Type:  Locked Breech Semiautomatic Pistol System of Operation:  Recoil Caliber:  9x19mm Capacity:  10 round box magazine Sights, front: Fixed blade Sights, rear:  Windage (drift) adjustable u-notch Length: OAL 7", Barrel 3.625" Weight: 1.92 lbs Suggested Retail Price:  $300.00

The obvious answer then, is to shorten the butt of the pistol as much as possible, while still maintaining ergonomics conducive to controlling the pistol.  This solution to the problem is not new, having been applied by FN to a shortened version of the "High Power Double Action" many years ago.  This common sense solution has never caught on in this country, partially because of the odd, truncated look these pistols have, as well as the idea that one had to give up significant firepower owing to the shortened magazines.  However, in this day of ten round magazine restrictions, one needn't give up any firepower just because one has a shortened grip frame.  And aesthetics are distinctly a secondary consideration when it comes to defensive firearms (although we are told that there are some people who consider Glocks to be attractive. . . ).

PRODUCT REVIEW
The question then arises:  If the answer is so obvious, why isn't it being implemented?  Well, we're happy to say that it is being implemented.  The Hungarian firm of Fegyver es Gepgyar (FEG) is one of the oldest and most well established arms houses in Europe, having furnished arms to Hungary from the Hapsburgs to the communists, and beyond.  Today FEG is best known for the inexpensive, but extremely well made, clones of pistols such as the Browning High Power and the Walther PP and PPK that are sold in the United States.  FEG also manufactures a line of full size, double action locked breech pistols in 9x19mm, .40 S&W, and .45 ACP.  These guns are generally styled after the Browning High Power, but their double action lockwork is reminiscent of Smith & Wesson double action self loaders, right down to the slide mounted safety/decocker.

The full size version of the double action pistol in 9x19mm is known as the P9R.  By shortening the P9R's slide and barrel, and chopping off a good portion of the grip frame, FEG arrived at the P9RZ.   The P9RZ appealed to both our bluntly utilitarian side, as well as that portion of the CRUFFLER.COM staff that likes firearms that are just, well, plain weird.  And so, we contacted  Century International Arms, of Boca Raton, Florida and St. Alban's, Vermont, and placed an order for a P9RZ.  Century is one of the largest, if not the largest, importers of new and surplus firearms, ammunition, and accessories in the United States.

Not long after we placed the order the BBT (the Big Brown Truck - UPS) showed up with a medium sized  box.  The pistol was packed in a neat little plastic case.  Included with the gun were two ten round magazines, a cleaning rod, and an instruction manual.  It should be noted that the pistol, spare magazine, and cleaning rod had been immersed in some form of heavy weight oil and then placed in plastic bags prior to shipment.  This required a few very dedicated minutes to clean off!

As is typically the case with FEG firearms, the pistol was very well made.  This gun was crafted by traditional milling methods - no stampings here!  Fit and finish are extremely nice and the bluing is reminiscent of a commercial FN High Power.  The flat plastic grips lend themselves nicely to concealment purposes, and the finger rest on the magazine is unobtrusive, yet large enough to provide enough purchase when gripping the pistol.  Among the most interesting features was the hammer.  It is milled flush with the rear of the slide, giving one the impression that this was a double action only pistol.  This is untrue.  Slight pressure on the trigger caused the hammer to move back slightly revealing well milled cocking serrations on the top of the hammer.  However, the careful milling of the hammer is evidence of the careful thought and engineering that went into enhancing the gun's concealability.

Safety controls are ambidextrous, and are located on the top rear of the slide.  When the lever is pointed forward, and parallel with the barrel, the pistol is ready to fire.  When pointed down at about a sixty degree angle, the gun is on safe.  Applying the safety drops the hammer and interposes a block between the striking face of the hammer and the firing pin.  However, due to the possibility of the block suffering metal failure after being smacked by the hammer time and time again, we recommend that the hammer be eased down when the safety is applied.  Sights are of the three dot variety with a u-notch rear with a blade front.  The front sight is fixed, and the rear is drift adjustable for windage.

Lockup is achieved using the typical Colt-Browning system, with twin lugs on the barrel engaging recesses in the top of the slide.  The barrel is linkless, and is cammed down as the slide travels to the rear by an interaction of the barrel lug with milled recesses in the frame.  The interior machining and finishing are exemplary, and rival the very best FN, Colt, or Browning products.

The grip does take some getting used to, being short and fat (the pistol accepts a magazine containing a full ten rounds of 9x19mm).  This is not an impediment, as the gun is well balanced and points very nicely.  One quickly becomes used to the size and the different feel of the grip.

Shooting the P9RZ
Before shooting the P9RZ, we disassembled it for a thorough cleaning.  Much to our (pleasant) surprise, the pistol was clean!  We've become used to manufacturers who seem to believe that cleaning after proof firing is the consumer's responsibility, so this was a pleasant surprise.  The pistol was reassembled, and the reciprocating parts lightly greased.

Ammunition
We brought along some representative ammunition with which to test the pistol, to include some South African PMP 115 grain Full Metal Jacket (FMJ), Finnish military 119 grain FMJ, and some Federal "Personal Defense "Hydra-Shok 135 grain Jacketed Hollow Point (JHP).   And so, on a sunny spring Virginia Friday, we set out for the NRA indoor range,  in Fairfax, Virginia.

Accuracy
We used a standard NRA B-2 target with a 3" black center.  Shots were fired at ranges varying from 15 to 35 feet.  As this pistol was not designed to be a match or target piece, but rather for "up close and personal situations of an unpleasant nature," we felt that these distances would adequately emulate ranges for which the pistol was intended.  At all ranges the pistol was more accurate than the shooters, demonstrating an ability to keep both single and double action fire well within the 3" center.  Interestingly, the pistol's truncated grip was not the factor most detrimental to accuracy.  The main accuracy detractor was the trigger.   Had it been a tad smoother (not necessarily lighter) we believe accuracy would be enhanced.  That being said, the pistol was capable of more than acceptable accuracy for a "belly gun."

Recoil
Felt recoil was very light, making the P9RZ a very pleasant pistol to shoot.   We attribute this light recoil in large part to the gun's all steel construction.  This adds weight that some may find objectionable in a carry piece, but that same weight soaks up the recoil nicely.  Recoil sensitive shooters will find themselves undaunted by the P9RZ's recoil.

Reliability
We fired about 100 rounds in the course of the range session, including the JHP ammunition.  We experienced no failures to feed, eject, or cycle.  We inspected fired cases for signs of excessive headspace, excessive pressure or any other irregularities.  None were found.
 

CONCLUSION
In conclusion, we found the P9RZ to be well made and pleasant to shoot.  If you are in the market for a concealment piece in a service caliber, we feel that the P9RZ is a very good choice, both in terms of quality and value.  There are some negative features, such as the slightly gritty trigger and the gun's weight.  However, we believe that these factors are outweighed by the gun's quality and the innovative way the FEG engineers solved the concealment problem while maintaining the firepower of a full-size service pistol.   This gun is accurate, concealable, well made, reliable, and reasonably priced.   If you have any questions about where and how to go about acquiring a P9RZ, please contact CRUFFLER.COM.

And now, our Buy-O-Meter rating for this product:
 
 
 
 

HOME