Attaching an optical sight to your pistol may seem a simple task – and it can be if done properly and if you follow the basic advice on how to mount a red dot sight on a CZ Shadow 2 with an optic cut. It does not take much to prevent the sight from becoming loose or give yourself a way to notice it before it dislodges from the moving slide.
About Česká Zbrojovka Uherský Brod
Česká Zbrojovka a.s., located in Uherský Brod, Czech Republic, is a world-renowned firearms manufacturer established in 1936 as a branch of the company based in Strakonice, that was created to move production away from borders vulnerable to Nazi Germany, it gained independence in 1950. Now part of Colt CZ Group SE, following the 2021 acquisition of the US based Colt’s Manufacturing Company, it ranks among the top ten global small arms producers, with exports to over 90 countries. Česká Zbrojovka manufactures hunting, sporting as well as service firearms, including the venerable CZ 75, a double-action pistol designed by František Koucký, noted for its construction and ergonomics. CZ has produced some historically significant firearms including the vz. 58 assault rifle which externally resembled the Soviet AK-47, but employed a short-stroke gas piston and a tilting breechblock, sharing only the 7.62×39mm cartridge with other eastern block Kalashnikov clones. Today key products include the CZ BREN family of assault rifles, and the CZ SCORPION family of submachine guns, used by armed forces in several countries, which all have their civilian counterparts. Since 2018, CZ UB has been part of a holding that includes CZ-USA, Zbrojovka Brno and Dan Wesson Firearms, acquired in 2005. Today CZ also produces precision components for automotive and aerospace industries but its focus on innovation and quality ensures it keeps a leading position among both military and civilian firearms manufacturers.
About CZ Shadow 2 Compact
The CZ Shadow 2 Compact is a 9mm semi-automatic hammer-fired aluminum-frame pistol introduced by Česká Zbrojovka in 2023, designed as a compact version of the renowned CZ Shadow 2, well suited for concealed carry but tailored primarily for competitive shooting. It is optics-ready and retains the core features of its full-size counterpart while offering a smaller, lighter package for carry (EDC) and IPSC Optics divisions. The slide rides inside the lightweight 7075 aluminum frame, maintaining the low bore axis of the CZ 75 lineage for reduced recoil and muzzle flip. Aggressively textured aluminum grips come standard as well as a high beavertail and undercut trigger guard for a secure hold. Very minimalist yet ambidextrous thumb safeties and a swappable magazine release cater to both right- and left-handed users. A traditional double/single-action (DA/SA) system with a smooth trigger pull and short reset ensures fast and accurate follow-up shots. Since the Shadow 2 Compact lacks a firing pin block to ensure a crisper trigger, it might not be up to current standard as a defensive carry pistol, but the newer Shadow 2 Carry variant includes a decocker and firing pin block for added safety. The CZ Shadow 2 Compact has a 102mm (4”) long hammer-forged barrel, weighs 900g (1.9 lb) empty and is factory equipped with a red fiber-optic front sight and a height-adjustable and windage driftable, serrated rear sight for quick target acquisition. It comes with two 15-round magazines but is also compatible with full-size Shadow 2 magazines.
CZ Shadow 2 Compact comes optics-ready for mounting a red dot sight and other after-market equipment.
CZ Shadow 2 Compact does have a swappable magazine release and an ambidextrous manual safety to make it left-hand friendly.
Cover plate protecting the slide cutout carries the rear sight that is windage driftable and elevation adjustable.
Optic ready properties of the CZ Shadow 2 Compact
The Shadow 2 Compact has an optic cut that measures 52,3 mm in length and 27 mm in width (slide width). The cover plate that carries the rear sight is held in place by two M3 fasteners with torx heads that have a recommended torque setting of 1,3 Nm (11.5 in-lb). The new online factory configurator offers four different optical sights that can be ordered with the CZ Shadow 2 Compact pistol: Trijicon SRO, Aimpoint Acro C-2 and Holosun HE 508T-RD or GR (red or green reticle). Many different aftermarket mounting interface plates are available for mounting other red dot sights. The CZ Shadow 2 Carry offers a slide cut with a direct mounting interface for the sights with the Shield RMSc footprint, omitting the use of interface plates. This allows the red dot sight to be mounted lower, enabling more natural aiming and cowitnessing with iron sights – the rear sight is not plate-mounted with this model.
