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 Omega.
The big, heavy, steel frame 9mm pistol is a ton of fun to shoot. It’s accurate, insanely easy to handle, and features my favorite trigger system.
If you want a fascinating series of pistols, look no further than the CZ 75 series.
Something just looks off about it, right? 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 contemporary designs.
Inside the gun is John Browning’s famed short recoil-operated, locked-breech system. In many ways, the CZ 75 shares parentage with both the Hi Power and the Sig P210.
And today we’re going to take a look at some of the best CZ 75 models out there. If you’ve been eyeballing that sweet CZ style…look no further.
THE QUICK LIST
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OG CZ 75
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Best Modern CZ 75
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Most Affordable
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Most Comfortable to Shoot
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Best Polymer-Framed 75 clone
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Most High End
Table of Contents
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Best CZ 75 Models
1. OG CZ 75 (Obviously)
Well duh! The OG CZ 75 makes the list. It’s still produced, specifically, the B model with its firing pin block.
Current production CZ 75s give you the look and feel of the famed design. Besides the unique slide rails, the CZ 75 kills it ergonomically. The grip greets your hand like a friend, and 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 one of the very few my thumb doesn’t pin down with an aggressive thumb’s 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 and light. And the single-action is short and sweet, with minimal takeup and a fantastic break.
My sole complaint about the CZ 75 trigger is the reset. It’s pretty long for a single action trigger. An all-metal frame combined with a lightweight moving slide keeps the recoil and muzzle rise low and controllable.
CZ’s own CZ 75 represents the perfect mid-tier variant of the CZ 75. It’s reasonably affordable, very high quality, and perfect for diving into the CZ series.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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2. CZ 75 SP-01 Shadow 2
While the OG CZ 75 is a competent pistol, it is a bit outdated. I wouldn’t advise one for home defense or carry…there are simply better guns for the task.
One such gun is CZ’s SP-01.
The CZ 75 might be a historical experience in many ways, but the SP-01 brings modernity to the table. Specifically, the SP01 Shadow 2 Optics Ready model.
You can toss an optic on, which is one of the most valuable things you can do to a modern defensive or competition firearm. (Get our recs for pistol red dots here!)
On top of that, the gun wears a nice Picatinny rail for lights, lasers, and kitchen sinks.
As part of the Shadow line, it’s a higher-tier pistol designed to give you the most juice per squeeze. The trigger is absolutely outstanding, the magazine release is easily adjustable, and you can get an excellent high grip to up your control with the pistol.
Is this a clone of the CZ 75? Not really. It’s an advancement, much like the different generations of Glocks.
However, this is a list of the best CZ 75s, and according to CZ’s naming convention, it’s a CZ 75.
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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For more on the SP-01, check out our review here!
3. IWI Jericho 941
The Jericho goes by many names. When I say Jericho, I could mean Desert Eagle, Baby Desert Eagle, and the Uzi Eagle — names the Jericho’s been imported under.
It’s confusing, but it was marketing gone crazy trying to cash in on the names of famous weapons produced and marketed by IWI/IMI.
In reality, the Jericho began life as a domestically produced Israeli pistol for police, security, and military forces as well as export.
The Israelis wisely chose the CZ 75 to be the basis of their design. It was proven to be a reliable and robust pistol, plus a CZ cloner called Tanfoglio could help IWI/IMI meet contract expectations.
Additionally, magazines were everywhere for the gun, and the Jericho would have simplified logistics.
Jericho’s do feature a slightly larger slide with a triangular forward end that lends it that Desert Eagle appeal. The design looks different, but the more you look and handle a Jericho, the more the CZ influence pops out at you.
The grip is all CZ, and that’s a beautiful thing. And the ergonomics, in general, match the CZ 75 in the best way possible. There are numerous Jericho models, including polymer frame models, models with frame safeties, and other models with slide safeties.
I prefer the steel frame models and find the ergonomics to be much better in the steel frame Jerichos. Current production guns from IWI are the best they’ve ever been with frame-mounted safeties, steel frames, and combat ergonomics.
This means a massive slide lock/release, a huge safety, and a very easily accessible magazines release. Plus, it’s all available at an affordable price point for such a nicely made pistol.
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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What do you think of the Jericho? Give it a rating below.
4. EAA Tanfoglio Witness
Now we climb to the higher tier CZ 75s.
EAA’s Tanfoglio series from Italy have been produced for decades and serves as one of the more popular CZ 75 clones. The Witness series is broad with several different models inside it, but you really can’t go wrong.
At the core sits a CZ 75 clone, and the various models denote different features. These range from guns designed for competition, some for hunting, and others for home defense.
