Best CZ 75 Models & Clones [Guide]

What's my favorite handgun? 

Well, that's a tricky question, and it's hard to answer without a qualifier. My favorite carry gun is the P365, but that doesn't mean I don't like other firearms. 

If you asked me what's my favorite gun to just go shoot for fun? What gun do I reach for when I'm not trying to train, compete, or carry? Well, that's easy, my CZ 75 B.

For those new to CZs, something might look off about them. Well, that's because the slide rides inside the frame rather than outside. This allows the barrel to sit lower inside the frame and shrinks the slide considerably compared to more common designs. 

Thanks to this slide-in-frame design, the CZ 75 series of pistols has gained a reputation for being extremely accurate, insanely easy to handle, and fun to shoot.

The CZ 75 is one of the most copied and cloned handguns on the planet, so finding the right one can be tough. So today, we're going to take a look at some of the best CZ 75 models and derivatives out there.

How We Chose the CZ 75 Models and Clones

The guns on this list were picked based on a mix of hands-on experience and extensive research using our expertise on CZs and handguns. Guns that have been tested by us have undergone at least 500 rounds, if not more, through them at various distances with at least two types of ammunition -- FMJ and JHP.

Reliability, accuracy, features, and value were the primary deciding factors influencing our picks for the best CZ 75 models and clones.

Best CZ 75 Models

1. IWI Jericho 941 - Editor's Pick

Editor's Pick

IWI Jericho 941

$552

at BattleHawk Armory

Prices accurate at time of writing

$552 at BattleHawk Armory

Kygunco (see price)

GrabAGun (see price)

Specs

• Caliber: 9mm
• Capacity: 16+1
• Barrel Length: 3.8" - 4.4"
• Overall Length: 7.6" - 8.2"
• Height: 5.4"
• Weight: 36.8 oz

When I say Jericho, I could mean Jericho 941, Desert Eagle, Baby Eagle, or Uzi Eagle. These are all names that the Jericho pistol has been imported under. 

Confusion aside, the Jericho began life as an Israeli pistol for police, security, and military forces, as well as export. These pistols were manufactured by Israeli Military Industries (IMI), which is now Israeli Weapons Industries (IWI).

The Israelis wisely chose the CZ 75 to be the basis of their design. It was proven to be a reliable and robust pistol, and magazines for the platform were already widely available.

Jerichos feature a slightly larger slide with a triangular forward end that gives them a Desert Eagle-ish look. The grip shape is very ergonomic, and the hand feel is typically better than that on a regular CZ 75.

I strongly recommend the steel frame version (available in full-size and semi-compact). Yes, they are heavy, but they are super easy to shoot, easy to rack, and laser-accurate.

The extra weight helps keep recoil down, and the triggers feel slightly better than a regular CZ 75.

There really aren't many other guns in the sub $600 price range that shoot this soft and easy. First-time shooters love these guns as much as veteran plinksters. I really cannot understate how awesome these guns are for the money --- they rule.

If you want to know more, check out our in-depth Jericho review from our junior editor.

What do you think of the Jericho? Give it a rating below.

2. CZ 75 B - The Original

The Original

CZ 75 B

$629

at Sportsman's Warehouse

Prices accurate at time of writing

$629 at Sportsman's Warehouse

BattleHawk Armory (see price)

GrabAGun (see price)

Kygunco (see price)

Specs

• Caliber: 9mm
• Capacity: 16+1
• Barrel Length: 4.6"
• Overall Length: 8.1"
• Height: 5.4"
• Weight: 35.2 oz

Well duh! Of course the OG CZ 75 makes the list. The standard model is still produced, specifically the B model with its firing pin block. 

Current production CZ 75s nail the look and feel of the original design. Besides the unique slide rails, the CZ 75 kills it ergonomically. The grip greets your hand like it was meant for it; it's just the right size and shape to contour for an easy grip. 

Using your thumb to activate the safety and magazine release requires minor movement. The slide lock is out of the way enough that it doesn't get pinned down with an aggressive thumbs-forward grip. 

DA/SA triggers walk a fine line between sucking and ruling, and luckily CZ sits in the latter. The double-action is long but smooth. The single action is short and sweet, with minimal take-up and a nice break. 

My sole complaint about the CZ 75 trigger is the reset. It's pretty long for a single action trigger.

It is hard to go wrong with the gun that is the closest to the original design from the original manufacturer. These guns are affordable, nice quality, and just plain cool --- perfect for a first dive into the platform. 

