The CZ75 Series

My CZ P01

Introduction

The CZ75 is a series of pistols designed and manufactured in Czechoslovakia and, nowadays, in the Czech Republic. It is chambered in 9x19mm and it's known as one of the 20th Century "Wonder nines". The CZ75 is a DA/SA pistol, meaning that the pistol will fire in double action when the hammer is down, with follow-up shots being single action. The CZ75 is one of the most popular 9mm pistols, and its variants are world renowned for their ergonomics, dominating the space of competitive pistol shooting.

Technical Details

The most noteworthy and obvious element of the CZ75 that makes it unique is the slide-frame arrangement. On a typical pistol, such as a 1911 style, tracks on the internal portion of the slide ride on rails on the frame. The CZ switches these, with the slide riding on internal rails on the frame. This provides a variety of benefits that shooters of CZ75's swear by, as well as some slight drawbacks.

The greatest benefit that the slide-in-frame design provides for the shooter is the lower bore axis. This means that the muzzle height is closer to being in line with the shooters arm. This allows for less muzzle flip and greater overall recoil control. Additionally, users claim that the slide-in-frame design increases the accuracy of the pistol, since the slide is better supported and stabilized.

Note the locking recesses just in front of the ejection port

The pistol is short-recoil operated, much like a Browning High-Power. The pistol locks via locking lugs on the barrel fitting into recesses in the slide. Upon firing, the pistol and barrel cycle back, and the barrel cams down to unlock via the slide stop fit into a recess under the barrel.

The CZ75 uses a 16 round, double stacked magazine, while the compact variants of the CZ75, such as the P-01, use 14 round magazines.

History and Use

Designed in Czechoslovakia, the CZ75 traces its origins to the Browning High Power. In its purest form, the CZ75 is essentially just an improved High Power. The original CZ75 was designed as a DA/SA pistol with a manual safety, and the resemblance to the High Power is uncanny.

Source:https://www.ar15.com/forums/general/Browning_Hi_Power_andgt__1911__CZ__Glock__Sig_/5-1896529/&page=2

The CZ75 and its variants have seen use by militaries and police forces worldwide. One of the recent iterations, the P-01, was adopted by the Czech police. The latest iterations of the CZ75 are the P-01 and SP-01. These variants improve upon the original design by including a small picatinny rail for mounting lights/lasers. The rail also acts as a dust cover, allowing the slide to be even better supported by the frame all the way to the front. 

Conclusion

All-in-all. the CZ75 is one of my favorite series' of pistols. In my opinion, the ergonomics of my P-01 are unmatched compared to the other 9mm pistols I've shot, including a Sig P226 Legion that is more than double the price of a P-01! My CZ is my everyday carry gun, as the compact size and smooth lines keep it nice and concealable, while the size gives me a decent amount of firepower. I'll go into my full EDC as a later date but I'll sign off with a sneak peak of my pistol-holster combo: