CZ P-10C

[Gnarlydog]

I fired a friend's CZ 75 SP-01 a few years back and was amazed at the trigger, but the thing is a brick that you don't want to lug around in cargo shorts in South Carolina's summer weather. When the CZ P-10 C came out, I read and watched the reviews and went and bought one at my LGS.  I really thought this pistol was going to be the holy grail of striker-fired polymer pistols, but that dream wasn't to be. The texturing on the grips is extremely aggressive, especially on the backstraps. The first time I took it out it was painful to shoot and after just one magazine it had broken the skin on the palm of my hand. It was so uncomfortable from the first round that I wasn't able to evaluate or appreciate the trigger that many are saying is better than the Walther PPQ M2 which has been the gold standard. I let my two friends each shoot a half a magazine through it and neither wanted anything to do with it afterward. I contacted CZ and they agreed to send me a new set of back straps so I could try slightly sanding one set down without devaluing the gun and see how that did. (They never arrived, but CZ did finally FedEx another set out which arrived today). (To change the back straps requires a, not included, 5/64" pin punch. Anybody got one in their toolkit? I went to three hardware stores and none stocked them. I had to order one online)

While waiting for the back straps, I put a Hogue Handall grip sleeve on the pistol. It bulked the grip up and added unwanted finger grooves, but was comfortable to shoot several magazines and the trigger was a joy. Enough so that I sold my much loved Springfield XD Mod.2 4" Serice and 5" Tactical. I'm not made of money or a collector, I just want to have a few of the best guns I can afford. I'd noticed the P-10's magazine release was massively stiff, which surprised me, but I thought it would break in eventually. It takes using my off hand to release it without feeling like my thumb is going to pop. While looking for something else online I found out this is a common complaint and it doesn't break in, its tolerances are wrong so it has to be filed/sanded/ polished. I e-mailed CZ about this and was told that I could FedEx the pistol to them and they'd get it back to me in four to six weeks! I am not made of guns either, so I called. I asked if alternatively, they could send me a new magazine release to install and I was then told that it is subjective and they haven't made any manufacturing changes because although this is the most common complaint about the pistol it only affects about three percent of them! WTF!? Who would trust a pistol that only functions the way it was designed 97% of the time (if you don't run into any other problems)? When you buy a brand new model of a car or gun you get the bugs. That's a given, but repeatedly telling me the known problems with the gun are subjective did not endear CZ'z customer service rep to me at all. Rethinking CZ pretty hard, but I think this pistol still has promise.

[kma!]

I don't mind the grip texture at all. I've shot 200-300 rounds in a sitting without issue. That said, the stock trigger irritated my finger and needed to be replaced with a HBi. Funny how everyone's different.

[De-der]

Just my experience with one P10c and opinion, perhaps worth little...
The punch isn't a big deal, use a drill bit, my mag release was beyond stiff as was the slide stop and the trigger wasn't what I'd hoped.
Put 500 - 1000 rounds through the gun with dry cycling in between while watching tv or what ever, in my experience, the improvement is huge.
I did change the sights and striker spring, but I'm more than happy with the results, the guns Freekn smooth and shoots lights out.
The front and back straps are a little aggressive, likely if you grip it tight and stay with it, you'll appreciate it...it all comes together,
or you could put talon grips on or give the points a light scuff with some 320 grit.
I really doubt, if done lightly and carefully anyone would know.
Ymmv

[Earl Keese]

"after just one magazine it had broken the skin on the palm of my hand."
Is this hyperbole or do you have a serious skin condition? The grip is aggressively textured yes, but to the point of injury from shooting 15 rounds? Hard to believe.
 I don't know where you're getting your info, but the mag release absolutely will break in just fine with use. It's a good fighting pistol, but silky smooth refinement is not on it's list of attributes. Hope it works out for you.

[Craig M Arnold]

I don't mind the grip texture at all. I've shot 200-300 rounds in a sitting without issue. That said, the stock trigger irritated my finger and needed to be replaced with a HBi. Funny how everyone's different.

This is my experience also. I finally had to change the factory trigger to the HBI trigger, but I love the grip texture. I have a Springfield TRP that has 20 LPI front strap checkering, now that is aggressive!

My slide and magazine releases were both very stiff when my P10 was new. However, after working them both a bunch, both are now fairly easy to actuate.

[kma!]

My slide and magazine releases were both very stiff when my P10 was new. However, after working them both a bunch, both are now fairly easy to actuate.

