New For 2023: CZ Shadow 2 Compact

CZ-USA introduced an affordable, yet competition-ready CZ-75 type pistol, with its Shadow 2 line-up. Designed for “production” classes of action-shooting competitions, the company expanded its Shadow 2 offerings over the years, to include everything from optics-ready to single-action-only models. For 2023, CZ-USA is introducing the Shadow 2 Compact, what the company calls a “smaller, lighter, optics-ready DA/SA competition pistol”. 

The Shadow 2 Compact is a smaller and lighter version of the full-size, steel-frame CZ Shadow 2 pistol.

The Shadow 2 Compact has many of the features of the Shadow 2 upgrades to the CZ-75. This includes an extended frame dust cover that has an M1913 Picatinny rail machined into it, a higher beavertail, undercut trigger guard and checkered front and back straps. The manual safety lever is bilateral, and the magazine release can be placed on either the right or left side. The trigger is lightened with a shorter reset. Grips are machined out of aluminum. Sights are a front post with fiber-optic insert combined with a click-adjustable for elevation and drift-adjustable for windage rear that uses a serrated notched blade. The Shadow 2 Compact uses the same optics mounting plate system as the full-size Shadow 2.  

The Shadow 2 Compact uses the same optics plate mounting system as the full-size Shadow 2.

While the original Shadow 2 had a longer slide and barrel than a standard CZ-75, the Shadow 2 Compact goes in the opposite direction. The cold hammer-forged barrel is shortened by 0.89” to 4.00”. The overall height shrinks from 6.18” to 5.40”. Capacity is 15 rounds. At 30.69 ozs., the forged 7075 aluminum frame Compact model weighs a full pound less than the the full-size, steel-frame Shadow 2.  

The CZ Shadow 2 Compact has an MSRP of $1,299. For more information, visit cz-usa.com.