Sig, STI, or CZ for first pistol?

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Mark S.

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Long story short I am looking to buy my first pistol. I had the following on my list after much reading/searching on here:

CZ SP-01 Shadow (or 85 combat)
Sig P226
Glock 17 or 34
Beretta 92FS
S&W M&P
STI GP6

I am only interested in 9mm for now, and would like something that will have me covered in case I want to enter any shooting competitions. Basically I just don't want to be limited from doing anything, because I can't afford to buy multiple pistols. I am trying to keep my budget as close to $1,000 and under as possible.

Out of all the above, I absolutely hated the grip on the Glock (felt like a toy also), and my hands were much too big for the S&W M&P (fist significantly longer than the grip). I have ruled those out based on that.

The Sig, Beretta, and CZ felt the best in my hands by far, compared to the rest. I didn't hold a STI.

I actually shot 30 rounds through the Sig P226 (apparently the one I tried was super old and beat up, so new ones must be amazing), and 20 through the Beretta 92FS. Out of the 2, I much preferred the Sig P226 as far as trigger feel and general comfort went. The Sig just seemed like more of a quality piece as well.

I was unable to try anything from STI or CZ as the range did not have those guns for shooting. I've read so many good things about both that I feel I should try them before making a decision. I was also told by the gentleman helping me that the CZ doesn't make a great competition gun due to its skinny slide. I was told this causes the gun to be hard to reload quickly, and have more recoil, but everything I read here seems to suggest it is a fantastic competition/beginner gun, so I am a little confused now.

So I guess I have a few questions for you guys based on the above information:

1) Is there anywhere around Calgary I can try CZ product? I don't own any guns yet and don't know a single person at the range (Just became a member today at The Shooting Edge)

2) Any other guns I haven't mentioned that I should try?

3) Would both the CZ and Sig P226 be fine for any sort of competition I decided to enter sometime down the road? All I care about is accuracy and how it handles.

Thanks in advance,

Mark
 
You sound very well-researched.

Whatever you choose will be fine.

One more consideration that you might also want to take into account is the availability/non-availability of a .22LR conversion unit (for the given centrefire pistol).
 
:D Just to confuse things...don't rule out a used pistol. I just got a nice deal on a Glock 20. It's hardly been shot by the look of it. You should be able to get a nice price on a gently used handgun. Just avoid anything too old or unusual as replacing broken parts can be a problem :)rolleyes:anyone have an extractor for a 639?). I can't speak for the quality of Norinco handguns but my M-305 rifle has been good to me so far. If you don't mind buying Chinese how about a Norinco NP-28 (1911 copy) or one of the other clones they make. A few of the sponsers at the top of the page sell them. You could have one for well under $400 if some one has one in stock.
 
From your list I either own or owned Beretta, M&P, P226, CZ75 and shot a glock. still yet to play with with GP6. All good guns, some were more reliable than others. if Beretta fits you get one - they're pretty cheap these days and you can't beat them for reliability.
 
make sure you like each and that they fit your hand well, to me the shadow is the best feeling pistol ive held, the SIG feels too small and horrible to me, glock was ok with a hogue sleeve on the grip, berretta was ho hum, have not held the MP, the gp 6 was comfy but I would add a hogue sleeve to it.

The comment about the cz being a bad comp gun is ridiculous, there are many many people using the shadow for competitions. you get used to the slide.

I would highly recommend the shadow, its a great competition gun when you get into that, and its fine for general target use.

since you seem to narrow it down to the cz or sig, I would definitely try both first. Take your time and dont buy the first thing that comes to you, try or at least handle and play with both first!
 
They guy telling you that the CZ was no good for competition was either on crack, wanted to sell you something that he had in stock instead of the CZ or just didn't like them for some reason of his own. I tried a lot of 9mm guns before buying my first and after trying a nicely tuned CZ Shadow the rest all paled in comparison. Even out of the box the Shadow is a sweet shooting gun. A fact that is supported by its reputation in the IPSC Production class.

In fact when I went looking for a second 9mm as a backup I cast out the line and tried a bunch and didn't feel like any of them were really what I wanted. This includes the GP6. Then a guy at the range and I swapped guns for a couple of mags so I got to try out his new Beretta 92fs and he my Shadow (nicely tuned at this time). We both came away saying great things about each others guns.

