Micro-compact fever and FBI statistics have driven everyone back to 9mm. So, there’s been a bit of a drought regarding new defensive pistol designs chambered in anything but 9mm. Sure, there’s been a bit of a resurgence in 10mm pistols during the last few years. And I do love 10mm.
However, other calibers like .357 Sig and .40 S&W have all but disappeared, and what about God’s caliber? That’s right. Sometimes, it even feels like .45 ACP in anything other than a 1911 is on its way out. Thankfully, CZ is keeping .45 ACP alive and well with the P-10 F Optics Ready.
The CZ P-10 F Optics Ready
Well, I’m here to plant a flag and keep the spirit alive with this review of the new CZ P-10 F OR (Optics Ready) in .45 ACP. Granted, a P-10 F in .45 ACP isn’t an absolutely brand-new design. CZ came out with it in 2021.
However, there were still lagging issues with supply chains because of COVID. Factories were still behind on orders, and workforces still weren’t at 100 percent. So, the first P10-F in .45 ACP hit the shelves in relatively low numbers, and it kind of flew in under the radar.
This new model adds the capability of mounting an optic. So, we’ll take a fresh look at one of my favorite striker-fired pistol designs chambered in one of my favorite calibers. If .45 ACP was good enough for Grandpa and Uncle Sam, then who am I to question the Lord’s work?
About the P-10
Originally released in 9mm—of course—the P-10 series is a striker-fired pistol design that was introduced to compete with similar offerings from other manufacturers. The P10-C was the first model introduced and was meant to directly compete against the Glock 19.
CZ followed up later with the P-10 F and P-10 S, which were full-size and sub-compact models, respectively. It may not have revolutionized that particular segment of the pistol industry. However, the P-10 series included a few tweaks and enhancements that were typical CZ work products.
In particular, the ergonomics of the P-10 set it apart from other similar pistols, such as those from Glock.
First, the polymer grip frame incorporates plenty of relief behind the trigger guard and under the beavertail area. This offers a more comfortable, deeper, and higher purchase on the pistol. As a result, the deeper and higher grip provides the user with better control during recoil. Additionally, the slide’s low bore axis works with the grip ergos to help mitigate muzzle flip for a flatter-shooting pistol.
Adding to the excellent ergonomics of the P-10 series is the support for right-hand and left-hand shooters.
First, the platform includes a slide stop/release on both sides for easy access regardless of the dominant hand. The magazine release will also accommodate either hand. However, the P-10 series has undergone a bit of an evolution in that regard.
The original P-10 C came with a fully ambidextrous magazine release with a button on both sides of the grip. These days, the magazine release is only on one side of the pistol at a time via the reversible mechanism that lets it be swapped back and forth.
The P-10 Series in Hand
As far as handling goes, the P-10 series of pistols offer excellent fore and aft cocking serrations. They are as functional as they are visually appealing. Additionally, they’re deep enough to provide excellent grip traction at either end of the slide for fast and confident manipulation.
Similarly, the grip offers superb texturing for outstanding control in all environmental conditions. While it’s similar in appearance to Glock’s RTF 2 texturing, it’s a touch more aggressive for a more positive lock on the grip.
In fact, while I haven’t seen any literature from CZ about changes in grip texturing over the last few years, I think it’s been subdued just a bit. The first P-10 C I shot was like trying to clamp down on a cheese grater. So, it’s nice that they pulled back on that a little.
One hallmark of CZ P-10 pistols is their extremely robust build quality. P-10 pistols like the P-10 F OR in .45 ACP incorporate a cold-hammer-forged barrel. This results in longer service life and better accuracy retention.
The barrel in the P-10 F OR .45 ACP is 4.5 inches long and zapped with a durable nitride finish—the same finish given to the slide. Another dimension to all P-10 Fs build quality is the steel guide rod.
Similar offerings on the market use a plastic rod as a cost-saving measure, but not the P-10 F. To get to the guide rod, the takedown is basically identical to that of a Glock-style pistol.
Simply retract the slide a bit, push down on the take-down tabs on the grip frame, and then pull the slide off the frame after pulling the trigger. Of course, always make sure the pistol is unloaded and the chamber is clear before doing this process.
P-10 F OR Amenities
Other amenities found on the P-10 F OR include the Picatinny rail for mounting your favorite weapon light or laser—or both. Another quality-of-life feature is the very roomy trigger guard that offers lots of space to accommodate a gloved finger.
