The CZ Shadow 2 is only for shooters who want to kick ass and make others turbo jealous. It’s by far one of the most accurate pistols I’ve ever shot. It excels in a variety of areas, but is predominately used to crush the competition in practical pistol matches. Keep reading to see my personal experiences with the pistol, as well as the consensus from other reviewers on the internet.
For this review, I will be covering all the details about the CZ Shadow 2, as well as some of the latest variations of the pistol. I will also cover different accessories you might wish to pick up, such as holster, grips, and a few other items.
CZ Shadow 2 Key Points
- It was designed primarily to dominate USPSA Production Division
- There is a new red dot optic version available
- Extremely Reliable
- Very Low Recoil
- Excellent Value for Money
For those of you who have followed this site for a while, you’ll know that I write about competition shooting. If it weren’t for USPSA competition shooting, this pistol would not exist. It was clearly designed to become the pistol of choice for those competing in USPSA Production Division, which is the least modified iron site division in USPSA. If you have interest in trying USPSA, then checkout this how to guide.
Many people think that because this pistol was designed for competition it cannot serve any other purpose. Based on my own experiences, that is incorrect. I think there are three key areas where this pistol can do well. Before we get into that, let’s review some basic info about the pistol and cover it’s design features.
CZ Shadow 2 Design and Features
This pistol is designed as a full size pistol, with an extremely heavy steel frame. The pistol weighs in at 46.5 ounces, which is about a half pound heavier than other full size pistols, like 1911s.
It is double/single action, meaning that your first trigger pull is longer, and the second trigger pull is very short and crisp. Most reviewers have measured the double action trigger pull at around 8.5 pounds. The single action pull is generally between 2-3 pounds.
I can tell you that the double action pull is very long and smooth. If I didn’t know the double action pull was around 8 pounds, I would have guess it was closer to 5 pounds. The single action is very light with a short reset. I know some competitors modify their triggers for even lighter pulls, but I’ve never felt that the trigger weight was a hindrance.
The CZ Shadow 2 also comes with an extended mag release that is adjustable for angle and can be swapped to the opposite side for left handed shooters. It features adjustable iron sights with a fiber optic front post. It also has a very high extended beavertail which allows for a high grip on the gun.
CZ really made an effort to put the weight in the gun where it would do the most to tame recoil. The slide itself rides on internal rails rather than more conventional external rails. The slide is also smaller than most pistols, reducing reciprocating mass. CZ has placed a lot of weight forward in the dust cover, which tames the recoil quite well, allowing for fast follow on shots.
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CZ Shadow 2 Reliability
When I review any firearm, the first question I ask is how reliable is it? Personally, I have no use for cool guns that only work occasionally. It doesn’t matter if you are a tactical shooter, or a competition guy, if it doesn’t work when you need, then it’s a paper weight in my book.
This gun works. I’ve put between 3000-4000 rounds through it, and I’ve only had one occasion where the slide didn’t fully return into battery. I don’t blame the gun for that, as I was shooting reloaded ammo, and I think it was a light load. It has never malfunctioned shooting factory ammo. I should also point out that I’ve only cleaned the gun once in 3000 rounds, and it continues to fire with just the occasional lube job.
Other reviewers on the interwebz have come to similar conclusions, and found it to be just as reliable. I should point out that I have not put it through it’s paces in very harsh environments such as getting it muddy or very wet. So I can’t recommend it for any Navy SEAL raids.
CZ Shadow 2 Experiences and Uses
When you first pick up this gun you notice two things right off the bat. First, it is very heavy, as I alluded two earlier. Second, it has very sharp checkering on the front and back strap. The grips are also very grippy and are very thin from the factory.
To my mind this gun serves three roles very well. Obviously it is great for practical shooting. I also think it could do well as a home defense pistol as it does have a rail, and you can mount a flashlight on it. It also has a 17 round magazine capacity right out of the box, which is more than sufficient for home defense.
I don’t think it would be ideal as a carry gun because it is very heavy, and it would be hard to conceal due to it’s size. It wouldn’t be impossible, but I just think there are better carry guns out there.
