Tag Archives: Cz

My Favorite 9mm Compact Pistols for Carry

July 26, 2026blog, pistolsCz, dagger, glock, glock 19, glock 43, M*P, P10, P365, psa, ruger, rxm, s&w, shieldcoldboremiracle

Purpose

Nine millimeter handguns have completely dominated much of the concealed carry market. That’s not to say there aren’t other great options, but 9mm seems to be what people are navigating towards. My blue-collar experience with firearms has taught me the value of a good CCW pistol that doesn’t leave you strapped for cash. Today I wanted to go over a handful of my favorite 9mm compact pistols for carry that I think are worth your consideration. Not everyone can afford to carry a CZ Shadow Compact or some wiz-bang H&K, so I tend to look at guns that I would buy or recommend to family and friends.

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Seeking CCW Balance

When purchasing anything including guns, there is always a fine line to walk between what you want and what you can afford. When looking at CCW pistols there is yet another fine line to walk; size and weight vs. capacity. You can always find a smaller gun that is easier and more comfortable to conceal, but usually with lower ammunition capacity or diminished ballistic performance.

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As we go over CCW pistol options, we will inevitably be going back and forth between these two extremes. Trying to find balance between what we can afford, what we can comfortably tuck into a belt, without loosing enough capacity. Capacity of course being paramount in a defensive shooting situation, and always on your mind when selecting a pistol.

The Gold Standard

If you ask the question about whats the best 9mm compact, your going to hear the word Glock quite a bit. And there are good reasons for it, Glock makes several good compact pistols with years of solid performance. Does that make it the best option? Maybe not, but they are certainly worth looking at.

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Probably the best compact option from the Austrian manufacturer would be either the Glock 19 of one flavor or another, or the slimmer Glock 43. Both are compact models, but the G19 is more like a service sized compact. Whereas the G43 is more about overall concealment. Tucking the G43 is easier because of its slim design, though this comes at the cost of capacity being limited to 6-8 rounds.

glock, glock 43, 9mm, ccw, compact, vortex, vortex defender, red dot, holding pistol down to the side, — the Glock 43 MOS with the **Vortex Defender red dot** makes a very small CCW

The G19 on the other hand can easily handle 15-rounds before adding +1 or 2 floor plates. And with its slightly larger frame the G19 is a great shooting platform. The popularity of these two pistols has created a massive aftermarket support, giving countless options for accessories like holsters, weapon lights, sights and more. I prefer the G19 myself of these two, mainly because of the capacity thing.

Alchemist Clones

Manufacturing the gold standard from something less is a bit like ancient alchemy. The Glock clone market has exploded in recent years, giving countless additional variations of the famous Glock design. Not only do many of them compete well with the original, but they do it for the same or lower price.

PSA Dagger

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Starting at the bottom of the heap, PSA’s Dagger pistol has exploded in popularity. Available as a compact or subcompact, the Dagger is similar enough to the G19 to use nearly its entire aftermarket support. I’ve used a Dagger extensively and find them to be very affordable without giving up capacity or shootability. Some would argue their reliability, but in my experience they are a great buy for often under $300. To see our in-depth review of the Dagger click here.

Ruger RXM

Ruger’s RXM is actually a joint project with Magpul, and with two names like that you should be able to expect a good product. The RXM is a very close clone of the G19 again, but it hides an ability to change its stripes. With its modular frame you can swap between different sized frames creating your own version of a G19, 17, or 47. Or anything in between. The RXM gives great reliability while enjoying the same aftermarket support as the Glock pistols it mimics. I have carried the RXM extensively, and quite like its performance and fit. To see our in-depth review of the RXM click here.

MR920

Shadow System’s MR920 is another copy of the G19. But instead of just copying the Glock pattern, Shadow Systems intended to improve upon it. Trying to improve both the performance and aesthetics, the MR920 looks as good as it shoots.

And adding to the value, the company also offers a variety of different barrel options and other features allowing you to customize your carry pistol. Allowing optical sights and threaded barrels gives you more dexterity.

