Review of SAR 2000: A Turkish View on The Czech Classic

Josef and Frantisek would have enjoyed their time smoking large cigars in a villa overlooking Vltava River. The names of the gun designers are now merely footnotes. It’s hard to understand why, considering their creation of the CZ-75, one of the most popular handguns of all time. Yes, the original “Wonder Nines”, a 1970s handgun that was patented by the Kouckys, earned them little praise and even less money. This is where the problem lies, considering the number of CZ’s recoil-operated semi-automatic pistols and their countless copies. Weak Combloc patent laws allowed bird to fly the coop and every Tom, Dick, and Harry with a manufacturing concern popped their version of “Wonder Nine.” It took John Browning more than a century to create as many facsimiles of his 1911 gun. It would be nice if there were just royalty checks for the Kouckys. Many shooters have gained from the talented Czech designers’ loss. Some true gems were created by the CZ-75 clone warfare. Many of them were high-performing and affordable. The who and what of the Sarsilmaz 2000, also known as the SAR 2000, is the result. It’s possible to forgive Sarsilmaz’s absence from your firearms vocabulary. It doesn’t roll off the tongue as well as Browning, Glock, or Sig Sauer. But the Turkish company has the history and chops to be a top-tier name in the industry, and has shown that in the past decade. Sarsilmaz, a Turkish company, has been producing military- and sporting-grade firearms since 1880. Sarsilmaz has been producing military- and sporting-grade firearms since 1880. The SAR 9 striker-fired pistol is the most popular, and it has been praised for offering one of the most affordable, no-compromise Glock 19 replicas. The SAR Model 2000 does much the same for CZ clones, though this isn’t the pistol’s first time around the block in America.Yanks have fawned over the Turkish double-action/single-action (DA/SA) pistol previously under the banner of Armalite, the somewhat forgotten AR-24. This latest version is closer to the original 9mm Sarsilmaz DA/SA-the Sarsilmaz Kilini 2000–than the AR. The pistol’s CZ75 DNA has more Italian accent than a Czech. The heater is an echo. In particular, the SAR 2000 seems more like Tanfoglio’s CZ-75 take than the original. This can be seen in the pistol’s Mediterranean aesthetics as well as some of its heavier design points. The SAR 2000’s fire control uses the Tanfoglio design. Many shooters believe that the Italian pistol has a better trigger pull than the CZ-75. This is a barbershop discussion point and not a set-in-stone principle. There were few complaints about the Turkish pistol’s handling, so it might have been something to it. It’s a great option for those looking for a low price gun. There isn’t much compromise in what a shooter gets. The pistol is head-toe metal, with no grip panels or magazine follower. The 9mm is not quite stainless steel but is a high-quality, highchromium alloy that is known for its toughness, corrosion resistance, and high-quality. The 9mm isn’t quite stainless steel, but a high-quality, high-chromium alloy known for its toughness and resistance to corrosion. The pistol weighs in at 32 ounces, making it a formidable weapon. The pistol is a good size for duty and feels comfortable in the hand. It also has a 4.5-inch barrel which adds a little weight to the front. These are nice features, but they are not common in the modern world. Although they are not typical of the modern herd, the 9mm Luger is polite in semi-auto pistol rounds and fits my medium-sized hands well. Small-handed shooters will likely find it comfortable. Sarsilmaz uses curves and contours to allow the pistol to fit comfortably in your palm and form a fundamental high grip. The pistol is held in place by the soft rubber grip panels. They are necessary, as there is only a small amount of checkering on the back and front straps. It has a traditional-shaped dust cover. This means it doesn’t have an accessory rail. This gives it a traditional appeal. The slide’s unconventional beveled design, which reminds me of the IWI’s Jericho, sets off its classic lines. The Turkish company’s proprietary Nitrocarburizing process made the 2000 matte black. This gave the pistol a rugged and tactical look that also protected it from the elements. However, for those who need a bit more bling, Sarsilmaz offers an equally attractive flat, stainless steel finished model.ControllabilityLefties, you might not care for what’s coming. The SAR 2000 is a pleasant product, but it won’t work well with your wrong-handedness. The controls are located on the left side and are non-reversible. There’s a lot of utility in what’s available to run the gun. Here, I’m referring to the thumb safety lever. It’s a great relief! My humble opinion is that a thumb safety greatly improves the utility and usability of a DA/SA gun. Simply put, you can carry such an item cocked and locked, avoiding the lengthy, heavy, double-action stage. This is a benefit for anyone who values accuracy in the draw. The pistol required almost 12.5 pounds of rearward force to fire a shot in double-action. The safety has obvious advantages. However, the DA trigger offers a respectable way to get insurance against missteps. Smoothness is key in defeating heavy and the DA pull on SAR is smooth. The steel trigger also does its job. It has a traditional steeply curved shoe and is responsive at all stages of the pistol’s life. The 2000’s trigger is responsive in both single- and double-action. SA is the best option. There are a few other points that can be added to improve the control and manipulation capabilities of the SAR. The trigger guard is large enough to make it easy to get on the switch. Although I didn’t use gloves for this shoot, the mitts are sufficient to keep me safe. A large beavertail provides protection from hammer or slide bites and also serves as a landmark for proper hand placement. A well-sized mag release reloaded significantly. That and the fact that the magazine fell like ripe fruits is proof of this. Sarsilmaz at the Range I pitched Wolf steel-case FMJ, which is not always the easiest stuff to extract, in addition to three Federal SynTech loads. It was also accurate. Federal 150-grain SynTech Action Pistol printed the tightest group at 25 yards in a single action, measuring 3.25 inches. All the ammo I tried did not exceed 3.5 inches when shot with sandbags. This is a great pistol, and the 2000’s superb forged and crowned barrel greatly helped. I ran many dot drills and target transitions using the pistol. The SAR 2000 performed flawlessly in all of these situations. The copious iron was gentle in recoil, allowing for me to move quickly between targets. The trigger did a great job. The double-action trigger didn’t win me over. It is heavier than the single-action trigger and it is a challenge. Despite its challenges, I found it to be a good gun. They should prove to be a solid option for most. If not, the rear can be dovetailed and easily upgraded. The SAR 2000 may be the best budget CZ-75 clone available today. Although it is a bold statement, I feel that my time with this pistol supports it. This is more than a penny-pincher adding a classic version to their collection. I feel it is best suited as an entry-level competition pistol. Sarsilmaz’s accomplishments will be appreciated by the practical-pistol competitor looking for a dedicated race gun. The Turks have asked for a lot, but you don’t need a set-in-stone objective. The SAR 2000 is more than the lineage, but at a fraction the price. SAR 2000 Specifications:Caliber 9mmAction DA/SASights Steel Three-DotBarrel length: 4.5 InchesWeight 35.2 OuncesThis amazing target pack is from Storm Tactical and contains62 printable targets for rifle and handgun range usage. Target grids and bullseye sizes can be found in MOA. Get Free Targets