By Austin Knudsen
If the BUL Cherokee pistol was sold stateside, the Israeli-made handgun would compete with the CZs, Jerichos and Caniks of the world. But it isn’t. So it doesn’t. Still, I was impressed enough with my used Gen 1 model that I tracked down a full-size Cherokee Gen 2 from BUL’s importer, International Firearms Corporation. Is it better than what’s already on offer in The Land of the Free?
Well, it’s a better gun to have and to hold than the Cherokee Gen 1. For one thing, the Gen 2 Cherokee’s full-grip stippling is a vast improvement over the Gen 1’s minimal, strange “cobblestone” grip pattern. It’s more secure in the hand and less hard o the eyes.
Almost as intense as the caliber wars, finger grooves evoke either lustful passion or partisan hate. I think it’s a matter of fit; either they do or they don’t. If they fit you must acquit. For me, the Cherokee’s finger grooves are innocent of all charges. It’s like BUL measured my hand and built a grip around it.
The Cherokee takes down like any CZ-75 or clone: line up the witness marks on the slide and frame and push out the takedown/slide stop pin from the right side of the pistol. This is best done with the bottom of the magazine; the takedown/slide stop pin is under spring pressure.
The Cherokee’s three-dot sights are the exact same as on the Gen 1: a front sight post milled integrally to the slide and a Novak-style non-snag combat dovetailed rear sight that’s held in place by a set screw. They aren’t target sights, but they’re sharp and crisp enough for a good sight picture.
The full-size Cherokee’s trigger is better than the trigger on the G-Compact Cherokee…and most polymer framed service pistols besides. Whereas the G-Cherokee Compact’s trigger had two distinct “stages” to the single action before it hit the wall — and then a lot of creep — the full-size Cherokee had only one slight stage before it hit the wall and the shot broke.
The single-action trigger maxed out my five-pound trigger pull gauge before the shot broke, but just barely. But it was fairly crisp with only a bit of creep. So there’s that.
For accuracy testing, I used six commercially available loads: Blazer Brass 115 grain FMJ, PMC Bronze 115 grain FMJ, American Eagle 147 grain FMJ, Speer 124 grain +P Gold Dots, Federal 124 grain Hydra-Shok and Federal 147 grain Hydra-Shok.
The Cherokee’s point of impact was nearly perfect, so the sights from the factory didn’t need adjusting. It’s not a big deal to adjust sights, but it’s nice not to have to.
Blazer Brass 115 grain FMJ ammo clocked-in with the worst results: a four-inch group with no real solid grouping. Still, at 25 yards, that’s more-than-merely-adequate accuracy from a combat pistol with combat sights. (I typically don’t expect better than 2½ to 3-inch groups at 25 yards.)
The BUL Cherokee Gen 2 is a very good gun: comfortable, reliable and accurate. It’s as good as many of its potential competitors — just not appreciably better. And unless BUL builds it here, the Cherokee probably can’t beat the well-known players on price. So the Israeli pistol’s destined to remain an obscure firearm here in The Home of the Brave. Loved, but obscure.
Specifications: BUL Cherokee Gen 2 Pistol
Caliber: 9mm and .40S&W
Capacity: 17+1 (9mm), 14+1 (.40)
Barrel length: 4 3/8 inches
Overall length: 8 ¼ (approx.)
Width: 1 ¼ inches (approx.)
Height: 5 ½ inches
Weight: 1 ¾ pounds
Ratings (out of 5 stars):
Accuracy: * * * *
Surprising accuracy from a service pistol with combat sights.
Ergonomics: * * * * *
The stippling is a vast improvement over the Gen1 Cherokee and the finger grooves work well (for me). The controls are CZ-75, just where I want them.
Reliability: * * * * *
No problems. [Note: I only put 300 hundred rounds through this gun.]
Customize This: * *
Standard Picatinny rails allow for lights, lasers, or whatever other tactical widget you want to mount under the dustcover. Aftermarket sights and other parts are easily available — in Israel.
Overall: * * * * 1/2
The BUL Cherokee Gen 2 is well-built with excellent ergonomics and accuracy. [Not available in the U.S. market.]