[lignite]

Well, my .40 Hi-Power of twelve years was stolen. I loved that gun, the pointability, the reliability, the caliber, the ergonomics, the weight, everything. Arg.

Well, I'm looking for a new/used Hi-Power, and have even determined that a 9mm would be as good (perhaps better) for my situation. However I haven't found one yet that I can afford (I'm scared of the clones, not sure why).

I do have an opportunity at a CZ SP-01, but I won't be able to handle it for a week or two, so I'm looking for opinions from Hi-Power owners who might have knowledge of the SP-01 and any comparisons/contrasts they might have. Is the SP-01 as reliable and technically sound as a Hi-Power? Is it in any way comparable in ergonomics and pointability as a Hi-Power? Hows the service of CZ-USA? Any other observations to a novice shooter such as myself?

I'm in a very rural location, and my local gun store and pawn shop don't currently have anything that interests me, so until I can get to someplace else, I've got to learn what I can from you folks, thank you in advance for any information.

 

[twoguns]

Howdy Mr. Lignite,

First welcome to the site sir.

I am a long time HP fan and over the years I have owned and carried several. For several years I carried a match pair in 9mm at work, until my agency killed the use of SA pistols. More recently I have become a fan of the 75B in 40 as well as the SP-01. The SP-01 in 9mm, is bascially the 75B with the full dust cover and tactical rail added. I say basically, as I do personally feel there is a slightly different feel to both grips. I shoot both pistols well, but feel the 75B grip feels a bit better in my hand. So once you are able to find a CZ to handle, that is my first suggestion. If the grip of one model does not feel good to you, then try the other model, as I do feel they are shaped a bit differently.

I currently own two CZ75Bs in 40, and one SP-01 in 9mm, along with the Kadet kit to allow me to convert a pistol to fire 22lr. I do like the SP-01, but I think my next CZ purchased will probably be another 75B in 9mm, so I will have two pistols in each caliber.

I am very fond of my HPs, but discovered a new grip I learned decades ago causes me to lock the slide release lever up during each magazine. So my HP now has to be delegated to "fun gun" status. The first time I actually picked up a 75B in my buddy's gun store, I realized how much the pistol felt and reminded me of the BHP. I will not say they are brothers, but I think of them as cousins. I also like the option offered by my 3 existing CZ pistols, in that I can carry them cocked and locked, or manually lower the hammer to allow DA first shot capability.

I am not certain on the SP-01 as it is a more recent model. But I do know the 75B can be purchased in DA/SA mode with a manual safety (version I own), in SA only with manual safety, or DA/SA with a decocker. If the 75B DA trigger reach is a bit long to be comfortable for you, the pistol will readily accept the short/more curved trigger found in the SP-01 or P-01. I have this trigger installed in one of my 75Bs and it does make the trigger reach much better for me personally. But I do not have huge hands.

The BHP is time proven, and admittedly the CZs do not have that many years behind them by comparison. But I have been very impressed when shooting mine, and think that at least part of my CCW carry time will be filled by a 75B with a 357 Sig barrel installed. At times I may well carry two set up in that manner.

I do think some things are best left to a qualified pistolsmith as far as slicking up the internals of a pistol.
That said I will offer my opinion that the BHP is a bit easier to work on internally in my view. The design of the CZ is a bit more complex. Both pistols will show improved trigger pull simply by shooting them, as you already know on the HP. The HP trigger can be further improved by simply removing the magazine disconnector. On the CZs unless someone is experienced with the platform, beyond more trigger time to improve their pull, most owners are smart in my opinion to allow a CZ smith to work their magic on an action job. Again just my opinion, but as handy as I feel I am with most platforms, I was just not comfortable tackling the CZ pistol. I was lucky to find a CZ smith who lives within a few hours drive of me, who does excellent work.

I am not puter literate like many of our members are sir, so sorry. But if you will surf a bit, you will find a post I made a few months back giving a range report on a CZ75B in 40 and the SP-01. You might or might not find that helpful. But you can count me as a major CZ fan, primarily because it gives me many of the attributes I like in my HPs without the shooting issues my grip caused. So I see the 75B and SP-01 as basically becoming my HP replacements.

Hope this helps a little anyway. You will also find several other posts on CZ pistols on the site as well that may be helpful too. Enjoy your time here.

twoguns

 

[Bob Reed]

Hello & Welcome to the site. I'm sorry to hear about your HP.

The FN-Browning High Power & The M1911 are the only automatic pistols for me, but, only you can deceide if you want something else. That being said, I'd carry a CZ 75SA (single action only model) over anything else if I couldn't have HP's & 1911s.

Here's two reviews by Mr. Camp that should help you.

http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/CZ-75%20or%20BHP.htm

http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/CZ75.htm

Since your questions are mainly directed towards the CZ, I'm gonna move your post to the Semi-Auto Section.

Take Care & Good Luck.

 

[lignite]

Much appreciated gentlemen, some great information.

 

[spikey614]

A gun store near me has a 1970ish, 9mm "C" series BHP with fixed sights. I purchased the one with adjustable sights that was next to it for $450.00. I was going to buy that one too but they have a nice selection of older wheelguns that I'm looking at. Due to there location and cilentel it has been there since 9/2005. The new customers like the Plastic guns. If it is still there after I pick up the last 2 guns on my 1 gun a month list I will give the BHP a new home. However I feel your pain and would be happy to help you contact the store and help in any way I can on this end to get any information you need. Then again Twoguns and Bob know what they are talking about. PM me if you'd like my help.

