CZ SP-01 Shadow VS. Shadow Canadian Edition

Marilius

Marilius

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I've heard and read a silly amount of conflicting information. Are the pistols worth the additional money? Are the improvements worthwhile? If you had the cash to buy either, would you save the cash for more ammo/accessories (I need holster, mags, carrier etc), or splurge and get the Canadian?

--OR--

#### it all and get a Shadow 2?

Will clarify. Am purchasing a pistol to get into IPSC Production Class shooting.
 
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Wrong question. What do you want the gun to do?

If you stick around the sport for too long as I have Ya start buying the odd guns not for practical purposes - but 'to scratch an itch'. If you are scratching an itch, so to speak - hang the cost, bite the bullet and buy the gun you want. Another rule of bum I use when deciding on a purchase is to go to the EE and look at what's for sale. If you see a lot of your intended gun for sale... There's a reason for that.
Years ago I had a shot at a mint Ruger Red Label shot gun and I passed on it. Today the damn things are like hens teeth. Coulda, shoulda, woulda... :(

For the record CZ does not make crappy guns. Pick your favourite and go to the range.
 
One Lung Wonder said:
Wrong question. What do you want the gun to do?

If you stick around the sport for too long as I have Ya start buying the odd guns not for practical purposes - but 'to scratch an itch'. If you are scratching an itch, so to speak - hang the cost, bite the bullet and buy the gun you want. Another rule of bum I use when deciding on a purchase is to go to the EE and look at what's for sale. If you see a lot of your intended gun for sale... There's a reason for that.
Years ago I had a shot at a mint Ruger Red Label shot gun and I passed on it. Today the damn things are like hens teeth. Coulda, shoulda, woulda... :(

For the record CZ does not make crappy guns. Pick your favourite and go to the range.
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I certainly have many MANY itches to scratch. I want like 5 different 9mm pistols alone. But budgets are what they are. I wish I lived somewhere with more readily available firearms for rent at the range, or borrowed from locals. Since I'd just test them (side by side if possible) then pick the winner. Such is the problem with living this far north.
 
The Shadow Canadian comes in either black or silver, the silver version has what they called Weissaluminium Ilaflon K2 GI surface colour, the list below are common to both:
- Fibre optic front sight
- Maple leaf red Elox grips
- Sport hammer
- Main spring 13 lb
- Recoil spring 11 lb
- Buffer set
- Steel recoil spring guide
- Technobag plastic case
- 3x 10 round magazine with red base pad

There is a Shadowmate Canadian edition which only comes in black, in addition to the list above, the Shadowmate has:
- Pistol fitted by gunsmith
- Tunned trigger mechanism
- Fibre optic steel sights (front and back)
- Sport flat safety

Technical specification for all of them are the same:
Caliber: 9x19
Magazine capacity: 10
Frame: steel
Overall length (mm): 207
Barrel length (mm): 114
Height (mm): 147
Width (mm): 37
Weight (g): 1180

I have the Shadowmate Canadian and love it, hope this helps.
 
Marilius said:
I've heard and read a silly amount of conflicting information. Are the pistols worth the additional money? Are the improvements worthwhile? If you had the cash to buy either, would you save the cash for more ammo/accessories (I need holster, mags, carrier etc), or splurge and get the Canadian?

--OR--

#### it all and get a Shadow 2?

Will clarify. Am purchasing a pistol to get into IPSC Production Class shooting.
Click to expand...
If you stay in IPSC for any length of time, you’ll likely change out most of the parts, including the grips, that differentiate the standard Shadow (can we call it the Shadow 1 now?) from the Canadian or other higher end CZs. IMO, get a Shadow 1 and go shoot.
 
Marilius said:
I've heard and read a silly amount of conflicting information. Are the pistols worth the additional money? Are the improvements worthwhile? If you had the cash to buy either, would you save the cash for more ammo/accessories (I need holster, mags, carrier etc), or splurge and get the Canadian?

--OR--

#### it all and get a Shadow 2?

Will clarify. Am purchasing a pistol to get into IPSC Production Class shooting.
Click to expand...