CZ Shadow 2 Compact optic ready slide will accommodate mounting of most popular reflex optics but will require appropriate adapter plates like this one from Stay-Tech to attach them.
CZ Shadow 2 Compact has an accessory rail machined into the extended dustcover which makes mounting different accessories such as weapon mounted lights and lasers a breeze. The accessory rail will accept most of the standard accessories intended to be mounted to a Picatinny-type (MIL-STD-1913) interface rail.
Recommendations for mounting the optical sight to a pre-cut CZ Shadow 2 Compact slide
Never proceed with any firearm handling without performing the clearing/checking procedure – magazine removed, chamber clear.
Always clear the firearm and complete the safety check before proceeding with any work or optics mounting to the pistol. Never attempt to install any type of sights with the slide on the frame.
Field strip the handgun removing the recoil spring and the barrel from the slide as indicated in the CZ Shadow Instruction Manual. To facilitate easier mounting of the optical sight, place the slide of your pistol on a stable flat surface so that the recoil spring guide overlaps the edge of the surface.
Remove the slide from the CZ Shadow 2 Compact pistol and place it on a flat surface with the recoil spring guide over the edge to start the mounting process.
Remove the slide cover plate. Use a T10 Torx driver to remove the two screws that retain the cover plate. Do not fire the CZ Shadow 2 Compact pistol without either the original cover plate with the rear sight mounted or an optical sight installed.
Use a Torx TX10 wrench or bit to remove the screws from the slide cover plate.
Following manufacturer’s instruction for mounting a specific optical sight is always highly recommended. Before mounting the optical sight, clean and degrease the interface cut in the slide.
Removing the slide cover plate from the CZ Shadow 2 Compact slide.
Clean the threaded holes and mating surfaces thoroughly before mounting an interface plate and optics.
When mounting an optical sight directly to the slide (applicable to the CZ Shadow 2 Carry), without a mounting plate, measure the depth of the threaded holes and verify that the mounting screws protrude from the bottom of the sight less than the measured depth prior to mounting. Screws provided by the sight manufacturer may require shortening or might need to be replaced. Thoroughly clean and degrease the threaded holes and all contact surfaces in the slide cut. Once you cleaned and degreased everything install the optical sight directly to the slide adhering to the sight manufacturer’s directions.
Mounting optical sights using mounting plates
Once you removed the slide cover plate and cleaned all the contact surfaces in the slide cut you can check if you have the correct plate that fits your particular sight’s mounting standard and pistol’s slide cut (mounting plates for the CZ Shadow 2 Compact are ordered separately). Verify the sight mounting screws are of correct thread and length by attaching the optics to the plate prior to mounting the plate to the slide. If they protrude from the bottom of the mounting plate, shorten the screws or replace them with ones of the correct length. Using screws that are too long will not anchor the sight properly and may damage the plate or the slide. Install the mounting plate designed for your slide/sight and secure it with the provided M3 (metric) screws using a T10 Torx driver. You should first apply a small amount of non-permanent threadlocking compound such as Loctite 243 or 248 to the threads if the thread locker has not been pre-applied to the screws in order to secure them in place while shooting your pistol. Do not mix the plate mounting screws with screws that came with your sight. Place the mounting plate into the slide cut and tighten both screws (alternate from one to the other) by applying a torque of approximately of 1,3 Nm (11.5 in-lb) – a torque wrench comes in handy to prevent overtightening. You are now ready to install your optical sight following the instructions provided with it.
Insert the battery into the sight and check its function – this step is always advised but can be done later if the battery is not bottom mounted – observe terminal orientation.
