Best CZ 75 Pistols (2026): Models Guide From 75 B to Shadow 2

The best CZ 75 pistols of 2026 come from a family that has been in production for more than five decades. The original CZ 75 combined double-stack capacity, a double-action/single-action trigger, and a slide that rides inside the frame rails, and that low-slung design made it one of the most copied handguns in the world. Today the family runs from service pistols and compact carry guns to the Shadow 2 and Tactical Sport Orange race guns.

2026 is a turning point. In August, CZ announced that production of the CZ 75 B, CZ 75 BD, and CZ 75 Compact will end this year, while the SP-01, SP-01 Tactical, P-01, and 75 D PCR continue. At SHOT Show 2026, CZ also introduced the CZ 75 Legend, a near part-for-part recreation of the original. Read our CZ 75 discontinued models report for the details.

This is a buyer’s guide to the whole family, not a head-to-head. If you are deciding between the two most popular models, our CZ 75 vs. CZ P01 comparison covers that matchup in depth. We ranked the guns below on Digest reviews first and link every one. Where we only have launch or SHOT Show coverage, we say so.

Every price is labeled with its source, MSRP at launch, MSRP at the time of review, or street price at the time of review. With three models leaving production, used and new-old-stock prices on GunsAmerica are worth watching.

Buyer’s Guide: How To Choose The Best CZ 75 Pistols In 2026

Almost every CZ 75 variant shares the same grip, trigger feel, and inside-the-frame slide. The differences are in frame material, safety system, size, and how much competition hardware is bolted on.

Safety Or Decocker

CZ 75s come with two basic control setups. Safety models such as the 75 B, Shadow 2, and Shadow 2 Compact use a frame-mounted manual safety and allow cocked-and-locked carry. Decocker models such as the P-01 and SP-01 Tactical replace the safety with a decocking lever, so you carry hammer down and fire the first shot double action. Choose the one that matches how you train. Many CZ owners prefer the safety for competition and the decocker for carry.

Steel Or Aluminum Frame

Steel frames like the 75 B and Shadow 2 add weight that soaks up recoil. Our full-size Shadow 2 reviewer called its 46.5 ounces a big help in managing recoil. Aluminum alloy frames like the P-01, PCR, Shadow 2 Carry, and Shadow 2 Compact cut weight for daily carry. The Shadow 2 Compact weighs 30 ounces by moving to an alloy frame and a shorter barrel.

Size And Capacity

Full-size 75s use a 4.6-inch barrel and hold 16+1 in standard form. Compacts like the P-01 use a 3.75- to 3.9-inch barrel and 15-round magazines. The Shadow 2 Carry sits in Glock 19 territory with a 4-inch barrel. None of these are pocket guns, so check our best pocket pistols for deep concealment if size is the priority.

Trigger

The CZ 75 trigger is famous. Our CZ 75 vs. P01 writer measured a 7.2-pound double action on the 75 and 10 pounds 2 ounces on the P01, with about 4.5 pounds single action on both. Competition models are tuned further. The Shadow 2 Compact broke at 4 pounds 3 ounces single action in our testing.

Optics And Rails

Older models like the 75 B have no accessory rail and no optic cut. The Shadow 2 Carry and Shadow 2 Compact are optics-ready, though our Compact reviewer noted that the cover plate removal also takes the rear sight with it, and adapter plates are sold separately. If a weapon light matters, pick a railed model like the P-01 or SP-01.

Discontinued Models

The 75 B, 75 BD, and 75 Compact end production in 2026. That does not make them bad buys. It may make them more collectible, and parts and magazines remain common. If you want a new one, buy soon or look to the SP-01, P-01, or the new Legend.

Best CZ 75 Pistols Ranked: 2026 Product Roundup

CZ 75 B: Best Classic CZ 75 (2026)

The CZ 75 B is the classic full-size CZ and the best way to experience what made the design famous. It is an all-steel 9mm with a 16+1 capacity, a 4.6-inch barrel, a frame-mounted safety, and the low-cut slide that rides inside the frame like a Hi Power. Later 75 B models use checkered rubber grips and a rounded hammer spur to prevent snagging.