I don't know how experienced you are but if you are just starting out I would suggest either the SP-01 Shadow or the Shadow 2.

My reasoning is that as a new competition shooter, it is unlikely that the refinements in the Shadow Canadian will make much of a difference in your shooting. There are also many Production-legal tweaks you can make that improve the feel and performance of the SP-01 Shadow that make it very comparable to the Shadow Canadian. These upgrades can be done later as you get to know what will make a difference.

If you're willing to spend a little more and to wait until the Shadow 2's are available, I would be tempted. With a few exceptions, I don't think anyone has gotten hands-on to provide feedback on how they feel but just the changes in the frame, mag release, etc. seem to be a worthwhile investment in future-proofing a gun I'm sure you will have for a long time. Just my 2 cents...
 
Whichever Shadow you choose, you'll likely be happy with. I recently sold my Shadow 1 and I'm waiting for the new Shadow 2 because it's so much like my Tanfoglio Stock 3 Extreme. If you're going to spend the money for A Canadian... I'd wait for the 2. I will still be recommending the Shadow 1 used for everyone who doesn't want to fork out the dough for the new 2. It's more the Indian, than the arrow.
 
The Shadowmate has very tight tolerances. You can't wobble the slide at all on a Shadowmate but pick up a Shadow and you can easily notice wobble in the slide. Then there is the obvious better rear sight, thin aluminum grips, and aluminum magazine base plates that are dam near impossible to find if you want them on more magazines.
 
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I swapped out the rear sights on my Shadowmate for regular matte flat. Couldn't get used to lining up three dots. Maybe that was an error lol
 
Good morning Marilius,
I agree with the approach of Smiley.
A new Shadow 2 costs about 1300.00, not much above the 1 or Shadow line.
A rig, lets say from CR Speed, belt, five pouches and Blade Tech holster another 360.00.
For around 1700.00 plus mags, you will have a first class equipment you will enjoy shooting for years.
I shoot "Production" with a CZ-75B I installed new sights yesterday, and "Standard" with a Tanfoglio Limited Custom".
I am very pleased with both.
Dan
 
I bought the Shadow (now referred to as the 1,) spent about $60 at Dilask on 13lb main spring, lightened firing pin spring, 11lb recoil spring, stainless guide rod and buffer. I find it hard to imagine a finer example. Someone mentioned slop in the slide, not sure what they are talking about, I'm going to have to check it out more closely later. Maybe he tried a lesser example, factory defect (unlikely) or very high round count used?
 
My Shadow has slide slop, way more than I would like, but it shoots well. When I fitted the Kadet kit I made sure to keep the fit tight, took all of 5 min.
 
Mumbles Marble Mouth said:
The Shadowmate has very tight tolerances. You can't wobble the slide at all on a Shadowmate but pick up a Shadow and you can easily notice wobble in the slide. Then there is the obvious better rear sight, thin aluminum grips, and aluminum magazine base plates that are dam near impossible to find if you want them on more magazines.
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Wobble on the slide....on a CZ....really? My old Pre B 85 Combat and twp basic 75B's never had a wobble in the slide. In fact I have never found any difference in build quality on any of my CZ 75/SP-01 series of pistols, they are that good. Some versions have features others didn't, none of which had much to do with how I was able to shoot or score with the guns, but none had any wobble in them. As somebody has already pointed out it is the archer not the arrow. I doubt there are many D/C class shooters who would move up the food chain to B by going from a 75B with a 13# Mainspring to a Shadow 2. They may get there over time with practice but it won't be from buying a more expensive version of the same gun.

Now if you are an A Class or better shooter and want to move up to the top of the A/Master Class then an argument can be made for some of the improved features to come into play.

Take Care

Bob
 
Lead hammer said:
The Kadet has nubbs or whatever on the front. It would not fit into the Shadow frame without a light file on each side of the Kadet kit slide. The Shadow frame was never touched.
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The kits are designed that way to accomodate minor variances in the frames from one model to another as you probably know. The design of the CX Kit for .22 conversion is the best one I have ever run into. Works with any ammo I have ever found and is a very accurate platform.

Take Care

Bob
 
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