CZ Shadow 2 owners..Still Love it?

[kmanick]

I've shot one of these now twice (a friend owns one) and decided to order one. I couldn't believe how accurate
I was with this thing right off the bat. It usually takes me a bit to warm up to a gun ,but this thing had my name all over it.
Any concerns , problems , issues I need to know about these or am I on my way to shooters happiness :cool:
makes my M&P performance center 9L (which I love) feel like a toy. I think I am over plastic guns

[YVK]

Yes. After two light strikes in first 100 rounds I am now at modest 2200 without any problems. Regular dry fire etc, no parts or springs breakages. Completely took the equipment out of equation and left me dealing with my problems, not the gun's problems. I couldn't use as low of a front sight as I wanted to, ran out of elevation adjustment on the rear but that's about it. In all likelihood, unless I decided to go CO, I will probably getting a second one.

[Clusterfrack]

My Shadow 2s are the best guns I’ve ever owned. With a few aftermarket springs and extended FP, I have a 6# / 2.25# smooth, crisp trigger that will pop .223 military primers.

I’ve got nearly 10k rounds between the two identical guns. No issues that can’t be blamed on bad reloads.

Thanks cheby for turning me on to this gun.
YVK what’s up with your sights? Mine are in the middle of the elevation range and are on at 25 yds with 125gr 130 PF loads.

[BigT]

They are without a doubt the most popular choice in IPSC production. The majority of the top guys are running them.

[Sal Picante]

They are without a doubt the most popular choice in IPSC production. The majority of the top guys are running them.

A way better built Tanfoglio.

[PhillySoldier]

I just got one last weekend. Put a hundred rounds through it so far. Initial impressions - I like it a lot. love the weight and feel. Im not crazy over the sights so far, may wind up changing them to something else in the future. Overall a fine gun

22526

22527

[BigT]

A way better built Tanfoglio.


Its like a Tanfo. But reliable. With a decent trigger :)

[Clusterfrack]

The Shadow 2 frame fits my smedium hands much better than Tanfos or earlier CZs.

[cheby]

My practice shadow 2 is 22K rounds right now plus daily dry fire. I have not had any single malfunctions so far. I do not think I have ever had any gun that reliable before. The only things I replaced so far are recoil springs (Every 3-4K) and TRS (Once - I replaced it 8K rounds ago just because I wanted to try the CGW reduced power one). I clean it every 3-4K rds. It's filthy but it keeps on running.

[YVK]

YVK what’s up with your sights? Mine are in the middle of the elevation range and are on at 25 yds with 125gr 130 PF loads.

I grew to like shorter front sights, like .140-.160. When I tried to go that low on Shadow 2, I bottomed out on rear sight.

[Clusterfrack]

Ah, I understand. Not the preferring short fronts tho, but if it’s an advantage for you no need to justify it.

[Bucky]

I got one a few months back on an impulse buy, and actually didn’t like it that much. It didn’t feel right in my hand, and actually rubbed the web of my hand raw during extended shooting and dry firing. Fast forward a couple months, I decided to try it in a match and I was sold. These darn guns can SHOOT!

[kmanick]

I may rubber talon the back side of the grip. My buddy also said the same thing, extended sessions bother his hand

[PhillySoldier]

Whats everyones thoughts on that plastic buffer that is on the guide rod? Not only is it on the guide rod, there is a package of extra ones which seems to imply this thing is going to need repeated replacing. Is it ok to get rid of this buffer altogether?

[YVK]

I decided to keep it in for now but I don't have a good reason. I inspect it every time I lube the gun. More likely than not I will ditch it at some point.

[PhillySoldier]

I decided to keep it in for now but I don't have a good reason. I inspect it every time I lube the gun. More likely than not I will ditch it at some point.

Same here but Im not having good thoughts on any "part" that they know is going to fall apart in the gun to the extent they provided extras

[cheby]

My practice gun with over 20k through still has the original buffer. It's a little worn out but still fine. Stoeger pro shop sells those buffers in case you need to replace it.