What’s great about the Witness series is the caliber option.
What caliber would you like for your CZ 75? CZ offers them in 9mm, .40 S&W, with the 97 being the .45 ACP variant.
The Witness guns come in 9mm, .40 S&W, .45 ACP, 10mm, and .38 Super, and probably more I’m missing. Plus, you can get long slide variants, optics-ready models, and compensated models.
They are divided into polymer and metal frames, and again I’m partial to the metal frames. They feel more ergonomic in the CZ layout. And I find models with metal frames to have better, less gritty triggers.
Accuracy with the Witness pistols is outstanding!
I owned a Witness .45 ACP that was compensated, and it was one of the most comfortable-to-shoot and accurate .45 ACPs I’d ever handled.
Price-wise, these guns vary wildly. You can get one for less than $500 or more than $4K, so there’s something for everyone with a Witness.
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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5. B&T MKII
Brugger and Thomet, the famed Swiss SMG manufacturer, recently released a handgun that had completely flown under the radar for me. I didn’t know it existed until a friend put one in my hand. Color me surprised!
The B&T MKII took the CZ 75 core and turned it into a modern combat pistol with all the bells and whistles we’ve come to expect.
It presents a modern polymer-framed CZ 75 and, as I’ve stated more than once, I prefer my CZ 75 frames metal, but B&T pulled it off.
It matches the CZ 75’s famed ergonomics, and upon the first grip, it was like meeting that old friend once more. A good grip leads to a natural presentation, and a natural presentation leads to faster on-target shots. Speaking of, the sights are weird, but not in a bad way.
The rear sight is quite normal and is fully adjustable while the front sight is a tiny ramp. Even though it’s small, I had no trouble seeing it.
This gun is cut for an optic and oddly chooses the Shield RMS footprint over something more conventional like the Trijicon RMR footprint.
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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B&T trimmed the barrel back to 4.3 inches and threaded it with the European 13.5 x 1 left hand. Luckily, it’s not all that uncommon, and you’ll find options for cans and compensators.
The rail is standard Picatinny, and you can attach whatever you choose.
What I loved was the smooth trigger with a very short reset that delivers a great DA and SA experience.
The sights might be small, but they are precise, and it’s just begging for a red dot.
It’s a very competent gun that will make a solid carry piece, but man, that B&T price point might make it a tough sell.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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6. Sphinx SDP Compact
When I first got into CZs, I didn’t really understand Sphinx guns. Why would I pay all that money for a CZ clone when I have a real CZ at home?
Then I shot one and started to understand why the Swiss-made, Egyptian-named, Czech-designed pistol commanded such a high price.
Every single major component is billet machined and assembled by hand to make this fine fighting pistol.
The grip takes CZ ergonomics to the great beyond of awesomeness, and they even found a way to utilize grip inserts on a metal frame pistol.
Gone is the manual safety of the CZ 75, and in its place, we have an ambidextrous decocker and a reversible magazine release for all the lefties out there.
The frame uses a high-cut beavertail for a high grip that pairs nicely with the high undercut trigger guard. Getting a nice high hold helps improve control. We get a rail and a slightly beveled magazine well.
The big selling point of the Sphinx SDP to me is that it’s a custom gun with all the add ons already in place.
While the price might be high and the availability often low, the Sphinx SDP competes hard with the newer B&T MKII.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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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 play for the international market. Thus, the CZ 75 series quickly became one of the world’s most replicated pistols.
Conclusion
The fact that so many different versions of the CZ 75 exist is a testament to its design. It’s the 1911 of Eastern Europe, or maybe even Europe as a whole.
You can’t go wrong with any of the models on this list. So grab a CZ 75 (or clone)!
I love CZ 75s but what about you? What’s your favorite CZ 75? Let us know in the comments below. For more CZ goodness, head here for our favorite CZ reviews!
26 Leave a Reply
Armalite AR-24 is the biggest sleeper out there, just wonderful CZ Clone.
Hey , I picked up a Sarslimaz B6 from Locked and Loaded. It's not the prettiest thang ,
Even still...
Arguably, the best $265, I've ever spent.
Samsun Yurt Savunma
Just pick up a cz sp01 beautiful gun very happy with it now I need to get to the range
I’m 74 and didn’t own a gun until 2 years ago. My next one up is a CZ 75 BD and I can’t wait. My 21 year old son likes the heavier artillery stuff but I’m mostly 22lr. Finally time for me to step up to a 9mm! Ha! Big deal for me!
You will love 75 BD. I have one. Rounds down the range cannot be even counted... and I have yet to see any malfunction.
