The CZ 75 semi-automatic pistol was first introduced in 1975. It is one of the original pistols that is chambered in 9 mm. CZ stands for Česká Zbrojovka, and their pistols were designed by Josef and František Koucký. Even with an early product launch, the pistol was not sold in Czechoslovakia until 1985, after it became popular with sports shooters. So many iterations and upgrades were done for this pistol throughout the years. But it maintained its identity by keeping its design largely intact and pretty much the same as the original.
CZ 75 pistols are widely known for their accuracy. It’s been constantly used in competitions and has won a lot of championships. The firearm is generally heavy, which reduces the felt recoil, and it has a lower bore axis that contributes essentially to its precision. The CZ 75 is easy to use and effortless to be accurate with. The same reason why many people favor it in competition.
Even a pistol with an outstanding reputation isn’t immune to problems. The most common reported issues are as follows:
1. Slide Stop-Induced Feed Problems
2. Stove Pipes and Erratic Ejection
3. Partial Feeds and Double Feeds
The first one is usually caused by 147GR ammunition, as per the reports. The second and third snags were all connected to the recoil spring. It is difficult to say if all the reported concerns were with stock parts or if they were with some aftermarket modifications. I did not experience any of these issues, and mine was manufactured around 2012. I recently upgraded it with CGW parts, and I did all the work myself. All I can say is that it is one of the most intricate pistols that I have ever worked on. However, I enjoyed doing it because I relish learning something new, and I know that it’s going to be done right.
Without further ado, here is the specification of what I’m testing today. I have a CZ 75 SP-01 that has a complete CGW done, and I converted it to a single action. It has fiber-optic front and rear adjustable sights from Dawson Precision. And lastly, a stainless steel guide rod from CZ Custom. Apart from those, everything else is in stock form. This firearm has an average trigger pull weight (10 pulls) of 3 lbs. and 2 oz. I will be using Atlanta Arms Elite 115GR JHP Match Grade ammunition for accuracy testing. For reliability, I will be using Hornady Subsonic 147GR JHP, Hornady Critical Duty 135GR FlexLock, CCI Blazer 147GR TMJ, Winchester Target 115GR JHP, and Federal Champion Training 115GR FMJ.
Once again, the target that I’ll be using for the test is from T. Rex Arms. It has a 1-inch box in the middle and a 1.5-inch (inside diameter) and a roughly 3.4-inch (outside diameter) box in the top right corner.
The Range
The current temperature here in California is 76 degrees Fahrenheit, with a relative humidity of 46% and an elevation of about 1,053 feet.
Before we begin, I spent probably over 150 rounds in an hour warming up the barrel and zeroing my adjustable rear sight. Since I am running low on Atlanta Arms Elite ammunition, I will be doing five rounds at both 10 and 25 yards for accuracy testing. I prefer their ammunition because it is very accurate, and I only use it for pistols that are well-modified to perform. The whole warm-up/reliability session went smoothly. There have been no malfunctions so far. Throughout the session, I did not experience any kind of failure.
Accuracy Test
Before this test, I spent over 40 rounds of Atlanta Arms Elite ammunition trying to zero my iron sight. That is mainly because I want to make sure that the pistol is dead on target. So if I see a little deviation, I adjust it right away until I feel comfortable that the pistol is going to be consistently hitting the very center of my target. By the time I noticed it, I only had eleven bullets left in the box.
I carried on and shot five in the middle of the box at 10 yards. I flinched on the first one, and it hit the bottom of the 1-inch box. Aside from that, all four were in the box. Regardless of my shooting ability today, flyers or mistakes have to be accounted for. The measurement is around 1.4 inches from the farthest point. Please see figure 1.2 below for the actual result.
For all the people that are shooting at 25 yards with their iron sights, they all know the challenges that present themselves whenever you try to hit a small square box. You can see the result below, but I managed to get two inside the 1.5-inch box, another two within the 3.4-inch box, and the last one is a little outside of it at the 10 o’clock (ish) position. It measures exactly three inches from end to end. It is important to note that the large deviation is not a direct reflection of the performance of the pistol. The shooter will have a say in it too, and that holds true with this test. If I have a ransom rest, I am very certain that the holes will be a lot closer than this one. I can say the same to all the pistols that I’ve been testing, as nothing can beat a ransom rest as far as true accuracy testing is concerned.