Read our full CZ 75 vs. P01 comparison with CZ 75 B testing here.

In our CZ 75 vs. P01 testing, the 75 had a smooth 7.2-pound double action and a 4.5-pound single action, and our writer shot it a bit better and faster than the P01. It had two failures to eject in the very first magazine and none in the thousand rounds since. CZ announced in August 2026 that 75 B production will end this year, so buy one while dealers still have stock or shop used on GunsAmerica.

Key Specs

• Caliber: 9mm Luger
• Capacity: 16+1
• Barrel: 4.6 in
• Overall length: 8.2 in
• Height: 5.5 in
• Weight: 2 lb 11.5 oz loaded
• Action: DA/SA, frame-mounted safety
• Status: Production ending in 2026

Pros

• The original CZ ergonomics
• Steel weight tames recoil
• Excellent trigger for a service pistol
• Cocked-and-locked carry option

Cons

• Production ends in 2026
• No accessory rail
• Heavy for carry

🛒 Check Current Price for CZ 75 B on GunsAmerica

CZ P-01: Best Compact For Carry And Duty (2026)

The CZ P-01 is the best CZ 75 for most people who want to carry one. It trades the steel frame for aluminum alloy, shortens the barrel and grip, and adds a light rail, a lanyard ring, a squared trigger guard, and a decocker in place of the manual safety. It holds 15+1 and stays in production after the 2026 cuts.

Read our full CZ 75-series compact lineup (P-01, PCR, Compact) here.

Our CZ 75 vs. P01 writer found it manageable in recoil and capable of sub-3-inch groups at 15 yards, with reliable function from 115-grain range ammo through +P defensive loads like Hornady Critical Duty and Federal HST. Its double action is heavier than the 75 B’s at 10 pounds 2 ounces. CZ’s 2023 compact lineup listed the P-01 at a $649 MSRP at the time, alongside the lighter PCR.

Key Specs

• Caliber: 9mm Luger
• Capacity: 15+1
• Barrel: 3.75 to 3.9 in (as listed by CZ and our tester)
• Overall length: 7.2 in
• Weight: 28.1 oz (CZ spec)
• Action: DA/SA, decocker
• Rail: Yes
• MSRP: $649 at the time of CZ’s 2023 lineup release

Pros

• Lighter alloy frame for carry
• Accessory rail
• Decocker carry
• Stays in production

Cons

• Heavy double-action pull
• Still large for deep concealment
• No optic cut

🛒 Check Current Price for CZ P-01 on GunsAmerica

CZ 75 SP-01 Tactical: Best Duty And Suppressor Host (2026)

The CZ 75 SP-01 Tactical is the best full-size duty CZ and the one to buy if you want to run a suppressor. It has an extended 1/2×28 threaded barrel with a steel thread protector, extra-high steel sights with tritium dots that co-witness over a can, a mil-spec accessory rail, and an ambidextrous decock-only lever in place of the manual safety. Like the P-01, it stays in production after the 2026 changes.

Read our full CZ 75 SP-01 Tactical review here.

Our reviewer put several hundred rounds through it, shot eight groups with defense, ball, and handloaded ammo, and said there was not a bad group in the bunch. His worst group was better than the best he had shot with many other handguns, and the single action broke consistently at around 4.5 pounds with a short reset. He expected it to sell for well under $700 at the counter at the time of review.

Key Specs

• Caliber: 9mm Luger
• Barrel: Extended, threaded 1/2×28
• Sights: Suppressor-height steel with tritium
• Action: DA/SA, ambidextrous decocker
• Trigger: About 4.5 lb single action (as measured in our review)
• Price: Well under $700 street at the time of review

Pros

• Suppressor ready from the factory
• Tritium night sights
• Outstanding accuracy in our test
• Stays in production

Cons

• Full-size and heavy
• No manual safety for cocked-and-locked fans
• Thread protector adds length

🛒 Check Current Price for CZ 75 SP-01 Tactical on GunsAmerica

CZ Shadow 2: Best Competition CZ (2026)

The CZ Shadow 2 is the best CZ 75 for USPSA, Steel Challenge, and other action shooting. CZ spent more than two years refining the original Shadow, adding a higher beavertail, an adjustable extended magazine release with three settings, and new trigger parts with a smooth double action and crisp single action. At 46.5 ounces, its steel frame and full-length dust cover keep the muzzle flat.