Lastly, I think this firearm would be an excellent pistol to teach someone to shoot with. In an ideal world, a .22 caliber is best, as it has no recoil, and little blast when fired. This gun would be a close second in both regards.
Remember, it’s weight helps to diminish felt recoil and muzzle flip. It also doesn’t have a very large circumference around the grip, so smaller adults and minors should be able to grip the firearm appropriately. Obviously, you should adhere to the firearms safety rules, and seek out a qualified instructor when learning to shoot.
CZ Shadow 2 Accuracy
As you might expect with a competition gun, this pistol is accurate. Most reviewers can reliably shoot sub 1.5 inch groups from a 25 yard bench rest. Normally I don’t bother with these kinds of tests, as I don’t plan on doing any bench rest shooting, but it is nice to know that the gun is very mechanically accurate. In my own experience, I’ve found that 50 yard off hand targets are no particular challenge for the Shadow.
CZ Shadow 2 Variants
There are three variants of the CZ Shadow 2 series of pistols. There is the standard variant, and then there is a version called the AccuShadow, which has a barrel bushing that increases accuracy over the Standard CZ Shadow 2.
The newest variant is the CZ Shadow 2 Optics Ready, which was just released in the second quarter of 2020. This variant comes with a plate that holds the rear iron sight, and can be removed to mount a red dot optic. This makes the pistol legal to shoot in USPSA Carry Optics Division. For more info on the OR variant read this review.
CZ Shadow 2 Holsters
The vast majority of holsters for the CZ Shadow 2 are kydex holsters. This holster is a simple open top holster with an adjustable clip. I use a competition style holster from the Ben Stoeger Pro Shop. It is picture below.
This holster is for competition shooting, which is what I use mine for. It has adjustable thumb screws that set the amount of retention. It’s a great holster for competition, but it would not be suitable for other duties.
CZ Shadow 2 Magazines and Basepads
For most shooters, there is no need to change the magazines. I’ve used the standard factory magazines, and aftermarket magazines from Mec-Gar, with no issues what so ever. For those who need to add extra capacity for their division, or simply want more rounds, Taran Tactcal makes some excellent magazine extensions. They are pictured below.
CZ Shadow 2 Optics
There are two options for mounting a red dot optic to your Shadow 2. You can have a regular Shadow 2 milled for a specific optic. I would recommend Chris from Fabricated Arms. He has milled slides for me in the past and his craftsmanship and attention to detail are top notch.
You can also purchase the Shadow 2 Optics ready version which has a detachable plate. You then purchase a plate that will fit whatever optic you would like to use on the firearm. I would recommend anything from Trijicon, as they performed very well in my previous review.
CZ Shadow 2 Modifications
To be honest I don’t think this pistol needs any modifications. I specifically purchased the Shadow so I wouldn’t have to spend more money to be competitive in USPSA production division. I know there are many enthusiasts who enjoy personalizing their firearm, and there are quite a lot of additions your can make to the Shadow 2.
If you want to modify the internals, or have some custom gun smithing done to your pistol, then Cajun Gun Works is going to be your go to. They have a great reputation, and have modified hundreds if not thousands of firearms.
If you are looking for something a little easier, there are tons of aftermarket grips and magazine wells you can add to your firearm. I’d recommend checking out Ben Stoeger’s Pro Shop for those types of accessories.
Final Thoughts
The CZ Shadow 2 has been an amazing firearm for me. I’ve used mine very hard, and it hasn’t let me down. It’s not the cheapest firearm ever. You can find regular Shadow 2 models for around $1200 dollars at the time of this writing. The optics ready version retails for around $1500, and the AccuShadow is nearly $2000.
These firearms are very high quality and can stand hard use. They can also be used in other roles besides the competition realm. If you’re in the market for a very high quality pistol, that is incredibly accurate and fun to shoot, then you should give the Shadow 2 a go. Not get out there and start training!
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I noted that the optic capable/ready Shadow 2 is a little heavier but is not listed as a variation on USPSA Production list. Do you see that as an issue for using as a production gun?
No I shouldn’t think so as you can add weight to production guns. If you’re going to be shooting an Area match or something you might try and message an actual range master though.