First CZ75 full size decision

[floridaman]

Hello,

I recently acquired a RAMI, then a 75D, then a P10 S OR. Needless to day I caught the bug.

I am currently looking at a nicely refurbished and refinished 1986 75 pre B with barely visible import markings and a 2007 75B SA that appears to have a match trigger and upgraded sear and hammer. Both are the same price range. It won’t be a while until I can get another one and I expect prices to go up and scarcity to increase for these 2 models in their current conditions.

I’m looking for suggestions on which would be the wisest buy to make right now, considering the future of the market. Thanks in advance and long live the Republic. 🇺🇸

[david s]

The only thing I can think of is that some pre-B models don't accept the current 75B magazines without magazine well modification.                                                                                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   P.S I read about you in the paper or see you on the news pretty regularly. Normally with the headline "Florida man.... followed by something silly.

[floridaman]

One of the sellers just sweetened the deal with a 20% off offer. Looking closer like I may go with the SAO at this point. FWIW both guns come with 3 mags each.

[Meechy7648]

One of the sellers just sweetened the deal with a 20% off offer. Looking closer like I may go with the SAO at this point. FWIW both guns come with 3 mags each.

That's how I'd do it - whichever is the best deal. And the SAO is different from your others...

Sent from my Pixel 6 using Tapatalk

[M1A4ME]

Some pre-B's don't use front sights or barrel bushing like the transitional pre Bs or the modern CZ75s.

Most of the Pre B's also have a safety that isn't easy to find extra parts for if you loose a piece working on the pistol.

Is three magazines enough?  Never was for me.

It's only a case of one, but my youngest son has a CZ75 SA and even if he takes another pistol to the range it's difficult to get him to put the SA down and shoot the other pistol.  When I ask why he says, "Dad, you know I like shooting small groups."

They don't make Pre B models anymore.  They also don't make the SA CZ75's anymore either.

The SA will have ambidextrous thumb safeties if you're a fan of those.

[Earl Keese]

An '86 Pre-B will definitely use the old style mags, and you will be stuck with the crappy staked in front sight.
 The SA should have an upswept beavertail, better ergos, works with any 75 series mag and has upgraded parts per seller. I'm a pre-b fanboy, but the SA is a better choice.

[floridaman]

Thanks for helping me make the right first choice guys. Now I can be more picky about my pre B. I want one without the awful aftermarket import stamps. They’re about $300 more but I’m a fan of pristine old guy stuff. My older friends chastise me for my grandpa Snap On and Thorsen tools, but I’m a sucker for the tactile ergos and looks of days long gone.

[boatdoc55]

I'd figure out a way to get them both. Beg, borrow, plead with the wife, whatever it takes!!

[floridaman]

I'd figure out a way to get them both. Beg, borrow, plead with the wife, whatever it takes!!

If I didn’t recently get her a Walther PPS M2 I’d probably be able to! 😂

[Dusty]

As a fan of the pre-b (I personally wouldn't even consider a newer model), if you want the SA and they are not exactly easy to find, I'd go for that model.
I say that because your two choices, even though both are CZ75s, are different shooting experiences. Also, there is no shortage of pre-b CZ75s to be had at any given moment. Especially with the imports from Israel still trickling in.
And if you really want a pre-b, there are a lot of variations in them to be had, so studying them and choosing what features you want is probably a good idea before you go looking to buy one (unless you want to start a pre-b collection!).
Just in the pre-b alone you have 3 different hammer variations, 3 shapes of trigger guard, ribbed or smooth slide top shape plus differences in sights, safeties and other minor parts throughout the 12 or so years the pre-b was produced. (not counting the short frame ones)
And if you want a non-import, there is at least one available on GB at any given time, so they aren't exactly hard to find if your heart is set on one. And since you mentioned you didn't want one that's import marked, perhaps it would be best to also get one that hasn't been "refurbished or refinished". Because if it's been refinished, the import mark (or lack of one) won't detract from the value. The "refurbishment/refinishing" will have already done that.

Just my 2 cents, YMMV.

[M1A4ME]

One other thing just occurred to me about (well some anyway) the Pre Bs.  If you ever wanted to replace the barrel you might have to modify the slide inside.

When I replaced the badly pitted barrel in my Pre B CZ85 the new/modern barrel wouldn't fit.  I had to remove metal from the inside of the slide on both sides.  No big deal for me as I was getting it refinished anyway and the modification isn't visible unless you remove the slide AND know what to look for.  But it is extra work if replacing the barrel comes up.

Same with the hammer.  The older hammers are wider.  Replacing with a newer hammer would look odd due to the big gap between the sides of the hammer and the sides of notch in the back of the slide.

[floridaman]

I’m realizing having a pre B is a labor of love. I’ll have to spend more time reading up and gathering bits.

[Dusty]

One other thing just occurred to me about (well some anyway) the Pre Bs.  If you ever wanted to replace the barrel you might have to modify the slide inside.

When I replaced the badly pitted barrel in my Pre B CZ85 the new/modern barrel wouldn't fit.  I had to remove metal from the inside of the slide on both sides.  No big deal for me as I was getting it refinished anyway and the modification isn't visible unless you remove the slide AND know what to look for.  But it is extra work if replacing the barrel comes up.

Same with the hammer.  The older hammers are wider.  Replacing with a newer hammer would look odd due to the big gap between the sides of the hammer and the sides of notch in the back of the slide.

Wouldn't it have been better to fit the barrel to the slide than the other way around?

And speaking of hammers, the earliest pre-b pistols had the wide hammer but up until around '88. After that, they went to a thin spur style hammer until around '92 when they went to the ring style hammer. But the slot in the back of the slide (correct me if I'm wrong about this) remained the same width.
See attached photo of a '91 pre-b with the narrow spur style hammer and notice the width of the slot in the frame and slide in relation to it.

[M1A4ME]

Post from this thread (no pictures in the old thread but it reads like there were originally pictures in it).

"What is a thin hammer?
It?s literally that.... ~ 5.7 mm versus 7.9 mm hammer width. On the left is a 1991 frame (with Kadet 2 slide). On the right is a 1986 frame and slide."

https://czfirearms.us/index.php?topic=96325.msg741658#msg741658

I remember sitting at the table one day, cleaning guns, and I put another slide on the Pre B CZ85 slide and pulled the hammer and the hammer only fell part way - till it made contact with the back of the later model slide at the bottom corners of the hammer notch in the slide.  Man, was I glad it didn't gouge/mess up the finish where you could see it.

Why modify the slide?  Much easier than modifying the barrel.  Way more metal to remove on the bottom of the barrel,  Way easier to mess it up, too.

Pre B barrel on the right.  Modern CZ75 barrel on the left.  Notice the bottom edges how low/wide the newer barrel is vs. the older models.  The barrel will sit in the slide just find, but when the slide moves to the rear with the slide installed in the frame the front bottom inside edges of the slide are too narrow for the wider portion of the modern barrel.  I had a choice of finding someone to machine the new barrel or modifying the slide myself.  I hate waiting.



The tapered area (a portion of it) at the front of the slide has to be removed to clearance the slide/barrel for full rearward movement of the slide.  That tapered portion doesn't run all the way to the top of the slide.  Really not much metal to remove.  Just something to keep in mind if you want to put a modern barrel in (at least some) a Pre B slide.  I only have one so I can't say if it's rare, common, or all of them.

[Redhemi]

SAO for the win. More beaver tail and better grip. I have three of them and prefer them over the standard 75b. Also the SAO is no longer manufactured so if you can get one at a good price I say go for it. If you don't like what they have changed in it you can always go back to stock.