The P-10 F OR also comes with three different backstraps that can be swapped out to tailor the fit of the grip to the individual user. This is particularly handy with the .45 ACP version since it’s chunkier than the standard P-10 F in 9mm. So, it might require some fine-tuning for folks with small to medium-sized hands.
Finally, the P-10 F OR ships with a set of fairly lackluster, three-dot, luminescent sights that include a flat face for racking off a boot, post, or other object. They’re certainly not the best sights available, but they’re serviceable for the most part.
It’s completely forgivable when you consider the pistol’s MSRP is only $499. That’s a pretty strong value, considering the build quality of the P-10 F OR and the fact that it includes the optic cut in the slide to mount your favorite red dot.
The Stock Trigger
And let’s not forget about the excellent trigger on the P-10 series of pistols. When I say “excellent,” I’m speaking about its efficacy in its intended task. The P-10 doesn’t have the lightest striker-fired trigger on the market. That honor is shared between Walther and Canik with their competition guns.
No, the P-10 is meant for duty and self-defense purposes. So, an ultra-light trigger isn’t a good decision for the average shooter simply for safety reasons. When the adrenalin hits, you don’t want to get amped up and twitchy around a hair trigger.
That said, the trigger on the P-10 F OR is definitely a step up from, say, a Glock trigger. I can say this from experience since I’ve shot many Glocks, and my favorite is my personal G21 SF in .45 ACP. The Glock has a spongy or mushy trigger pull which increases in resistance during the pull. However, newer generations have improved the design.
The P-10 F OR has a very clean take-up to the wall and then a surprisingly crisp break for a striker-fired pistol. There is a pivoting safety dingus on the trigger, and for an extra bit of protection, the P-10 includes a trigger bar safety to prevent against the pistol from firing if it is dropped.
I tested ten pulls on my Wheeler Engineering trigger gauge. The P-10 F OR averaged exactly 4.25 pounds of pull weight before the break. The reset wasn’t the shortest I’ve tried, but still short enough for fast work. Likewise, it provided very positive audible and tactile feedback.
For a service/defensive pistol, you can’t ask for much better out of a production striker-fired pistol. Particularly one with an MSRP under $500.
HB Industries Theta Trigger Kit
Even so, once I purchase this pistol, I’ll go ahead and install the Theta Trigger kit from HB Industries. That trigger basically eliminates the take-up, reduces the pull weight by 10 to 15 percent, and has a more premium feel with its flat and wider metal face.
For only $65, it’s a no-brainer as an add-on for the P-10 F OR.
What Makes This Pistol Different?
So, what differentiates this review pistol from other standard P-10 F pistols? Well, being chambered in .45 ACP, the dimensions are increased slightly. The height is essentially the same, but the width is 1.3 inches versus 1.26 inches for the 9mm version. Additionally, the weight is up from 28.2 ounces to 32.8 ounces.
Finally, instead of having 19 rounds as found in the full-size 9mm magazine, this pistol’s magazine only has enough room for 13 rounds and one in the pipe—the same as my G21 SF.
Big-Bore Fun Time
All the 9mm pundits can prattle on about how 9mm ammo has improved over the years and how it turns in better terminal performance these days. My answer to them is, “So what?”
In that time, all of the other calibers on the market have improved as well. None of that changes the fact a little more bass or thump in your recoil just makes things more fun. Or is it just me that’s weird like that?
In a search for answers, a couple of buddies and I hit the range with the P-10 F OR to get a feel for its shooting performance, handling, accuracy, and reliability. I also wanted to try it side by side with my G21 SF.
For running drills and basic target and steel shooting, we used a variety of range ammo from Federal Premium and Sig Sauer. The Federal stuff was interesting since I had never tried it before.
It was the 137-grain American Eagle Indoor Range Training Lead-Free ammunition. Talk about a surprise! It felt like shooting standard 9mm range loads. Even if you’re not worried about the environmental angle, this ammunition is extremely soft-shooting.
It is also a great way to have any of your inexperienced family or friends try your new .45 ACP pistol without worrying too much about the recoil. It’s not the cheapest option available. But it shoots extremely clean and is very accurate with a consistent point of impact.
The P-10’s Felt Recoil
Even with standard range ammunition and standard-pressure premium loads, the P-10 F OR was fairly tame when it came to the felt recoil and any muzzle flip. The polymer frame did a great job soaking up the felt recoil. Likewise, the superb ergos and texturing went a long way to mitigating muzzle flip.
