My son's buddy recently purchased a CZ Shadow2, and he's back from Airizona this week and brought it with him. I've shot one before, but just a couple of rounds, and never really had the opportunity to wring one out. Today we got the chance to shoot it side by side with my son's P09 and my P320 AXG setup.

Overall, I was impressed. The fit and finish is excellent, and the weight and balance are superb. The thing is a brick, and that's a good thing. I didn't have a scale, but it's significantly heavier than my son's P09...enough to make a significant difference under recoil at speed.

His is wearing a Trijicon SRO, which I really liked (the glass is so much clearer than my RMR, and the battery mounts from the top!), exept that the mounting solution leaves no provision for a rear backup sight.

The trigger in both DA and SA was pretty good. From what I know about the insides of CZs, about an hour with an Arkansas stone and some 1500 grit and I could make it perfect.

The grip shape is ergonomically pleasing in the hand, but kind of narrow and rounded at the back, which I don't really care for...I find it tends to roll from side to side in my hand more than a grip with a wider backstrap. Because the Shadow has replaceable panels, though, I think this would be easier to fix on that gun than it would be on the P09.

My only significant gripe is the safety. It's small and easy to miss with my thumb. It also had a little slop, which was suprising considering how tight and positive everything else was on the gun. I realize it's a competition gun, but I still think the safety is stupid on a DA/SA pistol...I would much prefer a decocker like my son's PCR or his P09.

We didn't have a ton of time, but did do some comparison testing between the three guns on a timer. I thought it was kind of an interesting test with three different shooters. My son and I have some cross-training on our guns, but the Shadow2 was completely new to us, just like the P09 and P320 were to my son's buddy.

As mentioned above the Shadow2 was pretty much factory with an SRO.

The P09 has a McCarbo Spring kit and polished internals, and is wearing a Holosun 407C.

The P320 is a factory full-size in an EXG grip module and a Holosun 507 Comp

First we shot the plate rack at about 12 yards:

Shadow2
Me: 6/6 in 3.88
Son: 3/6 in 5.90
Son's Buddy: 5/6 in 4.18

P09
Me: 5/6 in 3.47
Son: 5/6 in 4.31
Son's Buddy: 6/6 in 5.38

P320
Me: 6/6 in 3.51
Son: 6/6 in 4.16
Son's Buddy: 6/6 in 4.64

Then we did Bill Drills on a USPSA target from the low ready at 7 yards and calculated hit factor:

Shadow2
Me: 1.90 sec, 28pts, HF 14.14
Son: 2.70 sec, 26pts, HF 9.63
Son's Buddy: 3.06 sec, 30pts, HF 9.80

P09
Me: 1.79sec, 13pts, HF 7.26 (I way outran my abilities on this one and launched a couple of mikes)
Son: 2.99sec, 28pts, HF 9.36
Son's Buddy: 3.50sec, 30pts, HF 8.57

P320
Me: 1.59sec, 24pts, HF 15.09
Son: 3.05sec, 30pts, HF 9.84
Son's Buddy: 3.49sec, 30pts, HF 8.60

Overall, I really enjoyed shooting the gun, and I liked the setup with the SRO. A big question in my mind was how it would compare to the P09, and I think the weight does make a quantifiable difference in how it performs. I do wish it had a decocker instead of that horrible, useless safety.

I wouldn't mind owning one, but at this point I think for me it would just be a distraction. I think I'm better served continuing to put my time and effort into my P320. The numbers are there to support it, and time I put in on my competition gun transferrs directly to my duty gun as well. If none of that was a consideration though, and I was starting from scratch, I'd get the Shadow.

If you like the Shadow 2, the Czechmate blows it out of the water.

The Parrot is next level.

quote:

Originally posted by Mars_Attacks:
If you like the Shadow 2, the Czechmate blows it out of the water.

The Parrot is next level.

I'm sure those are awesome, but the Shadow is a little closer to actually being realistically achievable for me price-wise, and it's more compatible with the practical type shooting that I do. I'd love to try one sometime though...I've never shot a true racegun with a frame mounted optic like that.

I really like CZ’s and the Shadows are awesome. They are the top of the CZ spectrum I’ve ever handled. I did run one of the A01 LD’s and that was pretty damn nice as well.

While I’ve shot “race guns” or high end 2011’s etc. and they are generally amazing to shoot they aren’t for me to own for several reasons.
1- I tend to lean more practical or historical.
2- I have a mortgage payment.
3- Most importantly I am a shitty shooter. I’m not particularly fast or accurate and the level at which these guns are made to be shot at FAR exceeds my capability to run them. I’m a “Honda Civic guy” not a “McLaren guy”

….if I’m honest though I really want a Shadow or Shadow carry. I’m a weak man.