3. CZ Shadow 2 - Best for Competition

Best for Competition

CZ Shadow 2 OR

$1425

at Classic Firearms

Prices accurate at time of writing

$1425 at Classic Firearms

Firearms Depot (see price)

Palmetto State Armory (see price)

Specs

• Caliber: 9mm
• Capacity: 17+1
• Barrel Length: 4.89"
• Overall Length: 8.53"
• Height: 5.75"
• Weight: 46.5 oz

For those who are intrigued by the CZ platform but want to maximize performance, look no further than the Shadow 2.

The Shadow 2 takes the core design philosophy of the CZ 75 and hones it into an absolute monster of a competition shooter, all without the outrageous price tag of other comp guns.

These guns feature a much-improved DA/SA trigger, with the double-action being a very smooth 8.5-pound pull and the single-action being a very short and crisp 3.5-pound affair with a really short reset.

Combine that with a more aggressive frame design that allows for a higher grip, extended beavertail, and a ton of weight (46.5 ounces total), and bam... an ultra-fast and flat-shooting pistol.

You can get the Shadow 2 optics-ready or irons only. The current prices on the iron sight models are at a historic low. This opens the door for you to get a turn-key competition-ready pistol for under $1000.

Multiple members of the Pew Pew Tactical staff have Shadow 2s and love them. You can check out our full review of the Shadow 2 here, and also how it stacks up against other high-end guns in the video below.

4. IFG Tanfoglio Stock I 10MM - Best Large Caliber Option

Best Large Caliber Option

IFG Tanfoglio Stock I 10mm

$994

at BattleHawk Armory

Prices accurate at time of writing

$994 at BattleHawk Armory

Palmetto State Armory (see price)

GrabAGun (see price)

Specs

• Caliber: 10mm
• Capacity: 13+1
• Barrel Length: 4.5"
• Overall Length: 8.43"
• Weight: 42.4 oz

Tanfoglio of Italy has been producing CZ 75 clones for nearly as long as CZ has been making the guns. These guns used to be imported by European American Arms (EAA), but are now being distributed by Italian Firearms Group (IFG).

There are a metric ton of makes and models of Tanfo/IFG guns, so I am just picking one here for brevity's sake.

Sure, 9mm is cheap and fun to shoot, but sometimes we crave power. The good news is that if you want that extra punch but want to stick with a CZ 75 platform, IFG has you covered with the Stock I in 10mm.

Fixed all-black sights, a deep trigger undercut, a generously sized beavertail, and a full-length dust cover do make this gun technically fall into the "competition gun" category.

However, its DA/SA trigger, general layout, and 13+1 capacity lend itself well for range use, home defense, and even carry usage.

The double-action pull is heavy but predictable, with the single-action pull being crisp and relatively light. We are not a huge fan of the finger grooves, but they are pretty understated and not overly intrusive.

These are competition-oriented pistols, so the accuracy is outstanding. Additionally, the extra weight from the all-steel frame and full-length dust cover really helps tame the recoil of the 10mm cartridge.

5. B&T MK-II - High-End Pick

High-End Pick

B&T MK-II

$1455

at BattleHawk Armory

Prices accurate at time of writing

$1455 at BattleHawk Armory

Guns.com (see price)

Specs

• Caliber: 9mm
• Capacity: 17+1
• Barrel Length: 4.3"
• Weight: 30.68 oz

Brugger & Thomet, the famed Swiss SMG manufacturer, got into the handgun game a few years ago after purchasing parts and tooling from another Swiss company, Sphinx, who made CZ clones.

The B&T MKII took the Sphinx SDP design, which was already and evolution of the CZ pistol, and turned it into a modern combat pistol with all the bells and whistles we've come to expect.

It is unique in the fact that it uses a stainless steel slide and an alloy frame but with a polymer grip module. This 3-piece design is almost 2011-esque.

The rear sight is quite normal and is fully adjustable, while the front sight is a tiny ramp. Even though it's small, I have no trouble seeing it.

Looking to add an optic? These pistols come cut for the Shield RMS footprint. An RMR footprint would have been nicer, in our opinion, but you take what you can get. 

The 4.3 inches uses the European 13.5x1 left-hand thread pitch. Luckily, it's not too uncommon, so you can still find options for cans and compensators.

A standard Picatinny lets you attach accessories of your choice, and a nice and wide thumb safety graces both sides of the frame. 

In my experience, I love how smooth the trigger is. It has a very short reset that delivers a great experience in both double and single-action.

The term "built like a Swiss watch" gets thrown around a lot, but these guns are Swiss, and it shows. The tolerances are exacting, and the fitment is amazing. If you want the "nicest" CZ derivative, this is 100% it.

