Tanfoglio stock III extreme vs CZ Shadow 2

My Shadow 2 is being shipped to me as we speak, I am hoping on doing a full review once I take it out to the range. The Tanfoglio is an excellent gun, but I think that the biggest difference is the price. The shadow 2 can be purchased now for $1279, where the Stock III extreme is still selling for $2179+. I think that the only differences between these guns with regards to performance will be the shooter. They are both top notch IPSC Production guns.
 
I have owned a Shadow (not the 2), Stock 3 and 2. While you obviously can make it to the top in IPSC with any of these guns here is the advice I got when asking about the Shadow 2 from a very capable guy who knows these guns inside out....

"Shadow has a better safety design (doesn't break and has a dedicated detent part that cams on the safety rather than the frame), better trigger due to longer mainspring and better trigger bar lifter design. Frame is heavier in the area of the safety and the sear cage and doesn't crack. Sights are sturdier. Barrels last longer and a fitted better, generally, so lugs last. All kinds of Production-legal CZ upgrades are available. The Pre-B disconnector is especially sweet, yielding a reset like a 1911.

Shadow 2 has all of that plus a forged frame and slide, checkering on front and back strap, extended mag release, well made adjustable sights, much better finish, longer barrel and frame which puts more weight up front for recoil dampening.

If I were buying a Production gun right now it would be a Shadow 2. Hands down, it is the best of all available options."
 
I have a stock 2 and had a shadow first generation. I have tried the Shadow 2 and it is an improvement over the Shadow 1 for sure. From what I saw it is not really an improvement over the Stock 2. However it really does not matter whether someone is shooting a shadow a stock or whatever the more skilled shooter will win.
 
slide is not forged it's barstock. see my video on FB for the machining process from the factory this summer.
I've been running a Shadow 2 since the end of June, it's a massive step up from the Shadow and huge improvement over any of the Tanfos for all the reasons CBabes listed.
 
Thanks interesting comments. I agree the shooter will make the difference with these top of the line production rigs. It will be interesting to hear the comments once the masses have some range time with them.
 
Frame is forged? First I've heard that. Can we get an updated CZ factory tour video on youtube showing that process? The video on there now shows lost wax sand cast frames.
 
sorry, cast is correct, missed that when correcting the part about the slide being forged.
 
the barrel is cold hammer forged yes. the frame is cast and the slide is barstock. I posted pics of all 3 processes and even a video of the frames and slides being machined, which also showed the barstock sitting, waiting for the robot to grab it and load it. Also showed the barrel bar stock prior to boring, it sits outside the factory in a big pile for at least 6 months and often years, until it's naturally stressed relieved (their description). Pics of the moulds for the casting, the casting trees etc etc etc.
 
milled from barstock is not forged steel in the sense people think. Yes billet steel is forged, into a square or round or rectangular shape or whatever, however a forged slide implies the barstock was formed into the shape of the slide before final machining, and they aren't. Nor are they at any point forged, like the barrel is on the hammer forge. The slides are simply made from barstock.

definitition-Forging is the application of thermal and mechanical energy to steel billets or ingots to cause the material to change shape while in a solid state.
 
Slavex said:
milled from barstock is not forged steel in the sense people think. Yes billet steel is forged, into a square or round or rectangular shape or whatever, however a forged slide implies the barstock was formed into the shape of the slide before final machining, and they aren't. Nor are they at any point forged, like the barrel is on the hammer forge. The slides are simply made from barstock.

definitition-Forging is the application of thermal and mechanical energy to steel billets or ingots to cause the material to change shape while in a solid state.
Click to expand...

Nvm.
 
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I've just got my shadow 2... and I got Stock 3 special about 6month ago...
I noticed that the shadow 2 trigger pull is really hard and I will need to change couple parts&springs to make it usable for production.
Same problem was for Stock 3; the out of box gun had a very tight trigger pull... after replacement it works nice...
 
I had the opportunity to play with a Stock 3 & 2 Extreme, I liked both very much but I can't understand the price tag of tanfoglio. I don't think the value is there.

I also had a chance to fondle a Shadow 2 today, and unfortunately I was very disappointed with the new changes. The balance of the gun seems improved but the new grip and grip hill is just wrong in my hands, unfortunately it does not fit me properly and the pronounced hill of the grip digs into my hand too much. This does not bother me in the regular SP01 as the angle of the hill is less pronounced.

This is just me and says nothing about the gun. Don't kill the messenger!

I can't say how it shoots as I have not but if I had to choose one of the 3 just for a better fit, it would be a SP01.

Nonetheless and sorry for derailing the thread, we did a back to back comparison with a Grand Power Xcal (my regular shooter) as we were all very impressed as how little the recoil was in the XCAL vs the tanfo. Night and day.
I wish I had a video of this, although it would have lacked any scientific evidence, the recoil just felt incredibly low in the Xcal.

:)

And now I am probably going to get flamed... lol
 
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