CZ USA P-07 9mm Review

[Bridgeburner]

I'm not a collector. I rarely have more than 3-4 guns at any one point and time. I seem to gravitate to one platform or another and focus on it, often selling off previous platforms to dedicate myself to a new one. I've always bounced between three main firearms. The M1911 (several different makes over the years), Glock 19, and the Smith and Wesson M&P9FS. There have been others here and there but about 85% of my shooting experience is with one of the above.

Currently I've decided that I'm absolutely smitten with the CZ P-07 in 9mm and currently own two identical pistols. For this review I'm focusing on my main carry P-07 since the other one only has slightly over 500 rounds through it (though without failure thus far). I own ten magazines for the platform and all have been 100% to the best of my knowledge (they have been numbered for record keeping and I've attributed no failures to any of them).

The P-07 is a Glock 19 size gun that is single/double action with the option to convert it to safety/cocked and locked carry in minutes. This is called the Omega trigger system and only the polymer P-series from CZ are currently able to be converted in this manner. I train and carry in DA/SA. Which is new to me if you look above at what I'm used to. That first DA pull has taken some time to get used to but I'm proficient at this point and can land a center mass shot with regularity from a draw at 10-15 yards and often enough from 25.

The double action pull on this specimen is 9 lbs or so and the single action is a little over 4lbs. The double action has some stacking at the end of the pull but nothing that is a deal breaker. The entire stroke is very smooth which makes the trigger easier to manipulate than you would think. The single action pull feels awful light, which is nice. It's got some take up but the break is clean although no a 1911 trigger. Overall the Omega trigger is one of the absolute best out of the box DA/SA triggers I've ever felt.

The gun is reliable (as you can see by my log posted below) and accurate. Shooting single action from a rest I'm able to group 5 shot strings on average in under 3”. Which is good for me. I'm not bullseye shooter and focus mostly on shooting from a draw with timed splits etc.

The gun is about the ideal size for me being very similar to the Glock 19 which I've always thought was the best all around weapon size. This is just a different flavor. I can't recommend it enough. It seems CZ has hit one out of the park with the P-07 and P-09 series polymer guns and have true duty ready options out of the box. Nobody seems to know a lot about these guns yet although the shooting industry is really starting to take notice. I don't expect the P-07/09 to ever compete with the Glocks and M&P's of the world in military and LEO because they don't have the marketing (or striker) needed to do so but these guns are a fantastic option for someone looking for something a little different. I couldn't recommend them enough. I can honestly say I've never been happier with a sidearm.

Range Log:

August 2014
200 Rounds American Eagle 124 AE9AP
Failures: Zero
400 Rounds Federal HST 124 P9HST1
Failures: Zero
Cleaned gun before and after range session.

August 2014
400 Rounds Federal HST 124 P9HST1
Failures: Zero
Cleaned gun after range session.

September 13-14
2,329 rounds Freedom Munitions 124 RN New
Failures: 1
Detail: Round No. 2,279 Slide failed to go fully into battery due to powder residue buildup. Gun was very hot at this point and the action was gummed up badly. Trigger pull was about 3lbs heavier in double action due to grime from dirty ammunition and failure to clean firearm.
Cleaned gun after shoot. Ran over 2,000 rounds through it without cleaning and incident.

September 28, 2014
250 rounds American Eagle 124 AE9AP
184 Rounds Freedom Munitions 124 RN New
124 Rounds Federal HST 124 P9HST1
Failures: 1
Detail: Bad/hard primer AE9AP. Gun failed to discharge twice with good hammer hits.
Cleaned gun after range session.

October 26, 2014
547 Rounds Freedom Munitions 124 RN New
Failures: Zero
Cleaned gun after range session.

November 8, 2014
100 Rounds Federal HST 124 P9HST1
Failures: Zero
Cleaned gun after range session.