Chris, how was the trigger on the A01 LD you ran? I’ve handled the full spectrum of CZ pistols at my LGS. I was seriously impressed with the quality feel of the A01 I handled, but I found the trigger to be lackluster compared to the Shadow 2 and TS2 pistols.

The one I shot had a great trigger but IMO I like the Shadow‘s better.

Now keep in mind I am not a trigger snob and frankly I sometimes have a harder time with really good triggers. So while I know what I personally like n a trigger I’m not sure I’m the best person to ask to compare and contrast. I’ve also only shot the A01 once so not a lot of experience.

Not that I have extensive CZ experience (imweve had three...2 75D Compacts and a P09), but every one I've had came with an out of the box trigger that I can only describe as "gritty". That's not a perfect description...it doesn't quite feel like dirt or sand in there, but you can feel the rough surfaces grinding against each other as you work the trigger, on the DA pull in particular.

The good news is that they respond very well to a little bit of polishing. We also added a McCarbo spring kit to my son's P09 which made it absolutely amazing for $30, but he has had a few light strikes so I can't recommend it for anything other than a range/competition gun.

The downside is that the disassembly process on the CZs is more finicky than other mainstream handguns. It's not impossible, but you'll want to set aside a nice block of time to figure it out your first time, watch some good video tutorials, and make sure you have all the right screwdrivers and punches.

At this point I wouldn't base my decision to buy on the trigger. I'd just go into it assuming it's going to need some work, and either plan to do it yourself or send it out to one of the several shops that have a great reputation for slicking these up.

quote:

Originally posted by Mars_Attacks:
If you like the Shadow 2, the Czechmate blows it out of the water.

The Parrot is next level.

100 percent agree! Own both and my Checkmate been through the CZ Custom Shop. It’s absolutely one of the finest pistols I’ve shot. It’s incredibly accurate and begs to be shot fast. Really hope CZ comes out with another Checkmate.

^^^I'm actually surprised they haven’t always (continuously) existed side by side, as they apply to different competition divisions anyway.

A few things here.

CZ does not have a “custom shop”. CZ Custom is a separate company in Arizona. Yes, they stock some CZ’s and sell modified CZ’s. They also use CZ frames and add their own slide assembly, such as the Bull Shadow and several others.

Finally, CZ Custom builds their own complete pistols, which is the A01 line. The A01 pistols have absolutely nothing to do with CZ. They are a high end clone, much like some other manufacturers provide. Frames are hammered forged, unlike CZ’s pistols.

Also, the Parrot and Czechmate are identical other than the colors. Before recently, the standard Czechmate came with a plastic trigger and the Parrot’s was aluminum. Now the standard Czechmate has been upgraded.

^^^I think what throws people off is that the A01 is on CZ USA’s website.

quote:

Originally posted by MacGyver:
^^^I think what throws people off is that the A01 is on CZ USA’s website.

For sure. CZ Custom sells stock CZ’s from their website too. To be fair, I believe CZ notes that they are built by CZ Custom.

Some folks may remember CZ introducing the TS2 Orange a year ago. They advertised it as their first bull barrel, where as the CZC A01, Bull Shadow, and some others have had bull barrels for years.

quote:

Originally posted by bac1023:
A few things here.

CZ does not have a “custom shop”. CZ Custom is a separate company in Arizona. Yes, they stock some CZ’s and sell modified CZ’s. They also use CZ frames and add their own slide assembly, such as the Bull Shadow and several others.

Finally, CZ Custom builds their own complete pistols, which is the A01 line. The A01 pistols have absolutely nothing to do with CZ. They are a high end clone, much like some other manufacturers provide. Frames are hammered forged, unlike CZ’s pistols.

Also, the Parrot and Czechmate are identical other than the colors. Before recently, the standard Czechmate came with a plastic trigger and the Parrot’s was aluminum. Now the standard Czechmate has been upgraded.

Thanks for clarifying this. Stuart at CZ Custom is a total professional to work with when wanting work done or something built.


Cajun Gun Works is supposedly good too. Wonder which one is better?

Easy one for me. Cajun. I have bought from both and CZ has been guilty of phoning it in. I had them do a PO1 with all their good stuff. It came back with a hefty price tag and it was meh at best. I talked to them about it and they sent me a different spring. That was it. I put that now very expensive CZ in the back of the safe for years. Then I found Cajun. Self installed all their stuff and instantly had great CZ’s. So good in fact that as much as it pissed me off, I pulled out every single CZ Custom shop part out of that PO1 and tossed them in a parts bin and redid it with Cajun parts. That I installed. Perfection.

I think CZ Custom is way overrated. I never willingly send them my business.

I bought my CZ Shadow 2 Carry directly from Cajun Custom and had them Cajunize it even before they shipped it to me. Amazing work on a terrific pistol. Now I've just got to gut out the 10 month wait for me to get the holster of choice I picked at Milt Sparks Leather.