by R.K. Campbell

When working up a program on which to base procedures for this test I resolved to be objective. The subjects are excellent handguns with many adherents. I have no strong preference toward either, but discovered which I would issue to troops or peace officers. The two are products of the former Soviet Bloc and NATO, respectively. Each is among the best service guns of its day. Both have been widely copied or cloned.

I had the idea for this comparison after hearing glowing reports of the CZ's performance. The pistol was good enough to be chosen by the Soviet Spetsnaz, the equivalent of our own Special Forces. Highly trained and effective, these soldiers demand top-flight gear. Col. Jeff Cooper has remarked that the CZ was the best service pistol available, and based the Bren Ten design on the CZ pistol. Tongue in cheek, he found its introduction in a Communist state "embarrassing."

In fairness, the CZ had no competition in the Evil Empire. There were no other guns roughly equivalent to the Colt 1911, SIG, or Browning Hi-Power. The majority issue were the Makarov. The Makarov, tactically, is a superior version of the Walther PPK.

Design Heritage
What, then, was the CZ built upon? The company that manufactures the CZ has tremendous experience in martial arms dating to the first world war. The CZ is based upon Browning's short recoil principles by way of the FN Hi-Power. SIG and Petter pistol influence can be seen. The confluence of design is well handled.

The Beretta was based upon earlier Beretta designs and the Walther P-38. The CZ's Hi-Power-like profile is evident, the Beretta's external draw bar and open-top slide resemble the Walther. (The open-top slide was introduced by Beretta.)

The CZ uses Browning's angled camming surfaces to lock and unlock; the Beretta uses an oscillating wedge as first used with the Mauser C 96 pistol. Both are serviceable, rugged handguns that achieve the same end by different means. The Soviet Union has developed other 9x19mm pistols and the US Military has other pistols, but these two remain at the top of the heap in a manner of speaking.

I limited the evidence that led to a conclusion that was reached after firing stock CZ 75 and Beretta 92 pistols, but also fired the EAA Witness and the Beretta Elite II, among others, to broaden the experience. Certain CZ clones have been modified to allow a hammer drop safety and the Taurus clone of the Beretta offers cocked and locked carry.

If you have a real need for a different safety, clones offering alternate systems exist which may or may not equal the original gun's other attributes.

Safety History
These two pistols were developed in roughly the same time frame, but the Beretta has undergone more development than the CZ. Changes relating to the safety and the locking wedges and slide have been implemented. The 92 originally incorporated a slide lock safety but European police demanded a hammer dropping safety which was implemented into the design. The Brazilian service Beretta cloned by Taurus is an example of the early 92.

Safety design is among the significant differences between these pistols.

The Browning-derived lockup of the CZ has proven reliable in use with many pistols. The Beretta has proven even more durable once the original wedge was redesigned to a rounded profile. The CZ trigger action uses a U-shaped bar to move the trigger, the Beretta an external drawbar.

Each pistol exhibits unconventional slide design. The CZ slide runs inside the frame. This gives superior accuracy, in theory, but also allows for a more shallow slide profile. The slide is tightly fitted in order to prevent dirt and debris from entering the slide and frame.

The Beretta features an open top slide. This promotes reliability by eliminating locking lugs and places for powder ash and debris to collect. The safety of the Beretta is slide mounted, slower to manipulate than the CZ's frame-mounted safety. The Beretta offers one-hand decocking with a combination safety/decocking lever. The CZ hammer must be manually lowered by squeezing the trigger and carefully lowering the hammer.

The manual of arms for each pistol-from slide lock-is as follows:

CZ-Load/release slide, lower hammer. For cocked and locked carry, continue, but instead of lowering the hammer, place safety on;

Beretta-Load/release slide, decock; pistol may be carried on or off safe.

The action of each of these two pistols was smooth, superior to many double-action types. Single-action trigger compression for the CZ 75 was 4.25 pounds, for the Beretta 92, 3.75 pounds. Double-action trigger compression for the CZ was 12.0 pounds, for the Beretta 14.0 pounds.

The double-action triggers were about equal, the Beretta smoother but with a longer throw. The CZ was shorter with a bit of stacking near the end. The CZ single-action pull was good with the modest backlash characteristic of these pistols. Either action can be used well. Double-action handguns must place the trigger finger above the trigger so the finger can reach down, and allow sufficient leverage for double-action manipulation. Most testers felt the CZ was the better configured gun for single-action fire. Gloved hand use was equal with either, per our tests.

Firing Drills
Most shooters agreed the CZ fit the hand better. Firing from a benchrest does not tell us a lot. We can manipulate a rough trigger and fair sights about as well from a benchrest with any gun. I expected these guns to neither equal the SIG P-210 in accuracy nor to be dogs. We would draw from holster carry and conduct realistic firing drills. Later, we benchrested the pistols for accuracy.

I performed immediate action drills, including rapid presentation from the holster, engaging multiple targets, manipulation and deployment, including clearing malfunctions. I addressed failure to feed, lock, eject, and extract drills. This was necessary to properly conclude the test program. Each malfunction was a "set up" since none presented themselves during the test program.

I wished to see how each gun, the one based on competitive bidding and exhaustive testing, the other designed by gifted brothers, performed. I used 1,500 rounds of Winchester USA ball ammunition. These were in equal portion of 115-, 124-, and 147-grain weight. Function was perfect, with fine accuracy and little unburned powder. This is a small amount for a military test, but a significant test of pistols in two weekends.

