Okay, so I'm kinda cheating here......Re-posting a couple of my older reveiews.....but they're still relevant...
SP01 Phantom:
The Phantom is 100% Czech Republic made. It has a black polycoat slide of forged steel and a polymer frame w/ two sets of steel rail inserts that are both dove-tailed and pinned in place by 3 pins each.
Overall measurements:
OAL: 8 1/4"
BBL: 4 3/4"
HEIGHT: 5 7/8" ( w/ the 18 shot mag that extends 5/8" below the grip frame, just over 5 1/4 with std 16 shot w/ flat base pad.)
WEIGHT: emtpy approx: 27 oz., loaded, depending on bullet weight.
I'll start w/ the frame:
The The frame is wider than the std CZ75 frame at 1 3/16", requiring a longer slide release at 1 3/8". The steel inserts are each just over 1" in length. The front insert is located over the trigger and houses the trigger group and is also where the kidney shaped cam block resides, thus taking all the stress when the barrel is dropping out of engagement with the slide during the unlocking/unloading portion of the firing cycle.
This arrangement is a very strong set-up as the rail inserts aren't just some thin sheet metal molded into the frame like the Glock or ther HK USP. These inserts are made of forged and milled steel blocks.
The rear insert houses the fire control group and hammer group. The trigger actuates the sear by a std CZ dual trigger bar that lifts as it moves to the rear, making for a very smooth DA pull of approx 9-10 lbs. Keep in mind the DA pull is rather short due to the pistol being decocked for carry where the hammer rides in a half-cock position. The SA pull is approx 5 lbs.
The trigger guard is a big ugly square arrangement resembling Cyrano's proboscis, however ugly, it is absolutely functional and offers all the room in the world for even the largest gloved paw. There is a very generous undercut relief below the trigger guard allowing the shooter's hand to ride nice and high on the CZ's already world famous ergonomic grip.
The frame comes w/ 2 back strap inserts that are changed out by drifting out the mainspring retaining pin much in the same fashion as one would to change out a main spring housing on a 1911. Care should be exercised when performing this as the steel lanyard loop and hammer strut spring is held in place by this pin and is under pressure.
I have kept the std backstrap in place as it fits my hands perfectly. The circumference of the main grip portion is right on 5 1/2". Up higher just under the beavertail and trigger guard the circumference is 5 1/8" the reach to the trigger in half-cock DA is 7 1/4". Reach to trigger in SA is 6 3/4". Reset is approx: 1/8".
The grip portion of the frame has a very usable combination of checkering and texturing that actually works w/o abrading one's hands & fingers, unlike the USP (too harsh) or the M&P (cosmetic texturing only, no grip enhancment whatsoever).
The decocking-only lever is located on the left rear of the frame in a postion similar to the 1911's thumb safety but higher so that even a high thumbs hold won't inadvertently actuate it. To decock, one simply reaches up w/ the thumb and sweeps the lever down and the hammer falls in a controlled manner to a half-cock safety position. To fire in DA, one simply presses the trigger.
The slide:
As stated earlier, the slide is made of forged and milled steel that is then polycoated black. The black polycoat is very well applied rich and deep, very durable. The slide does contain a firing pin safety that does not appear to affect the trigger pull. The extractor is a large, external affair that is located in the conventional position, at the rear of the rather small, but very well scalloped ejection port.
As usual w/ a CZ 75, the rails run the entire length of the slide. CZUSA makes a point of mentioning the scalloping of the sides of the slide from the forward portion of the cocking serrations to the nose of the slide in the same fashion of the SIG P series slides. It's claimed this was done to reduce the weight of the pistol....Ok I'll buy that.....But consider this, the rear of the slide and the slide itself is wider at 1 1/16", than the regular CZ75 and the P01. Make no mistake, this is a big, robust service pistol intended to go to the worst of operating environments.
The sights are high profile fixed w/ 3 dot set-up that is painted in the new Euro-std luminous paint that glows after exposure to light. The rear is dove-tailed and further retained by a small allenscrew. The front is slid into a peculiar (to most other gun makers but std to CZ) forward facing dove-tail and cross-pinned in place.
The barrel is cold hammer-forged, chrome plated inside and out then covered in an oddgrayish oxide coat over the exterior of the barrel, once again, very fugly but super-functional. The guide rod is a very flexible polymer. The recoil spring is conventional.
The magazines that come w/ the Phantom are 18 shot that extend 5/8" below the grip but the std 15rd and newer model B 16 shot flush fit CZ mags work in the SP01 series pistols. Mec-Gar is the producer of all CZ mags, so do your self a favor and buy the Mec-Gars at approx:$24 rather than the CZ "factory" branded mags at approx:$42-$48.
Performance:
From the factory each CZ is supplied with a "Hit pattern data chart." This form shows the data for the test firing of the pistol, by whom, what distance (25m), when (date & time) what ammo used (Sellior & Bellot 115gr FMJ). The group shown is a computer printing of a tgt that has a impact sensors that recorder the 5 shots. This shows the aiming point, mean point of impact, and bullet impact. The group was 2 1/2 tall and 1 3/4 wide, w/ 2 shots touching.
During my own testing I've had the weapon shooting 1 3/4 by 1 3/4 inch groups at 25m. At 10m, where most of my training is done, this pistol can easily place 3rds rapid fire touching, no sweat. Failure drills at the same distance, consisting of a 2 shot controlled pair to the 4"x8" area of the torso, followed w/ a head shot to the 2"x4" block covering the eye brows & nose, from the low-ready are easily accomplished in under 2 seconds.
Although the pistol is quite light, percieved recoil is negligible, thanks in part to the excellent ergos inherent to the 75,w/ it's design that allows the bore axis to sit very low over the web of the hand and I think in part to the flexing of the polymer frame. The very wide beaver tail also distributes energy well making extended shooting sessions a pleasant experience, not so w/ a Hi-Power and some other designs.
I have shot Federal 115gr JHP +P+ 9BPLE and Winchester's LE only 115gr JHP 9+P+( The old Illinois State Police load that had such a good record) blast was stouter than std pressure/velocity 115gr loads, straight-back recoil was same as std loads, but strangely, the muzzle flipped a tad more. The hot LEA only, +p and std ploads are all pussycats in the Phantom. Quick follow-up shots are scary fast and accurate at all reasonable pistol distances. On one occasion while goofing-off, I laid out in the Gunsite roll-over prone and fired a slow 5 shot SA group at a human shillouette at 100m and managed a less than 6" group.
In closing, the CZ75 SP01 Phantom is a hell-built for stout full-sized "battle field" service pistol that is meant to compete against the HK USP9 & P30L, Glock 34, Sig's P226R and Beretta's M9A1 and is rumored to have been specifically designed for an unnamed (European?)Special Operations Group as they wanted a full-sized CZ 75 with a rail that was lighter than the previously released SP01 Tactical, which was considered tooo heavy. I have no information as to whether or not it was adopted. This pistol is certainly not intended to be a concealed EDC but can be pressed into such a role if needed.
If you're in the market for a full-size polymer frame service pistol take a close look at the Phantom, once you get past it's fugliness, you'll be pleasantly suprised, especially by the price which should be around $525.00 +/-.
Accuracy 9/10, Reliability 10/10, Value & Satisfaction of Ownership 10/10!...Too bad these aren't available in the US anymore...
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