The Not Glocks

Other manufacturers have also presented their own popular pistol designs for the CCW market. For the most part they are all very similar to Glocks striker fired polymer frame design. After all, if the design works, why not run with it.

CZ P10S

The CZ P10S is a compact pistol that offers 12+1 capacity in a small optics ready pistol. I was very impressed with the performance of this pistol, and especially for the price. It can occasionally be had on PSA for under $400, which is a great deal considering its performance and heritage. The P10’s widespread use by civilians, law enforcement and some militaries give confidence that its design is both robust and here to stay. My only gripe with it is the need to buy an optics adaptor plate to run a red dot. To see our in-depth review of the CZ P10S click here.

Canik Mete MC9

Canik’s MC9 on the other hand, comes with its own selection of optics mounting plates for a variety of options. As well as different grip options, and a 15+1 capacity, all this for under $400 at times depending on configuration.

The MC9 brings its own style and design, while keeping with the design that has made all these pistols successful. It fits well in the hand, keeping just enough grip available to not feel undersized and still being compact enough to tuck. It shoots great and looks good at the same time, giving an affordable great performance. To see our in-depth review of the Canik METE MC9 click here.

Smith & Wesson Shield

The family of Smith & Wesson Shield pistols has a great variety of compact and comfortable carry pistols. I’ve carried the M&P Shield Plus a bit, and was very impressed with how slim it is, and how well it shoots with its ported barrel. Of course with such a small pistol you are going to give up some capacity. But this might be one of those I would choose for maximum concealment even at the cost of capacity.

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There also seems to be a great variety in configurations and cost. Which gives you quite a few options to customize your carry. These pistols have great sights, and some direct mount red dot options. As well as manual safeties or not depending on what you want, all of these options can be used to enhance your daily carry. To see our in-depth review of the M&P Shield Plus click here.

Sig Sauer P365

We cant forget to include the P365 from Sig Sauer, a compact pistol built specifically for carrying. The P365 brings full-size capacity to a very small pistol, perhaps not quite as small as the G43 but almost.

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The 17-round magazines fill almost the entirety of the grip, and yet they still managed to make an interchangeable backstrap to customize the fit. One of the great features of the P365 is that its not a P320… (pause for laughter). But seriously, it has an incredible spread of options including compensated barrels, and various other configurations. Too many to list here, but worth looking into. And even with so many options the P365 is not horribly expensive.

Much like the Hellcat coming next, the P365 really blurs the lines between compact pistols and big capacity. With reliable function, good trigger, and every option a CCW student could ask for.

Springfield Armory Hellcat Pro

Springfield Armory’s Hellcat Pro came to as an incredible value. It is impressively small considering its capacity. Like the P365 it seems to best combat the size/capacity balance for compact pistols. With 15 and 17-round magazine options, the Hellcat Pro brings near full-size capacity to a very small pistol. The only way I approve of increasing weight of a CCW pistol is by adding more ammo to it.

The Hellcat Pro brings a lot of firepower to a small pistol with good sights and an optics ready pistol. Smaller pistols often are a touch spicier and snappy, so be sure to try them first. And if you are one who likes manual safeties, the Hellcat has that option as well. Rounded out with a decent trigger and accessory rail, you could really do well with a Hellcat. To see our in-depth review of the SA Hellcat Pro click here.

How to Select Your Own CCW Pistol

Having evaluated all the options out there, you need to decide on your budget. As that will dictate which of the options are available to you. Once you’ve created a list of pistol options within your budget, you can start looking. A good fit for a pistol, is one that lines up as close as possible with your natural point. I love a gun that is already pointed at my target when I present it without even focusing hard. Some are better than others depending on your grip, so I would try various options before buying.

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After doing that, you can also see which of the options best aligns with your choice of accessories. What holster and sight options are available for it, and how you would prefer that selection went. And by the time you have evaluated all of these things, there should be at least a couple good stand-out options for you to choose from.

