Which CZ To CCW: CZ P07 vs P09

CZ P07 vs P09: Czechmate

After tactical tupperware but won't be caught dead with one of those striker guns? Two very attractive options you'll have to narrow your carry gun selection to are going to be the CZ P07 vs P09. These two guns are modernized DA/SA pistols, featuring a reliable old-school operating system with modern appointments like changeable back straps, accessory rails and polymer frames for reduced weight.

However, these two guns are different in terms of size, as one is a compact and the other is a full-size. This is going to divide a lot of people, as some folks just don't want to carry a full-size gun. Others, however, won't carry anything else.

CZ P09: The 75 In The New Millennium

The CZ 75B is a classic handgun, and while some insist it's the best of the Wonder Nines the truth is the otherwise excellent '75 is tad dated. CZ was hardly unaware of this, so they created an updated take on the 75 for modern sensibilities: the P09.

The P09 takes the CZ-75's operating system and drops it in a polymer frame, though the slide still rides totally inside the frame rails. Essentially, it's much like the SP-01 but the frame is polymer, with a full-length dustcover including a 1913-pattern rail for mounting a laser or flashlight. The slide is also revised, with larger serrations that allow for better purchase on the slide, a common complaint about and clones.

The rear sight is changed to a ramp, though the base model ships with white dots instead of night sights. The back strap is swappable, as it comes with three sizes.

The P07 has a slightly longer grip than the classic 75, accommodating a 19+1 magazine of 9mm or 15+1 of .40 S&W.. As you might imagine, that makes the pistol big. Barrel length is 4.54 inches, and the gun stands 5.79 inches tall, 8.1 inches long and 1.46 inches wide as the P09 comes with ambidextrous decocking levers. It weighs 31 ounces, which is hefty but a few ounces lighter than some comparable pistols out there.

You also get the benefit of the Omega trigger system, which has a crisp, light break in single action but also can be converted to a manual safety rather decocker, should you prefer to carry cocked and locked.

It's a big gun, for sure...but it's a powerhouse, and tactical as all get-out.

CZ P-07 Concealed Carry Specs:
• Overall Length: 8.1"
• Height: 5.79"
• Width: 1.46"
• Barrel Length: 4.54"
• Weight: 31oz unloaded

The P07: Potent And Packable

Just as the P09 was an update for the CZ-75, the P07 is an update for the CZ-75 Compact. Much like the P09 is an SP-01 with a polymer frame, the P07 is a lot like a P-01 but with the same refinements. Polymer frame, 1913 Picatinny rail (albeit shorter) and deeper slide serrations, ambidextrous decocking rails with the Omega trigger system, swappable back straps and so on.

However, the P07 is the compact variant. The barrel length is 3.75 inches and the magazine capacity is 15+1 of 9mm. This brings overall length down to 7.2 inches and height to 5.3 inches, though the width remains the same. Weight is 27.7 ounces. It's a true compact, roughly comparable in size to the .

It's a tad big for daily carry, but pistols of this size are just small enough to be packable.

CZ P-07 Concealed Carry Specs:
• Overall Length: 7.2"
• Height: 5.3"
• Width: 1.46"
• Barrel Length: 3.75"
• Weight: 27.7oz unloaded

The Checklist For Czech Pistol: CZ P07 vs. P09

If deciding between the P07 vs P09, cost isn't going to be the deciding factor. The P07 has an MSRP of $510, the P09 only runs $530. What will do it? Basically the philosophy of use.

The truth here is that the P07 is going to be easier to carry on a daily basis. Is it a slim single-stack subcompact? No, but it's small enough for most people to carry it with relative ease. That's what a lot of people think about the Glock 19, the archetype of modern compact pistols. Easy enough to carry, but not as easy as other guns. The P07 is much the same, just obviously with a double-action system.

The P09, on the other hand, is a big gun. Concealment is not going to be as easy as with the P07 and the extra 4 ounces of weight will make a difference, so make sure you have a good belt. Granted, there are people out there that conceal and carry a Glock 17, or a every day. Some folks just refuse to carry anything less than a full-size.

Some people aren't necessarily looking for a carry gun. The P09 makes a fantastic competition gun or nightstand gun, so if concealment and carry isn't a factor then it may be the better choice.

So it really comes down to what you're looking for. If you want a big double-action gun with modern design, the P09 is one of the best available. If you want a thoroughly modern double-action carry pistol, the P07 is the better fit.

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