[BigT]

I used shock buffs happily in my Shadow 1. Made me feel better about the 10lb spring and I just replaced them. The thick ones I used I replaced when I replaced the spring at around 4000 rounds.


Havent looked at the Shadow 2 ones to see if they last the same.

[Clusterfrack]

Why take out the Shock Buff? What advantage would that provide? Personally I prefer as light a recoil spring as possible. If it closes the slide it’s good to go.

[PhillySoldier]

Why take out the Shock Buff? What advantage would that provide? Personally I prefer as light a recoil spring as possible. If it closes the slide it’s good to go.

I dont like the idea of a consumable part being in the gun. Eventually it will wear, break and cause a malfunction. To me that makes the gun undependable

[spinmove_]

I dont like the idea of a consumable part being in the gun. Eventually it will wear, break and cause a malfunction. To me that makes the gun undependable

A consumable part? You mean like every spring inside the gun? Technically magazines go inside the gun too, those are definitely considered consumable as well.


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[PhillySoldier]

Not so much that any other new gun i ever purchased needed to provide a bag of spares in order to keep replacing

[spinmove_]

Not so much that any other new gun i ever purchased needed to provide a bag of spares in order to keep replacing

Based on the fact that a shock buff isn’t that common and they’re probably very cheap to make, they might have just included them as a good faith token. Recoil springs are much more common and easier to source I would imagine. Based on the fact that some aren’t needing to replace their buffers a lot, it doesn’t sound like something that needs replacing often.


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[YVK]

Same here but Im not having good thoughts on any "part" that they know is going to fall apart in the gun to the extent they provided extras

I think you might be reading too much into them providing extras. Those are cheap plastic parts, I think it is a standard practice to package several of them. I did use them a little in 1911 and they usually came in multiples too.

I am not much worried about them breaking and jamming the gun as long as they are inspected and replaced as needed. They do reduce slide travel and that is not necessarily a good thing. I would've taken it out if my gun wasn't feeding or extracting well but as long as it runs, I dunno if these thingies are such a big deal one way or another.

[GJM]

I dont like the idea of a consumable part being in the gun. Eventually it will wear, break and cause a malfunction. To me that makes the gun undependable


Are you EDC’ing this pistol?

[HCM]

I dont like the idea of a consumable part being in the gun. Eventually it will wear, break and cause a malfunction. To me that makes the gun undependable

Putting aside the fact all guns have consumable parts like Springs etc, Guns are purpose built. The Shadow 2 is purpose built as a competition “gun games” gun. The buffer may not make sense in a duty gun vs simply running a heavier spring but the buffer allowing a lighter recoil spring makes sense for a “gun games” gun where fractions of a second count.

[BigT]

Putting aside the fact all guns have consumable parts like Springs etc, Guns are purpose built. The Shadow 2 is purpose built as a competition “gun games” gun. The buffer may not make sense in a duty gun vs simply running a heavier spring but the buffer allowing a lighter recoil spring makes sense for a “gun games” gun where fractions of a second count.
This so much of this.

[HCM]

I was playing with a Shadow 2 in my LGS.

I’m guessing the shadow2 manual safety was made thin because most are lowering the hammer and running from DA ?

Can the Shadow 2 be fitted with the old style shadow safety, the one with the thumb guards ?

[BigT]

There are bigger safeties available for it. Including one with a large shelf. Not 100% sure if it's SP01 safety compatible.


Youre 100% correct though , for the purpose it was designed the safety will pretty much never get used hence the thin safeties being popular.

[Slavex]

very much in love with my 2s, although I did sell the Urban grey gun I had, just didn't like the color.
I'm coming up on 75,000 rounds through the two guns, and outside of having now replaced the 8lb recoil springs in both guns, have had zero gun problems. (oh and had a double charge go through the match gun, that needed new extractor, pin and spring as well as new slidestop).

[Bucky]

I was playing with a Shadow 2 in my LGS.

I’m guessing the shadow2 manual safety was made thin because most are lowering the hammer and running from DA ?

