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Last fall, the internet gun media was abuzz with the news of the striker fired polymer frame CZ pistol, the http://cz-usa.com/product/cz-p-10-c-fde/>P-10 C. A group apparently went across the pond, played with some of the preproduction guns and, on their return to the States, received preproduction samples for more review.

The pre-release media discussed trigger, sights, "feel" – as well as made the inevitable comparison to the most commonly-available compact polymer striker-fired gun, the GLOCK 19. The story was that CZ made the pistol to fit G19 holsters while making their rendition of this class of handgun. I waited on the P-10 C production model and I specified the flat dark earth colored frame.

Does frame color make it shoot better? I'd be surprised, but it makes for better photos.

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The P-07 pistol with CZ's Omega trigger system made a bit of a splash in the service-compact pistol world. Predating the rebirth of the Beretta Px4 Compact and sliding by the SIG M11/P228 pistol, the P-07 gained a bit of coverage and has some dedicated users. Still tough to find holsters, the P-07 had few limits. In the age of the 'modern striker-fired pistol,' CZ logically sought to enter that arena. They didn't rush the project, it was too serious to foul up.

Taking the gun from the very secure plastic box, the first thing you notice is "feel." The gun seems to lock into the hand. The frame texture feels aggressive. The trigger guard is large, a good idea as some will be using this thing with gloved hands.

The frame has a bit of a palm swell. Additional backstraps are in the box to help configure the gun to the user. I left it as-is.

Sights are metal, the slide has a nitride finish and front cocking serrations.

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The P-10 C is the "C" model – the compact 9mm envelope with a capacity of fifteen rounds in the magazine, around 26 ounce empty weight, and a just-over 4-inch barrel. The trigger has the 'flipper' in its midst. I found the trigger to be reasonably short, reasonably crisp and – on a couple of occasions – I was unable to make the gun fire.

This was a grip situation, not a defective product. The trigger seems to be narrow and I found there were times I wasn't centered over the trigger safety with the pad of my index finger. As soon as I realized what I was doing, I focused on a proper address of the trigger and the problem went away.

The magazine release and slide stop are bilateral. They seem to work on both sides of the pistol – something that's not true of every gun that features apparently two-sided controls. The dust cover has a one-slot accessory rail. The sides of the frame above the trigger have textured "locator" pads for your index finger when the sights aren't on-target.

Using Black Hills 9mm 115 grain FMJ, I was two for four on the fifty-yard "ABC" zone steel target from Competition Target Systems. I then printed low, below the B-zone on the steel target from 25 yards. I found that rounds strike under the sights – in contrast to other newly released 9mm pistols – from fifty and 25 yards.

Know your zero.

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I shot the gun in handling drills on a TQ-21 using Winchester USA Forged steel-case ammo. The P-10 C sustained a pair of failures to go into battery with that ammunition. Both stoppages were quickly cleared and the gun carried on. The only "miss" was a snag outside the 'head' zone of the TQ-21: that was fired left hand only and was a failure to depress the trigger safety. In my rush to get the hit, I double-clutched at the trigger and created a flyer.

Setting up a B-8 repair center and stepping back to ten yards, I went for a five shot group using Black Hills 124 grain JHP +P. Four hits were in the "X" ring and one centered the line between the "9" and "10."

Not bad.

I didn't find the P-10 C to fit the http://www.kramerleather.com/>Kramer Handgun Leather Scabbard for a GLOCK 19. I have other holsters to try, but it seems the CZ is not 100% G19 analog for all holsters.

It's easy to shoot the gun quickly and you can find yourself going quickly enough that you can induce a miss.

I'll continue work with this piece and keep you posted.

-- Rich Grassi