Concluding Thoughts

Hopefully you have found a few pieces of valuable information here. And armed with a little more information you are better suited to pick the best option for your protection. Remember that if you intend on defending life with a CCW weapon, its probably worth spending as much as you can afford for reliability.

Nearly any of the pistols mentioned here today would fit into one of my carry needs. And I would be happy carrying any one of them on any given day. Feel free to make your own recommendations in the comments below.

-CBM

Check out more pistol reviews here

CZ 600 Trail rifle 300 Blackout

June 27, 2024Product review, Shooting hardware300 blackout, Cz, cz 600, trailcoldboremiracle

Czech firearms manufacturer CZ has hit quite a few out of the park lately. Today I bring you a review of another one of CZ’s more recent ventures; the CZ Model 600 Trail chambered in 300 Blackout. The compact Trail model promises to bring compact performance, something I enjoy myself. Let’s get into this review!

Gun Specs

Model	CZ 600 Trail 300AAC
Action type	Bolt-action
MSRP	$1079.00
Chambering	300 AAC Blackout (tested), 223 Rem, 7.62×39 Soviet
Magazine capacity	Factory 10 (uses Bren Stanag magazines)
Magazine type	detachable
Stock type	PDW 4 position collapsible
Length of pull	5.8 to 13.7 Inches
Sights	Picatinny rail
Barrel	16.2 inch Hammer-forged semi-heavy, suppressor ready ⅝-24
Barrel twist	1:7
Overall Length	27-35 inches
Weight	6.1 pounds
Trigger	Adjustable
Safety	AR style

Background

The 600 series of rifles is a more recent product line from CZ. Some of the company’s other impressive rifles like the Model 550 and model 457 are extremely popular with shooters. But the 600 series appears to be broad enough to cover most purposes.

Shooters will be happy to see that the model 600 is available in a micro action (tested today) as well as a standard short-action, and long-action. This spectrum of options means there is surely a Model 600 for you.

Shop all CZ rifles

As far as I can tell, the 600 series of rifles was designed to be a modern replacement to aging designs based on Mauser’s. Something to compete in the same market as Tikka T3’s and the Ruger American. I love the classy quality of the Model 550’s, but I can understand why CZ would move towards something more efficient to manufacture.

Sometimes, modern manufacturing designs also mean cheap. For example, the Ruger American is very popular today, but I don’t think it’s as robust or well-built as the old Ruger M77. It may function just as well, and even eclipse the capabilities, but it doesn’t feel as stout as my old M77.

I’m optimistic that CZ hasn’t short-changed the model 600 by incorporating cheap imported parts and technologies. But that’s what we are here to find out. Perhaps someday there will be a collector grade Model 600 Safari hung over my hearth.

Model 600 Features

Threaded Barrel- ⅝-24 thread pattern to fit your favorite suppressor
M-Lok Handguard- Allows easy mounting of accessories
Picatinny Sight rail- for mounting sights or rifle scopes
Detachable Box Magazine- CZ Bren pattern stanag magazines for quick reloads
Adjustable trigger- easily adjusted for best feel
AR style safety- familiar feel is easily operated
Collapsible PDW stock- reduces the size of the rifle for storage or transport

Other Models

In addition to the model we tested today, the Model 600 Trail is also available in both 223 Remington and 7.62×39 Soviet. These three micro-action options give you plenty of performance choices.

CZ Model 600 Trail Review

Picking up the Trail for the first time, I wasn’t exactly sure what it was for. By that I mean its purpose. At a glance it almost looks like some kind of AR type rifle, until you notice the bolt. Once I picked it up though, and gave it a quick look it became quite apparent what this rifle is for.

With a short sixteen-inch barrel and a collapsible stock, this rifle was meant to go places. And with a name like Trail I assume CZ means for us to take it into the mountains. But to be honest, I think it would also make a good covert rifle. Something to tuck under the seat of your truck.

Using the 300 Blackout cartridge also suggests some civilian spook purposes, such as dispatching pests around the house. Or just hunting animals quietly, as the subsonic ammunition available for the Blackout is movie quiet.

