The CZ name is recognized worldwide as a maker of high-quality firearms. As a competitive shooter, I’ve seen CZs used in many shooting sports by shooters of all calibers. These guns have consistently performed exceptionally well in competition, with minimal issues, excellent ergonomics, and easy-to-use controls. It’s also hard to negate the quality of a firearm when it’s used and shot by the best shooter in the world, Eric Grauffel. So, it’s only logical for CZ to leverage this experience for the concealed carry market with the Shadow 2 Carry.
The CZ Shadow 2 Carry
The latest addition to the CZ lineup is the CZ Shadow 2 Carry, a pistol “Born from Sport, tailored for EDC,” as advertised by CZ. I’m most familiar with the CZ Shadow 2, having seen it at various ranges and shooting competitions across the US. If you’re familiar with the full-size gun, the carry model is going to feel right at home in your hands.
I was able to get my hands on the new Carry pistol to review, along with an EDC optic that paired perfectly with this gun.
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What to Look for in a Carry Gun
Friends and family members ask me all the time what gun they should carry. I never reply with one specific manufacturer or model of firearm. Instead, I give them advice on what to look for in a carry gun. Then, I encourage them to use this information to find what works best for them.
I’ll recommend a dozen or more options. But only if I have tested the gun myself and would carry it, or have used it as a carry gun.
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First and foremost, a carry gun must be safe, which means it must be drop-safe, with proper built-in safeties or with necessary safety controls. It must be reliable, meaning it will run various types of ammunition, fire even when not oiled or cleaned, and shoot accurately at close range.
After that, I recommend finding the largest gun, with the most capacity, that you can carry concealed on your body. That alone will eliminate different firearms for different people based on body size, height, build, and other factors. The reason I recommend the largest gun a person can carry concealed is that smaller, shorter-barrel-length pistols handle differently. They will have significantly more muzzle rise, felt recoil, and will be harder to hold onto when firing.
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Lastly, the gun must be comfortable for you to shoot and carry. This means you should be able to easily reach the trigger and controls, get a proper grip on the gun each time, and manage the recoil when firing it. You need to be able to wear it comfortably on your body, fully loaded, or you won’t carry it daily.
The bonus extras to look for in a carry gun are a Picatinny rail for mounting a light, an optic cut for mounting a red dot optic, and good aftermarket support.
CZ Delivers on Safety Features
The CZ Shadow 2 Carry pistol checks all the boxes of what I recommend in a carry gun. It comes down to comfort and concealment, which depend on the individual. The CZ Shadow 2 Carry is, first and foremost, built with safety in mind.
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This pistol fires in both single-action and double-action and is designed with a heavy (almost 12-pound) double-action trigger pull. It also has a longer travel than the single-action pull, which is intentional as a safety feature. The firing pin block secures the firing pin from moving until the trigger is pulled.
Finally, the Shadow 2 Carry features a decocker that safely releases the cocked hammer, making it ready for safe carry. Once it is decocked, it is set to fire in double-action mode.
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Accuracy and Capacity
CZ uses a cold hammer forging process on its barrels for precision shooting and a longer service life. CZ also offers lifetime warranties on its barrels, guaranteeing against manufacturing defects or precision loss for the life of the product.
The gun weighs 30.7 ounces with an empty magazine, and of course, is heavier when fully loaded. The weight of a firearm contributes to its felt recoil and muzzle rise, which can, in turn, affect its accuracy. A heavier gun will have less felt recoil and less muzzle rise. This makes it easier to control and fire accurate follow-up shots.
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The CZ Shadow 2 Carry is accurate on its own. However, it’s also easier to control and manage in terms of felt recoil due to its weight. This pistol also has a 15-round capacity. This is on the higher side when it comes to guns specifically designed for carry.
Running the Shadow 2 Carry with an Optic
The big win for this pistol is its Shield RMSc optics-ready interface. It allows red dot optics to mount directly on the slide, without the need for an optic plate. An optic plate also typically adds height to the optic. Therefore, it may take some time to get accustomed to the natural point of aim when training with this gun.