I have a B-SA with Wenge after market grip plates, a P-07 Duty & my winter EDC is a 2075 D RAMI. The first firearm I shot for my NRA course was a match grade CZ75. I instantly fell in love with the platform.
My RAMI has issues. It double feeds intermittently, at least once every mag or two. And it doesn’t matter what type of brand of ammo nor any of several mags that I have. I’ve already sent it back to CZ once, not sure what, if anything, they did with it. Consequently, I don’t trust it for EDC or home defense. Maybe it’s one of those pistols that needs a 1,000 round break-in but it’s very frustrating. Too bad, as I really, really want to like it and it fits my hand soooo well.
Picked up a 75b about a year ago after going thru a G19 gen 5 and finding out that I didn't like it. Started shooting IDPA and some USPSA and realized that two is one and one is none.
So I bought a used SP01 to go with it.
I have the sneaking suspicion that someone did some work on the new pistol because the new trigger is much nicer than the 75B's. Now I have some MCARBO springs that I'm waiting for the snow to melt to install. My 'shop' is in the garage.
The CZ 75 is the rest of the world's 1911. Great pistol!! Grips feels as good as my 1911s. Points as well as my 1911s and I cannot tell a real difference in that area. Can switch between them effortlessly. A pleasure to shoot. My SP01 has 70k+ rnds through it and wouldn't trade for anything. CZ Custom and Cajun Gun Works are great resources for any CZ owner. (Disclosure: I am not associated with either except as end user of their products.). As a competitor I did make several modifications to the pistols springs, CGW's short reset & reach reduction kits, trigger job and competition sites and hammer, and grips. A most for stock CZ 75 is intermal polishing (there are great resources on Enoz Forum for the pistol). CZ Shadow and Shadow 2 are the best of the lot today. If I ever wear out my SP01 will upgrade, but don't if I'll ever wear out the pistol. Wonder if they are made from Russian T-34 tank steel that was recycled. LOL!!! Any rate 2 pistols I will always own are my 1911s and CZ75. Thank for the review/guide.
Currently have a P-01 decoder with some thin grips and Dawson sights. It's my winter carry and I love the way it shoots. Will probably Cajunize it eventually. My first CZ was an SP-01 that a trigger grittier than crushed granite. Never could get it smoothed out after hundreds of rounds and triple that dry fires. Traded it off since at the time I couldn't afford to have it customized and they aren't the easiest to work on. Also have a CZ P-10C that is probably my favorite gun, but the P-01 has that something special. A classic feel of a gentleman's gun, a shooter from the days that metal frames ruled.
I like your posts and look forward to them. Of course, I agree with your comments about the CZ pistols. I have 4 clones made in Italy by Tanfolgio, all in 10mm. All 4 are exceptional pistols. While early on some EAA pistols experienced frame cracks in the 10mm but I have had mine for years, shot them extensively and never experienced that problem. However, my pistols all have aftermarket cone shaped guide rods and in my early pistols I used a nylon like bushing on the guide rod. With quite literally hundreds of rounds, I have never experienced a problem of any sort at all. My EDC is a EAA Polymer compact in 10mm. Magazines for all 4 pistols are interchangeable, giving me options to use flush fitting or extended magazines for greater capacity.
I have added IMI red dot detachable sights, using the IMI tritium filled rear sight to which the dot sight attaches and detaches. I believe that every battery powered device can fail at some point and after some personal research using low profile dot sights with claimed co-witness iron sights, I was not persuaded it was a practical solution for me. However, the detachable red dot, leaving pretty much conventional iron sights exposed has worked excellently for me. So far, only a few range sessions and more experience is perhaps needed, but I have removed and reinstalled the IMI dot sight from its host pistol and thus far there has been absolutely no change in zero after removal, shooting the pistol with the irons and reinstalling the dot optic and shooting it again. Only a couple hundred rounds through that arrangement so far but, as they say, so far so good. Works just as I want and when the battery failes at an inopportune moment, I have conventional irons available with one throw of the lever. I just wish that IMI made a green dot model but I guess I cannot have everything.
In any event, the EAA pistols are very accurate, have decent triggers, offer moderate and high capacity magazines and are quite accurate. Also, they did not break the bank when purchased. Can it get much better?
I'm guessing you live in AK or on an island with bears? If I walked near you I think I would be able to sense the 10mm all over you. Hope you never fall into a stream. Yes, I'm jealous much.
I inherited an EAA Witness stainless 10mm single action. I loved it at first sight and handling. Fit my hand like a dream, looked sharp and promised devastating firepower. But at first loading I found it very difficult to get even 13 rounds into the 15 round magazine. And it felt and shot great but it jammed an average of once per magazine. I traded it. Wish I had known you, you might have helped me smooth it out and keep it.
