The CZ Shadow 2 Might Be the Best Competition Pistol Available

CZ Shadow 2 Pistol lead Athlon Outdoors Rendezvous — CZ checkered both front and rear straps more aggressively for a positive no-slip grip.

CZ Shadow 2 Pistol aim range Athlon Outdoors Rendezvous — The CZ Shadow 2 has a longer barrel, longer slide and longer dust cover to absorb the already light 9mm recoil.

CZ Shadow 2 Pistol trigger Athlon Outdoors Rendezvous — CZ built its next-gen Shadow 2 to be longer and heavier in an effort to reduce splits or time between shots by adding weight.

CZ Shadow 2 Pistol grip Athlon Outdoors Rendezvous — The barrel of the Shadow 2 is longer than the 4.6 inches of the previous Shadow by a quarter inch.

The CZ 75 SP-01 has long been a favorite of USPSA shooters for “Production” class. It is easily customizable and has good weight, which makes muzzle flip negligible. The steel-frame gun, chambered in 9mm, is just easy to shoot in general. With the introduction of the CZ Shadow 2, there is a new pistol destined to dominate the competition fields. It is the Shadow evolved!

Firing it at the recent Athlon Outdoors Rendezvous, CZ built its next-gen Shadow 2 to be longer and heavier in an effort to reduce splits or time between shots by adding weight. Both the beavertail and trigger guard are undercut more radically to provide the shooter with the highest hold possible. This puts the shooter’s hands closer to the bore’s axis and aids in reducing muzzle flip.

CZ checkered both front and rear straps more aggressively for a positive no-slip grip. There is a different shape to the slide and the serrations are much more aggressive.

The CZ Shadow 2 has a longer barrel, longer slide and longer dust cover to absorb the already light 9mm recoil. Its barrel is longer than the 4.6 inches of the previous Shadow by a quarter inch. CZ doesn’t cut every Picatinny slot just to make the frame as heavy as possible.

There’s an eye-attracting fiber optic front sight and an elevation-only adjustable rear sight that can be drifted for windage. It’s a rugged rear sight designed to stand up to tens of thousands of rounds USPSA competitors will put through their guns.

There are also a couple different styles of safety levers you can swap in to suit your taste and or hand size. Even the magazine release has three different positions to customize the gun to the shooter.

The Shadow 2 has one of the nicest competition triggers I have ever experienced. It is light and crisp with a firm and short reset.

CZ’s pistol uses the same grips and same mags as the previous Shadow. For the folks who have already been shooting Shadows, this is a welcome addition.

CZ-USA finishes the Shadow 2 with an extremely tough and corrosion resistant black nitride and then goes the extra step to coat the frame and slide with a flat black poly coat. Given the extreme use competitors put their guns through, the Shadow 2 should remain looking good through many seasons of use.

Prices for the Shadow 2 start at $1,299 and go up from there depending on shooter-selected options.

For more information on the CZ Shadow 2, please visit CZ-USA.com.