Estimated studying time: 11 minutes
The CZ Shadow 2 Carry brings the center of a match gun to an EDC-sized bundle. It retains the ergonomics and shootability that made the Shadow line a favourite, then trims the footprint to Glock-19 territory and provides a drop-safe, decocker-equipped SA/DA system that is sensible for hid carry.
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What It Is and Who It’s For
Suppose Shadow really feel in a lighter, shorter pistol constructed for real-world use. Should you admired the unique Shadow 2 for its set off, grip contour, and return-to-target manners, this model provides you that very same confidence in a carryable format. It isn’t a USPSA race gun. It’s constructed for hid carry, obligation, and defensive observe by shooters who worth metallic frames and tuned ergonomics.
Dimension, Dealing with, and Ergonomics
Dimensionally, the Shadow 2 Carry sits within the compact candy spot. Top, size, and grip circumference align carefully with a Glock 19 profile, offering a full firing grip appropriate for many fingers. The solid aluminum body retains weight manageable whereas conserving that steady, planted really feel on the shot. The undercut set off guard and excessive beavertail allow you to journey excessive with out slide chunk.
CZ’s inside-the-frame slide rails stay. The slide rides decrease throughout the body, and though the highest of the slide sits visually greater above the net of the hand than many striker pistols, it carries much less reciprocating mass than a typical full-height slide. On the vary that translated to quick, flat monitoring and simple dot or front-sight restoration. Entrance and rear cocking serrations are sharp sufficient to matter with out shredding fingers.
The controls are properly executed. The ambidextrous decocker is constructive. The slide cease is formed otherwise from earlier Shadows and is simple to make use of with out nudging it accidentally. The optics-ready reduce retains the rear sight in place to be able to mount any RMSc-compatible crimson dot on to the slide. Relying on what dot you select, you possibly can nonetheless co-witness irons.
Sights, Ejection Port, and Optics Readiness
Metal luminescent entrance and rear sights ship on the gun. The rear has a ledge you possibly can rack on. I additionally favored the ejection port geometry. With an optic mounted, the port form threw far much less oil and fouling onto the glass than some pistols that vent straight up. Should you plan to run a dot, that small element pays dividends throughout high-round-count observe.
Set off System and Security
This can be a conventional double-action, single-action pistol with a decocker. The Carry provides a firing pin block, which brings true drop security to the Shadow household. I misspoke within the video and acknowledged that that is the primary CZ that’s drop secure once I meant that it was the primary Shadow. In DA, you get a protracted, easy pull for the primary shot. After that, you run a concise SA with a brief reset. The decocker drops the hammer to a secure intercept place for carry.
My pattern measured heavier than 10 kilos in DA (Double Motion) on a Lyman gauge (the gauge maxes out at 10lbs), but felt easy sufficient that I may hold the sights regular via the stroke. Single-action averaged slightly below 5 kilos throughout repeated pulls, generally studying between 4.6 and 4.9 kilos. You’ll be able to stage it if you wish to, nevertheless it breaks cleanly sufficient {that a} straight press works greatest. It ought to be famous that the single-action set off pull on my mannequin is heavier than what CZ advertises of their specs.
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A quirk value noting. On my pistol, the decocker wouldn’t actuate with the journal eliminated. The gun nonetheless fired with out a journal in place, so this isn’t a magazine disconnect. It merely means for those who clear the pistol by eradicating the magazine first, then racking the slide, you can’t decock with the magazine out. That doesn’t change secure clearing procedures. I simply thought it was bizarre.
Accuracy and Reliability
This platform shoots. The within-rail, hammer solid barrel, and tight slide-to-frame match ship accuracy that feels extra like a tuned competitors gun than a mass-market carry gun. With handloaded 147-grain ammo, I printed a ragged one-hole group from a relaxation with iron sights. Manufacturing unit 115-grain ball from Herter’s ran positive. Federal Gold Dot and Nosler-branded HST defensive hundreds additionally grouped properly. The pistol confirmed a transparent choice for the 147s, however nothing shot poorly.
Throughout many mags, I skilled no feed or ejection failures. Early in testing, I had a single odd occasion from a relaxation the place the hammer fell with out a bang. I think the shooter enter to the controls whereas on the remainder, not a mechanical challenge. Subsequent capturing has been clear. Ejection was robust and constant, and the gun stayed flat via managed pairs and five-shot strings.
Recoil and Shootability
At 30.7 ounces with an empty magazine, the Shadow 2 Carry has actual mass for a compact. That weight, the bore axis, and the lighter reciprocating slide mix to soak recoil, so that you spend extra time seeing sights and fewer time herding the gun again onto goal. The SA reset is brief, and I didn’t even discover it. Managed cadence capturing at 7 to fifteen yards felt pure. Pushing the tempo to twenty to 25 yards on metal confirmed the sensible accuracy you anticipate from a Shadow.
Construct, End, and Equipment
Match and end are wonderful. The black anodized grips and black slide body a clear, purposeful look. The solid aluminum body exhibits no burrs or device marks. It ships optics-ready, with luminescent metal sights, a full-length accent rail, and two 15-round magazines with witness holes. The included nylon case is healthier than common. You additionally get a cleansing rod and handbook.
Carry Use
This gun feels constructed for actual carry. The DA first shot provides a margin of security for appendix or duty-grade holsters while you practice correctly and is easy sufficient to not be a assured wasted shot. The decocker helps you get there with out gymnastics. The body rail helps you to mount a compact WML, and there are many good choices that may doubtless not lengthen previous the muzzle. The grip texturing and contouring lock the gun within the hand, and the general dimension of the Carry goes to let most individuals carry hid with out printing underneath a canopy garment.
If you need a skinny subcompact, this isn’t it. If you need a compact that carries like a service pistol and shoots like a match gun, that is the lane. I’d carry it with out hesitation.
Technical Specs
Caliber: 9×19 Journal capability: 15 Security options: Security notch on hammer, Decocker, Firing pin block Grips: Duralumin Body materials: Cast aluminum alloy Set off reset: 0.2–0.3 in Set off journey: SA 0.4 in, DA 0.6 in Set off pull: SA 4.7 lb, DA 11.9 lb Set off kind: SA/DA Thread: No Sights: Luminescent Barrel size: 4 in Top: 5.4 in Width: 1.5 in Size: 7.5 in Weight (empty magazine): 30.7 oz
Value and Worth
Avenue costs look to settle close to the thirteen-hundred mark. That pits the Shadow 2 Carry towards high-end polymer compacts and plenty of metal-frame DA/SA choices, and even a few of the newer 2011s. You pay greater than an entry-level striker pistol, however you get a forged-frame gun with tuned ergonomics, OR functionality, and true Shadow lineage. Should you worth how a gun shoots and handles greater than chasing the bottom value, the value tracks the efficiency.
The Backside Line
The Shadow 2 Carry takes confirmed CZ geometry and delivers it in a compact you possibly can dwell with day-after-day. It balances pace, management, and accuracy, then layers on the options that matter for defensive use: decocker, firing pin block, metal sights, and optics readiness. The set off is heavier than the gamer Shadows in each really feel and numbers, nevertheless it stays easy, predictable, and efficient. The pistol ran clear, shot flat, and made small teams with high quality ammo. In case your carry gun should shoot like your vary gun, put this one in your shortlist.
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