Range Prep

Before heading out with the rifle, I first mounted up a riflescope. The Maven RS 3 is a 5-30 power scope, probably a little more scope than this rifle needs. But it would help test the rifles capabilities.

cz, cz 600, trail, tripod — The **Maven RS 3 riflescope** was a great fit for this rifle

Instead of the typical bipod I would mount on a rifle, I put a tripod adapter for my little Precision Rifle Solutions tripod. This would give added stability, and additional shooting positions. I grabbed a few boxes of 300Blk ammunition from Hornady and HSM, both supersonic and subsonic varieties.

I also threw a suppressor in my bag, a Yankee Hill Machine Nitro. Shooting a 300Blk without a suppressor in my opinion is silly, I wanted to experience it proper.

Shootability

Once I was on the shooting mat with the 600 Trail, I quite enjoyed shooting it. There was a few things that I noticed immediately as I did my typical process. The bolt feels great in this short little action, it took me a minute to find the bolt release because it’s on the opposite side of the rifle from where typically found.

The trigger felt great, and despite being able to adjust it I just left it where it was. Cycling cartridges through the gun felt very nice, and spent cases ejected nicely. The firm ejector spring sent cases further than I expected.

The hushed report of shots were spectacular, I could hear the bullets striking the target downrange. I loaded magazines and ran all my different types of ammo through the rifle.

It didn’t take long to find something I would change about the rifle. The collapsible buttstock is fantastic for storing the rifle, but it caused me an issue while shooting. First of all, the PDW style stock has three or four locking positions. But it only locks in one direction, meaning you can still pull it out further. This caused me a little trouble because I found the third position to be ideal for my shooting needs. But while running the bolt quickly, I found as I pushed the bolt forward it would extend the stock to the fourth position. Not a huge deal, I suppose you could dremel it out to stay in each position.

Also, the cheek rest on the stock turned out to be a little low for the scope mounting configuration. Obviously this is something I could have changed, but I would have loved if the cheek rest had been adjustable.

The rifle is very light, and easy to maneuver with its short sixteen-inch barrel. With a sling in place, it was very pleasant to haul around these mountains.

Reliability

Other than the issue I mentioned with the stock, I found nothing unreliable about the Trail. The rifle is designed to use Bren magazines which are Stanag pattern I believe. I had 10 and 30 round P-mags for testing and they worked flawlessly. They did fit a little wobbly, but that didn’t seem to affect the function, and since they aren’t Bren mags, I won’t hold it against the rifle.

Accuracy

I shot an assortment of ammunition through the rifle, the best performing ammo seemed to be the Hornady 300Blk options. The 110 grain supersonic produced groups around 1-1.5 MOA, very similar to the 208 grain subsonic loads. These results were done at 100 yards.

target — a typical group from the CZ 600 Trail

Ergonomics

The fit of the 600 Trail was better than I expected. Other than wishing I had mounted the scope lower, the rifle fit me quite well. The grip angle feels nice, and the AR style safety is exactly where you’d expect it to be. And it has a very nice little click to it.

The Trail has a magazine release on both sides of the rifle, which gives you more options. As I mentioned the bolt release is right in front of the bolt handle. And while it did work flawlessly, it felt a touch janky. It was the only thing on the rifle that made me think; “oh no CZ, don’t do that”.

The M-Lok handguard was great, and shooting the rifle supported or unsupported was fantastic. It was nice to be able to attach things to the handguard for shooting support.

Value

Searching for a CZ 600 Trail to purchase, it seems the street price isn’t far off of the MSRP. So you can expect to pay right around a thousand dollars at the time of this printing. That seemed a bit steep for me when I first saw the price. The Ruger American offers many of the same features and can be had for as little as five hundred bucks in some places. And the Howa Mini can be found for under five hundred if you can find one. It too offers most of the same features, lacking only the collapsible stock and M-Lok handguard.

Typically I give CZ a leg up over other brands, and in this comparison I probably still would choose the CZ over the other two options.

