I tested a CZ-USA P-10 S, a striker-fired, 12+1, 9 mm handgun, that is concealable, yet large enough for special assignment duty use.
It really isn’t a secret that the market is nearly saturated with 9mm, striker-fired, double-stack, handguns with polymer frames right now. Besides the 85 years experience that CZ has had in the firearms industry (CZ Group, the Main Operating Company, celebrating their 85th anniversary this year), what does it take for a handgun to distinguish itself?
I’ll save you the effort of searching through this article: Our tests found that the P10S is simply an incredibly smooth, and well designed, combat firearm, with advanced features. The P10 system is flexible enough to support the needs of an entire agency, and the P-10 S handgun can be the center of the agency’s needs.
Some CZ-P10 models are made in the Czech Republic, some are made in the U.S. CZ USA is headquartered in Kansas City, Kansas. This model has a U.S. designation.
Each of the P-10 series of handguns are made of fiber-reinforced polymer. At 1.26” wide, its about average, compared to other brands. The backstrap is replaceable and the beavertail is undercut, which keeps the web of the hand close to the gun’s action. The P-10 S model is only a little larger than a Shield Plus.
Everything on the P-10 S is ambidextrous: The slide stop and the takedown catch have dual levers. The magazine release can be flipped over by the end user.
Rather than molded stippling, there are raised patterns on the front strap and side panels. Before I picked the P-10 S up, I thought there wasn’t enough grip enhancement to my liking. After a few rounds, I found the textures and contours kept the gun in my hand comfortably, without pulling up my shirt when carrying concealed.
For those who like to hook the finger of the support hand, the front of the trigger guard is flattened on the P-10 S. I don’t use this grip technique, but it gives a positive latching area for holsters that use the trigger guard.
Despite the compact size, it has a generous front rail, and front cocking serrations. If you want to get front cocking serrations on most striker-fired guns, it will be very expensive.
The slide itself is a piece of outstanding engineering. First, anyone who claims the P10 series is a “copy of” or “resembles” a similar looking striker-fired pistol, they are completely wrong. The internal design barely resembles most other guns. In a CZ P10 model, I tell skeptics, “Ok, show me the disconnector on this gun.” Anyone born into the Glock generation will have some difficulty here, so I try to be gentle.
The CZ USA P-10 comes standard with a front tritium night sight and a serrated rear sight. The sights are simple, and they were easy to align when I practiced shooting from barricade. This gun can send accurate fire downrange in a hurry.
Rick Macchia, my gunsmith friend, and I were looking at the engagement angles of the striker and trigger surface. The trigger bar appears to drop off the striker at a slight angle, which appears to allow a very short window of contact when pressing the trigger. This gave the P-10’s trigger an unusual crispness and light take up. It’s not a target trigger, but it is on the top of the food chain for combat guns.
The P-10 S is subcompact-sized. I prefer this size for off-duty carry. Like most subcompacts, the shortened grip is a challenge for users with larger hands. It fit my hand, but my little finger would drop off the front, without the thick magazine base. With the magazine inserted, it’s pretty comfortable.
A subcompact usually means pretty stiff recoil springs. The P-10 S has a two-part recoil spring, which only mitigates this a little. One is captive, the other is not. It takes stout hands to work this short slide.
There’s a lot to be said about the shortened grip. When placed into a good IWB holster, the P-10 disappears into the waistline, without the telltale heel sticking out. Because of this, the gun can used for special assignments, and put into a secure duty rig. For patrol assignments, there is the P-10 C and the larger sized P-10 F. Both of these models can be found with optional threaded barrels for additional duty assignments. The smallest of this model series is the P-10 M, which has a 3.19” barrel and weighs 20.1 ounces.
The P10 line of CZ USA handguns offer more flexibility than most other polymer guns. Most of the full sized magazine bodies will latch into the compact versions. The only caveat is that I don’t know anyone currently making spacers that fit the longer magazines into the shorter guns. However, I promise you that some engineer already is looking at a product on their drawing board somewhere. Considering the quality of the P10 shooting right now, I wouldn’t think twice of carrying the P10F as a duty gun, and the P10S as the BUG/Off-Duty.
Magazines contribute to the reliability of the system, and, although everyone has figured out how much I liked the gun already, the magazines are really what make this system shine. They are steel magazines with smooth bodies, and bright red-orange polymer followers. Loaded or empty, they fall freely when the mag release is pressed. The followers are pretty robust, and they are tall enough to completely prevent bullets from nose diving.
One thing I found: When the slide locks on the last round, one had to drop the magazine in order to drop the slide. There are some pretty stiff springs in there.
What’s the most important part of the system integration of the magazines? The feed lips and the feed ramp are almost touching, and the feed angle is very shallow. This means that reliable feeding is engineered right into this system. Many manufacturers could learn from this kind of design.
Would I buy this gun for L.E. work? You bet.
MSRP is $605. For a gun that comes standard with night sights, this is more than a reasonable price. There is an optics ready variant available also. MSRP is $635, and it comes with taller sights.