Can the Shadow 2 be fitted with the old style shadow safety, the one with the thumb guards ?

The thumb ledge safety is included with the Shadow 2 (in the box, not installed). I put it on the gun, and it’s much better, even though I’m not using it as a safety (start in DA).

[spinmove_]

There are bigger safeties available for it. Including one with a large shelf. Not 100% sure if it's SP01 safety compatible.


Youre 100% correct though , for the purpose it was designed the safety will pretty much never get used hence the thin safeties being popular.

So...why not just make it a decocker instead?


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[Bucky]

So...why not just make it a decocker instead?


The de-cocker versions have a firing pin safety, and the firing pin safety makes for not quite as nice trigger reset or trigger return.

[spinmove_]

The de-cocker versions have a firing pin safety, and the firing pin safety makes for not quite as nice trigger reset or trigger return.

Then why bother with a DA press at all if you can have a safety lever that can actuate easily?


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[Bucky]

Then why bother with a DA press at all if you can have a safety lever that can actuate easily?


Because the Shadow 2 is specifically built to be a competitive gun in USPSA Production division, which requires the first shot to be double action.

[BigT]

[QUOTE=spinmove_;690947]So...why not just make it a decocker instead?


Sent from mah smertfone using tapathingy[/QUOTE
as Bucky said. You lose out on trigger pull quality with the deco jet trigger group.


This is a specific purpose IPSC and USPSA Production Division race gun

[spinmove_]

Because the Shadow 2 is specifically built to be a competitive gun in USPSA Production division, which requires the first shot to be double action.

So if it’s a purpose built USPSA/IPSC Production race gun, and the rules state that the first shot must be DA from a TDA pistol, and the safety version of the Shadow 2 does not have a firing pin safety, then why would they make the decocker version with a firing pin safety?


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[bofe954]

So if it’s a purpose built USPSA/IPSC Production race gun, and the rules state that the first shot must be DA from a TDA pistol, and the safety version of the Shadow 2 does not have a firing pin safety, then why would they make the decocker version with a firing pin safety?


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Shadow 2's internally are very similar to the Shadow. The Shadow was a CZ SP-01 without a firing pin safety designed for competition. The SP-01 was basically a CZ-75 with a full length rail. These weren't necessarily built for competition. They were available with different trigger groups. CZ-75's have also been available with different trigger groups. Since these are all CZ-75 variants a lot of (but not all) the parts interchange.

I do not think there is a decocker Shadow 2 available. I suspect you could make one. There are also SA only CZ-75's so I imagine you could make a SA only Shadow 2 if you felt like it. The vast majority of Shadow 2's will be used for USPSA production. CZ makes other guns that could be used for limited (or used cocked and locked) if you wanted to do that.

It's sort of similar to the Beretta 92 series. You can get whatever you want, and convert what you want in to other things if you want. Generally it's easier to just buy what you want from the start if it's available though.

[bofe954]

To get back on track. The only thing I wish they had done is a model with a Bomar rear. I have the target model Shadows and am upgrading to the Shadow 2. I am happy with the frame. The DA trigger has a better reach for me, and I like the squared of trigger guard. I like the checkering.

I was really hoping to get a little bit more sight radius out of the longer barrel but it's about the same. The difference is that the bomar-type sight on my Shadow sits more to the rear of the slide.

Maybe they'll make a Target version down the road...

[Clusterfrack]

No decocker. Definitely not needed for this setup.

[HCM]

To get back on track. The only thing I wish they had done is a model with a Bomar rear. I have the target model Shadows and am upgrading to the Shadow 2. I am happy with the frame. The DA trigger has a better reach for me, and I like the squared of trigger guard. I like the checkering.

I was really hoping to get a little bit more sight radius out of the longer barrel but it's about the same. The difference is that the bomar-type sight on my Shadow sits more to the rear of the slide.

Maybe they'll make a Target version down the road...

I recall reports the Bomar style rear on the Target Shadow was a bit fragile.