Pros and Cons

Pros

Very compact for storage and transport
Very fun to shoot
Reliable function
Easily configured to your liking
Great suppressor host

Cons

Not inexpensive
One way locking stock

Report Card

Shootability (B+) The action runs great, cycling cartridges and pulling the trigger all felt like quality I would expect from CZ. I would change the stock function somewhat though.

Reliability (A) No malfunctions were experienced while shooting the rifle

Ergonomics (B+) The rifle feels great when shouldered, everything but the slight wobble of the PDW stock and magazine felt fantastic.

Accuracy (B+) In my experience, 300Blk hasn’t been particularly accurate when compared to cartridges like the 223 or 6ARC. But the 600 Trail shot comparably to most others I have shot.

Value (B) As I mentioned, there are other good rifles that will do the same thing for less, but they aren’t CZ’s either.

Preferred Ammo

Shooting Hornady ammo certainly seemed to produce better results than others. For both supersonic and subsonic the Hornady Black ammunition provided the best accuracy and performance.

The 110 grain Black would be great for hunting deer or any other supersonic purpose. The 208 subsonic was far better for covert purposes like dispatching raccoons off the porch.

Accessories

This rifle absolutely needs a suppressor, it is made for it. I used the Yankee Hill Machine Nitro N2.0, but any good 30 caliber suppressor would work well here.
A good sling is also very handy, I used a Magpul MS1 sling which worked well.
A rifle scope is the best sighting option, while the Maven I used for testing might be a bit much, I would strongly recommend something like the Eotech Vudu 1-10.

Final Thoughts

I really enjoyed the CZ Model 600 Trail, though it isn’t really my kind of thing I can still appreciate what it does. It would be a great little rifle for a rancher to keep on his ATV or in the truck. It gives great compact maneuverability and still shoots well enough to quietly get rid of coyotes, groundhogs or whatever else you might need to blackout.

-CBM

The Affordable CZex Appeal of the CZ P-10S Compact 9mm Pistol

October 13, 2023pistols, Product review, Shooting hardware9mm, ccw, Cz, P-10, P-10Scoldboremiracle

Introduction

With so many names in the firearms manufacturer world, it’d be hard to swing a dead cat in any gun store without hitting a good one. CZ-USA is another one of the big names in the gun world, and today we will take a look at one of their handguns for which they’re so famous; The CZ P-10S.

The P-10 series of pistols is a polymer frame striker fired line of 9mm handguns. Today we will take a specific look at the P-10S which is almost the smallest of the P-10 family, with a focus on use as a concealed carry weapon.

I am a bit of a CZenophile, and having been a fan of the European firearm manufacturer I was excited to get hands on the P-10S. And as soon as I opened the box I felt that old feeling coming back again. The initial impressions of the pistol are very positive; the trigger feels great, the sights pop and even with its small size it can carry a healthy CCW payload of 12+1 before any alterations. I expect I am going to enjoy shooting this pistol.

Unboxing the P-10S

I opened the polymer case that contained the pistol, and was greeted by a pretty familiar spread. The pistol laid in foam with an extra twelve round magazine, and a few other extras. There were two additional back-straps to change out to fit the shooters hand, and a couple extended magazine floorplates. There were also a few cleaning tools and allen wrenches for adjusting the pistol setup. And of course there was the typical cheap gun-lock forced upon gun manufacturers by our sophomoric legislators.

I lifted the pistol from the case, and started right into playing with it. The slide locks open quite easily on an empty magazine, perhaps it needs a little breakin as well. As the slide release is pretty stiff with an empty magazine in the gun, though it’s certainly easier with a loaded magazine.

I found the standard magazine floor-plates to be just a little bit small for my hand size. Certainly useable, but the extended floor-plates also included fit my hand perfectly. I suppose for ultimate concealability the standard length of the magazines might be beneficial.

Snapping the trigger a few times to see how it felt made me like the gun just a little bit more. The trigger has a blade safety, and it breaks quite consistently as far as my finger feels it. The reset feels good too, the whole operation got me eager to get this CZexy little pistol on the range.

I inspected the optics ready slide, a fantastic feature that more and more modern handguns are incorporating. I was for sure going to remove the base-plate to install a red-dot to see how I liked the P-10S with an optic.

Specifications

Rangetime

After getting hands on a case of 9mm 115 grain ammo from Ammo To Go, I grabbed a few other items and my range bag before Junior and I headed into the hills to shoot the P-10S.

With a few targets setup, we started stuffing magazines full of Federal Champion 115 grain cartridges. I am definitely going to get a good holster to use with this pistol, to see how well I can shoot it from the draw.

Shop all CZ P-10 Models at Palmetto State Armory

Loading mags was a lot more time consuming, and a chore compared to unloading them with the P-10S. We ran through several magazines of ammo so quickly I had to start keeping track.

The little CZ was a smooth shooter, I oftentimes find very small 9mm pistols to be a little more uncomfortable due to the reduce purchase on the smaller grip. The P-10S was not that way, it was quite comfortable and easy to keep on target.

My son also spent a great deal of time shooting the pistol, his hands are a touch smaller than my own. Which made the P-10S a perfect fit for him (and started a conversation about switching ownership of the pistol).

The factory sights were a great fit for my shooting style. I really appreciated the sights lining up almost every time I presented the pistol. It also made me anticipate adding a red dot even more.

Pros & Cons

Pros

Great trigger
12+1 magazine capacity
Optics Ready
Chamber Indicator
Partially pre-cocked striker
Picatinny accessory rail
Reversible Magazine release
Ambi Slide-release
Included extended mag floor-plate
Interchangeable grip backstrap
CZex Appeal
Undercut trigger-guard
Trim & smooth edges to avoid snags

Cons

Grip is a bit small for bigger hands
Slide release is a tiny bit stiff

P-10S Reliability

One of the reasons CZ pistols are so popular is because of their long history of service. Many CZ pistol designs are working hard right now all over the world. The P-10S carries on this distinguished service history.

We shot several hundred rounds through the P-10S, and we will surely be shooting many hundreds or thousands more. The only malfunction experienced during my testing was a single case of stove-piping the last round on one occasion. I dont know the cause of this malfunction, but it was the only one we experienced.

P-10S Accuracy

The 3.5 inch barrel of the P-10S is more than accurate enough for CCW purposes. During the course of our shooting, we were easily able to keep shot groups under three-inches at 10 yards. As a CCW pistol I think that is plenty accurate enough, and that is without searching for other ammo choices. Perhaps with better ammunition selection the pistol may shoot even better.

Overall Feel of the P-10S

The overall feel of the CZ P-10S is fantastic. My initial feeling of the pistol was that it could use some improvement. But after shooting it significantly on the range I feel much better about it. The grip texture could maybe be a touch tougher, but that’s easily remedied.

The short grip space was also easily corrected by adding the extended magazine floorplates. The slide cuts made the pistol very easy to operate in most any condition. The great trigger and other functions of the P-10S added to the positive impression left on us by the pistol.

My son did mention that with the extended floorplates he did manage to pinch his finger a few times while shooting. This might be something easily corrected with practice.

Firearms Depot also has a great selection of CZ P-10 pistols

P-10S Features

Optics Ready Slide

The optics ready slide of the P-10S accepts the very popular Holosun 407, 507 and 508 patterns. This also makes it compatible with other red dots like the Trijicon RMR and the Riton X3 Tactix. The added capabilities of the red dot sight allow the shooter to keep their focus on the target instead of the sights.

Shop additional red dots on Scopelist

Ambidextrous Controls

For those with left-handed disabilities, the P-10 family of pistols is an excellent choice. The slide release is ambidextrous, and the magazine release can be reversed easily. This gives lefties a great option for a pistol without having to give up compatibility.

Picatinny Accessory Rail

The picatinny accessory rail allows quick and easy installation of a good weapon light. For a CCW pistol like this it is hard to beat something like the Streamlight TLR8 for a good fit and bright performance.

