Red dots are getting more popular every year. To make sense in it, we wrote this article which explains how to get the right adapter and red dot based on your CZ model.
There are three types of mounting a red dot to CZ pistols:
- Optics Ready plates - only applies to Optics Ready CZs (except of few models with direct fit);
- red dot mounts - solution that replaces rear sight; fits all CZ models that do not come from factory with the slide cut for red dot;
- red dots with direct fit without any adapter - only applies to very few models.
Optics Ready CZs - Optics Ready plates
If you own an optics ready version of a CZ, you need an Optics Ready plate to install a red dot. Exception is CZ Shadow 2 Carry and CZ P-09 Nocturne, those have direct fit cut. Explained later here.
How to know if your CZ is optics ready? It will have a cut in the slide from production.
There are different plates for different Optics Ready CZ models:
These plates are most often made with specific footprints. We further explained it in this article. You just need to know, that Optics Ready plate with Trijicon RMR footprint will fit many more red dots than only Trijicon RMR - as long as they use the same footprint. On each product page is always up-to-date list of such compatible red dots.
For standard CZ pistols - red dot mounts
Yes, although your CZ is not "Optics Ready" from factory, you can still very easily install a red dot to it. How? By a red dot mount.
Red dot mount is an adapter which replaces rear sight and allows you to install a red dot on top of it.
As with any other adapter for optics, you need to make sure your red dot is using the same footprint as the adapter.
There are two types of red dot mounts:
- universal red dot mounts that use a set of pins to accomodate various red dot footprints, or
- red dot mounts with specific footprints - most commonly with either Trijicon RMR footprint or with Shield RMSc footprint.
Sometimes you can choose based on your preference (mounts with specific footprints usually does not have any excess surface, so its better fit). Most often you will be choosing by compatibility list: the universal mounts can simply accomodate much more red dots to it.
Links to matching categories
For CZs with slide cut for specific footprint
There are not too many of these CZs, but they exist. If you have CZ Shadow 2 Carry or CZ P-09 Nocturne, you own one of them.
These CZs have slide cut from factory for Shield RMSc footprint (and its also compatible with Holosun K-series footprint. For these you can only get a red dot without any adapter plate, and install it straight to the slide.
Links to matching categories
- red dots that fit directly to CZ Shadow 2 Carry
- red dots that fit directly to CZ P-09C Nocturne
- red dots that fit directly to CZ P-09F Nocturne
The negative of this setup is that you can only buy red dots that use these two footprints.
Which red dot mount or Optics Ready plate to get?
That depends on your preferences for red dot. Generally its common practice to go for larger footprint (and larger red dot) for full size pistols. And for smaller footprint (and smaller red dot) for compact and subcomapct pistols.
Most common larger footprint is Trijicon RMR footprint. Most common compact / subcompact footprint is Shield RMSc footpritn. We are happy to let you know that we have red dot mounts that accomodate both of these footprints for almost any CZ on the market.
