CZ has been in the business of quality handguns for over one hundred years, but its current lineup is forever tied to the famous CZ 75. The inspiration is clear to see, whether it is the current CZ 75B, the Shadow 2, the 75 Compact, or the P01. The CZ 75B and the CZ P01 remain the flagship pair. If you are considering one over the other as your next handgun, this is the guide for you. We will compare and contrast both the CZ 75 and the CZ P01 and see how each does from a shooting perspective.
The CZ 75: From Pariah to Icon
The original CZ 75 debuted in 1975 and was among the first of the so-called “Wonder Nine” handguns that debuted in that decade. The CZ 75 was intended for export, as Communist Czechoslovakia was not standardized on the 9mm Luger cartridge. Thanks to arms embargoes on the Warsaw Pact, the 75 saw limited use inside the country until the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. The CZ 75 became the country’s standard military and police pistol and, within a few years, was actively exported in Europe, the Middle East, and the United States.
Aluminum Grips
The old 75 used aluminum grips and had a traditional hammer spur. Later models of the 75B have checkered rubber grips and a rounded spur to prevent snagging.
The 75 incorporates a low-cut slide that rides inside the frame of the pistol rather than over the top of the frame. It is a locked breech action similar to a Hi Power. The barrel locks via two lugs inside the slide. The CZ 75 is a full-sized and full-weighted handgun. It features a 4.6-inch barrel and a steel frame. The size and weight of the 75 is a point of contention for all-day carry. That would be addressed by the next iteration: the CZ P01.
CZ 75 B Quick Specs:
- Caliber: 9mm Luger
- Capacity: 16+1
- Barrel Length: 4.6 inches
- Overall Length: 8.2 inches
- Slide Width: 1.0 inch
- Overall Width: 1.25 inches
- Height: 5.5 inches
- Weight: 2 lbs. 11.5 oz. (loaded)
The CZ P01: Turn of the Century Fixes
Double-stack subcompact handguns as alternatives to larger versions were all the rage in the late 1990s and early 2000s. When the Czech National Police requested a lighter and handier version of the CZ-75 for duty, CZ answered with the P01.
The P01 trades the ’75s steel frame for a lightweight aluminum frame but is otherwise a subcompact version of its predecessor. It has a chopped barrel and grip to make it more compact, and mechanically, little else has changed. The Magazine capacity is reduced to 15 rounds, and the P01 wears a shorter slide and a 3.9-inch barrel.
The modern P01 available today features checkered rubber grips and a rounded hammer, like most 75 B models. It features the same right-handed slide release and the same reversible magazine release button. The P01 has anti-glare milling on the slide and the same tritium night sights as seen on the standard 75 B. The chief differences are its overall size, lighter weight, forward and rearward cocking serrations, as well as the inclusion of a light rail and a de-cocker that drops the hammer automatically. The P01 is also a double-action/single-action handgun, but there is no provision to carry the pistol cocked, as there is no manual safety.
CZ P01 Quick Specs
- Caliber: 9mm Luger
- Capacity: 15+1
- Barrel Length: 3.9 inches
- Overall Length: 7.2 inches
- Slide Width: 1.0 inch
- Overall Width: 1.25 inches
- Height: 5.0 inches
- Weight: 2 lbs. 2.5 oz. (loaded)
On the Firing Line: CZ 75 vs. CZ P01
After a few decades of polymer-framed striker-action handguns dominating the marketplace, all-metal 9mm handguns are experiencing a resurgence. Not only are they durable, but the extra weight soaks up more recoil, making the 9mm easier to shoot. It also helps that the new generation of all-metal 9s is coming in formats other than old-timey duty guns. While other legacy makers gave up on metal guns, CZ stuck by their design and generally has something for everyone. If you like the attributes of a double-action hammer-fired pistol, CZ should be on your short list. But how do their most iconic pistols stack up head to head? I took my CZ 75B and CZ P01 to the range to get a feel for them side by side.
Ergonomics
The CZ 75 B and CZ P01 have more in common from a controls perspective. Both are double-stack handguns with wider grips. Above-average-sized hands will be able to work the magazine release, slide release, and get a good trigger reach without shifting the grip. The 75 is noticeably heavier, fully loaded, yet it is sleeker while the P01 has a rectangular dustcover provisioned for mounting a light–something the 75 can’t do.