[Clusterfrack]

I love the stock sights on the S2. All I did was put in a green FO.

[rob_s]

Putting aside the fact all guns have consumable parts like Springs etc, Guns are purpose built. The Shadow 2 is purpose built as a competition “gun games” gun. The buffer may not make sense in a duty gun vs simply running a heavier spring but the buffer allowing a lighter recoil spring makes sense for a “gun games” gun where fractions of a second count.

Fractions of a second only count to a (tiny) fraction of competitors, and a (even tinier) fraction of those actually have anything riding on those fractions.

[Clusterfrack]

It’s not just about splits. Stable sight tracking yields lots of other advantages.

[rob_s]

It’s not just about splits. Stable sight tracking yields lots of other advantages.

Sorry, but unless you’re part of the Super Squad, it just doesn’t matter. Nobody ever lost c-class because they took their shok buff out and the winner left theirs in.

[Clusterfrack]

rob_s, I don’t think anyone is saying that the shockbuff itself affects splits, sight tracking, etc. I leave mine in my guns so I can run a light recoil spring without worrying about battering the gun.

When I see a shooter’s gun waggling up and down after each shot, one of the things I recommend is a lighter RSA—among lots of other technique items. Maybe a minor thing for some, but why not tune your gun for your load and grip?

[HCM]

Fractions of a second only count to a (tiny) fraction of competitors, and a (even tinier) fraction of those actually have anything riding on those fractions.

I never said it was necessary. As someone who carries and competes with a stock G17 and a stock Colt 11.5” save the RobS is too cool for school crap for someone else.

Necessary or not, the point is it’s a purpose built competition gun with design choices made towards that end state.

[bofe954]

I recall reports the Bomar style rear on the Target Shadow was a bit fragile.

Not in my experience. I have two. One with the CZ branded sight and one with a kensight. Neither have had an issue. If the CZ branded ones were bad, they are easy enough to replace with another bomar type sight.

[HCM]

Not in my experience. I have two. One with the CZ branded sight and one with a kensight. Neither have had an issue. If the CZ branded ones were bad, they are easy enough to replace with another bomar type sight.

That's good to know. GJM had an issue when I was looking at them a while back. More recently an employee of my LGS also broke one.

[MSparks909]

Can’t believe I just ordered a JM AIWB for my Shadow 2...ultimate AIWB gamer TDA anyone?

[kmanick]

Well a buddy of mine just recently picked up an Urban gray Shadow 2 and he let me put about 200 rounds
threw it with an assortment of 124gr and 147gr ammo.
Looks like I am definitely picking up one of these, pretty awesome gun. :)

[BigT]

Im hopefully ordering mine today.

[PhillySoldier]

Well a buddy of mine just recently picked up an Urban gray Shadow 2 and he let me put about 200 rounds
threw it with an assortment of 124gr and 147gr ammo.
Looks like I am definitely picking up one of these, pretty awesome gun. :)

How was the 147 grain? Which brand were you using?

[kmanick]

How was the 147 grain? Which brand were you using?

American Eagle 147 was very very nice. Shot straight and very soft, probably going to be my go to.
Lawman 147 was also good but had a little bit more kick to it. We shot a lot of Aguila 124 and S&B 124 as well (our usual range ammo)
and the Lawman 147 felt very similar to the S&B 124.
Aguila 124gr surprisingly has become one of our favorite 124gr rounds for range practice.
We shoot steel plate and bowling pin matches and want to get into live action this summer, so we have been looking at different rounds we like.
I have no time to reload so I need a reliable "off the shelf" ball ammo I can count on and gt at a good price.
right now Aguila and S&B 124 fits the bill. American Eagle 124 is also one of my fav's but it's a dollar a box more than the Aguila and S&B where we get our ammo :(

[PhillySoldier]

