Of our eight contenders in the full-sized category, three have MSRPs over $1,000: the Zev Technologies O.Z-9 ($1,729), the Walther Q5 Match Steel Frame Pro ($1,599) and the CZ Shadow 2 Orange ($1,999). But after you check them out, it quickly becomes obvious why they command such premium prices.
For Glock aficionados, Zev Technologies has become a household name for its complete range of aftermarket accessories for the Glock platform. In a way, the company’s business has been about making Glock pistols what they should really be in the 21st century. But for 2019, rather than focus on accessories, the company introduced its first complete pistol ready to roll right out of the box.
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Aside from the stellar components that have received such wide acclaim, like the ZEV Technologies Pro Flat-Face trigger, signature slide and threaded, match-grade barrel, the O.Z-9 raises the bar with its new patent-pending steel receiver. Somewhat similar to other modular pistols, the O.Z-9 has a removable, full-length steel receiver that carries a serial number and is recognized as the firearm. What makes it different is the heft and rigidity it adds to the package compared to other modular pistols, as well as the increased rail-to-slide contact for improved accuracy.
The O.Z-9 we received was the black variant with the gold-tinted barrel, and it included a ZEV Technologies Pro Plus mag well along with two 17-round magazines—all shipped in a custom SKB hard case. Other perks included an optics-ready slide with a black DLC finish, a red fiber-optic front sight and an all-black rear.
