Issue 09 Preview – CZ Czechmate Dick Jones Join the Conversation At RECOIL, we review every product fairly and without bias. Making a purchase through one of our links may earn us a small commission, and helps support independent gun reviews. Read our affiliate policy. Find out more about how we test products. Photography by Suzi Nelson Your Move… Out of the Box, the CZ Czechmate Is a Race-Ready 9mm Love them or loathe them, race guns represent the top of the pile when it comes to accuracy, speed, and power. At the 2012 Midway USA Bianchi Cup, I had the opportunity to shoot an Open Division 1911 pistol. My competitive shooting career has encompassed almost every form of shooting, and I’ve shot a lot of firearms — but none have impressed me more than that 9mm Open gun. I had admired and handled these types of guns before, but actually shooting a gun that’s designed specifically to be both fast and accurate with little regard to the eventual cost is memorable to say the least. Competitive venues typically have various divisions for participants to enter, depending on the type of weapon they’re using and how extensively it has been customized. Most of the guns I’ve used in my life have been mildly modified to tweak their performance. In the case of an Open pistol, just about any modification is allowed; the only limit is how much money you have to spend. In my case, that amount was limited to around three grand, which in this game usually doesn’t get you a whole lot. Enter the CZ Czechmate. Fully Loaded Although CZ designed this pistol as an out-of-the-box race gun, it’s far from being a one trick pony. The Czechmate is quite a value, coming bundled with various options to allow the owner to configure the pistol in different ways. It arrives with a compensator, but there’s also an excellent set of iron sights and a spare barrel. The compensator is designed for high-pressure loads in 9mm cases, duplicating the ballistics of the .38 Super cartridge and bumping the Czechmate into the Major caliber category for USPSA and IPSC competitions. An extra barrel allows the owner to reconfigure it as a regular 9mm for events like Steel Challenge, with a much lower power factor. Other bonus items in the package include four magazines, three that hold 20 rounds and one that swallows 26 rounds. This alone represents almost $300 of value with the current price of competition magazines. Additional parts include a loader, a spare extractor, an extra slide release, and four replacement slide release pins. For the rest of this article, subscribe digitally here: RECOIL Issue 9 Why you can trust RECOIL Since our founding in 2012, RECOIL remains the premier firearms lifestyle publication for the modern shooting enthusiast. We deliver cutting-edge coverage of guns, gear, accessories and technology. We go beyond basic reviews, providing no B.S. buyer’s guides, hands-on testing and expert analysis on everything from firearms and survival equipment to watches and vehicles. Our reviewers are the backbone of our operation and come from diverse shooting backgrounds: Former law enforcement, military veterans, competitive shooters, seasoned hunters and plain old firearms enthusiasts. Furthermore, we’re not just gun experts, but dedicated journalists who adhere to the strictest standards of our profession. At RECOIL, editorial independence is the foundation of everything we publish and the cornerstone of reader trust. Our editors, writers and content creators make all editorial decisions independently, free from outside influence. That boils down to: advertisers don’t dictate our coverage, the outcomes of our reviews or what we recommend in our buyer’s guides. First and always, our commitment is to our audience—ensuring every review and article is accurate, unbiased, and driven by real-world experience. Whether you’re selecting your next firearm, upgrading your gear, or exploring the latest innovations in the shooting world, RECOIL provides the trusted insights you need to make informed decisions. Learn more about our Editorial Standards and how we review products. NEXT STEP: Download Your Free Target Pack from RECOILFor years, RECOIL magazine has treated its readers to a full-size (sometimes full color!) shooting target tucked into each big issue. Now we've compiled over 50 of our most popular targets into this one digital PDF download. From handgun drills to AR-15 practice, these 50+ targets have you covered. Print off as many as you like (ammo not included). Get your pack of 50 Print-at-Home targets when you subscribe to the RECOIL email newsletter. We'll send you weekly updates on guns, gear, industry news, and special offers from leading manufacturers - your guide to the firearms lifestyle.You want this. Trust Us.