Report Card

Reliability (8.5-10)

Other than the one stovepipe, the P-10S functioned flawlessly. It seemed to get better with more use as well.

Ergonomics (8.5-10)

The ergonomics of the P-10S were very mainstream comfortable, by that I mean it feels like it will fit most shooters. The controls are easily operated (after a little break-in) and adapted to lefties too. The grip angle makes for great target acquisition and sight picture.

Customization (9-10)

The ambidextrous capabilities of the P-10S make it very convenient for most shooters. The optics ready slide makes it easily adapted for whatever sight option you chose. And with good aftermarket support, there are lots of good accessories and add-ons for the P-10S.

Appearance (8.5-10)

The P-10S has a fantastic CZ look to it. Despite its affordable price it looks like a higher priced pistol. The finishes and fitment of the pistol parts give a very professional appearance.

Value (9-10)

I was very surprised how affordable the P-10S is. For the street price you get a pistol that punches above its weight for sure. It does everything that more expensive pistols from other big names in the market accomplish, arguably better in many cases.

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Accessories

A holster for sure

Something simple like the Comp-Tac IWB holster would be a good way to keep the P-10S close and ready. Though to be totally honest holsters are so subjective you’ll really need to try them for yourself.

Weapon Light

A good weapon light would be an excellent companion for the P-10S, I think I am going to order a Streamlight TLR8 to go along with the P-10S. It has good light rating, and also includes a laser.

Alternatives

Sig Sauer P365

For a little more money than the P-10S, you can also get a Sig Sauer P365. I happen to belong to the Sig cult, so this would be an easy splurge for someone like me. The P365 also uses 12 round magazines and allows an incredible collection of aftermarket accessories.

Glock 43X

The Glock 43 is also an easy choice to make. While still a bit more expensive than the CZ, it does give up some magazine capacity. Though it is also a little bit more compact so you can pick your poison.

Conclusion

I think the CZ P-10S was definitely a solid buy for me, and I would do it again. In fact I may start thinking about getting a full size P-10 just to go along with this one.

The P-10S provides outstanding value, and brings with it a solid history of reliable service. This is a near perfect recipe for most American CCW enthusiasts looking to get a pistol.

I will continue to update this article as we gain more experience with this little CZ, with hopes of helping others find their best affordable CCW option. If you like this review of the CZ P-10S, check out one of our other Pistol Reviews Here.

-CBM

2026 Update: My son has been carrying this pistol for quite a while now. As his first concealed carry firearm, her has learned a few things about it. The only complaints he has had, are that he can occasionally pinch a finger while seating the magazine. It has concealed well, and no malfunctions to speak of. He brings out the pistol almost every time we go, and runs a few magazines through the gun with no issues.

The CZ Scorpion my way

July 12, 2020Product review, Shooting hardware9mm, Cz, cz scorpion, cz usa, pistol brace, sbr, scoipion, scorpion eve s1, scorpion evocoldboremiracle

PCC History

Like many of you, I grew up swooning over guns I saw in the movies. And one of the iconic weapons from all those great eighties movies, was the Heckler & Koch MP5 of one variant or another. The short and rapid stroke of these old roller guns, together with their sexy physique made them the envy of anybody with an eye for firearms. Who would have thought that years later, when the time came to shoot one, I’d feel a little let down.

But this story is about a CZ Scorpion you might be thinking? Indeed it is. Your average gun owner cant afford the real MP5’s, and have to settle for clones, or something else entirely. I find myself in the latter group, and this is my “something else” story.