November 16, 2014
200 Rounds Federal HST 124 P9HST1
200 Rounds American Eagle 124 AE9AP
Failures: Zero
Cleaned gun after range session.

November 23, 2014
65 Rounds Federal HST 124 P9HST1
Failures: 1
Detail: Bad/hard primer AE9AP. Gun failed to discharge twice with good hammer hits.
Cleaned gun after range session.

December 13, 2014
30 Rounds Federal HST 124 P9HST1
200 Rounds Freedom Munitions 124 RN New
Failures: Zero
Cleaned gun after range session.

Total Rounds Through Gun So Far: 5,229
Total Failures: 3 (2, hard/bad primers, both AE9AP and 1 slide failure Freedom Munition 124 RN New due to excessive dirt in action).

 

[Bridgeburner]

Also of note I have the 2014 model. I forgot to mention that. The gun was updated in 2014 to include:

1. Different trigger shape.
2. Different hammer shape.
3. Dehorned.
4. New melonite finish.
5. Interchangeable backstraps.
6. Metal 3 dot sights.
7. Front cocking serrations.

 

[Bridgeburner]

Can't figure out images....

 

[Caynine29]

There ya go. Free of charge.

 

[Bridgeburner]

That's the 2013 version. With grip tape of some sort.

 

[Bridgeburner]

The new ones look better but even that there... come on. That's damn sexy.

 

[Caynine29]

Whoops... my bad. Here's the new one.

 

[Caynine29]

I've personally never been much of a fan of CZs aside from the 75B, which felt like it was tailor made to fit my grip. I know they make some good guns, but they've just never been my cup of tea.

 

[Bridgeburner]

The P-07 has a similar grip profile though IMHO not quite as "fitting". But the 75B was never something I really liked a whole lot outside of a general respect for the design. I didn't like the width or trigger reach on them. But I've never been a big CZ guy either. Never owned one before earlier this year. I don't know if I'm a convert so much as just a fan of the P-series polymer guns. The P-09 (full size version of the P-07) is also an excellent weapon.

 

[Bridgeburner]

Whoops... my bad. Here's the new one.

DEAD
SEXY
BITCH

right there...

 

[Erie Warrior]

Nice review. My friend has a P-07 he loves it, he runs it in USPSA. It a really nice gun. I think CZs are some of the most under-rated guns on the market.

 

[Bridgeburner]

Thanks. I've not heard of too many people with significant trigger time on a P-07 who didn't walk away impressed. The bigger brother (P-09) is usually more popular in the gun-game community because of the greater capacity and longer sight radius but the P-07 would work wonderfully. IMHO it balanced better than the P-09. But I also think the balance of the G19 is far more in line than it is with the G17 too.

 

[Bridgeburner]

Put another 450 rounds through it this past weekend.

January 18, 2015
450 Rounds, 9MM LUGER+P 135 gr FlexLock Critical DUTY
Failures: Zero
Cleaned gun after range session.

Total Rounds Through Gun So Far: 5,679
Total Failures: 3
2, hard/bad primers, both AE9AP
1 slide failure Freedom Munition 124 RN New due to excessive dirt in action (2000+ rounds without cleaning).

I do not attribute any of the above 3 failures to the weapon itself.

 

[Bridgeburner]

Haven’t updated this in a while and instead of posting the whole log...

Total Rounds Through Gun So Far: 12,111
Total Failures: 3
2, hard/bad primers, both AE9AP
1 slide failure Freedom Munition 124 RN New due to excessive dirt in action (2000+ rounds without cleaning).

Haven't shot as much this year as I have in years past. Life seems to be getting in the way. I've gone over the 10K mark with this gun now. Last failure was nearly a year ago and was ammo related (hard primer, couldn't set it off with any gun). The other hiccup was going through 2K rounds in a sitting without cleaning. It made it past the 2K mark and then gummed up on me shortly after. I believe most any pistol would have stopped with this abuse. The gun going as far as it did was a testament to it's quality.

