Cz-usa

• •CZ-USA is the American arm of Ceska zbrojovka (Czech Armory), and if you haven't heard of the parent company, you've been missing out on one of Europe's most respected gun makers. They've been at it since 1936 in what's now the Czech Republic.

Here's something that'll blow your mind -- the CZ 75 pistol from 1975 has been copied more than any other handgun design in history. You know those Tanfoglio Witness guns, IMI Jerichos, and a bunch of others? They're all ripping off CZ's homework, and for good reason.

• •1936 -- Ceska zbrojovka starts up in Czechoslovakia
• •1975 -- CZ 75 drops and changes everything
• •1997 -- CZ-USA sets up shop in Kansas City
• •2021 -- CZ buys Colt (yeah, that Colt)

That Colt acquisition was huge. You've got Czech engineering precision teamed up with America's most famous gun brand. Smart move.

• •Key milestones in CZ's development from Czech armory to global firearms manufacturer

The CZ 75 family is their bread and butter. These guns have the slide riding inside the frame rails instead of outside like most pistols. Lower bore axis, better accuracy, less muzzle flip. The Shadow 2 absolutely dominates USPSA Production division -- walk any major match and count how many you see.

The P-10 C series is CZ's answer to Glock, and honestly, the trigger is so much better out of the box it's embarrassing. You pay Glock money and get what feels like an aftermarket trigger.

The CZ 457 rimfire series punches way above its weight class. For precision .22 work under $600, it's hard to beat. The 600 series is their new centerfire bolt action -- modular design, though it had some growing pains at launch.

The Scorpion EVO 3 is their 9mm pistol caliber carbine. Huge aftermarket, suppresses well, just plain fun to shoot.

CZ imports their shotguns from Turkey under the Huglu partnership. They're decent value for clay sports, but don't expect the same build quality you get from their Czech-made pistols. The Redhead Premier over/unders are solid for the money, just know what you're buying.

CZ figured out trigger quality and recoil management before everyone else, and they're still ahead of the curve. That slide-inside-frame design from 1975 gives you a lower bore axis than most modern pistols.

The CZ 75 pistol from 1975 has been copied more than any other handgun design in history.

The all-steel construction soaks up recoil like nothing else in the price range.

• •How CZ's engineering philosophy translates to superior shooting performance

The "CZ cult" is real. These aren't casual buyers -- CZ owners specifically choose the brand for the engineering, the triggers, and the competition heritage. Once you shoot a Shadow 2, you understand why people get weird about them.

• •Factory triggers that shame most custom work
• •Steel frames that handle recoil like a dream
• •The CZ 457 rimfire accuracy that costs twice as much elsewhere
• •P-10 triggers that make Glock owners jealous

• •CZ-USA represents something rare in today's gun market -- a company that still prioritizes engineering over marketing budgets. The Shadow 2 costs half what a custom 2011 runs but wins matches at the same rate.

CZ-USA represents something rare in today's gun market -- a company that still prioritizes engineering over marketing budgets.

The P-10 C gives you a factory trigger that Glock charges $200 extra for through aftermarket work.

Their Czech-made pistols are genuinely exceptional. The rimfire rifles compete with custom builds costing twice as much. Even their budget options like the basic CZ 75 B deliver more than you paid for.

The Colt acquisition was smart business -- Czech precision meets American manufacturing capacity. Don't expect that to hurt quality; expect it to improve availability.

If you're shopping for a pistol and haven't held a CZ, you're doing yourself a disservice. The triggers alone are worth the trip to the gun store.