CZ P10F Review by Alien Gear Holsters

Alien Gear Holsters' CZ P10F Review

Wondering if we think CZ's full-size poly pistol is up to snuff in this CZ P10F review? We'll tell you up-front. We do.

The CZ P10F is the full-size variant of the P-10C, adding extra capacity as well as a longer barrel, slide and frame. CZ has cast their hat into the polymer pistol ring along with their more traditional hammer-fired offerings and the consensus is that they're pretty darn good.

Everything that's good about the CZ P-10C is a bit bigger and better. There are a couple of bugaboos that remain, but overall this is an excellent service or home defense pistol. If you carry a full-size, it wouldn't be a bad concealed carry pistol. That said, let's go ahead and get into it.

CZ P10F: Larger Variation On A Theme

The CZ P10F is a full-size variant of the P10C, which is a compact/full-size pistol that CZ developed to submit for the XM17 pistol trials of the US armed forces. The Sig M17/P320 won, of course, but the P10C had a lot going for it.

CZ has also developed different frame sizes for the P10C, such as the P10F. (For "Fullsize.") Much like how a "compact" variant of a gun takes a bit off the barrel, slide and frame, the P10F adds a bit where we were used to less of it. If you're familiar at all with the P10C, the P10F isn't really anything new except for the fact that it's bigger in all dimensions.

Controls are the same (ambidextrous slide release and takedown tabs) but our example had a swappable magazine release compared to the P10C we had in our offices, which had ambidextrous magazine release buttons.

Slide serrations are fore and aft, and are beefy for easy racking of the slide, which does not ride inside the frame rails unlike CZ's polymer-framed hammer-fired guns. There are also stipled pads above the takedown tabs; these are for indexing your trigger finger on, which is actually a nice touch.

Thus, this is the competitor to the Smith and Wesson M&P, Glock 17, Canik TP9 and other full-size polymer-framed striker-fired pistols. Does it have something to offer over those guns?

It actually does.

CZ P10F Dimensions

The CZ P10F sports a 4.5-inch barrel, which increases the overall dimensions to about 7.8 inches long and 5.5 inches tall, but stays 1.26 inches wide. Unloaded weight is a hair under 30 oz.

The sights are the same combat three dot sights. The sights aren't the largest among full-size pistols, but are easily acquired. The rear sight is a combat rear ramp and the front sight is a convention blade with insert.

The frame features a 1913 rail on the dust cover, should you want to mount a laser/light of your choice. You can purchase a regular version or an optics-ready version with a red dot sight plate already installed. At the time of this writing, a threaded-barrel version is not available but there's no reason to think there won't be.

After all, the P-10C has a threaded-barrel version, the CZ P07 has a threaded barrel version, so does the P09, the P01, the SP01 and even the CZ-75. Even Dan Wesson, the high-end 1911 maker that CZ owns the controlling interest in, makes threaded-barrel pistols.

As you can tell, it's just like the P10C just bigger.

Another area in which the P-10F is bigger? The magazine. Most poly striker guns of the full-size variety have an onboard complement of 17 in the standard magazine. The Remington RP9 one-upped everyone by going to 18. The CZ P10F has a capacity of 19+1.

That's right. Pre-load one in the pipe and you get 20 rounds aboard. Carry a spare magazine in a pocket, backpack, or in a magazine carrier and you have 39 rounds on you at any given time. That's something else.

CZ P10F Review

So...has CZ reinvented the wheel? Have they out-Glocked a Glock 17 according to this CZ P10F review?!

Actually...a little bit. Don't get us wrong. The Glock 17 is an exceptional pistol. It's a workhorse extraordinaire. It's accurate as heck, reliable and tough as nails, available everywhere...there's nothing legitimately bad you can say about it. That's why thousands and thousands of policemen and service members in countries all over the world trust their lives to one every day.

But the CZ P10F has some details addressed that warrant looking at it. The grip angle is a little more comfortable, a little more familiar; the 22-degree rake of the Glock turns some shooters off as no other pistol has that grip angle. If your gun safe is proof that variety is the spice of life, you'll find the grip on the P10F a little more comfortable because of that.

The undercut of the trigger guard, slight relief across the upper grip and quasi-extended beavertail and rear slide get you a high tight grip without even thinking about it. (CZ has, after all, always been known to excel at ergonomics.) The swappable back straps let you get the palmswell profile you prefer. The gun as standard is quite comfortable, but you may find you want more or less bulge into the lower half of the palm. Granted, Glock has added these things in the Gen 4 and Gen 5 models, but the CZ just felt a little more intuitive to us.

The trigger is frankly better than those on factory Glock and other striker pistols. Take-up is smooth, with a slight stack in the last 0.1 inch of travel and a crisp break. You don't get the cheap cap gun-like reverberation that many other polymer pistols have; it feels decent. Like the P-10C, it isn't quite as nice as the VP9 or Walther PPQ (which are about as good as factory poly guns get) but is far nicer than many other guns of the same format and price point.

Though there is the following caveat.

The grip texturing is pretty much the only drawback of both the P-10C and the P-10F, as it's a bit on the rough side. Granted, that also makes it grippy; you will never have to worry about this gun slipping with bare hands or gloves, even if outdoor conditions are greasier than covering a fast food burger with olive oil.

Other than the grip stipling, there really isn't anything to complain about with the P10F or the P10C for that matter. It's accurate, reliable and - stipling aside - comfortable and easy to run. It has a better trigger than plenty of other striker guns and has a very attractive price point. It also holds more ammunition than most other pistols, which is fantastic for range days, competitions and so on.

The overall feel, along with the trigger and features, make it arguably THE gun to get if you want a full-size striker gun for around $500.

About The Author

Born in southeastern Washington State, Sam Hoober graduated in 2011 from Eastern Washington University. He resides in the great Inland Northwest, with his wife and child. His varied interests and hobbies include camping, fishing, hunting, and spending time at the gun range as often as possible.