The things you learn at the range...

I saw that my local range/gunshop had BOTH a CZ 75 Kadet .22 AND a SIG P226 Classic .22 available to rent. So, I made some range time right after work and worked out these guns--I've been wanting a .22 pistol for some time, but obstacles keep manifesting. It might not be considered manly to say, but the lowly .22 is my favorite round, because it's so cheap, useful, and dammit fun for practice.

First I tried the SIG. The Classic 22 is actually a major caliber P226 (better known as the sidearm of the SEALs and Texas Rangers) with a .22 slide/barrel kit factory installed; it comes with a coupon that allows you to buy a 9mm, .40 SW, or .357 SIG slide/barrel kit for $400. I liked that idea, so I favored this model. However, I had a huge problem shooting straight with this SIG. I've shot a P226 in 9mm and really liked it; today I was all over the paper--to be fair, I was probably milking the gun (overly squeezing the grip, thus subtly turning the barrel) and flinching a bit. But the gun itself also misfed and stovepiped several rounds, practically on every magazine.

This is the SIG 226 .22 Classic--essentially a SIG 226 with a .22 conversion kit installed at the factory:

Then I tried the CZ. What can I say, it was... amazing. The holes appeared wherever I pointed the gun. As if I couldn't miss. Actually, I could miss when I got a little cocky, but if I focused, it was dead on. The CZ 75 (I've shot the 9mm version as well) is probably the most accurate, natural handling, ergonomic gun I've ever shot. No FTFs whatever. Needless to say, a CZ Kadet immediately went on my buy list. Highly recommended.

Here's the CZ Kadet--based off the CZ 75B, this is a very easy albeit full-size pistol to shoot: