First day at the range with the new P-09

[armoredman]

It was a brisk 100 degrees at 9AM, with a nice breeze. Beautiful spring day in Arizona.

I was out with my brand new CZ P-09, having arrived yesterday. I wasn't going to wait too long before breaking it in, so after a clean and oil, out we went. I took the widest variety of ammo I could get, but my biggest problem...factory loads. I've reloaded for so long that i had to dig up some older factory ammo to try out, and realized I need some more 9mm defensive factory JHP loads. Oops.



I started off with 10 rounds of my old standby carry load, the Remington standard velocity 115 gr JHP. BTW, yes, it does have a good street record, according to Evan Marshall.



Not bad for very first rounds ever fired through this gun. Recoil was LIGHT, and very manageable.



One interesting surprise, the 135 grain Hydrashoks did well,



But the Remington 115gr JHP reloads I made up a few years ago worked quite well,



She ate everything I fed her without a burble until...

Yes, Virginia, there is an "until"...the home cast lead. The round was too long and fat in the ogive to properly chamber, and twice hung up on feeding. This is the 125 grain Lee single lube groove bullet, so I will try the narrower 124 grain Tumble Lube and see if that works better. I loaded the offending rounds in the Phantom to make sure it was the gun, and it was - worked perfectly in the Phantom. It's just that P-09 chamber is cut shorter so as to say no to .356 cast lead. Oops. Anything else, factory, plated or jacketed bullet reloads, all of those fed perfectly. I just have to play with my lead load to make it work right.

Berrys 115gr HBRN-TP loads, perfect feed and function. Need more of these.



All in all, I was VERY impressed! This is not a CCW pistol for small people, but a solid heavy duty sidearm meant for open carry, on-duty use, nightstand, etc. However, I will mention that High Noon Holsters DID casually mention they have an almost complete lineup of holsters ready for the P-09...

Interestingly enough, when "stacked up" on my normal carry pistol, the CZ SP-01 Phantom, the two are virtually the same size.





Barrel link is different, now a cutout instead of an oval, and the recoil spring is fully captive.



Cool gun, video soon.

 

[Orion8472]

Thanks for the review. I'm gonna get one when it comes to my neck of the woods.

 

[Tommygunn]

Thanks for the report.
I have the CZ P-07 Duty in 9mm.. While it's sort of an "ugly" gun (IMHO) it is one of the best guns I own ergonomically speaking. It fits my hand like a glove.
I wonder if the P-09 has the same attributes.

 

[Walt Sherrill]

Barrel link is different, now a cutout instead of an oval, and the recoil spring is fully captive.

The barrel lockup design is different than some other CZs -- is it like the Phantom in that respect, too? (I have no experience with the Phantom.) To wit: no locking lugs on the top of the barrel as with the older (original) 75B-based guns. The barrel is more SIG-like, as was the CZ-40B.

 

[armoredman]

Yes, the P-09 does have a very SiG like lockup with the barrel hood, instead of locking lugs.
The Phantom has a traditional kidney shaped cutout for the barrel link, and also has traditional barrel locking lugs machined into the barrel and the slide.
Older video I made about the Phantom.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kC42QLurfrQ

 

[CoRoMo]

Good write up.

Are you left eye dominant?

Hard to tell which eye you're using but looks like the left.

 

[armoredman]

Yep. When I was in the Academy, my Class Sgt told me I was going to shoot left handed because I was left eye dominant. I told him no, and I'll score Expert. When my class graduated, I was presented as the top shooter.

 

[Orion8472]

I want to say this with as much tact as possible, . . .and with absolutely no offense, . . . and with all due respect, . . . but were you more interested in just putting rounds on the paper than trying to get tight groups? Considering your post [above this one], I am wanting to gauge the accuracy potential of the P-09.

 

[armoredman]

No problem. I have a tendency to shoot pistols standing position, not rested. I will be working more with accuracy next range trip, possibly with a traditional sitdown/benchrest setup, but for this one, I wanted to judge three things - does it work reliably, does it work with my traditional stance, and is it fun to shoot? Yes, yes, and yes.
As for my post about my ranking in the COTA class, that was merely to say that being cross eye dominant doesn't unduly affect accuracy if handled correctly. Yes I do qualify Expert or Distinguished Expert in my Dept every year, (Expert this year, wanna see the card?), but the AZ POST shoot is really quite easy.
For me, also, I wanted to see what the gun likes - the 115gr Remington bullet seemed to be a fun place to start...if I could FIND any more of them. Discovered it doesn't like one cast bullet, but tolerates a different one. We'll see, just scratching the surface.
I will ALWAYS say I am NOT the worlds greatest shot by any means, not hardly, but I will put my work out there for people to critique. It's more fun that way.