The Scorpion EVO

A co-worker showed up to the office one day, and like we do at my work, when you bring a gun to work, you damn sure go around and show it to everybody else. The gun he brought was the aforementioned CZ Scorpion Evo S1, configured as a pistol, with the short barrel and everything. In short order he had changed out the feature-less rear end, and installed an arm brace. For those that are unaware, the arm-brace is essentially a legal loop-hole around the SBR Tax. For those unfamiliar with the SBR Tax, its part of the National Firearms Act (NFA) that requires certain firearm configurations to be registered and taxed by the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms/Explosives (BATFE). And those of us who are familiar with the ATF have been robbed, infringed upon, and inconvenienced enough for all the rest of the gun community that aren’t familiar with them. Gratuitous, stupid, and superfluous are words that come to mind when reading through ATF regulations. The SBR/arm brace debacle is a perfect example of that.
The CZ Scorpion is a 9mm blowback operated pistol. But when a stock, and other accessories like suppressors and larger magazines are added, the Scorpion comes very close to feeling like a valid replacement for the MP5 I always dreamed about as a kid.

Customizing My CZ Scorpion EVO

The **Trijicon MRO made** a great choice for an optic

I immediately swore an oath to myself that the Scorpion would one day be mine. With disposable income well beyond my reach, I set to finding deals, and discounts. And it wasn’t too long before I found just what I was looking for, and for a decent price.
They even had the SB Tactical arm-brace in stock that I wanted, the collapsable PDW Style. I was off to a great start, but there was much more I wanted to do. The pistol grip of the Scorpion is widely believed to be too steep and angle, and is a bit uncomfortable. So I replaced it with one from Magpul, the pistol grip is mounted on a dovetail, which gives the user the opportunity to adjust it closer or further from the trigger. A nice feature for sure.
Another frequent complaint for the Scorpion is the right side safety selector digs into the trigger finger when firing.

The good folks at Gear Head Works made a fantastic reverse safety option, that shifts the selector above the finger instead of into it.
I wasn’t quite done with Magpul yet, I also bought a few 35 round P-mags for the Scorpion, as well as their magazine release which extends a bit further, and adds a paddle release to the end.

I was getting very close, all that was left I thought was a Midwest Industries 11.5” handguard, it should cover most of my SilencerCo Octane suppressor. It was close, so after running it like that for a couple months, I took an axe to my little Scorpion (actually a lathe) and cut the barrel back another 1.75 inches and re-threaded the muzzle 1/2-28. This allowed the suppressor to poke out just enough to get my fingers on it and tighten it.

One of the great benefits in my eyes to the Cz Scorpion, and pistol caliber carbines in general, is getting my kids on the firing line. The small size of the Scorpion, and its collapsible arm brace/stock make a perfect companion for even my 11 year old to shoot with comfort and confidence.

With all my alterations and additions finally in place, the Scorpion felt like what I wanted it to be. Which leads me back the beginning of our story. I told you I felt a little let down by the MP5, and I’ll tell you why. After shooting my Scorpion for several months now, getting used to the function and features, I was again given the chance to shoot an MP5SD, Which of course I jumped at. But to be perfectly honest, there were a few things I wished the MP5 had. For example a bolt lock-back on empty, and a pic rail.

Final Thoughts

I guess I should clarify, I LOVE the MP5, its beauty and performance are nearly untouchable. The beauty runs deep with its impressive and reliable mechanics inside as well.
But for all that, I think if my Scorpion was setup as a full auto like the HK was, I might like it just a bit more. This of course after the alterations, and making the gun fit me just the way I wanted it. I know there is a lot of you out there cringing, and shouting heresy over the crowd, but it’s true. Rest assured however, if ever I get the chance to own the OG HK, I will jump at the chance.
I love everything about this handy little “pistol”. It is compact, but packs quite a load of ammo, and despite being a pistol, it is still quite useful at distances out to nearly 100 yards. The Trijicon MRO is a perfect option to keep sight picture simple and quick to bring on target. While not a true long gun, the CZ Scorpion is an excellent weapon to have handy in my vehicle, bedside, or anywhere your CCW might not be quite enough. The controllability, and high capacity, make it a a good defense weapon. While the compactness and profile make it easy to take almost everywhere.
It may be sometime until I can run around wielding dual sub machine guns, but until then, the CZ Scorpion will be following me everywhere.
-CBM