It's as reliable as anything out on the market. I couldn't be more happy.

In other news my second P-07 has moved in as my carry. I've gotten about 3K through it without indecent and it's proven to every bit as reliable as my beater-P07. With the round count getting up there on that one I decided it was time to retire it to range and carry the lower-miliage one. They both love the Hornady Critical Duty 135 FlexLok. A most excellent defensive round that I recommend as well.

 

[MAIZEandBLUE09]

Dang, I don't have that many rounds through any of my guns. I can't get to the range that much and when I do I shoot like 100-200 rounds. I might have a little over 1000 rounds through my handgun and probably only around 700 through my AR. The thing I've never liked about the CZ, and Sigs seem to be guilty of this as well, is how high they sit in the hand.

A new "state of the art" range opened up near here (Ann Arbor Arms) but they're dang expensive -- $20 per half an hour! So I tend to drive to the outdoor range probably 30 minutes away. Really wish I had the property to just shoot in my backyard.

 

[Bridgeburner]

I don't even go to the range with less than 500 rounds. And I usually make it last, running drills, instead of just punching paper. I'm usually at the range a good 3-4 hours. But like I said, that's getting harder and harder to do. Even financially. That's a lot of money and I've got a daughter starting pre-med soon. I'm thinking my next gun purchase is going to be something from Toyota. Maybe one of those semi-automatic Corollas so she has something on campus to get around in.

I've always been a proponent of lower bore axis as well. And all things being equal, it's a factor. And despite the internet dribble about CZ's having a low bore-axis they don't. It's rather high. But the 1911 is higher than people think too. The thing about the CZ is that the bore axis doesn't cause the gun to rise on you. I've read some excerpts from Mike Pannone about the lockup and the hammer or something mitigating it. The P07 is very fast back on target and people transitioning from Glocks have noticed their splits decreasing with the change. The mechanics of the why are above my pay grade though. But it's definitely not an issue.

SIGS I've had issues with the bore axis. My P226 felt like it was trying to get away from me. Sold it promptly and bought a G19 at the time.

 

[Bridgeburner]

Also...I'm with you. I really wish I had the property to just set up my own range too.

I'm constantly jealous of Hickock45.

 

[MAIZEandBLUE09]

Also...I'm with you. I really wish I had the property to just set up my own range too.

I'm constantly jealous of Hickock45.

His range is ridiculous. On the other hand, if I had that I think all my money would go right into ammunition because I'd be shooting daily. Right now the barrier I have to buying more guns and ammo is that I don't shoot that often and when I do I'm satisfied with the few firearms I have (Ruger P95, AR15 and 30-40 Krag). If I had a range like that, I think I'd be getting all sorts of things and probably get into reloading lol.

I've been eyeing one of those Remington shotguns with the interchangeable barrel so I could use it for hunting if I could ever bring myself to kill something.

 

[Bridgeburner]

Man, all my gun money goes right into ammo as it is. I can't even imagine what my ammo bill would look like if I had my own range. I probably spend $4000+ a year on ammo as it is.

The Ruger P-series are awesome. My first handgun purchase was a P94 in 40SW. Miss that thing.

I've got my eye on a shotgun too. That newer CZ semi-auto with the collapsible stock. I have stubby little T-Rex arms and need an adjustable stock and for some reason they aren't really offered on semi-auto shotguns. not sure why. But CZ has one now and it has gotten my attention.

 

[Bridgeburner]

Total Rounds Through Gun #1 So Far: 12,965
Total Failures: 3
2, hard/bad primers, both AE9AP
1 slide failure Freedom Munition 124 RN New due to excessive dirt in action (2000+ rounds without cleaning).

Total Rounds Through Gun #2 (CCW) So Far: 4,245
Total Failures: 0

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Bought two cases of 9BPLE. Gonna run one through the CCW P-07 this weekend. That'll get me over 5K in the carry gun.