

For more information, visit http://cz-usa.com/product/cz-p-10-c/.

To purchase a CZ P-10 C on GunsAmerica.com, click this link: https://www.gunsamerica.com/Search.htm?T=CZ<id-all=1&as=730&cid=150&ns=0&numberperpage=50&.

The CZ P-10 C, which is quite a lot to spit out, is the latest foray of CZ into the polymer frame market. We haven’t seen a striker-fired CZ in quite sometime, and I wouldn’t say the CZ 110 was a huge success in terms of numbers sold. I have spent a little time on the CZ P09, and I will say it wasn’t my personal cup of tea. It looks like the Czech engineers spent that time in the lab though, turning out a very different pistol for the US market.

SPECS

Chambering : 9mm

: 9mm Barrel : 4.02 inches

: 4.02 inches OA Length : 7.3 inches

: 7.3 inches Weight : 26 oz

: 26 oz Frame : polymer

: polymer Grips : n/a

: n/a Sights : Combat type, white dot, fixed

: Combat type, white dot, fixed Finish : nitride finish

: nitride finish Capacity : 15+1

: 15+1 MSRP: $499

The P-10 C is a compact, which is a good place for an introduction to the pistol market. CCW still trumps duty guns as far as sales go, but I bet we see a CZ P-10 full size in the not to distant future. This model features backstraps in three sizes (small, medium, and large) and they actually do change the size of the pistol’s grip front to rear. This has been a complaint in some models; the grip panels are so similar in size as to be irrelevant. The CZ requires you to drive a roll pin out to change grip panels, but I have written elsewhere I don’t really see this as a negative. Once you have switched to the size you like, when are you ever going to change again?

The P10 also includes a lanyard hole in the backstraps, showing us they haven’t forgot the LE and military customer in this design. (The requirement to use a lanyard is more common than most people would think). The grip has a grenade style checkering that is quite aggressive, and one of my favorite features of the pistol. The gun really stays put in your hands. I can’t help you with “is it uncomfortable if you have soft, effeminate, weak hands that are mostly used for the wood on a ‘ban coal’ protest sign, made of 100% post-consumer recycled fair trade laminate that is BPA free?” I use skateboard tape on all my personal pistols, and this has rather jaded my ability to judge for most people.

I also like that CZ went ahead and checkered a place on the front of the frame for your non-dominate hand thumb. This gets out a lot, and I like the CZ attention to detail in there. The trigger guard has been undercut to make your hand positioning more comfortable, and prevents the notorious polymer callous on your shooting hand middle finger. As the trigger guard is very large, you should have no problem reaching the trigger even in heavy winter gloves. It is also an aesthetically pleasing square. I am completely serious on that, the hard 90 degree angles just look right, and really complements the appearance of the gun. The front of the trigger guard also features some texture, in case you learned how to shoot from watching old TJ Hooker reruns. Seriously, stop that. The front of the pistol features a true Picatinny attachment point for lights and lasers etc. I am glad to see pistol manufacturers adopting the Picatinny standard. Having your own rail dimension just makes life harder on all of us, and drives the cost of accessories up. I’m looking at you, Smyrna.

The Guts of It

The take down of the pistol is like that of most modern polymer pistols. Those familiar with other models will have no problem with pull the trigger, pull the slide slightly to the rear, pull down the take down lever, slide comes off. Oh wait, add unload the gun to that first part. Some companies have gone to extreme lengths to remove the “ pull the trigger part”, but I think jury is still out on that one. Does the introduction of some other method introduce additional parts? Are those more failure points? Does anyone on earth advocate taking a gun apart without first ensuring it is empty? At least it can be said that CZ is treating us like grown-ups on this one. Anyway, the take down lever is steel, and has serrations to make using it easier.

The slide release lever is quite large, also steel, and also serrated. Despite the fact that the slide release is easily twice the size I am used to on a polymer gun, it never once got in the way. Zero accidental slide locks, which can be a problem for me on other brands with extended controls. And this thing is so big, you are unlikely to miss it in an adrenalin-enhanced reload. Points to CZ. It is also truly ambidextrous, which after a recent debacle I now check. As in, there is a slide release lever on both sides of the gun, and depressing either one releases the slide equally well. The magazine release is also ambidextrous, steel, and checkered in a square pattern.

Moving up to the slide, the dimensions look one way and measure another. Due to the thickness of the frame design, the gun looks like the slide is going to be oversized. Measuring shows it is not, it is about the same width and height as other popular models. I really liked the aggressive cocking serrations that are front and rear of the slide; fronts are usually what you over pay to have added after market. The slide has also been milled on the sides of the top, to what resembles a five-sided barn shape. It reduces the overall weight of the slide, and makes for a very attractive pistol.

The sights on mine are a three-dot affair, though they seem to be luminous paint, not tritium, which is to me an odd choice. The rear sight is a dovetail that is unique to CZ, which at the moment limits your aftermarket choices. Arguably not the best decision by CZ, and something to consider when buying this pistol. The front sight is the same as this in mounting, and is narrower than most out of the box guns. I liked that the sights are steel, and the narrow front is easy to pick up. From the first second of shooting, the sights proved to be very good. This is a nice change for the consumer, not immediately needing to spend $100 to upgrade the dovetail protectors the factory installed.

How about the internals? Well, it turns out I am not an engineer. Nothing is glaringly obvious as a bad idea, and everything seems to work.

Where It Counts

As I said in the video, it took me a minute to adjust to this gun. Nothing wrong with it, it’s just a little different. The rear of the frame is cut to move your hand forward and under the slide, which also acts as a beavertail to protect your hand. It feels a little strange at first, but I have to conclude this design is part of what made the gun so controllable. And it is controllable. Very controllable.

The grip is a little bit small for my tastes, but that does contribute to the concealability of the gun. By small, I mean it was difficult to get as much grip from the support hand as I like. My hands are on the big side, but I am not a giant. I generally wear a size large glove in mechanics or ski gloves. The trigger, which is the main selling point of the gun, is lighter than many other polymers. My trigger gauge said 4 pounds, 6 ounces, but my tools also weren’t made by Zeiss. I am willing to contend that 4 pounds even is accurate, as advertised.

My one real issue with the gun is how they got that trigger pull. I like triggers that have a set mechanical stop, then you apply pressure and they break, and the gun shoots. The CZ P-10 C trigger has what feels like a stop point, then some more movement without a stop behind it, then the gun shoots. This is a subtle movement, but it is present. I would guess 99.9% of the shooters that pick up this gun won’t even notice. To be fair, on the range, I barely noticed, too. The gun is incredibly accurate, and the speed drills I was shooting with this gun speak for themselves. It handles well, it is easy to control, and the trigger isn’t bad. I for one would really like to shoot this gun in .40 S&W, see how it tames that beast. At a street price of under $450, this CZ is absolutely a bargain.

For more information, visit http://cz-usa.com/product/cz-p-10-c/.

To purchase a CZ P-10 C on GunsAmerica.com, click this: CZ P-10 C.