Firing
We used a number of holsters, including Mad Dog Kydex and Null horsehide holsters. I used the Competition Electronics Pocket Pro to time the first shot, first hit time.

From a holstered start, we drew and fired on a 10-yard target. Next, we drew and fired the Bill Drill-six rounds on a seven-yard target as quickly as possible. Each gun was carried double-action ready, hammer down and safety off.

The CZ was faster on the first shot to target by about .2 second on average, but with some testers .4 faster. The users were better schooled in the Beretta. The CZ was new to us.

In the Bill Drill, times were closer with the question going either way. The Beretta has very little muzzle flip and can be "machine-gunned" with the best of them. Control is excellent. The CZ's low bore axis was beneficial as well. Pistols torque both vertically and rotationally under recoil. By taking a firm grip on the front of the squared trigger guard of either, control was excellent.

DA Equality
For double-action guns they were about equal. If the Beretta were carried safety on, speed was slowed by .2 on average. This is not a user friendly safety but can be learned if the user modifies the 1911 type drill into a strong straight thumb action. The technical advantages of the Beretta safety override tactical advantages. We have used a Beretta Elite II which is a decocker only, with no manual safety. This would seem to be the preferred system. Or simply carry the Beretta off safe. The advantage of retention and safety of an on-safe handgun in police duty is well documented.

Next, we tested the CZ in cocked-and-locked carry. The CZ allows ready carry with the hammer to the rear and safety on. Both first shot accuracy and speed were much better than previous runs. The advantage of this safety is important tactically. Even if the gun is carried hammer down for a double-action first shot, when tactical movement is needed the gun can be quickly placed on safe. The frame-mounted safety allows quick manipulation both on and off.

If moving with the Beretta, the gun must be decocked for safety. Then, although we are in a gunfight, the user must again use a long double-action shot. The double-action feature is fine as a first shot feature for moderate range, or for safety in holding suspects at gunpoint. Single-action fire is for fighting. After the range drills, it was obvious the CZ 75 is a superior tactical piece.

Moving to speed reloading, the Beretta showed its merit. The slide lock of the CZ was much more difficult for average hand sizes. The Beretta's well-designed slide release was easy to quickly manipulate. More shifting of the hand was required with the Czech gun, although the CZ is thinner than the Beretta. The CZ demanded we grasp the rear of the slide to drop the slide. (This is not a good idea with the Beretta, as the safety may be inadvertently actuated. I often load the Beretta with the safety on-the slide and hammer ride down together. )

Beretta Edges Clearances
Moving to stoppage clearance, the Beretta was the easiest pistol to clear that we have tested. In contrast, the CZ's small ejection port created difficulty in clearing spent cases. The magazine should always be removed from the CZ in clearing a problem.

We moved to field maintenance. The Beretta is broken down by locking the slide to the rear and rotating a captive takedown lever. The CZ requires the slide and frame be lined up and the slide lock pressed out. The Beretta's easier takedown and captive slide-lock and takedown lever gave the gun superior marks. The CZ is of an earlier generation, more akin to the Hi-Power than the SIG or Beretta.

Both pistols feature a drop safety or positive firing pin block. The Beretta has a loaded chamber indicator in the form of an extractor that extends when the gun is chamber loaded. The Beretta can be loaded and made ready without touching the trigger. The CZ can also when carried cocked and locked. In administrative handling, the Beretta gets high marks. I have collected many examples of accidental and negligent discharge but never one with the Beretta. But none with the much less well distributed CZ either.

I realized that firing Winchester ball ammunition was not a complete test of reliability. This ammunition functions well in any firearm and is good for combat firing and handling tests.

I broke open the ammo chest and found over 30 different types of 9mm Luger. For some I had only 20 rounds or so on hand, so limited firing to 10 rounds in each gun. National Institute of Justice (NIJ) standards for service pistols call for cleaning a handgun after firing 300 rounds. I had not cleaned either gun in 750 rounds and did not clean them for this test. In fairness, I did lightly lube each with Birchwood Casey gun oil. Guns can be lightly lubed for carry, but must be more heavily lubricated for extensive range work.

Mixed Loads
The loads ranged from 880 to 1,495 feet-per-second (fps) in velocity, and 88 to 147 grains in weight-able to give a fair test. I do not use a machine rest, preferring to keep in touch with reality. I quit the range and thoroughly cleaned both pistols.

Several modern pistols feature polygonal rifled barrels that are not friendly to lead bullets. The Beretta and the CZ are conventionally rifled and work quite well with hard cast bullets. I wished to qualify each pistol's potential with handloads as well.

Factory ammunition was comprised of some ordinary and some high performance, premium ammunition. The Beretta edged the CZ in absolute accuracy but not by an overwhelming margin.

The verdict? I am impressed by each handgun. Either is a worthy companion. By the same token, each is so different that many shooters will strongly prefer one over the other. The CZ fit most hands better and was faster and more accurate in high speed drills. It offers cocked and locked carry. For many, that settles the argument. The Beretta is the more practical choice for general issue and proven to be extraordinarily reliable.

It is the man or woman behind the gun that will settle this contest.