Directly mounting a red dot optic allows it to sit closer to the barrel axis, giving a more natural point of aim. Additionally, the backup iron sights can still be used and will co-witness.
I tried a brand-new optic on the CZ Shadow 2 Carry that I found to be great for use with a carry gun. The OMSsc from Shield Sights is a micro compact red dot optic with a translucent roof and a 4 MOA dot. The translucent roof provides a less obstructed field of view, allowing you to find your target more quickly.
This design blew my mind from a pure innovation standpoint. Traditionally, red dot optics have a “window,” whether they have an enclosed or open emitter. This window is typically dark and distracting when trying to find the centered reticle while shooting. This is why a larger red dot optic with a large window is much easier to shoot with than a micro red dot.
The OMSsc sight feels like a larger windowed optic because of the translucent roof. It was less distracting and easier to focus on the target with each subsequent shot.
The Streamlight TLR-1
This pistol also features a Picatinny rail for mounting lights, with multiple positions to accommodate a broader range of lights.
I was curious to find out if the longer Streamlight TLR-1 light would be compatible with the 4-inch barrel CZ Shadow 2 Carry pistol. The three-slot Picatinny rail offers numerous options for mounting small, medium, and large lights. The TLR-1 is an excellent light for a carry gun and has dozens of holster manufacturers designing compatible holsters with retention set on the light.
This light features 300 lumens, a 12,000-candela peak beam intensity, and a 2.5-hour runtime. Two CR123A lithium batteries power it, which are readily available and easy to install. The rail grip clamp system securely detaches and attaches quickly and safely with no tools.
I highly recommend having a light on your carry gun, and Streamlight makes some of the best in the industry.
Ammunition Testing
Once the CZ Shadow 2 Carry checked all my technical and mechanical specifications, I took it to the range for some testing. I specifically used hollow point and defensive ammunition.
I set the target at about seven yards—a realistic distance to use a firearm in a defensive scenario. The groupings did and didn’t surprise me. What I mean by that is that the accuracy of a CZ never ceases to amaze me. However, it also amazes me to see one firearm group different types of ammunition all well.
The Lehigh Defense ammunition had the tightest group. But all the defensive ammunition was around an inch to under an inch and a half.
I Would Recommend the CZ Shadow 2 Carry
I think CZ built a fantastic firearm in the Shadow 2 Carry, and I would use it myself. Therefore, I would recommend it for others. The price of this pistol is more than reasonable considering its features, functionality, reliability, and the quality associated with the CZ name.
I enjoyed reviewing this gun and always look forward to what’s next from the CZ brand.
CZ Shadow 2 Carry Specs
| Gauge | 9mm |
| Action | Single Action/Double Action |
| Capacity | 15 rounds |
| Barrel Length | 4 inches |
| Height | 5.4 inches |
| Width | 1.5 inches |
| Length | 7.5 inches |
| Weight Empty | 30.7 ounces |
| Sights | Luminescent + Optics Ready |
| Grips | Duralumin |
| Safety Features | Safety notch on the hammer, decocker, firing pin block |
| Trigger | Single Action – 4.7 pounds and Double Action – 11.9 pounds |
| MSRP | $1,449.00 |
Performance
| Hornady Critical Defense 115gr FTX – Top Right | |
| Velocity | 1118 fps |
| Accuracy | 1.08 inches |
| Super Vel +P 115 SCHP – Top Left | |
| Velocity | 1058 fps |
| Accuracy | 1.38 inches |
| Fiocchi Defense Dynamics 115gr JHP – Middle | |
| Velocity | 1077 fps |
| Accuracy | 0.93 inches |
| Remington 147 – Bottom Right | |
| Velocity | Unknown (The Chronograph would not pick up this type of ammunition) |
| Accuracy | 1.08 inches |
| Lehigh defense 90 grain 4-inch Barrel | |
| Velocity | 1298 fps |
| Accuracy | 0.63 inches |
(5 Rounds Shot at 7 yards and Chronographed using the Garmin Xero C1 Pro)
