CZ75 SP01 vs 1911 9mm

[XDJYo]

So, if I was to get one or the other as a strict range/fun/maybe competition gun, which one should I get?

Requirements are thumb safety to carry cocked and locked, no de-cockers please. I realize the Shadow comes from the factory ready to compete, but it's not CA legal.

Thank you Calguns Brain Trust!!!

[keith1911]

I traded my Springfield 1911 in 9mm for a CZ-75 SP-01 and I'm very happy about it. I did have the Cajun Pro Package put in it. It is the 9mm I shoot most often.

[Helmut]

SP-01 hands down.

[eaglemike]

I see benefits of both for you.

You are already familiar with the operation of the 1911, right? Magazines in 9mm (1911) and ammunition can be a little finicky once in a while, depending on your load. Sometimes you need to tune the springs, and get an action job, or a good barrel to get the accuracy you desire. Springfield and Kimber both have nice pistols on the roster.
SP-01 will be darn reliable. Maybe change sights, and get a spring kit from Cagun Gun Works. Maybe send it to Cajun or CZ Custom to get a super nice action, if you don't want to do it yourself. Good videos online for this, see Professor Atlas and others. He's a good guy.. MecGar magazines are usually easily available, and if the ammunition is anything close to reasonable it will always feed. You'll get a test target with it (I think they are still doing that) so maybe you can pick one out if you know a gun shop that has a few in stock. The CZs are usually accurate enough out of the box for competition. The finish will only be ok, compared to the 1911s. Get it broken in, and it will be super reliable.
Holsters and grips are available for both. If things go right in the future, you'll be able to get higher capacity magazines for the CZ.
Can't really go wrong either way. To get a really nice gun, you can end up with more money in the 1911 - but again, you already know the manual of arms.
Good luck!

[9mmContagion]

BOTH! I have a SP-01 Cajunized to a crisp 2.5lb SAO trigger. It’s freakin sweet! But my custom 1911s still take the cake by a slim margin! Ergos of the SP-01, weight and trigger go to the 1911.

Get both and tune them to your needs

[thbat]

For range and fun, 1911 in 9mm. Generally better trigger than an unmodified SP01.
The SP01 is probably a better competition gun but you will likely need to do some work. Factory SP01 trigger is not as nice.

[Mr. Blue]

I have a Springfield 1911 9mm. Love it. I have no experience with the CZ. Just this morning I was shopping for a CZ SP-01. It has been out of stock everywhere, except one place. Cheaper than dirt. The irony. I refuse to buy from them. And the CZ is $700, so not a terrible price. But still, it’s CTD.

My suggestion, get both!

[rodralig]

Requirements are thumb safety to carry cocked and locked, no de-cockers please. I realize the Shadow comes from the factory ready to compete, but it's not CA legal.

From another thread a few months back... Insightful for me...

What kind of match was it? Normally, a DA/SA gun *must* be started in the DA mode (USPSA, IDPA(?), Steel Challenge, etc.).

I wouldn't carry a CZ cocked and locked in any holster. Their safeties operate differently from 1911 safeties and I've tinkered with them enough to be very skeptical. For reference, when I carry a 1911 it's always cocked and locked and in an appendix rig.

1911 design is such that if the external safety fails, the hammer will get caught on the half-cock because the grip safety is not depressed.

You can try this by holding the gun AND hammer, pulling the trigger (while holding the grip safety), letting hammer move forward just a tad past the sear release, remove your hand from the grip safety, then let the hammer fly. It will not hit the firing pin. This is why 1911 is carried in Condition 1, at least that's why I carry it that way even though it "looks scary."

If you look at various other guns, they will have some sorts of internal safeties that should prevent the hammer/striker strike in case of a single safety failure. Glocks have firing pin blocks in addition to striker not being under enough tension (allegedly) to fire the chambered round. Berettas have externally visible firing pin blocks and you can see them raise as the trigger is pulled.

CZ safety is just a simple trigger pull block and the ones I have were not all that reliable to stay in place. The detent is sort of flimsy. TS doesn't have firing pin blocks and I'm not sure about the others - they likely have it, but the overall design, to me, is not something that I would consider for Condition 1. It's a DA/SA gun, so I would carry it that way...

I own two TS, SP01, P01 and a Tanfoglio with essentially the same flimsy safety. The latter gun was my L10 competition gun and the safety would get moved around from incidental contact, including engaging after a reload (it was a toggle kind; I had to trim the lever). Others might have different experiences and they might not be wrong, but for me personally it's a no-go.

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[MEGSDAD]

Shoot both, then decide. I currently have A Rock Island 1911 Pro match but in 45acp. The trigger is fantastic. Really wanted an SP-01 as a range toy. Local range had one in their rental fleet. Went and shot it. To me the trigger sucked. There was a ton if creep, no real wall to speak of, and the curve of the trigger bothered my finger. If I was going to own an SP-01 I'd have to send it to Cajun to get the trigger work done. Then a $600 gun turns into a $1000 gun.

[9mmContagion]

Shoot both, then decide. I currently have A Rock Island 1911 Pro match but in 45acp. The trigger is fantastic. Really wanted an SP-01 as a range toy. Local range had one in their rental fleet. Went and shot it. To me the trigger sucked. There was a ton if creep, no real wall to speak of, and the curve of the trigger bothered my finger. If I was going to own an SP-01 I'd have to send it to Cajun to get the trigger work done. Then a $600 gun turns into a $1000 gun.

To speak fairly, that $1k SP-01 is about the same price as the 9mm 1911s on roster. Now that I say that. I think the SP-01 Cajunized SAO upgrade would win over a stock 9mm Kimber or Springfield that is on roster. If you were to have said 1911 sent to a smith for some work, I might stay true to my last post.

I still stand by getting both though

[XDJYo]

[ap3572001]

I owned Wilson Combat Classic , Les Baer Premiere II , Nighthawk Talon , Colt Gold cup series 70 , Custom Springfield 1911 ALL in 9mm. They are all sold. All my current 1911's are Government Model size , single stack in 45 ACP. 1911's seem to be at their best in that configuration. CZ SP01 is an excellent 9mm pistol. PS. My daily carry is a Glock 19 or 17 . With any handgun, reliability is always my number ONE consideration. CZ75 platform in 9mm is a very reliable, widely used , proven design.

[rodralig]

Though I own a few CZs (TS, SP-01 and Shadow 2) - I am not a true fan!

Regardless, Col Jeff Cooper had lots of good things to say about the CZ...

Here is a link to his commentaries: http://www.dvc.org.uk/jeff/jeff5.pdf


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[Wordupmybrotha]

I've had Springfield 9mm - sold it
I still have the SP-01 - more fun, ergonomic, accurate, bullets.

[Ruber]