6. SAR B6 - Most Affordable

Most Affordable

SAR B6

$230

at BattleHawk Armory

Prices accurate at time of writing

$230 at BattleHawk Armory

Sportsman's Warehouse (see price)

Kygunco (see price)

GrabAGun (see price)

Specs

• Caliber: 9mm
• Capacity: 17+1
• Barrel Length: 4.5"
• Overall Length: 8.1"
• Weight: 28.2 oz

While I feel that the CZ platform is much better suited to steel and alloy-framed metal goodness, I know there are some solid polymer CZ clones out there.

One of my favorites is definitely the under-the-radar SAR B6, made by the Turkish company Sarsilmaz. These pistols are extremely budget-friendly, but you don't sacrifice any of the core performance of the CZ 75.

Keep in mind that these are somewhat "stripped-down" models. You get very basic 3-dot sights, and the polymer frame doesn't have amazing texture. The trigger is fairly close to a base CZ 75 in terms of feel, perhaps slightly heavier in double action.

It definitely won't feel like a B&T, but the build quality is still solid, and the fitment is good. We have gotten shockingly good accuracy out of the B6s and B6 compacts we have shot. Our junior editor, Wyatt, has a B6C that prints nearly identical to his other compact CZ guns at 7-10 yards.

His only real gripe is that the raised serial number plate on the left side of the frame is at the top of the grip and has a tendency to rub the inside of his thumb under recoil. It is slightly uncomfortable, but for a gun so cheap, it isn't the worst tradeoff.

The SAR B6 can be had for under $300 on a regular basis, and often can be found for under $250 if you are a savvy shopper. Flatly put, there is no other hammer-fired 9mm that can net you this much performance for under $300, period.

Some CZ History

As the name implies, the Czechs birthed the CZ 75 in 1975. If history class taught you anything, that means the Czech Republic didn't exist. At that time, it was Czechoslovakia, and they were behind Stalin's famed Iron Curtain. 

In post-WWII Czechoslovakia, Josef and Frantisek Koucy served as engineers at CZUB. Here, they developed the CZ 75 in 9mm Parabellum -- an odd choice for a country resigned to using 7.62 Tokarev and 9mm Makarov per the Warsaw Pact. 

Export was the idea...but the ideas were sealed behind “secret patents.”

A secret patent might as well be code for no patent at all. The patents only ensured no one in Czechoslovakia could produce one. 

No patents were issued abroad, and the CZ 75 design became fair game for the international market. Thus, the CZ 75 series quickly became one of the world’s most replicated pistols.

Why Trust Pew Pew Tactical

Input from this article came from resident Pew Pew Tactical editor Wyatt Sloan and long-time contributing writer Travis Pike.

Travis Pike is a former Marine infantryman turned gun writer and NRA-certified/concealed carry instructor out of Florida. Travis' experience with CZ pistols and their clones comes after hands-on experience through concealed carry, competition, and general use at media events and at the range. Travis writes for multiple publications, including Pew Pew Tactical, testing and reviewing a variety of firearms.

Wyatt Sloan is Pew Pew Tactica's Jr. Editor and resident gun wizard. With over 200 firearms -- CZ included -- he knows his way around guns. Wyatt's firearm experience includes certification as an NRA instructor with previous experience as a USPSA competitor. He has 10 years of home-based FFL firearm sales and uses his extensive experience with CZ and firearms at large to test CZ models and their clones for Pew Pew Tactical.

Our experienced team of gun reviewers and editors is run by Editor-in-Chief Jacki Billings, a member of the Society of Professional Journalists, ACES: Society for Editing, and the Professional Outdoor Media Association. Jacki has her bachelor’s degree in Journalism and has worked as a media professional for close to 20 years, specializing in gun media for almost 10 years. She uses her extensive professional journalism and editing experience to set testing protocols and editorial standards. Jacki is a pistol girl at heart, with most of her gun time spent behind handguns.

Final Thoughts

The fact that so many different versions of the CZ 75 exist is a testament to its design. It's the 1911 of Europe --- prolific, copied, loved, and still going strong.

With superior ergonomics, low reciprocating slide mass, and a low bore axis, these guns and their derivatives remain some of the most popular and easy-to-shoot handguns today. If you are into hammer-fired guns, few deserve your attention more than the CZ 75 platform.

We love CZ 75s, but what about you? What's your favorite CZ or copy? Let us know in the comments below! For more CZ goodness, head here for some of our hands-on CZ reviews!

Latest Updates

September 2024: Removed Kriss Sphinx SDP (discontinued), CZ 75 SP-01, EAA Tanfoglio Witness. Added CZ Shadow 2, SAR B6, IFG Witness 10mm. Additional information for each product was added.