American Eagle 147 was very very nice. Shot straight and very soft, probably going to be my go to.
Lawman 147 was also good but had a little bit more kick to it. We shot a lot of Aguila 124 and S&B 124 as well (our usual range ammo)
and the Lawman 147 felt very similar to the S&B 124.
Aguila 124gr surprisingly has become one of our favorite 124gr rounds for range practice.
We shoot steel plate and bowling pin matches and want to get into live action this summer, so we have been looking at different rounds we like.
I have no time to reload so I need a reliable "off the shelf" ball ammo I can count on and gt at a good price.
right now Aguila and S&B 124 fits the bill. American Eagle 124 is also one of my fav's but it's a dollar a box more than the Aguila and S&B where we get our ammo :(

Thanks buddy. I usually order 1-2k rounds of 124g per month. Shooting a bit less at the moment w the cold weather so still got a bunch of ammo laying around but been meaning to give 147 grain a try to see if it improve bullseye groups any

[Clusterfrack]

Drying out a Shadow 2 after a brutally cold and wet match.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180121/a25a0fa33c44867f15be9cf8e57edfd8.jpg

[YVK]

Drying out a Shadow 2 after a brutally cold and wet match.


Our Saturday match was nice. 33 degrees, 4 inches of fresh snow. I said to hell with picking up my mags out of mud and snow and shot Limited minor.

Had a weird stoppage, of course, during a classifier. Slide locked back on half-full mag. Never happened before.

[Clusterfrack]

Our Saturday match was nice. 33 degrees, 4 inches of fresh snow. I said to hell with picking up my mags out of mud and snow and shot Limited minor.

Had a weird stoppage, of course, during a classifier. Slide locked back on half-full mag. Never happened before.

I had a couple of issues today also. Frozen hands: wasn't able to press the mag release hard enough, and that failed mag change cascaded and clusterfucked my stage. Still, the 5s it cost me wouldn't have been enough to catch cheby today, who took 1st by 7%.

[Clusterfrack]

The Black Beast needed to warm up too...

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180122/5d6818e68c56fc7a58e098089202bdff.jpg

[YVK]

the 5s it cost me wouldn't have been enough to catch cheby today, who took 1st by 7%.

Looks like his armed heeled OK, then.

[cheby]

Slide locked back on half-full mag. Never happened before.
Pretty sure you pushed the slide release up with your left hand.

[cheby]

The Black Beast needed to warm up too...

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180122/5d6818e68c56fc7a58e098089202bdff.jpg

I am still frozen. It was brutal.

[YVK]

Pretty sure you pushed the slide release up with your left hand.

I think so too, although that was a 140 mag with a Grams follower, who knows if that didn't cause it.

[Chipster]

Is there a difference between the $1,100.00 ones ca the $1,450.00 ones? They seem to have the same sku #.

[Clusterfrack]

Profit margin of the vendor? Also for some reason they charge more for the non-polycoated black guns.

[shiv]

Profit margin of the vendor? Also for some reason they charge more for the non-polycoated black guns.

I wonder if the polycoat isn’t cheaper to apply?

I’m very interested in one or two of these myself. I’ve got experience with P07s and Sig P226s, but I’m not really a DA/SA guy. With a nice trigger/spring job, will I be satisfied with one of these over say a Glock 34? I’m relatively new to pistol sports and would like to run production USPSA.


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[YVK]

G34 is an extremely capable gun and with some investment in trigger work and recoilogy you will have a gun that will support you to the highest levels of USPSA. Shadow 2 will give you even better trigger and roughly 40% extra mass, at roughly 40% extra $$ investment but you will have to be pulling DA on first shots and get reacquainted with DA/SA stuff. Preference of one over another is a personal and subjective thing. I think Shadow 2 is more forgiving, there seems to be a fairly strong trend to all steel gun dominance https://pistol-forum.com/showthread.php?29360-USPSA-2017-Nationals-equipment-survey so I think that you will be slightly more happy with the Shadow. But you shouldn't be unhappy with a 34.

[shiv]

I’ll be starting over having sold the G34. It was a 4th Gen and had a weird recoil impulse and needed a bit more trigger work. I didn’t shoot it that well, honestly. It’s been years since I trained on DA/SA. Cost is probably the only reason I haven’t jumped head first into the CZ.

