My review of the CZ Shadow Orange (Aussie model).

[Rmach]

I picked up a new August 2017 built CZ Shadow Orange from my FFL on Tuesday. I took it to the range on Thursday and ran a total of 350rds, including Speer Lawman, Freedom Munitions, Winchester white box and American eagle. Every round fired without a hitch. Usually, when I fire that many rounds, I'm pretty much petered out (I'm an old guy), but I could have fired another 100-200rds if I brought more ammo. This is one sweet shooter.

The factory hand fitting of the barrel and slide to frame fit is very precise and noticeably snug. There's maybe .002-.003 clearance with the slide to frame fit laterally and about .010 vertically, perfect barrel lockup and .002-.003 barrel bushing clearance according to my caliper. The trigger has some grittiness in the take up, but a very clean and crisp break with zero creep.  Single action pull is maybe 2-3 lbs at most. I didn't try any of the other extra recoil or main springs that came with it. The trigger reset is very audible and about an 1/8".

Finally, the thin aggressive orange aluminum grips look great and are effective, but I happen to prefer the CZ factory rubber grips for my hand size.  Overall, I'm tempted to pick up another one at these current prices since this is a limited overrun available in the US.  None of the other Shadow models, other than the Accu Custom, offer this old world hand fitting.

[beanz2]

Very nice!  Does yours come with the 10 round magazines, or did you get extra 18 rounders with it? 

Mine was bought last week, but Bud's still hasn't shipped it yet. 

Wish CZC would make matching 10 round magazine baseplates in orange!

[Rmach]

Very nice!  Does yours come with the 10 round magazines, or did you get extra 18 rounders with it? 

Mine was bought last week, but Bud's still hasn't shipped it yet. 

Wish CZC would make matching 10 round magazine baseplates in orange!

Thanks, it comes with three 10rd mags, but I have extra 18rd and 19rd magazines. Last week, Buds had a great price on these at $1194 and $1170 using the price match feature, but this week they have it at $1219.  If it gets back down to the last week price, I will buy another one as a safe queen. A couple of sources said that only 100 of these models were made available here in the US.

I like the looks of the Orange without the orange base pads. A little too much bling with them IMO.

[huskerlrrp]

Where is a good place to find these (other than Buds)? Oak Hill wants $1480 for these puppies.

[Rmach]

Actually $1219 at Buds right now is pretty good. Kentucky Gun also has some at $1219 I believe. There are several listed on Gunbroker at higher prices than the other two mentioned.

[Rmach]

A newly released video on this model.  It's not my video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8lUWizRbN4

[rbuzz00]

Thank you for posting the video. As an owner of a Shadow Orange (Aussie model) I am still amazed at the quality and the accuracy of this handgun. I appreciate the fact that so much hand fitting went into producing this firearm, it really shows up in the fit and accuracy.  One very distinctive feature is the extended barrel, which really stands out.   

It's easily one of the most accurate CZ's that I own and I shoot it better than I do my Shadow 2. The only CZ that I own that will out shoot it is the TSO.  Thanks again.

[Stojanovich]

Congratulations!  I also picked up one recently at a local shop that looks slightly different but essentially the same thing built (I would assume) for the US market.  The only differences I see are cosmetic.  Mine has the new SA/DA Ghost Hammer and the barrel doesn't see to extend quite as far as yours does.  Production date appears to be 8/27/18.





The box it comes in is the size of a briefcase that contains three 18-round mags, springs, speed loader, allen wrenches, extra buffers, etc.  It's a really nice package.

[Sango]

She?s an absolute beauty!!! Trigger and hand fitting sound excellent, and nice shooting! Cheers

[Esquilax]

What makes this Aussie?

[rbuzz00]

It's my understanding that this particular model came out in 2012 and was originally made expressly for the Australian market. That's why is has 10 round magazines and the 4.6" extended barrel.  The requirements for competition pistols in Australia specifically call for a minimum barrel length so this extended, burnished barrel is used in the CZ 75 SP01 Shadow Orange #01168 model.  A very small number of these pistols made it to the US.
As far as I know, with the exception of a slightly different hammer design, the 10 round magazines and the barrel, the Aussie model and the US model are the same.
Features:
? Handmade barrel matching and precise slide side setting
? Improved trigger mechanism
? Polished barrel
? Metal polished recoil spring guide
? Polished recoil spring + recoil spring set (13 lbs. And 11 lbs.)
? Polished main spring + main spring set (13 lbs. And 16 lbs.)
? Buffer set (3x thick, 2x thin)
? Orange grips -thin, long (aluminium)
? 3x magazine
? Defender type rear sights and red fiber optic front sight
? Newly designed sa/da hammer
? Cleaning oil, cd, polymer case
? Better shooting comfort, increased accuracy.
? More stable recoil during shooting. Parts service life increased.
? Smooth and precise trigger mechanism.

Caliber: 9mm
Frame: Steel
Grips: Aluminium
Trigger: SA/DA
Safety features: Hammer safety notch, Manual safety
Sights: Fixed
Magazine capacity: 10
Barrel: Extended Non-Threaded
 

[Esquilax]

Thanks, makes sense. But isn't 4.6" the standard length? Extended over what?

[Rmach]

I'm pretty sure the Aussie is 4.8".

[zhuk]

125mm, or close enough to 5" (4.92)

Our legal minimum is 120mm

[chenjeffus]

Just wondering if you guy tried this mode with USPSA production division?   I heard all kind of stories about it..