Performance
This pistol is pleasant to shoot. The recoil is negligible due to its weight. The accuracy is outstanding, to say the least. Even with that proclamation, it still feels like an understatement because the pistol has more to give than I could ever provide. It is very easy to use – plain and simple. It felt like even if you handed this over to an inexperienced shooter, they would still be able to hit the bullseye with ease. This platform is just amazing, and it quickly became one of my favorite full-sized pistols. Cajun Gun Works upgrades did miracles with this firearm. I think, as far as I can remember, their whole package was the most parts that I ever put in a pistol. I usually just change a few parts that I know can make a difference performance-wise. But since CGW is the only trusted aftermarket parts manufacturer out there for CZs, I decided to give them a shot, and it is worth it!
Ergonomics
This CZ 75 SP-01 has a grip from CZ Custom. Although it feels good in my hands, it is not providing me with the traction that I wanted. Using the stock grip feels great, and I don’t think that you need to upgrade it unless you want something much better or maybe just for cosmetic purposes. The pistol is a little heavy, especially if you are going to compare it with the other production pistols available nowadays. However, compared to 1911, this is nothing. Handling this pistol is surprisingly well-fitting. Even without the take-down lever, my left thumb happens to be lying comfortably on the side of the frame. I did not feel the need to grab something to manage the recoil. I can just focus on the target and keep shooting. Since the grip handle is large enough, I did not feel any discomfort, especially when my right middle finger got in contact with the trigger guard. The gun ultimately feels smooth in almost every aspect. The beavertail helps control the recoil without being too imposing. The safety lever is accessible but a little challenging to engage correctly, so I need to break my grip just so I can push it up properly.
Appearance
I think it is innocuous to say that the appearance of this pistol is a little archaic. Comparing it to other modern pistols that look very aggressive and stylish, the CZ SP-01 looks very average. But considering its precision, I think I would take this pistol over a nice-looking firearm that can’t perform as well as a CZ 75.
Figure 1.5: CZ SP-01 CGW left side.
Customization
There are a few reputable companies out there, but if you are talking about CZ, there is only one go-to company for aftermarket parts: Cajun Gun Works.
Conclusion
This pistol earned a grade of 9.3 out of 10. The only reason I didn’t get any higher is because of the limited amount of customization available and because the appearance is not on par with the modern pistols available these days. But if you ask any gun enthusiasts out there, the majority, if not all, would prefer the accuracy of the pistol more than the appearance.
Is it worth buying the CGW upgrades? Absolutely! The improvements made the pistol a lot more accurate and fun to shoot. Although doing a complete field strip would be more exigent than usual, the process of going through it and completing the task feels more gratifying than others. Besides, cleaning the firearm is the best part of it! Embrace it and enjoy the ride.
TEST RESULT
Reliability: 10/10
There were no failures after using multiple different brands of ammunition in both the reliability and accuracy tests.
Accuracy: 9.2/10
This full-sized pistol is exceedingly accurate. Considering that I am using iron sights for this gun, the results that I got were astounding. Hitting the bullseye is very easy and uncomplicated.
Performance: 10/10
The CZ 75 SP-01 with CGW upgrades performed well above my expectations. I was expecting an increase in performance, but not as much as this. I am using a stock barrel, and even though it is not going to change the accuracy by a substantial amount, I am still going to lose that small advantage. However, that didn’t seem to matter much since I still managed to get the performance that I wanted with ease. Truth be told, this pistol made me look good by allowing me to hit my target like a walk in the park.
Ergonomics: 9/10
The stock grips provide a huge amount of traction, and you don’t need to change them if you’re okay with the way they look. I went for a cosmetic change, and while it looks nice, it doesn’t give me a lot of grip like the stock. Also, I need to say that the pistol is on the heavy side. For people who are used to shooting only polymer handguns, you will feel a huge difference when they use this pistol (weight-wise). The thumb safety is accessible, but using my thumb to engage it isn't as easy as the one in 1911s. I had to break my grip just to push it up properly. Apart from those, the gun feels good in the hands.
Appearance: 8.7/10
Looks vary from person to person. I, however, think that the appearance of this pistol is a little outmoded compared to modern pistols.
Customization: 8.3/10
A few trustworthy companies are available, but you only need one: CGW.
Overall Score: 9.2/10 ★
★: HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. EDITOR'S CHOICE.
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