The CZ Shadow 2 Compact is the first Shadow 2 that CZ built for carry: an aluminum frame, a 4-inch barrel, an optics-ready slide, and the Shadow 2's trigger in a gun that fits inside a waistband. It is a metal-framed, hammer-fired competition pistol shrunk for the street, and it needs a holster that respects its weight and its width. We stock the Plus Line IWB for it, with the claw included and a spring steel clip, which is exactly what a heavier gun wants. Here is the holster and how to carry it.
Quick specs: CZ Shadow 2 Compact IWB holster, Plus Line
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Fits | CZ Shadow 2 Compact / Carry |
| Type | Inside the waistband |
| Optic | RMR / optics cut ready |
| Claw | Included |
| Clip | Spring steel monoblock belt clip |
| Cant | User adjustable, -5° to +20° |
| Retention | Adjustable Posi-Click |
| Material | .08" kydex |
| Hand | Right or left |
| Warranty | Unconditional lifetime |
| Price | $61.95 |
Why the Plus Line for this gun
A Shadow 2 Compact is heavier than the polymer micro-compacts most IWB holsters are designed around. Two things follow. The clip has to hold: the Plus Line swaps the polymer clip for a spring steel monoblock that grips the belt under weight and does not fatigue. And the grip has to be pulled in: a full-size metal grip prints, and the Plus Line ships with the claw already mounted. For a gun this size, those two upgrades are the difference between a holster that works and one that sags by lunch.
The holster, reviewed
CZ Shadow 2 Compact IWB Kydex Holster, Plus Line
Formed over a CAD-designed, in-house-milled aluminum mold in .08-inch kydex. Optic-cut ready, claw included, spring steel monoblock clip with cant adjustable from 5 degrees negative to 20 forward, adjustable Posi-Click retention with an audible click, undercut trigger guard, over-cut open muzzle for threaded barrels, suppressor-height sight clearance, and a full-length sweat guard with a rear sight shield to keep the slide off your skin. Black oxide hardware with threadlock, right or left hand, black or carbon-fiber pattern. Made entirely in the U.S.A., unconditional lifetime warranty.
How to carry a Shadow 2 Compact
Appendix
Doable with the claw, which is why it is included. Set the clip near neutral. The 4-inch barrel is fine sitting for most builds.
Strong side
Fifteen to twenty degrees of forward cant at 3 or 4 o'clock is where a heavier gun carries best all day, especially driving.
Hammer and safety
The Shadow 2 Compact is hammer-fired with a manual safety. The holster is molded to clear both, and the full-length sweat guard keeps the hammer off your side.
Frequently asked questions
Does a Shadow 2 holster fit the Shadow 2 Compact?
No. The Compact has a shorter slide and a different frame. Use the Compact mold.
Is the claw included?
Yes, on the Plus Line.
Is it optic-ready?
Yes, RMR-cut ready, with suppressor-height sight clearance.
What is the belt clip?
A spring steel monoblock clip, which holds a heavier gun better than a polymer clip.
Left-hand version?
Yes.
The bottom line
A metal-framed carry gun needs a steel clip and a claw. The Shadow 2 Compact Plus Line IWB has both out of the box, plus an optic cut and a lifetime warranty.
Related reading
Best holsters for the Sig P365 XMACRO
Best holsters for the Walther PDP
What makes a good concealed carry holster