I disassembled my magazine release and polished it early on which made a huge difference. After 600 rounds the magazine and slide stop are working nicely. Very happy with it.

[Gnarlydog]

"after just one magazine it had broken the skin on the palm of my hand."
Is this hyperbole or do you have a serious skin condition? The grip is aggressively textured yes, but to the point of injury from shooting 15 rounds? Hard to believe.

No skin issues and my two friends (also both veterans and gun guys) both said it was far too aggressive. I've had a half-dozen Springfield XDs which I've heard people say had too aggressive texturing on the grips and I've always loved them. I did shoot a Glock Gen 3 that had the original RTF (Rough Textured Frame) and I didn't care for it. It's what Larry Vickers uses for his tactical model. My P-10C left a red band on my hand and you could still see a dozen or so small punctures the next day. I don't know if it was a new mold or what, but it is fierce. I haven't given up on it yet. Despite some stumbling, I think it has a lot to offer. The stock trigger is a bit better than the Springfield XD Mod.2s which were my favorite triggers on striker-fired pistols that I had shot.

[kma!]

RE: grip texture, maybe it comes down to technique and how hard the grip is squeezed during shooting?

[bravo5two]

I agree, grip texture is sharp, so sand paper came out to meet them the moment I brought my P10 home from its maiden voyage.  A few swipes and nasty sharp nubs be gone.

With regards to the oddly designed mag retention system, it will need some work.  Would have been easier to copy from CZ's other pistols instead of cooking up the weird cam/leverage system. I think the only way it can work better is filing the top off to keep the mag from getting an upward lift (hence working against the mag spring's full pressure when loaded) before the retainer drops out of the mag cut out.  Since CZ USA has this part available, I will take mine out and try to see if I can alleviate the problem.

[fflmike]

It wasn't that the grip was too aggressive, but I put Talon Grips on all of my polymer guns.  The rubber texture is perfect in my opinion.  I also put the HBI trigger in mine and used the 3.0 striker spring.  Most striker guns are way over sprung anyway.  Mine is a pleasure to shoot although I really like my P-07's and P-09 hammer fired guns a little better.  Again, JMHO. 

[rbuzz00]

Posts like this can tell us just how much firearm manufacturers go through trying to satisfy the varying and wide ranging demands and expectations of their customers.
Not making fun of anyone, but just on grip texture we see the complete gauntlet of opinions, from being so aggressive that it causes skin injuries to others that think it's just about perfect.
Others say the magazines release is very difficult to operate, some say otherwise.
 
No matter what particular aspect of a firearm you care to talk about, there is always going to be a wide range of opinion of it. Just imagine being a firearm manufacturer trying to come out with a product that will appeal to all shooters....it will never happen. There will always be someone who is going to not like something about that new model. That is where after market products and minor modifications come in. There are literally thousands of parts that you can add, or modifications that you can perform to make your firearm the perfect gun for YOU.  But if you are expecting a manufacturer to come out with a firearm that will be 100% perfect for 100% of all buyers, don't, it will never happen. 

As a new P-10 owner myself, I have had to take time to get used to all of the things the P-10 offers. It took a little while both for me to get used to it and for the firearm to break in. But now that a little time has passed and I have had to shoot a few hundred rounds through it, I love it. It is accurate, reliable, comfortable to shoot....in short it does just about everything well. Is it perfect....not quite, but close. In the relatively few cases where the problem doesn't go away, I'm sure CZ will make every attempt to fix it.
 
I suggest that anyone take a little time to shoot the P-10, or any new firearm, and get used to it. Most mechanical features will wear in and become easier to operate after a few rounds down the pipe. 

[Craig M Arnold]

Posts like this can tell us just how much firearm manufacturers go through trying to satisfy the varying and wide ranging demands and expectations of their customers.
Not making fun of anyone, but just on grip texture we see the complete gauntlet of opinions, from being so aggressive that it causes skin injuries to others that think it's just about perfect.
Others say the magazines release is very difficult to operate, some say otherwise.
 
No matter what particular aspect of a firearm you care to talk about, there is always going to be a wide range of opinion of it. Just imagine being a firearm manufacturer trying to come out with a product that will appeal to all shooters....it will never happen. There will always be someone who is going to not like something about that new model. That is where after market products and minor modifications come in. There are literally thousands of parts that you can add, or modifications that you can perform to make your firearm the perfect gun for YOU.  But if you are expecting a manufacturer to come out with a firearm that will be 100% perfect for 100% of all buyers, don't, it will never happen. 