Read our full CZ Shadow 2 review here.

Our reviewer fired five loads from four makers off a rest at 25 yards and got impressive groups across the board, with Freedom Munitions 115-grain ball shooting best. Over multiple sessions and hundreds of rounds he had zero failures. The one warning is the strongly doglegged backstrap, so hold one before you buy. The list price was $1,299 at the time of review.

Key Specs

• Caliber: 9mm Luger
• Weight: 46.5 oz
• Frame: Steel with full-length dust cover
• Action: DA/SA, manual safety
• Magazine release: Adjustable, extended
• Sights: Fiber optic front
• MSRP: $1,299 at the time of review

Pros

• Zero failures in our testing
• Excellent accuracy at 25 yards
• Flat-shooting steel weight
• Great controls

Cons

• Too heavy for IDPA per our reviewer
• Doglegged grip will not suit every hand
• Too big to carry

🛒 Check Current Price for CZ Shadow 2 on GunsAmerica

CZ Shadow 2 Carry: Best Carry Gun With Competition DNA (2026)

The CZ Shadow 2 Carry takes Shadow ergonomics and shrinks them to Glock 19 territory. It has a forged aluminum frame, a 4-inch hammer-forged barrel, a 15-round capacity, a decocker with a firing pin block, luminescent steel sights with a rackable rear ledge, a full-length rail, and an optics-ready slide. Empty, it weighs 30.7 ounces.

Read our full CZ Shadow 2 Carry review here.

Our reviewer printed a ragged one-hole group with 147-grain handloads from a rest, and defensive 124- and 147-grain loads also grouped well. His double action measured over 10 pounds on a gauge that tops out at 10 but felt smooth, and the single action averaged just under 5 pounds. He expected street prices near $1,300 at the time of review. It is pricey, but it shoots like a tuned match gun.

Key Specs

• Caliber: 9mm Luger
• Capacity: 15 rounds (two magazines included)
• Barrel: 4 in
• Overall length: 7.5 in
• Weight: 30.7 oz with empty magazine
• Action: DA/SA, decocker
• Optics: Optics-ready
• Price: About $1,300 street at the time of review

Pros

• Match-grade accuracy in a carry size
• Optics-ready
• Decocker plus firing pin block
• Luminescent steel sights

Cons

• Expensive
• Heavy double action
• Heavier than polymer compacts

🛒 Check Current Price for CZ Shadow 2 Carry on GunsAmerica

CZ Shadow 2 Compact: Best Cocked-And-Locked Compact (2026)

The CZ Shadow 2 Compact is the carry-size Shadow for shooters who want a manual safety instead of a decocker. CZ cut a full inch off the barrel and slide, going from 4.75 to 3.75 inches, and switched to an aluminum alloy frame to drop the weight to 30 ounces. The ambidextrous frame safety gives a dead trigger and blocks the hammer, but there is no hammer-drop function.

Read our full CZ Shadow 2 Compact review here.

Our reviewer measured a 10-pound double action and a 4-pound 3-ounce single action after a few hundred rounds and said recoil was well managed thanks to the low bore axis. At 5.4 inches tall, it sits at the upper limit of concealable for most people. The slide is cut for optics, but adapter plates are not included and removing the cover takes the rear sight with it. The MSRP was $1,299 at the time of review.

