame, stippled grip, double-stack handgun. The main difference is that this is a full-size handgun with a longer 4.54-inch barrel and a heavier 31-ounce weight. Like the P-07, it has interchangeable backstraps and ambidextrous controls. CZ makes a "Duty" variant of this gun that offers the option of using either a decocker or swapping it out for a manual safety. This gun also has a short picatinny rail for adding a light, or other accessories. Perhaps the biggest selling point of this gun is the 19-round magazine capacity.
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