 

[Orion8472]

Thanks for understanding, armoredman! I look forward to your next range trip.

 

[Beentown]

Hmm, I thought the P-09 was a .40?

 

[ifit]

wonder if theres a difference between the accuracy of the p-07 and the new p-09, the only thing is see different between the two is the length of barrel...correct me if im wrong

 

[armoredman]

P-09 comes in 40 and 9mm. The barrel is longer and the grip is longer with a larger magazine, and I'm told there were some other minor changes.

 

[Beentown]

P-09 comes in 40 and 9mm. The barrel is longer and the grip is longer with a larger magazine, and I'm told there were some other minor changes.

Cz's website mentions it as a 9mm in the description. Then it lists it as a 40 in the specs. When I went in search of one for sale they were all 40's. I'll give you $450 for yours

 

[Orion8472]

I'm going to contact CZ to see if the P-09 hammer and trigger would work in the P-07, and if I can get them. I really like the look of the P-09 hammer and trigger.

 

[armoredman]

Beentown, thanks for the "generous offer", please forgive me if I have to turn ya down for now... I do know the 40 examples had come in right before the first 9mm commercial shipment had landed...which is where my gun came from.
Orion, I can't really think that it wouldn't, but 1-800-955-4486, and press 2 for parts, might be the answer you need.

 

[.357 magnum]

Very Nice Review!

I have been looking for a New 9mm and this has really gotten my attention! Sincere Thanks on the Review! I find it helpful when looking for a new gun.

Thank you,

Frankie T.

 

[armoredman]

Who the heck goes to the range on a Tuesday morning? Well, besides me, that is...

Answer? EVERYBODY!!! Last time I saw it this crowded was on a weekend. I think the ammo crunch must be easing a bit... ;D

Back to business, took the P-09 out with my for range trip, part two. I took a selection of reloads, as I had flat run out of factory ammo to shoot up. Let the record show that I experienced flawless functioning again - the P-09 ate everything I threw at it, bar none. Ejection was ALL over the place, including three that landed on me...

This was the typical target for this trip, four good ones and a flyer...



I found that it will eat the 124 grain Lee cast slug, being that it is a teeny bit narrower than the 125 grain slug. Not too bad with the results, either.



BE ADVISED, I have been told that CZ-UB does not recommend cast bullets in any CZ pistols. Oops.

I tried using a rifle rest...that didn't work very well. I actually had "rested" groups that were worse than the exact same load fired standing. Here is one good "rested" group. That center hole is 3 rounds.



Using a donated new 124 gr plated bullet, worked well. Thank you!



As the range filled up, and I mean FILLED UP, I decided it was time to boogie, but not without one last fling, as I had noticed I had an old green alien target in the bottom of the bag. The creases were wearing through, sure sign it needed to be shot. So I obliged it, and mounted it at 25 yards. Loaded 19 rounds of Berry's 124gr HBRN-TP over 7.5gr AA#7 and let rip.



Please note the helpful red arrows to show the two complete misses. Other than those two, that exceeds my Dept standards for qualification. All 19 were counted on target, no dropped. Can't wait to try the P-09 with Thugly...that will be this weekend, and THAT one will be on video.

 

[Orion8472]

Thanks for sacrificing more rounds for us. Glad to see it is working flawlessly!

I ordered one for myself. I asked to see if they could get one with night sights, if possible, but I'll have to wait and see on that.

I've turned into more of a hammer fired pistol guy, so am going to have to take my leave of the recent acquisition of mine, a stainless FNS-9 w/ night sights. I like it, and the striker fired trigger is about the best I've encountered, . . . but they just aren't for me.

 

[jackinil]

I've got one coming,probably early next week. It will be my new night stand and range gun.

 

[Beentown]

What's the street price in your area?

 

[jackinil]

Got mine from Automatic Accuracy in Arkansas, $544 shipped. Haven't seen any by me[Illinois].

 

[Beentown]

I will call my LGS and see. They have the P-07 for $449 right now so hopefully the P-09 will be similarly priced.