CZ 75 SP-01 Review: Heavy Steel 9mm With Excellent Range Manners

The short version: Gun University's Karen Hunter gives the steel-frame CZ 75 SP-01 an overall A, praising its comfort and recoil control while noting its 40.7-ounce weight makes it a poor everyday carry pick.

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The SP-01 belongs to the CZ 75 family that dates to 1975, with features aimed at military and police use: a full-size steel frame, an extended beavertail, an accessory rail, high-capacity magazine, lanyard loop, enlarged trigger guard and front and rear slide serrations. The standard model reviewed is DA/SA with an ambidextrous manual safety; the SP-01 Tactical swaps that for a decocker.

Hunter has shot it many times, mostly in defensive drills at 5 to 10 yards rather than benchrest testing. She found that the weight soaks up recoil, the grip feels comfortable and well balanced, and long range sessions stay enjoyable. The DA/SA transition takes some practice, and shooters with smaller hands should check the double-action trigger reach. She reports never having an issue with it at the range.

She sees it as best suited to home defense, duty-style use and range work. Lighter compact pistols make more sense for daily concealed carry, and it lacks the optics-ready features of many newer guns. Her report card gives an A+ for reliability, accuracy and value, an A- for ergonomics, a B+ for shootability and an A overall. Capacity varies by configuration: CZ's 2025 catalog lists 19+1, while earlier guns often came with 18-round magazines.

Key specs

• Caliber: 9x19mm Parabellum
• Action: DA/SA with ambidextrous manual safety
• Capacity: 19+1 (CZ 2025 catalog)
• Barrel: 4.6"
• Overall length: 8.15"
• Weight: 40.7 oz

Summary by GunWinner based on reporting by Gun University. Deal links are affiliate links; GunWinner may earn a commission. Prices change quickly, so confirm at checkout.