By Ron Dan
I’ve always had an affinity for two things, blondes and metal-framed, hammer-fired carry guns. Once I got my CCW, my first carry gun was an aluminum Sig P220 Carry SAO. I am not a particularly light or narrow guy, so the minor extra weight of a metal frame is a small inconvenience for the increased confidence and handling advantages. Recently I’ve been carrying the new CZ Shadow 2 Carry.
The Shadow 2 Carry is CZ’s latest evolution in an already successful family of guns that come from the proven CZ 75 lineage. The biggest change here versus other models in the Shadow lineup is the inclusion of a firing pin block to make it more appropriate for carry.
It’s summer in the South, so I’m in shorts and a breezy shirt for my daily attire. Depending on where I’m going or what I’m doing, I will often carry a S&W J-Frame or a Ruger LCP Max. But if I’m heading into the city or a more populated area, I like the assurance of carrying a more mid-size gun. I carry the CZ at my appendix in an ANR Design holster. There are a lot of great AIWB holsters out there that tuck mid- or full-size guns away so you can carry them in summer clothing, and this holster excels at it.
CZ Shadow 2 Carry Specs
The weight of the metal frame isn’t noticeable in a good holster when you’re carrying it, but it makes a big difference on the range when you’re shooting it. This gun handles very closely to its full-size brothers in the Shadow 2 lineup.
Eventually I will outfit this gun with an optic, but I’m going to wait until there’s a good option for the RMSc footprint from one of the more reputable brands like Aimpoint, Leupold, Trijicon or EOTech. Until then, this gun has proven itself to be a great shooter on the range with just iron sights.
Pros: It’s a metal-framed DA/SA compact gun with the DNA from one of the best competition pistols available on the market.
Cons: It’s not as light or thin as some of the micro-compact polymer-framed guns.