If you liked the Sig then it is certainly an option. They don't come much better. And since you liked it so much it sort of says that you're an all metal gun sort of guy. And you're not alone in that. A lot of us are not that crazy about polymer guns and the way they feel and balance.

You're on the right track. As a result of your post I doubt you'll need to wait long before someone in your area offers to let you shoot their CZ or Beretta or even another Sig or two to help you figure out which you want. Just to be neighbourly though you should run out and buy a few boxes of 9mm so you aren't shooting all their ammo. It would also be a nice way to say "thankyou" if you left them with a full pair of magazines.
 
"I was also told by the gentleman helping me that the CZ doesn't make a great competition gun due to its skinny slide".
:bsFlag:

I guess Angus Hobdell has been using the wrong gun.
 
If you supply some ammo, I could let you try my CZ shadow at TSE. PM me and we can try to work out when.
 
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Adam Tyc and Matt Mink were sooo mistaken as well :D
I still wonder how they could get all the way to the top with those CZs?..
 
You likely can't go too wrong with any of your choices in terms of quality of the actual pistol. I'd recommend that you get the one that fits you best.

2007-10-27_091302_1aCoffee.gif

NAA.
 
Base on your post, I think CZ shadow or 85 combat would be the best pick, these two gun were used by many many people for competition and Sig 226 not even at the same kind of statement. I think you should try them out.

Trigun
 
The OP mentioned competition, probably meaning action shooting?? The CZ SP01/shadow is great, but out of the box is only OK for IPSC. The CZ 85 and everything else on the list are AFAIK OK out of the box for both IPSC and IDPA.

So, what does this mean? Get the one that fits you best and buy a pile of ammo! I like my 226, but a lot of the guys I shoot with do very well with CZ guns.
 
I am going to say something I never thought I would say...don't get the Sig as your first gun. Here is why: unless you are financially wealthy you will be buying and selling many guns. SO your first gun is eventually going to be sold so that you can buy others. Although few guns can compare with the quality of the Sig, I found, for some reason, few guns lose as much value as a used sig.

So a sig p226r that may cost 1200+ after taxes and shipping new, resells for about 850-900. A Glock that sells for 650 after taxes and shipping, sells for about 600-700 used (sometimes 750!). I would make a Sig one of the last guns you buy, when you no longer plan on selling. I am not really a Glock fan, but the same is true of the Beretta and the M & P and the Shadow. <---I do not mean I am not a fan of these, I ment they seem to retain their value better like the glock.

I cannot explain it, but that is what I have found. None of those other guns compares with the quality of the Sig in my opinion, but this is not your last gun, it is your first one.
 
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I personally voted Sig with my wallet. Twice.

Once in stainless, one a classic stamped slide P226.
 
Mark S. said:
Long story short I was also told by the gentleman helping me that the CZ doesn't make a great competition gun due to its skinny slide. I was told this causes the gun to be hard to reload quickly, and have more recoil, but everything I read here seems to suggest it is a fantastic competition/beginner gun, so I am a little confused now.
Click to expand...
You don't say what kind of competition you are looking at this for, but some form of action shooting seems likely. Just to refute the comments made by the salesman:
The bore axis on a CV is very low relative to the bones of the forearm, and this ENHANCES recoil management. Makes it more linear than rotational. You probably won't find a softer shooting gun.
The slide is light, so it cycles fast and returns to target quickly.
The rails are internal and full-length (dissipate recoil pulse over a greater area).
They are VERY accurate.
With minimal effort, the triggers on these guns can be simply amazing.
Plenty of aftermarket goodies available.
If he was speaking of reloading from slide-lock, it takes no more time than any other design. If he was speaking of reloading hot, it takes no more time than any other gun. Speed reloading has nothing to do with the profile of the slide.

Lastly; the CZ SP01 Shadow is rapidly becoming THE gun in IPSC Production division. More shooters are buying these for competition now than anything else, and there's a reason.

Sigs are nice too. Expensive, but very well made and tack-driving accurate.

Good luck with your choice.
 
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