New shooter with CZ SP-01 vs Shadow 2 for small hands

[ML123]

Hello, I am new and thought I would post this to get some opinions.  Plus I have seen the issue come up a few times and maybe this could be useful to another person with small hands!

 

I am just getting started in shooting sports and have a Glock 17/22 I have been using.  I like it but I have small hands and the bulky Glock grip doesn't fit real well.  I wanted to  upgrade without spending a ton of money on yet another gun so I purchased a new Manual Safety SP-01 which just showed up this week.  The grip fits me well but the trigger is a pretty far reach in DA and I have to still break my grip to hit the mag release.  See pic.

 

The more I look into it the Shadow 2 frame has a undercut trigger guard and higher cut beaver tail which would move my hand higher and possibly fit better with the trigger?

 

I found the answer to that question today when I found a gun shop with a Shadow 2 in stock and got my hands on one.  They had blue grip SA one, a TSO and an Accushadow which I am in love with but is out my price range at this point.  Bottom line is the S2 definitely fits my hand WAY better than the SP-01, I dont have to break my grip to release the mag and I can get my hand up higher and closer to the trigger with way better reach in DA.  Plus I like the front slide serrations better and OMG the trigger on the accushadow is ridiculous.  They also had a TSO which I did not realize has a different grip and it does not fit my hand as well as a regular S2 as it is larger and it to is SA.  I would like DA for dry fire practice which I do frequently so the Blue grips S2 is out.

 

Options and opinions?

If I modify my new unfired SP-01 and put CGW prokit, S2 mag release and Dawson sights on it.  I have $700 into the gun with Shipping and FFL fees,  $370 in parts from CGW $120 for sights and I am $1200 into a gun that still does not have undercut trigger, higher beaver tail, longer slide and no FPB. That is about what a new S2 cost from what I am seeing on Gunbroker?

 

My original plan was to put the Dawson sights on it with a spring kit polish a few things and be done with it until I get better at shooting and CZ releases the DWX which I think is going to be my must have gun.  I already bought the gun, the sights and a Mcarbo spring kit and the grip on the SP-01 does feel better and fits my hand much better than the Glock.

 

Plus I still need 40 more posts before I can sell it on the classifieds here lol!

 

 

 

[rowdyb]

We already talked but I'll say it publicly. 

If you're shooting IDPA a modded SP01 makes sense. Otherwise I'd take a Shadow 2 every single time.

 

I wear a 7 surgical glove or Medium in most off the shelf gloves for bikes.

[ML123]

I would be a size 7 too, but that is going by palm circumference.  I have short fingers,

 

I am planning to just use it mostly for 3 gun for now but would like to try a USPSA event at some point.

 

Thanks

[ck1]

With either gun, depending on what grips you choose, you should be just fine... the thin CZ grips (like come stock on an S2) make the grip even thinner than a 1911 with slims, and IMO the thins are great for peeps with smaller hands. If the DA reach is too much, you can add a reach-reduction kit that will bring the DA trigger in a little and shorten the reach. 
The S2’s grip is a bit larger than the S1/SP-01, but not by much.

If you think you’re going to be playing IDPA with the gun at some point, like Rowdy said, the S1/SP-01 is the one to get because of IDPA weight limits. But also both guns have a different balance/feel and the S1/SP-01 guns tend to feel more “neutral” while the S2’s definitely feel and handle heavier.

Having owned and shot both, I don’t think you could go wrong choosing either one, and while I shoot an S2 now and do think it’s worth the extra dough, there are times I miss the balance of the S1’s...

Personally, one of the biggest differences to me concerning their different grips is the safeties: I absolutely hate the low-shelf safeties the S1’s come with, and change them out immediately to the thin safeties or even the ones that come on SP-01’s.

[Stafford]

I have smaller hands and the S2 is very comfortable with the stock aluminum grips. I also have an SP-01 and the factory rubber grips are a bit too thick for my liking. I switched out with some G10 thin grips from GUUUN grips for the SP-01 and it’s much better for me. 

[FALAR]

1 hour ago, Stafford said:

I have smaller hands and the S2 is very comfortable with the stock aluminum grips. I also have an SP-01 and the factory rubber grips are a bit too thick for my liking. I switched out with some G10 thin grips from GUUUN grips for the SP-01 and it’s much better for me. 

 

I think a lot of people read online that the Shadow 2 has an "increased grip size" and kind of read too much into it.

 

I don't have small hands but I can't see how someone that did would have issues with the Shadow 2.  With slim grips on it you won't find a thinner doublestack out there to my knowledge.

 

The Shadow 2 is a bit longer front to back than a Shadow 1 or standard SP-01 and that's it, side to side they are the same.  For some people they definitely prefer one profile to the other but I can't see someone adapting well to one and not being able to do well with the other.

 

[risingsun]

I used to have the first gen Shadow (SP-01 Shadow) and now I have a Shadow 2 (black factory grip).

 

The SP-01 Shadow had a factory rubber grip. And I feel that the Shadow 2 grip is slightly slimmer than the SP-01 Shadow. I like both grips, but for my small-ish hands I prefer the S2 grip.

 

Hope this helps!

 

[ML123]

Thanks for the replies.  I have a S2 on the way will now have two CZs lol.  The S2 just really fit my hand well and honestly think I will like the thin grips.  I cant wait to get it and shoot it.  I am probably going to keep the SP-01 too and may modify it and do the CGW pro kit with trigger upgrade.

 

I will try and post some pics of the differences with my hand and how they fit.  The gun shop I went to had a SP-01, S2 and TSO and I had all three to handle at the same time and the S2 really fit my hand that much better. 

[eerw]

For me. I’d pick an SP01 Shadow any day over a Shadow 2

 

the smaller shadow fits and feels better in my hands. Performance is equal.

[IHAVEGAS]

Going back to CZ's original marketing/release video with the S2, they supposedly put some priority on making sure that it fit their lady pro shooter and by extension customers with small hands. 

I have 6'1 guy hands, the SP01 (and Tanfo's) fits well and points naturally for me. I sold the Shadow 2. 

[LuvDog]

I have both.. and I have small hands. It's hard to say which one works better for anyone until you pick them up.

 

On paper, the S2 is slightly bigger, and I would agree that the grip of the S1 feels smaller (Hennings on both).  But I like the way I grip the S2 better... the shape feels better and I tend to try to regrip it less.

 

Of course... I shoot the S1 bettter, so the only true answer is to shoot them both and figure out which one suits you the best

 

[belus]

On 7/2/2020 at 7:11 AM, eerw said:

For me. I’d pick an SP01 Shadow any day over a Shadow 2

 

the smaller shadow fits and feels better in my hands. Performance is equal.

 

I've also gone back to the original frame from a S2, though in my case it's the 75 Shadow (aka Tac II). The gun feels more nimble to me with the short dust cover.

[KlausN]

How small is small?  I wear a large surgical glove and need palm swell grips to make either the S2 or the P01 fit my hand. I also have long fingers.  My wife wears S or XS gloves and she can’t shoot my SP01 in DA because of the trigger reach.  Most like the S2 better because of a little less felt recoil and the under cut. I myself like the S2 grip better but I shoot a SP01 in USPSA and IDPA, production, CO, ESP and SSP, all with the same gun and two uppers.  

[hawaiifivebro]

I have medium ish sized hands and relatively short fingers, it probably is mainly because I started with a S2, but I prefer the S2 over the sp-01's I've handled without a doubt.  Whenever I recommend a gun to anyone any more it's purely based on what feels best in their hands that allows them to manipulate the gun without much effort fwiw.

[Packageman]

I love the SP 01.   S2 is awesome also