Author Topic: tristar p120  (Read 13424 times)

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Offline CZ173

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tristar p120
« on: March 18, 2014, 09:41:22 PM »
I need some help to decide if I should wait to find a cz75 sp01 9mm or get a tristar p120.
I have been looking locally for about a month, and have gone and called multiple shops and there is none available, I even went to a gun show this past weekend and NOTHING!
There is another gun show this weekend coming up so hopefully, but I am not holding my breath. I rented the sp01 at my local range and shot it back to back to compare with
my cz75 polished stainless and my cz75 omega and prefer the extra weight and bigger sights of the sp01.
The shop that I mainly go to is a tristar dealer and the P120 is readily available for $450, which is $200 less than an sp01. The money is the least of my worries.
Availability is the main factor but don't know enough about the tristar. The p120 is supposed to be .2 lbs heavier. Is the frame or the slide heavier?.
Also have not found pics of the sights, are they as tiny as the ones on the cz75b? Any other info, thoughts or experience with both would be greatly appreciated!!! 
 

Offline kevinusa

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Re: tristar p120
« Reply #1 on: March 18, 2014, 09:55:07 PM »
I would recommend calling CZ Custom shop and getting a a SP-01 that has the trigger done. You cannot imagine how good the triggers are ,after they have worked on them. I would get the short reset also. Price not being the issue. However your going to have all the trigger mods done eventually if you keep reading this forum. You can also PM Stuart on this Forum.
« Last Edit: March 18, 2014, 10:00:55 PM by kevinusa »
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Offline papershoot

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Re: tristar p120
« Reply #2 on: March 19, 2014, 05:38:58 AM »
I don't own any CZ's, but I would love to try a SP-01 myself.  I have a couple Tristar (Canik55) pistols.  I really feel they are well made guns.  I only started with these because I could not see many CZ models here.  My local gun store has the P120 in chrome for $412 and black for $394, before sales tax.  If I could have found a SP-01 for $650, I would have bought it.  They are very hard to find at any price!  If you go with the Tristar, you may want to look into Cajun Gun Works for custom work, ordering a spring kit, or helping you with the sights.  I have not held the P-120 yet, even though the store is just across town.  I keep telling myself that I have enough guns. 

Offline Mike Russell

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Re: tristar p120
« Reply #3 on: March 19, 2014, 02:18:03 PM »
Well, if my P120 would ever get in from Grabagun, I could do a comparison of it to my SP01. I've been waiting for almost a month for it to be delivered, but should have it this week. My SP01 is far from stock, but then the P120 won't be stock for long either.

Offline Brian Ahearn

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Re: tristar p120
« Reply #4 on: March 19, 2014, 02:37:37 PM »
The tri star P120 is an excellent shooter in its stock form about zero recoil due to the weight comes with 2 19 round Mecgar mags and accepts CZ mags. A CZ tactiacl rear sight from Cajun gun works with a .125 fiber optic front with fit this pistol with a small amount of work fitting the front sight. I have two full blown custom P120's built with Cajun Gun works canik parts with short reset. Great gun overall see my thread on customizing them in this section -go back a page or so. Now a CZ Custom shop SPO1 is another fantastic pistol they excellent work and with short reset would be outstanding - although if the SPO1 has a firing pin block I don't think they do a short reset trigger for that- I may be wrong or check with Rob Or Stuart at CZ customs and ask- they are graet guys to deal with.
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Offline CZ173

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Re: tristar p120
« Reply #5 on: March 19, 2014, 08:26:38 PM »
Thank you guys for the responses thus far! Forgot to mention that another thing I like about the p120 is that it comes in chrome. And I know the finish is not as nice as my cz75 polished stainless, but its better than plain black.
Mike when you have both I would really appreciate your input/comparison on both!
Keep the info coming guys and thanks!!!
« Last Edit: March 19, 2014, 08:28:59 PM by CZ173 »

Offline CZ173

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Re: tristar p120
« Reply #6 on: March 22, 2014, 08:57:28 PM »
went to the show today and neither gun was in sight!!! :(

Offline Mike Russell

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Re: tristar p120
« Reply #7 on: March 24, 2014, 08:21:55 PM »
OK, finally picked up my P120 this afternoon. These are just initial impressions/comparisons as I haven't pulled out the SP01 to compare them.

The barrel is not as robust as the SP01. It's thinner, the rifling doesn't look as deep/defined, and it just doesn't look as sturdy.
The slide is smaller, partially due to the cuts that are similar to the slides on the P07/P09 pistols. It also feels lighter (as it should) and does not appear/feel as robust as the SP01 slide.
The rail on the dust cover is narrower than the SP01 and not as deep, leaving the nose of the pistol feeling lighter.
The sights are adequate, but IMHO need to be changed to something of the CZ Custom/CGW EZ Drift type with a FO front.
The fit and finish are good, but not quite that of my SP01 (mine is an early gun, not sure if this makes a difference).

On it's own merits, it appears to be a decent pistol. After I get a chance to get to the range, I can make a comparison on accuracy and how it feels under live fire. The trigger/action is decent, but needs some cleaning up (there is some camming and it's a little rough)...strangely enough, it's a better trigger than the T120 I just got (also picked up today).  On that note, comparing it to a T120, it feels sturdier (I attribute this to the alloy frame of the T120) but it would be better if it had the rear sight that came on the T120 (personal preference).

Time will tell, but at present, if you do not have either a P120 or a SP01, I would recommend getting a SP01 or Shadow. Once I get a few thousand rounds through the P120 and do some clean up work on it, I can revisit the topic. I can see where the P120 would appeal to those that cannot find (or possibly cannot afford) a SP01 or Shadow. I'm sure the end cost (once mods are finished) of the P120 will be considerably less than I have (or am about to reinvest in replacement parts) in my SP01.

Offline Mike Russell

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Re: tristar p120
« Reply #8 on: March 25, 2014, 04:57:55 PM »
OK, hit the range today and put a few rounds down for comparison. Not a lot of shooting (only 50rnds per pistol), but shot in 5rnd groups (shoot 5, switch pistols, shoot 5, switch, etc) at various ranges from 4yrds to 25yrds. So, here's the updated notes...

T120:
--it was shooting low & left (need some sight adjustment, didn't bring my tools)
--didn't really care for it, it felt like a toy. Recoil was easily manageable even with the light weight, that wasn't the issue...it just didn't "feel" right. It had no malfunctions, no misfeeds, no problems whatsoever, just a personal preference.
--it was not as accurate as the other 2 pistols (P120, SP01), nearly double the grouping sizes of the P120 at distances at/over 15yrds.
--overall, decent pistol but not my cup of tea. It'll be a range gun for my oldest son.

P120:
--after shooting it and the SP01 side by side, it is a good substitute if you cannot afford the SP01 or can't find one. My original assessments were a little off once I had both pistols in hand and firing on the range. The weights are different, but not by much. Thinking back on things, the machining was probably better than my SP01 when it was brand new (the SP01 has over 15000rnds through it, I've cleaned up/polished all the surfaces that needed it, and it's well broken in). Only someone intimate with shooting a SP01 will notice the slight differences in the performance (not lock times or anything like that, but the more objective feel).
--the trigger on it was still better than the T120 and probably was better than my SP01 when it was brand new.
--I consistently grouped well. At 25yrds, I was getting 3-3.5in groups from it (by comparison, my SP01 groups at 2-2.5in at 25yrds; the T120 was 5-5.5in), at 4yrds is was second nature/mechanical to put the rounds through the bullseye and make one sloppy hole (this was my last string shot with all the pistols, 10rnds total) without much effort, all shot freestyle...the same happened at 7yrds, one sloppy hole.
--while I'd prefer ambi safeties, this one is acceptable and easy to manipulate. The sights at first seemed small and rather pedestrian, but they were easy to pick up in a dimly lit indoor range.
--again, this pistol didn't have a single hiccup, malfunction, problem at all. It did feel more natural, I was able to recover quickly for a follow up shot, and it just felt right (perhaps mostly due to my love for the SP01).

I won't talk about the SP01 other than the comparisons, it wouldn't be fair as it is tuned and well broken in. Overall though, while the P120 is not a SP01, it is a very good clone (though I'd prefer a heavier barrel similar to the SP01's).  For now, the SP01 will go into the safe while I beat on the P120 and see how it holds up. I'll be using it for running drills, running it hard and mercilessly, to see just how good it is and how well it holds up compared to the SP01. I'll give it to 1000rnds before I start to tinker with it, but so far I like it and can't wait until it's time to start tweaking it.


BTW, to the OP...mine was $382.11 from Grabagun with free shipping, then a $20 transfer fee for my FFL. I didn't have a good experience with Grabagun, but that's a whole different story (took a few days shy of a month to get the gun...which was in stock).
« Last Edit: March 25, 2014, 05:00:19 PM by Mike Russell »

Offline CZ173

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Re: tristar p120
« Reply #9 on: March 26, 2014, 07:24:33 PM »
Thank you very much for that review!!!

Offline Primer 55

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Re: tristar p120
« Reply #10 on: April 06, 2014, 10:52:05 AM »
I absolutely love my P120! Paid 380 OTD took it to the range and sent it away to have it reworked. Now it is back and I can't wait to shoot it. 
« Last Edit: April 06, 2014, 10:55:32 AM by Primer 55 »

Offline terry mc

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Re: tristar p120
« Reply #11 on: April 06, 2014, 06:13:25 PM »
Primer,
Who did your gun? Brian?
Is that a CGW hammer? I like the skeletonized look of it.
Terry Mc
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Offline Primer 55

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Re: tristar p120
« Reply #12 on: April 06, 2014, 07:03:49 PM »
Thank you. Dwaine at Master Tactical Arms did it for me. He took my original hammer and reworked it for me. His prices are very reasonable and the total job was done in less than two weeks.
His email is dwaine@mastertacticalarms.com and his site is http://mastertacticalarms.com/

Offline mikebaker1129

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Re: tristar p120
« Reply #13 on: April 07, 2014, 10:24:44 PM »
Primer where did you pick yours up for $380 OTD?

Offline Primer 55

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Re: tristar p120
« Reply #14 on: April 09, 2014, 07:23:46 PM »
Yes, 380 out the door.