The new CZ Shadow 2 Orange sticks to the basics when it comes to a competition pistol—and for good reason. The Shadow 2 is one of the most popular pistols on the competitive shooting circuit, but for 2019, CZ decided to do even better. The Shadow 2 Orange’s slide and frame are hand-fitted to ensure optimal operation and superior accuracy. It’s also fitted with a barrel bushing to wring out that extra degree of performance.
To help shooters reach their ultimate potential, the trigger has been custom-tuned and crafted with a short reset. And I say “custom-tuned” because the double-action pull measured 6.25 pounds on average, and the single-action pull was a mere 2.86 pounds. For those not familiar with the Shadow 2, it has a traditional double-action/single-action (DA/SA) operating system, though it can be carried cocked and locked like a 1911 thanks to its external thumb safety. Its all-steel construction makes it a hefty heater, but also helps tame recoil for faster splits.
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Like the Walther, the CZ has serrations on top of the slide, but no extravagant features like lightening cuts, a threaded barrel or an optics-ready package. All the work is under the hood, so to speak. But it does feature a robust nitride finish, a reversible mag release and a large ambidextrous safety that’s easy to reach in a hurry. For a bit of flair, the CZ also boasts thin aluminum grips and baseplates that are bright orange and will definitely let folks at the range know you’re coming.