Key Specs

• Caliber: 9mm Luger
• Barrel: 3.75 in
• Height: 5.4 in
• Weight: 30 oz
• Frame: Aluminum alloy
• Action: DA/SA, ambidextrous manual safety
• Trigger: 10 lb DA, 4 lb 3 oz SA (as measured in our review)
• MSRP: $1,299 at the time of review

Pros

• Shadow 2 controls in a smaller size
• Excellent single action
• Manual safety for cocked-and-locked carry
• Optics cut

Cons

• Optic plates sold separately
• No co-witness with an optic mounted
• Tall grip prints

🛒 Check Current Price for CZ Shadow 2 Compact on GunsAmerica

CZ 75 Tactical Sport Orange: Best Premium Match CZ (2026)

The CZ 75 Tactical Sport Orange, or TSO, sits on the top shelf of the CZ lineup. It is built for action shooters with honed internals, finely fitted slide rails, a match-grade barrel fitted to a pressed-in bushing, a polymer-sleeved guide rod, and upgraded safety, magazine release, and magwell based on owner feedback. At 47.5 ounces, it is heavy but very balanced.

Read our full CZ 75 Tactical Sport Orange review here.

Our reviewer called the trigger a dream. Shooting a full box of Remington UMC 115-grain FMJ from 12 yards at a 3-inch dot, only two rounds out of 50 left the dot, and he called it a triple-tap machine. It costs several times more than a basic CZ 75, so it only makes sense for serious competitors. Check current GunsAmerica listings for pricing.

Key Specs

• Caliber: 9mm Luger
• Weight: 47.5 oz
• Barrel: Match grade with pressed-in bushing
• Build: Competition tuned internals
• Price: Premium; several times a standard CZ 75 per our review

Pros

• Superb trigger
• 48 of 50 rounds in a 3-inch dot at 12 yards
• Fit and finish of a custom gun
• Built for limited and standard divisions

Cons

• Very expensive
• Very heavy
• Pure competition gun

🛒 Check Current Price for CZ 75 Tactical Sport Orange on GunsAmerica

CZ 75 Legend: Best Collector Reissue (2026)

The CZ 75 Legend is the newest member of the family and the most faithful to the original. CZ introduced it at SHOT Show 2026 as a near part-for-part recreation of the 1975 pistol, with an all-steel frame, the original grip profile, inverted slide rails, a manual thumb safety, and a black original-style finish. It holds 16+1.

Read our full CZ 75 Legend first look (SHOT Show 2026) here.

Like the early guns, it has no firing pin block, which our SHOT Show writer said gives it a better trigger. CZ listed it at $1,399 at launch, with availability in spring 2026. If the discontinuation of the 75 B has you thinking about a CZ for the safe, the Legend is the one built to tell the family’s history. We have SHOT Show coverage, not a full review.

Key Specs

• Caliber: 9x19mm
• Capacity: 16+1
• Frame: All steel
• Action: DA/SA, manual thumb safety
• Firing pin block: None
• Availability: Spring 2026
• MSRP: $1,399 at launch

Pros

• Faithful recreation of the original
• No firing pin block for a cleaner trigger
• All-steel construction
• Collector appeal

Cons

• Priced well above the old 75 B
• No rail or optic cut
• SHOT Show coverage only

🛒 Check Current Price for CZ 75 Legend on GunsAmerica

Final Thoughts On The Best CZ 75 Pistols Of 2026

The best CZ 75 for most buyers in 2026 depends on how you will use it. For a classic all-steel CZ, buy the 75 B while it is still on shelves. For carry and duty, the P-01 is the proven choice, and the SP-01 Tactical is the full-size duty gun and suppressor host. Competitors should start with the Shadow 2, carry shooters who want Shadow ergonomics can pick the Shadow 2 Carry or Shadow 2 Compact, the Tactical Sport Orange is the premium match gun, and the new 75 Legend is the collector’s choice.

Cross-shopping another classic DA/SA service pistol? See our guide to the best Beretta 92 pistols.

Also worth a look are the 75 D PCR, a lighter alloy compact that stays in production, and remaining stock of the outgoing 75 Compact. For competition guns of every make, see our best out-of-the-box competition guns, and for more 9mm options see our best 9mm pistols guide. Find new and used CZ 75 pistols on GunsAmerica.com. Train hard, shoot straight, and stay dangerous.