We have an airsoft gun for you if you have ever wondered what a factory custom pistol was. The ASG CZ ACCU Shadow from the CZ 75 family is that pistol. This gas gun and its real counterpart were designed for competition use. But what does factory custom mean exactly?
If you want to define a custom pistol, it's built from the ground up. It may mix and match different parts, but in the end, it is about the work required to fit and tune everything so that they work and work well. A lot of pistol fanatics get into building up airsoft race guns based on platforms like the Hi Capa, for example. But you can easily spend over $1000 on all kinds of things to make that pistol realistic or to look a certain way.
So where does "factory custom" come in? In some cases, a few small changes are made to make a gun into a special edition model. Some real companies allow you to choose your options to have a custom pistol tailored just for you. In this case, ASG brings us a replica of a custom shop model: the ACCU Shadow or AccuShadow 2 by the CZ custom shop.
This pistol is based on the Shadow 2 series for the frame and grip contours, an enhancement over the standard Shadow. The biggest changes come in two features. First, the trigger system has been completely redesigned to be an adjustable single-action-only trigger. This means you get a light and fast trigger pull compared to the double-action in conventional CZ pistols. Second is the conversion to use a barrel bushing as found in 1911 pistols. This ensures the desired barrel fitment while preserving the slide for long-term use. Both are important aspects you would consider in a competition pistol. These two features alone are what make the Accu Shadow distinct. You cannot replicate these two things with the standard CZ models.
Where the CZ differs is that CZ is a double stack handgun for starters. In airsoft terms, you get more capacity than your equivalent 1911s, but the gun is just about as intuitive and comfortable to shoot, if not more. The metal frame and slide make the gun very heavy compared to other brands and models, and that is where the realism kicks in. The slide and barrel have a very low bore axis, so recoiling out of this CO2 handgun will seem light, but it's fast and crisp - something you want in speed shooting.
I suppose the slide has front serrations so that you could perform press checks (just don't cycle in a 2nd round). For sights, you have a high contrasting fiber optic red tall front sight and a blacked-out adjustable rear. The tall sight clears a mock suppressor you should install on the threaded barrel. A second standard height sight is included if you want something else. Safety is ambidextrous for controls, but the slide release is not. The gun utilizes grip panels, of which you get black or orange for the accents on these grips. The grips have a hybrid texture, with a rough front and smooth back sides.
So, how does it shoot? That is the $235 question. At this price, it is one of the more expensive airsoft pistols from a manufacturer. I am pleased to report this pistol shoots extremely well. The blowback is crisp and very fast. Something you would want out of a race gun or competition airsoft pistol is for it to cycle fast because you are shooting rapidly and want fast follow-up shots. Though stock airsoft guns work fine, they give up some huge ground here.
It is common for people to "short-stroke" their blowback, which limits the slide's travel, to gain some speed. Accuracy is really solid, too. I didn't have the most favorable outdoor conditions, so I settled for the 5-yard range we set up indoors. I achieved 0.5" groups and smaller when I did my part. The gun is easy to shoot fast, so I could keep it under 1" when I was firing rapidly. I attribute this to the light trigger and the fact that it is easy to pick up sights.
This can shoot as well as my custom-built pistols, which cost two to five times more, so there is something to be said about the value. The weight is a lot better (heavier), too. If you are torn between this and another pistol, you'll have to weigh the pros and cons yourself. But if you're looking for something unique, something not commonly seen in the field, check out this CZ. Oh, and let's return to the word competition for a second. Maybe you don't have airsoft shooting matches in your area, but you might have CQB.
CQB players value speed and quick cycling guns because semi-auto is often the only way you are allowed to shoot for various reasons. As such, you'll see many custom gas pistols from people with money to throw around. Well, if you have a taste for that but don't want to plop $1000 on a pistol, I have to honestly say these gunnails are feeling for the cost of a lower-grade gun with only a tiny bit of mods thrown at it.
And that's who I think this pistol might be a good fit for: the type of person who wants to get into that custom pistol life without doing all the work on the gun, sourcing all the hard-to-find parts, putting intensive labor into the fitting, and having a racecar of a pistol that continually needs to be worked on to stay running. This is a solid option for an out-of-the-box pistol that is superb compared to the best stock pistols.