Verify you have the correct interface plate and all mounting hardware before proceeding with attachment of the mounting plate.
Position the mounting plate into the slide cut and put the sight in its place on top of it without any screws then press it down verifying it can be pushed flat against the cutout without extensive force.
Test the sight’s function prior to mounting and insert a battery if it is bottom-mounted. Place the sight onto the mounting plate and thread the correct fasteners in until they seat, without torquing them down (sight mounting screws you have tested for proper length beforehand). Use manufacturer supplied or other high-quality screws to secure the optical sight to the mounting plate you have attached to the CZ Shadow 2 Compact slide. If the mounting screws are too long for the specific optical sight, the sight will not be mounted properly. If the screws are too short on the other hand, the sight might also not be attached properly which may cause damage to the plate when pistol is fired and/or may cause a malfunction. Manufacturer supplied fasteners might already be treated with a thread locking compound. If this is not the case or if you choose to use additional thread locking compound, use it sparingly and on the screw threads only. Using too much thread locker will not help securing the sight but will make the eventual disassembly harder.
Prior to mounting, insert the appropriate screws into the optic’s mounting holes and verify they are shorter than the thickness of the chosen mounting plate.
Install the mounting plate into the optic cut and secure it with the provided mounting screws after applying some thread-locking compound to their threads (if it did not come pre-applied).
Use a T10 Torx driver and alternate between the screws when tightening both to 1,3 Nm (11.5 in-lb) if the torque wrench is available. Do not overtighten.
Place the sight on the mounting plate but do not use threadlocker yet. Carefully start the screws taking care not to miss-thread them. Seat them without tightening.
Check for any movement, gaps under the sight or uneven positioning prior to properly torquing the screws.
After seating the screws and prior to torquing them completely, check if there is any noticeable movement when trying to move the sight. If so, back the screws out partially, ensure the sight is positioned properly and reseat them. If the screws are seated all the way and there is still movement, they are too long. Replace or shorten the screws that are too long or use appropriate washers to ensure correct fit. If there is a gap between the sight and the slide, the mounting plate might also be the culprit if it doesn’t fit the sight perfectly. Consider the possibility that the chosen optical sight might not fit the slide cut or the provided mounting plate for the CZ Shadow 2 Compact pistol.
Remove one of the mounting screws and apply a small amount of non-permanent threadlocker to it covering the threads only (it might came pre-applied). Replace the screw and seat it prior to removing the other one in order to repeat the process.
Tighten both screws gradually, alternating from one to the other until the specified torque is reached using a torque wrench.
If the sight has proven to fit, remove one of the fasteners and apply the recommended non-permanent threadlocking compound. Blue adhesive such as Loctite 243 or 248 is a good choice – sometimes the fasteners come with thread locker pre-applied to them. If you use a permanent threadlocker, getting the optic off the slide at a later time is going to be difficult and might require heating the fasteners. There is no need for using excessive amounts of adhesive, just a drop spread across the threads will do. Rethread the fastener until it stops and repeat the process with the other one. Gradually torque both screws alternating from one to the other until the torque specified by the optic manufacturer is reached using a torque wrench (typically 1,5 to 2 Nm or 13 – 18 in-lb). You can also hand tighten each fastener by inserting the short end of the L-shaped Torx key into the socket head then turning it clockwise till slight flex is felt in the key. Do not overtighten. The pistol should not be test fired for at least a few hours after mounting, allowing compound to cure (check the cure time for the specific threadlocker used).
It is always a good practice to mark the heads of the screws and the optic housing to enable rapid verification for possible loosening of the screws that could lead to the optical sight failure.
CZ Shadow 2 Compact equipped with the Holosun 507K X2 green reticle sight.
This combination of a high interface plate and optic’s body, though equipped with a shallow rear notch, means the front sight cannot be used for emergency aiming. You may choose to either get a thinner plate or a higher front sight if you wish to keep back-up iron sights.