Anyone Tried EAA ? specifically the EZ

[Rocknropes]

So I was browsing through Handgun magazine today and I came across an ad with a slide that read : "Rockledge, FL" which is about 40 min southeast of me and I love local businesses. Has anyone tried them? Im looking at the EZ9 and EZ45. They look like Sig P226's so I was wondering if it's just a knock off. Can anyone attest to the quality and reliability of these Serbian pistols? if you're not familiar, check em out here:

http://www.eaacorp.com/zastava-ez-description.html

The list on them is $499, which seems like a pretty good deal. whatd'ya'all think?

[The Habit]

It certainly appears to be a Sig knock off. EAA makes pretty decent weapons. I'd be interested to know the street price of their .45ACP version. I have a P220 but would definitely consider the EAA for a cheap truck gun.

[kubura]

I have one without a tactical rail (Charles Daly ZDA), and performs as good as my SIG 226.

However, you should know that magaines between the two guns (EZ9/ZDA and SIG 226) will NOT interchange.

You can get ZDA from CDNN without a tactical rail, like mine, for $250.

[Ebb27]

EAA doesn't make any of the guns they sell.

They sell guns made in Europe by various compainies. Like the Witness pistols are made by Tanfoglio of Italy.

Zastava is Yugoslavian company.

I dunno $499 is a lot of money for a Yugoslavin pistol. More than I'd pay for one anyway.

[joe33]

I have an EAA Witness-P, and that's the biggest piece of crap I've ever owned...

[HiVelSword]

It certainly appears to be a Sig knock off. EAA makes pretty decent weapons. I'd be interested to know the street price of their .45ACP version. I have a P220 but would definitely consider the EAA for a cheap truck gun.

Agreed. Especially since it's got a 10 round flush fit mag.

Also, American Handgunner actually has one on the cover. I just glanced at the article and they said it was a decent piece. (for not being a 1911) :rofl:

[Rocknropes]

So they're basically crap? if it's true what kubura said about it being around $250 new, that doesn't sound too bad. it couldnt' be as bad as a hipoint right? anyway, I'd like to hear more about the quality and reliability including specifics about why it's bad or good.

[kubura]

Read this review:

http://www.genitron.com/REV-CD-ZDA/CharlesDaly-ZDA.html

[kubura]

BTW, Serbian Special Operations Unit, "The Red Berets" use this gun:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=W2xbc0vw76I

CZ99/EZ9/ZDA can be seen in the following scenes of this video:

3:07; 3:10; 3:53; 3:56; 7:11-7:34

[Rocknropes]

hm... after reading that review, they don't sound so bad. Definitely worth checking out!

[rotax650]

I had a witness .45 acp, it was the most inacurate pistol I have ever shot. It would fte about every 20 rounds or so no matter what ammo I used or what I did. I think I give about $150 used for it from a buddy,,,some buddy he was..lol.

[kubura]

Tangfoglio Witness series pistols have nothing to do with this thread, except that their importer from Italy to the USA is EAA.

CZ99/EZ9/ZDA pistols, Rocknropes is asking about, are made by Zastava in Kragujevac, Serbia.

Apples and oranges. :rollingeyes:

[kubura]

SIG 226
and
CZ99/EZ9/ZDA

[Ebb27]

Do they just look like a Sig or did they copy the design of the internals as well.

[kubura]

From world.guns.ru:


Type: Double Action
Calibers: 9x19mm Luger / Parabellum and .40S&W
Weight: 860 g empty; 1145 g loaded with ammunition
Length: 190 mm
Barrel length: 108 mm
Capacity: 15 rounds (9mm) or 10 rounds (.40)

The CZ-99 pistol (also sometimes referred to as CZ99) was developed by the former Crvena Zastava arms factory from former Yugoslavia, now Zastava Arms Co from Serbia and Montenegro. The CZ-99 was developed as a service pistol, and is also available for export sales. The copies of this pistols were briefly manufactured in Israel and South Africa. In general, CZ-99 appears to be a good combat pistol, well made, relatively inexpensive and with decent ergonomics.

The CZ-99 is apparently patterned after famous SIG-Sauer P226 pistol, but with several modifications. The CZ-99 is a short recoil operated, locked breech pistol. Barrel is locked to the slide by single large lug, which engages the ejection port. The Browning-type cam system is used to lock and unlock the barrel from the slide. Frame is made from aluminum alloy, slide is stamped from sheet steel, with separate steel breech block insert, fixed by the cross pin. Double action trigger system, with external hammer, has an automatic firing pin safety, and ambidextrous decocker levers, on both sides of the grip frame. The decocker levers also operate the slide stop, reducing the number of manual controls. Pistol is also equipped with loaded chamber indicator. Standard version of CZ-99 has no manual safeties, but there also is a version with manual safety, mounted on the slide. This version is designated as a CZ-99S. Compact variant of the basic pistol, with shortened barrel and slide, is designated as CZ-99 Compact. Standard sights are of fixed variety, with white dot inserts, and both sights are dovetailed into the slide.

http://world.guns.ru/handguns/hg133-e.htm

[Ebb27]

They say it's "apparently" patterened after the 226, but with "several modifications".

I'm curious as to what the similiarities and differences are, but the article is generalized and doesn't give any real details. A Glock uses a single large lug which engages the ejection port and the Browning type cam system. Lots of pistols like Glock and Ruger among others have copied Sig's design for eliminating the barrel lugs and using the chamber instead, and Browning's cam-lock has been copied on lots of pistols since it was first introduced on the Hi-Power back in the '30s.

I was actually more interested in the trigger mechanism, hammer and sear design, and the safeties, and how these compare to the original Sig design. Did they stay true to the original, or is it like the Spanish and Argentine clones of 1911s where they looked just like a Colt but used simpler, cheaper, [and less reliable] transfer bar type trigger mechanisms.

Basically I'm curious as to just how close of a copy it is.

Is it an identical knock-off with a few minor differences, like say a S&W Sigma and a Glock, or just a clone that looks the same but is radically different under the skin.

[kubura]

Ebb27,

Sorry for this tardy reply. The trigger mechanism, hammer and sear design, and the safeties are identical with the original Sig design.

[bac1023]

The only EAA I own is a Tanfoglio Witness.

[HiVelSword]

The only EAA I own is a Tanfoglio Witness.

I've always wondered why your post count was so high. Now I know! ;)