Sure, when we tried out Hornady’s 220-grain +P Critical Duty load, and Federal’s 230-grain +P HST load, the P-10 F got a little slappy. Correspondingly, we felt that fairly aggressive texturing a bit more. However, the recoil was still quite controllable with a little extra effort on our part.
Testing for Accuracy
During all of our testing from the accuracy portion to the general shooting on steel and cardboard, the P-10 F OR demonstrated outstanding reliability by suffering no malfunctions of any sort. That included over 500 rounds of standard-pressure and +P loads, a variety of ammo weights from 185 grains to 230 grains. Likewise, it included FMJs, hollow-points, and even Flex-Tip ammunition, which can prove tricky for some firearms.
The testing wasn’t utterly exhaustive, and I’ll certainly do more in the future. However, I’ve owned six different P-10-style pistols to date and haven’t had a malfunction of any sort with any. I’m highly optimistic that will remain true with the P-10 F OR in .45 ACP.
Similarly, the accuracy portion of our tests turned out excellent results as well. Now, the P-10 F OR isn’t a target pistol. It’s a duty/defensive pistol. Also, we did the testing at 25 yards since it’s a full-size pistol with a longer barrel.
The distance alone makes it a little challenging for me to test for accuracy simply because I just can’t see as well as I did in the past. Even so, the P-10 F turned in results that ranged from very respectable to downright superb in a couple of instances. At least superb for a production service pistol.
Overall Results
The average group size for all loads tested was 2.56 inches. That’s a pretty solid result, considering the different ammo types in a production pistol. The P-10 F OR really, really liked Winchester’s 230-grain PDX1 load. It delivered a best group of 1.25 inches and a three-group average of just 1.95 inches.
It didn’t like the Hornady +P load so much. A couple of groups went well over 3 inches, with a three-group average of 3.36 inches. Who knows? It could have been the fact that the P-10 didn’t like that specific load. Or I could have just blown it with human error. You have to take the results you get with your best effort and just keep rolling forward.
CZ P-10 F or Glock G21?
Compared to my Glock G21 SF, I found the P-10 F OR in .45 ACP more comfortable to grip. It feels a little more slender and not as blocky as the Glock grip. That’s probably because of the extra relief cut into the grip frame that lets me get a better purchase on the P-10.
I also like the grip angle on the CZ better than I do with my Glock. It points more naturally than the Glock does. I will say, though, that the recoil impulse felt a little softer with the G21 SF. It’s hard to figure out why, but it did.
My G21 SF has a clear advantage in aftermarket support, whether it’s trying to find sets of iron sights or even holsters. There’s just not as much support for CZ P-10 pistols. It’s even more difficult to find stuff like holsters for the P-10 F that’s chambered in .45 ACP. Specifically because of its different dimensions. But do I care? Not a bit.
I don’t mind rooting around trying to find parts and having custom holsters made instead of buying them off the shelf at my local gun store. That’s because the P-10 F OR is a fantastic pistol in its own right. With its very low MSRP, it’s also action-packed with value.
Final Thoughts
If you’re like me and on a mission to keep the .45 ACP alive and well, or if you want to try something different than 9mm to keep things fresh and interesting, maybe the P-10 F OR is right up your alley.
It has the pedigree of one of the most trusted firearms manufacturers in the world. Beyond that, it’s superbly reliable, very accurate, and boasts some of the best ergonomics you’ll find in a striker-fired pistol.
If that’s not enough, you can have it at a price most companies were selling this type of pistol for more than a decade ago. If any of that sounds interesting, then the P-10 F OR is definitely worthy of your consideration.
For more information, please visit CZ-USA.com.
CZ P-10 F Optics Ready Specs
| Caliber | .45 ACP |
| Barrel | 4.5 inches |
| Overall Length | 8.1 inches |
| Width | 1.3 inches |
| Weight | 32.8 ounces |
| Grips | Polymer |
| Sights | Three-Dot, Luminescent |
| Action | Striker-Fired |
| Finish | Nitride |
| Magazine Capacity | 13+1 |
| MSRP | $499 |
Performance
| Accuracy | |||
| Velocity | Average | Best | |
| Black Hills 185gr. JHP | 1010 | 2.84 | 2.36 |
| Federal 230gr. Punch Personal Defense | 846 | 2.10 | 1.75 |
| Hornady 220gr. +P Critical Duty | 1029 | 3.36 | 2.89 |
| Winchester 230gr. PDX1 | 903 | 1.95 | 1.25 |
Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in feet per second from the muzzle by a Garmin Xero C1 Pro Chronograph, and accuracy in inches for three, five-shot groups at 25 yards.
