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This post was the idea of a GBGuns Patron. I'm sure he didn't mean for it to become this exhaustive, but it was an interesting one to put together. If you enjoy content like this please consider showing your support by becoming a Patron of GBGuns.
The CZ-75 design has been around a long time and some consider it to be a communist adaptation of the Browning High Power. Everything comes from some where and so while we may not dive too deep into the lineage we can enjoy the fruits of those labors as the design would be well past any patents if any had existed when this platform came to be decades ago.
What we do know is that the design is still in production around the world and has served multiple miliatries and law enforcement agencies. All of that demand, and competition has lead to some interesting variations, some of which I've had the ability to review. I was asked to give my thoughts in comparison.
Comparisons are not something I like to do as I generally feel most guns are perfect for the right person and right situation. Determining who and when that is presents the challenge. To be fair to readers and myself alike I decided to look at these seven guns vias the following aspects:
Price: While the range may not be too great, sometimes something is or is not worth an extra $50-100 for you.
Weight: While we generally appreciate less weight for carry and more for range use, each person knows what they seek and where they might compromise.
Notable Cahracteristics: With so many options out there they have to differentiate somehow.
Handling: While subjective to the shooter, this test was done without warm up or practice. I devised a drill that required picking up the gun off of a barrel, racking the slide for a "Bill" drill of six shots on a torso from about 7 yards before transitioning to another target for a five-shot group at speed. This test was meant to evaluate:
How easy or difficult is it to get the gun into action. The slide-in-frame design offers the user less slide real estate to grab.
How controllable is the gun at speed during rapid fire.
How well and quickly can I transition targets and group five shots at about seven yards. This includes recoil control and how well the sights and trigger settle for me.
It's important to not look at the times of that test as something definitive. It was meant to push me on a platform I do not spend much time with so that I might gather the commentary you hear in the video after each run.
Firearms listed in order of appearance in the video:
CZ-75 BD This was the most recently-reviewed after it was voted on by our Patrons. Though the "newest" of the models in this grouping, this is essentially the grandfather of them all. What sets the "BD" apart from other variants is the decocker which I selected as a personal preference. The trigger has a lot of travel to it, but the gun is overall very comfortable to shoot. It is concerning that this 2023 production pistol has already begun to show finish wear on the barrel with less than 500 rounds through it. It's purely cosmetic, but for the pride of modern CZ and the higher cost I expected better.
Specifications:
Product Name: CZ 75 BD – 9mm
SKU: 91130
MSRP: $649.00
Chambering: 9mm Luger
Magazine Capacity: 16
Magazine Type: Double Stack
Frame: Steel
Grips: Plastic
Trigger Mech: DA/SA
Sights: Fixed Three-Dot
Barrel: Cold Hammer Forged
Barrel Length: 4.6 in
Weight: 35.3 oz
Overall Length: 8.1 in
Height: 5.4 in
Width: 1.4 in
Safety: Decocking Lever, Safety Stop on Hammer, Firing Pin Block Safety
Pricing as of date article was written
Check links for current pricing
Sarsilmaz Kilinc 2000 Mega My example is an earlier import from before the SAR USA days. This is essentially a CZ-75 clone, but made by an older company. Differences from the CZ-75 BD include front and back strap serrations (though going the wrong direction in my opinion), a narrower and lighter slide, and a frame-mounted safety that is down for safe and up for fire. The slide serrations are broader than the CZ-75 BD's and provide better traction.
Specifications from current SAR USA Offering
Capacity: 17+1
Barrel Length: 4.5"
Action: DA/SA
Overall Length: 8"
Width: 1.4"
Weight: 35.2oz
MSRP: $529.99
Pricing as of date article was written
Check links for current pricing
SAR USA P8L A contiuations of the Kilinc 2000 Mega, but with a squared-off slide that is both ported for weight reduction up front, and a ported barrel to compensate for muzzle rise. The trigger is slightly crisper and slightly-sticky rubber grips really added to control.
Specifications from current SAR USA Offering
Capacity: 17+1
Barrel Length: 4.6"
Action: DA/SA
Overall Length: 8"
Width: 1.4"
Weight: 40.2oz
Pricing as of date article was written
Check links for current pricing
$532.99 at Guns.com (black)
$529.99 at Palmetto State Armory (black)
IWI Jericho II A fuller dust cover gives the Jericho II both different aesthetics and five rail slots. Trigger break is more of a roll than a break. While the polymer shaved a couple of ounces off the total weight in comparison to those above, comfortable ergonomics helped a lot with control. I really need to swap the sights to something not set for 25m shooting!
Original 2020 Tabletop video
Pricing as of date article was written
Check links for current pricing
Sarsilmaz CM9 This pistol looks the least like a CZ-75, but the pedigree is there. The polymer frame and shorter slide shaves weight. Squared-off slide provides plenty of real estate to grab, and the full-length dust cover provides two rail slots. Typically I don't like finger grooves on pistols, but these fit me well. My only complaint about the CM9 is the sample's safety lever is incredibly stiff. It disengages with a little extra effort, but putting it on requires shifting my hand. That's fine for daily use, but I'd not want to be stuck in a course with it. *NOTE: This is an older sample, the newer models may have fixed this issue.
Original 2017 Tabletop Video
Pricing as of date article was written
Check links for current pricing
SAR USA B6C This is a cute little subcompact with only 13 rounds of capacity, but in a handy weight and size. That smaller size, shorter slide, and lighter weight cost it in my range test, but doesn't mean it's a bad gun, just naturally out-classed in that environment as most smaller, shorter, and lighter guns would be for speed control and hurried accuracy.
Original 2020 Tabletop review
Pricing as of date article was written
Check links for current pricing
I'm often asked my opinion on favorites and don't like giving them as they're very-much a matter of personal taste. Of these six here are my picks:
Range Gun: Sarsilmaz P8L
Carryable Gun: SAR USA CM9
Overall good gun: Sarsilmaz Kilinc Mega 2000