I just bought a Phoenix Redback which is another, albeit very pricey, CZ-75 clone and it is UNREAL! They also make a gun called the Fusion which is their name for the now Kriss made Sphinx which Phoenix actually originally made. Also your review of the Jericho is right on as it shoots like a gun 3 or 4 times the price. Love anything made in Israel, like any gun from BUL.
A list of the best CZ 75s is incomplete without the PCR. IMHO, it's the best compact carry gun around. I've tried switching to some new plastic-fantastic about 5 different times and I always come back to the PCR for its shooting characteristics and its carry comfort.
I bought the CZ 75D (PCR) because of the smaller size and I don’t hang all kinds of crap off the front end. It’s a smooth design. I’ve shot it so much that I really don’t have to depend on the sights. Just pointing like you would with your finger gets your shot where you want it to go. One of my friends has an SP-01 and likes my PCR so much that he bought one also. Both are excellent firearms.
Fell in love with the CZ SP-01 when a friend handed me one to test at the range.
Fit and accuracy ruined my love of 1911's. Never turned back.
Surprised you did not mention the Cajun Gun Works (CGW) or CZ USA mods available.
Great project for me to buy the CGW kit and effectively upgrade my SP-01 close to a Shadow clone.
I bought a 75B Omega at the height of the firearm shortage in November 2020. Then I decided it was much too large certainly for carry. (I'm a 5'1" woman.) So I set out to find the 75 D PCR. It took me a while and I had to drive to the opposite side of the state to pick it up. It is a treat to fire. I still have the 75B Omega. At first my intent was to sell it but then the market started to loosen up so there was no way I could get my money out of it. And then we moved from a suburban subdivision to a rural property on 5 acres. So I guess I will keep it for home defense. I have not fired the 75B yet so it is still new.
My normal EDC is a Ruger SP101 .357 2.25". I finally got some slim aluminum grips for my PCR so I'm looking forward to carrying that one instead. It is a beautiful firearm and with the new grips fits my hands better.
My SHTF gun is a bone stock SP-01 Tactical.
Built like a tank, 18+1 capacity, fits my hand like a glove and has a great combat trigger.
My “not-shorts-tshirt-weather” carry gun is a
P-01 (alloy frame, de-cocker) with Cajun goodies. Love the 75 series CZs.
While i started with H&K, some beautifly made hand guns i discovered CZ and more importantly Cajun Gun Works, who customize CZ guns and turns them from great guns to unbelievable custom quality guns for reasonable prices. My favorite of all he CZ's i love is a customized CZ 97 45 cal. pistol that has been converted to a single action 2 lb. trigger and uses a EGW optical converter that converts the rear sight to handle one of several optics. It is even more fun to shoot that a nicely customized Colt 1911 i have and if ever i'm down a few mag with the CZ 75 just make me smile. Couldn't agree more that they are fabulous guns and i strongly advise you to see what Cajun Gun Works can do to make it perfect!
I ve bout several cz 75 s last 10 years and like them more than all I have. For me they ve show more quality, precision, and performance than others I have. Great weapon.
My CZ 75 PCR with self-defense trigger package from Cajun Gunworks is my only pistol. I added that to the S&W Model 28 I inherited almost 40 years ago. Have subsequently purchase a S&W J-frame and a Model 627 (8 shot in .357). Can never have enough revolvers, but one CZ is all I need for a pistol
My favorite range pistol is my CZ 75 SP-01 Tactical. I had it cut for a red dot and then did a full trigger job on it (Cajun parts). Simply amazing, flat shooting, minimal recoil pistol.
I've been kicking myself for getting on the CZ bandwagon so late. I had never handled a CZ until I purchased one last year and now I own 2. If I had shot one in the 90s, when I first started shooting, I would have def skipped the whole Glock rabbit hole I've traveled down (I might have even passed on the HK and Sig I own). Glocks are good guns but their ergonomics suck and their triggers will never be great no matter what you do to them. What a they are is reliable, light, possess a great reset and have awesome aftermarket support.
I've always lusted after a Sig P210 but now feel that the CZ75 SP-01 I own scratches that itch and is of higher capacity, has a rail and aftermarket support...at about half the price point.
Yes yes yes - my weekend carry is my CZ 75 D PCR Compact. My first handgun was a CZ 75 B. The clerk in the store, when asked what do you suggest for a 1st timer for home protection, suggested the CZ 75. This was year 2000ish. I was skeptical - never heard of it - but after a box on the range with a rental there was no question in my mind. I would like to try a Jericho with composite fram for carry - but I cannot image I could enjoy and trust more than my PCR.