 

[lelandray]

My next semi auto purchase will be a CZ SP-01, hands down.

I have a 75 (not B), and I love it. The Czechs make good stuff.

 

[Chris Stephens]

Hello,

Plus 1 to the comments of my esteemed collegues and I heartily recommend the Czech SP-01 even though I own an old, worn and tired CZ-75B. I like my HP, but I dearly enjoy shooting the CZ-75B a heck of lot more!

Mine is very well balanced and I like combination of DA/SA with a cocked and locked capability. The 19 round capacity of the SP-01 will have you shooting "balls afire" and grinning like heck at the same time!

I don't think that I'll be too far Mr. Leland in my next purchase! Maybe we can arrange a group buy!!!

Chris

 

[mbott]

Mine is very well balanced and I like combination of DA/SA with a cocked and locked capability. The 19 round capacity of the SP-01 will have you shooting "balls afire" and grinning like heck at the same time!

For my SP-01, I went with the decocker model with the Mepro night sights ... mainly because that's what my local dealer had in stock first. This is my nightstand gun. I paired it with the Streamlight M-6 unit that has adorned my last three night stand guns.

With the weight, I get a very controllable handgun that's probably the most accurate 9mm I own ... especially during sustained rapid fire.

--
Mike

 

[demented]

Chris Stephens photo illustrates my only problem with CZ's and their clones. I'm refering to the distance from the backstrap to the trigger. I have very large hands (size 11) with fairly short fingers, when the CZ is in double action mode, the trigger is too far forward for me to place the middle of my finger pad in the proper place. As an aside, I remember reading that during the trials to select our new service pistol, a CZ 75 was used as a "control." According to what I read, the CZ performed better than any of the pistols tested, including the Beretta. No way a then communist country was going to get the contract, but...

 

[twoguns]

Howdy Mr. Demented,

I have the same problem you have with the trigger reach on my 75Bs that came with the silver trigger. This was the original trigger installed in the 75B from what I have been told by others far more knowledgable on that platform.

As I noted, the black trigger that now comes standard in the P01 and SP01, is more curved, and is very much like the short/curved triggers available for the Sig platforms to reduce the trigger reach. While I will carry my CZs in cocked and locked at least 99.9% of the time, as I simply prefer that mode of carry, having the black/curved trigger installed made a big difference in the trigger reach for me too.

Hope this may help.

twoguns

 

[romeofoxtrot]

Mr. Lignite--
As a person new to this forum and CZ's I'd like to add my testimonial to those excellent ones already submitted. I've been a BHP devotee virtually all my life and dearly loved the .40 version for quite a while as well until a shooting school course with hundreds of rounds downrange left me with a bad hammer bite wound and bloody fingers from wrestling that recoil spring into and out of the gun when field stripping and cleaning it the several times I had to during the course. I then switched to a Glock 22 .40 for a while, then a 27, and then a 1911. Nothing felt as good as the HP except the 1911, but the round was too costly and too heavy. I've been adrift for a long time experimenting with this or that and finally decided to do the unthinkable and go to a DA/SA the operation of which I had never been able to master due to the DA to SA transition. Then I found the CZ, and everything changed. It is, by far, the easiest to operate in my experience as compared to Sig, Beretta, S&W 5900 series, and Ruger -- all of which I tried with likely thousands of rounds downrange in the process. I only know the CZ-85 (a transitional model), but it is one of the wunderwaffen as far as I'm concerned. I've recently purchased a P-01 to check out the newer feel, trigger, weight/balance, etc. of this brand and am remaining open to the possibility that an SP-01 will also be in my future as well. Good shooting! After all, the experimenting is half the fun.

 

[Chris Stephens]

Hi there,

Mr. Lignite, to be candid, if I were faced with a choice of selling my BHP Mark III and my CZ-75B. The BHP would be on the auction block.

I dearly enjoy shooting and owning the CZ-75B more.

Chris

 

[Papabear]

lignite,

Welcome aboard, glad to have you with us.

I really like my two BHP, a '63 & a '93, however, I also really like my CZ P-01 in 9mm, it is the newer version and the trigger is a delight to use. There are some of my guns I would give up, but the '63 BHP and the CZ P-01 are not two of them, the '93 BHP I would consider possibly to put up for sale. I can't answer for the CZ SP-01 as I do not have one, althought I have shot them and they are fine pistols in their own right, the one I shot had the curved trigger that twoguns mentioned and I found it to be very comfortable to shoot as is my CZ P-01. As for the caliber, my hands down choice would be the 9mm over the.40 cal, just my $0.02 worth.

papabear

 

[gandog56]

As far as I know, the only difference between a Browning and an FN Hi-Power is what they stamp on the slide.

 

[Stephen A. Camp]

Hello. That is correct. The markings are different and the FN-marked pistols have the serial numbers on the side of the dust cover while they're on the front grip strap of the Browning-marked pistols. Grips are sometimes different but the pistols are made on the same machines by the same folks at FN.

Best.