If I go back to a 34, I will do a Gen 3 Blue Label and tune up the trigger and throw on a set of Dawson’s, and perhaps get rid of the extended slide stop.

If the CZ is worth the training and investment I may shoot a G19 or G17 for the year and save.


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[Clusterfrack]

I don't think so--all the Shadow 2's are nitrided under the polecat.

For me, the Shadow 2 gives me around a 10% advantage over a G34 on most drills, and more than that on tough shots. The biggest difference for me was the weight, not the DA pull. I like it a lot, and wouldn't go back to a G34 or a Sig p320. I'm also finding the mag release to be not as ergonomic as on my p320, and that's required quite a bit of work to make my reloads fast and reliable again.


I wonder if the polycoat isn’t cheaper to apply?

I’m very interested in one or two of these myself. I’ve got experience with P07s and Sig P226s, but I’m not really a DA/SA guy. With a nice trigger/spring job, will I be satisfied with one of these over say a Glock 34? I’m relatively new to pistol sports and would like to run production USPSA.


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[YVK]

If the CZ is worth the training and investment I may shoot a G19 or G17 for the year and save.




Shoot 17 for a year and see how much it holds you back, how much you like the game, how far you wanna go. I shot USPSA with a freaking LEM for years, G17 is an upgrade from that in a gaming sense.

[kmanick]

finally ordered mine tonight , I can't wait. The friend that let me shoot his shadow has a gen 3 G34 with a vortex venom on it.
He shoots his VP9 better, and the Shadow is in another class all together. He also got his hands on a Wilson Combat Beretta that is pretty
amazing as well. (he's a great friend to have .....lots of toys ) :) After shooting the Shadow and the beretta, we both came to the conclusion that
tupperware gunsa are much better suited to Conceal carry, and all metal are better suited for competition shooting.

[Bucky]

For me, the Shadow 2 gives me around a 10% advantage over a G34 on most drills, and more than that on tough shots. The biggest difference for me was the weight, not the DA pull. I like it a lot, and wouldn't go back to a G34 or a Sig p320. I'm also finding the mag release to be not as ergonomic as on my p320, and that's required quite a bit of work to make my reloads fast and reliable again.

Interesting that you're having to adjust to that big ole' mag release button. I find it a welcome feature for my shortish thumbs.

[Clusterfrack]

Interesting that you're having to adjust to that big ole' mag release button. I find it a welcome feature for my shortish thumbs.

I know, right? But the Springer extended mag release on the 320 let me consistently clock sub-second reloads (= M card!) without altering my grip. The CZs release is good, but stiff. I have to ‘flip’ the gun and move my strong hand fingers a bit to achieve a reliable reload. Still pushing times down toward 1.0s, and occasionally get failures to eject the mag.

[backtrail540]

I handled one for the first time today and fell in love. The aggressive checkering/texture on the whole grip was perfect, the new serrations on the slide were awesome, and the trigger was even solid out of the box. If they made a decocker only version with a slightly smaller mag release I'd be all over it. I wouldn't mind it as a game gun if I was still doing that. Even the factory sights were solid. It's been a while since I've picked up a gun and didn't want to change much of anything on it. Aside from a decocker model I think it is turn key! I was surprised since I've shot/owned/played with several cz's in the past but this is different/better enough for me to take notice.

If you haven't handled one or are on the fence, you owe it to yourself to do so. It's impressive!

[MSparks909]

The George AIWB showed up today...lolz. Excited to push the #gamerfag (https://pistol-forum.com/usertag.php?do=list&action=hash&hash=gamerfag) status to new levels with this rig in the local pistol matches!

24011

[cheby]

The George AIWB showed up today...lolz. Excited to push the #gamerfag (https://pistol-forum.com/usertag.php?do=list&action=hash&hash=gamerfag) status to new levels with this rig in the local pistol matches!

24011

Your inner-timmy is still too strong... You gotta work on it:)

[Clusterfrack]

That is a lot of junk in your trunk...