Trigger Pull
The trigger pull and its feedback to the user are similar. The double-action pulls on both handguns are smooth, yet heavy. But there is feedback throughout the pull to know you are doing something. Some double-action handguns have a bit of lag time between when you are pressing the trigger and the rearward movement of the hammer. In terms of actual weight, the 75 has a double-action pull weight of 7.2 lbs. The P01’s trigger is noticeably heavier and comes in at 10 lbs. 2 oz. Both pistols pull in double action, are noticeably lighter when fired from the half-cock position.
The single-action pull with the hammer cocked is light, but there is a good 1/4 of an inch of play before hitting a slight wall you slip right over. The trigger pull weight in single-action on both handguns runs about 4.5 lbs.
Weapon Light Capable
The P01 allows for a weapon light, if you so choose. But it is also safer to de-cock if you want to stop firing, but don’t want to unload the pistol. The P01 has a decocker. Just brush it down with the thumb, and the hammer drops into the half-cock notch. You are back to a longer trigger pull for safety, and all you have to do to shoot is press the trigger again. With the 75, you can carry the pistol as a single action with its manual safety, but to go back to double action mode with the hammer down, the hammer needs to be manually lowered. You will have to press the trigger on a loaded pistol while riding the hammer down to half-cock with your thumb. With practice, it can be done safely, but it is not a sure thing, unlike with the P01.
Accuracy
Once you have mastered the first and next trigger pulls, both the CZ 75 and P01 are excellent shooters. The sights are crisp enough for paper punching but bold enough for serious work. The only downside is that neither is currently available in an optic-ready configuration. But on their own, these all-metal 9mm handguns are easy for even the least experienced shooters to work with.
Recoil with P01 is manageable, while the heavier 75 handles 9mm ammunition sedately. Both are sub-3-inch groups capable at 15 yards, or at least, they are with me. But on even the most rusty of range sessions, I tend to shoot the 75 a bit better and faster thanks to its extra weight and longer sight radius. But I did not find it difficult to lob rounds into a 100-yard gong with the P01. While the 75 might win on groups, the P01 is no slouch.
Reliability
The CZ 75 B and the CZ P01 are both NATO-spec handguns with decades-long track records for reliability. The design is robust enough to inspire copies produced by firms such as Tanfoglio and IWI. Both can be relied upon to go bang, but your mileage will vary by maintenance and experience.
In this sample size of one 75 and one P01, both cycle reliably with ammunition ranging from 115-grain standard pressure loads like those from Winchester and Federal to +P defensive rounds like the Hornady Critical Duty 135 grain FTX and Federal HST 124 grain loads. Unlike some striker action handguns, both reliably feed and fire steel-cased ammunition. Each enjoys a steady diet of Magtech 115-grain steel-cased FMJ regularly.
As always, some rounds through be run through either pistol to ensure reliability. The CZ 75 had two failures to eject in the very first magazine, but had no more in the thousand rounds it has seen since. The round count on the P01 is lower, but there were no failures at all.
Maintenance
As both the CZ P01 and CZ 75 are mechanically alike, disassembly and maintenance are identical. With the magazine removed and the chamber emptied, the slide is drawn back for disassembly. A single hatchmark on the slide lines up with a corresponding mark on the frame, and the slide release is pushed out from the right side, much in the same fashion as a 1911.
The slide can then be pulled forward off the frame. Sometimes, the trigger bar may get in the way of a clean pull, so a slight depressing of the trigger can help. With the slide off the internal rails, you can now access the recoil spring, guide rod, and barrel. Reassembly goes in reverse order, but unlike a 1911 or Browning Hi Power, the slide release is much more straightforward to push back into place.
READ MORE HERE: Taurus GX2 Review: A Budget-Friendly 9mm Pistol for Concealed Carry
The Final Answer
Chances are, if you pick up either the old CZ 75B or the P01, you are not likely to be disappointed. Both are quality, shootable handguns that have and will stand the test of time. But the particulars will matter, depending on your specific needs. If you are happy with a heavier pistol and prefer to use a handheld light, the CZ 75 is hard to beat. Indeed, if a range gun or dedicated home defense handgun is in the cards, the 75 gets the nod. But the P01 fits the bill for daily carry and dedicated duty use. Which one would you pick?
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