Review: Bul Armory Cherokee Compact

There are quite a few handguns based on the CZ 75 pistol.

Some are made cheaply, made to sell, others are designed as an improvement over the original.

One of the latter types is the Bul Armory Cherokee 9mm.

The pistol features the proven CZ-type double-action first-shot trigger with a few modifications to the action.

The original CZ could not be carried hammer down and safety on.

The Bul design, made in Israel, allows the pistol to be carried hammer down and safety on if preferred.

The safety allows the pistol to be carried hammer to the rear and safety on, or “cocked and locked” as it is called.

I believe the original intent of the CZ 75 action was for the pistol to be carried fully loaded and ready to fire with a long double-action shot.

As with all double-action first-shot pistols, once the first shot is fired, the slide cocks the hammer and the pistol is in the single-action mode and may be fired with a short press of the trigger.

The safety allows safe tactical movement without lowering the hammer once the first shot has been fired.

Simply place the safety on and the pistol cannot fire. After movement or taking cover, flip the safety to the fire position.

The frame-mounted safety is positive in operation and easily manipulated.

To lower the hammer, the hammer is stabilized by the thumb as the trigger is pressed.

Needless to say, be certain you know what you are doing when lowering the hammer.

I don’t really consider the hammer-to-the-rear and safety-on function of the CZ as ‘cocked and locked,’ as the slide is not locked by the safety.

The slide may be racked and the pistol loaded with the safety on.

Bul Cherokee Features

The CZ double-action first-shot action is considered an advantage by many shooters.

The pistol is instantly ready for action, but a 14–pound trigger action separates your nervous trigger finger from an inadvertent shot.

The trigger is smooth enough for good control and X-ring hits to seven yards or so for those that practice.

Once the pistol is in the single-action mode, the trigger is short and controllable in rapid-fire.

It is a popular idiom that makes sense for some shooting styles.

The Bul Armory Cherokee is a compact pistol with a shorter slide and frame than a full-size CZ-type variant, but has a full-size firing grip.

The magazines hold 17 rounds of 9mm Luger ammunition. The biggest departure from the standard CZ format is the frame.

The frame is modern polymer that is nicely molded and offers a good balance of abrasion and adhesion.

Slight finger grooves allow a good firing grip. The dust cover features a rail for mounting combat lights.

On a practical and technical basis, the double-action first-shot Bul Cherokee makes a lot of sense.

The pistol isn’t going to win a competition — single-action and striker-fired pistols dominate — but as a house gun or a pistol for concealed carry, the Bul Cherokee is a viable choice.

Firing the Bul Cherokee

Firing the pistol demonstrated good results. At seven yards, I drew and fired in the double-action mode.

With a smooth, straight-to-the-rear trigger stroke as the pistol came on target I managed to keep the first shot trigger stroke smooth and delivered X-ring hits.

The pistol is comfortable to fire with modest recoil. In the single-action firing mode, firing rapidly at man-sized targets, control is excellent.

The grip is shaped well and practical accuracy is good to excellent.

A pistol this weight and size in 9mm is a joy to fire, with modest recoil and high hit probability.

The single-action trigger displays the modest backlash common to CZ 75-type pistols. It isn’t that difficult to control with practice.

A CZ fan will not notice. I think that those who favor the CZ 75B-type pistol and are looking for a carry gun just may find the Bul Armory Cherokee at the top of their shortlist.

Overall Accuracy

As for absolute accuracy, I fired the Hornady American Gunner 115-grain XTP, the Hornady American Gunner 124-grain XTP, and a handload using the Hornady 147-grain XTP and Titegroup powder at 890 fps.

The pistol performed well in firing a single five-shot group with each load.

The average for five shots was 2.1 inches at 15 yards, although the 124-grain XTP went into a tight  1.5-inch group.

With a good reserve of ammunition, the pistol makes an excellent house gun.

Add a TRUGLO combat light and you have a formidable home defense handgun.

Specifications

• Caliber: 9mm Luger
• Capacity: 17 Rounds
• Barrel Length: 3.7 Inches
• Overall Length: 7.7 Inches
• Width: 1.27 Inches
• Height: 5.5 Inches
• Weight: 25.7 Ounces

What do you think of the Bul Armory Cherokee Compact? Let us know in the comments section below!