As a new P-10 owner myself, I have had to take time to get used to all of the things the P-10 offers. It took a little while both for me to get used to it and for the firearm to break in. But now that a little time has passed and I have had to shoot a few hundred rounds through it, I love it. It is accurate, reliable, comfortable to shoot....in short it does just about everything well. Is it perfect....not quite, but close. In the relatively few cases where the problem doesn't go away, I'm sure CZ will make every attempt to fix it.
 
I suggest that anyone take a little time to shoot the P-10, or any new firearm, and get used to it. Most mechanical features will wear in and become easier to operate after a few rounds down the pipe.

This is the absolute truth. No one gun will fit everyone. Thank God that we are living in a time and place that we have a very large selection of great firearms. I am a big fan of CZ firearms and have a bunch of them. However, I also have a great number of firearms from other great companies, like Walther, Sig, S&W, Kahr, Springfield and yes, even Glock. 

[changemyoil66]

I actually love the grip, I started shooting about 2 years ago.  I get very sweaty palms and this helps.

When I first held the FN509 (similar grip texture), I didn't like it.  It was to rough.  But now that I've learned more and gained more xp shooting, I realize that I need a texture like that.  But to each their own.  Even the VP9 texture tends to slip a little.

For the mag release, many owners say you have to "break it in".  I do agree, when you buy a pistol, everything should be running smoothly.

[armoredman]

First, Gnarlydog, welcome! First, I said the same thing about the texture on my FDE 2017 model, sanded down front and back straps with a sanding block, and it was all good. When fortune smiled and I was able to get the White Knight... I mean "Nitride", , 2018 model, the grip texture seemed OK, and didn't bother me at all. Odd, and I have those soft, "I work on a computer all day because I am a fat lazy supervisor" hands. Then again, there were some small changes all over the pistol, so maybe something was done to soften the texture just a touch.
The mag release IS a bear at first - I put a drop of oil on the inside, and then sat watching Black Sails for several hours, just working the magazine button back and forth. Both are usable, though the WN will need some more. The only part that truly needed a break in that I could accelerate was the slide release. The FDE is fine and easy now, but the WN will take some time to wear in.
As for "one gun to fit them all"...that's why I love diversity! Somewhere in this massive array of side arms is a pistol that will fit almost everybody. You just KNOW there's a guy out there hauling around a vP70z just because he loves it. I think he's NUTS, but hey, to each their own...
Again, welcome to the forum, and CZ-USA has excellent customer service, will take good care of you!

[Joe L]

Welcome to the forum and hope you enjoy your P-10C. 

I got one of the first ones to hit the US as a production model and immediately had to make some modifications.  I smoothed down the grip areas first and worked the slide release and the mag release a bunch and, with my pistol, that took care of the initial concerns.  But the trigger safety was still an irritation so I fixed that.  Then I concluded the pistol had real promise, for a striker fired gun, so I experimented with additional grip and trigger modifications to get the pistol to fit my long fingered hands a little better, using Sugru and JB-Weld. 

When CGW finished development of some aftermarket parts, I sent the gun in for a slide cut for a red dot and an assortment of parts.  I am going to shoot the P-10C in a bullseye match when I get it back, just like I've done with the P-07 and P-09, alongside my usual steel 75B and 97B"E" bullseye match pistols.  (The steel guns with CGW bushings are excellent bullseye match pistols, by the way.) 

I'm made extensive changes to every single one of my CZ pistols, not so much to correct problems with the original design, as to make them comfortable and consistent to shoot in a bullseye match condition.  I do carry the P-07 with open sights instead of a red dot, Sugru and all.  My guns are ugly, can't be sold even if I wanted to, and, according to some YouTube comments, I should be put in jail for defacing my own property. 

But, I get good results, have won several bullseye matches with my plastic guns, and have a very enjoyable hobby and have lots of internet friends as a result.   

I think CZ made a mistake in sending out too many pre-production "test and evaluate" guns that didn't have the rough slide and mag releases and had some smoother trigger parts than the production versions and they got everyone very excited.  The production service guns were a little more conservative and stiff and the difference has irritated a lot of folks.   I am not one of them, because I fully expected to change a lot on the gun anyway.  I am still very confident the P-10C will be just fine for my intended purposes, which include irritating the crap out of my bullseye buddies that someone with a 4" plastic striker-fired service gun can win a centerfire bullseye match, and shooting a 6" group at 100 yards from a rest.  That's the plan and I'm sticking to it.

Joe