I doubt if there are many Americans today that have not heard about "Smart Guns." They're one of the fads that the anti-gun movement loves, and believe will stop everything from criminals using stolen firearms to childhood gun accidents. "Smart Guns" are the future, and 2nd Amendment supporters are just standing in the way.
So we are told.
Let's talk about what "Smart Guns" are. They're firearms with computer operated safety mechanisms built into the weapon. There is some type of individual identification reader that only allows the firearm's owner to operate the weapon. It could be a built in fingerprint reader, or something like a ring/pendant that sends out a signal and unlocks the gun. In theory, only the weapon's owner would be able to use the firearm. It would be inoperable to others.
That sounds great!
Except...
"Smart Gun" devices are not going to work very well in the long term. Hell, no one has invented one that is suitable for self defense in the short term. If a working "Smart Gun" system is produced, then it will most likely have a limited lifespan as a useful safety device. The rambling paragraphs below will detail why that is.
The most important thing to most gun owners is whether or not a handgun will work when it's needed. Everything else is secondary in a self defense weapon. Will the computerized locking mechanism still work after being exposed to oils, solvents, water, perspiration, heat, cold, recoil, or hitting the pavement from several feet in the air?
Now ask yourself if this technology will take that abuse for months, years, or decades?
Reliability is the biggest question in my mind. Lack of faith in the reliability of this technology is the reason why we will never see Obama's, Bloomberg's, or Feinstein's protectors using "Smart Guns." It's also unlikely that we'll see the average cop on a beat carrying them any time in the foreseeable future.
Moving on to cost. If you can't build a 3,000lb automobile that is theft proof, then how do you think it's possible to produce a 3lb handgun that thieves cannot use? I cannot even imagine the expenses involved in making this actually work.
My question is, how much will this technology add to the price of a firearm? Will it force the average gun owner out of the market, and keep them from being able to exercise their 2nd Amendment rights? Will the cost be so prohibitive that it keeps the poor and/or middle class from being able to afford self protection?
Is this perhaps the end goal?
Do you remember the Commodore 64's from the 1980s? Some of you will, but the younger readers are probably scratching their heads. It was one of the first reasonably affordable computer that an average person could own. Of course this computer has been obsolete for decades, even though it was once considered state of the art. Try getting replacement parts today for one of these 30 year old desktops.
I'm sure that you see where I'm headed.
Firearms last for generations. Computer technology changes yearly. Will the "Smart Gun" technology change so much over the years that a 10, 20, or 30 year old firearm becomes unfixable? Will I be able to get a replacement part if the module inside of my "Smart Gun" malfunctions in 2025, or is the gun now a paperweight?
I have guns that are older than I am. They work great, but I doubt that I can say the same about a lot of computerized equipment of the same age.
Will batteries even be available 20 years from now for the "Smart Gun" that you buy today. Bear in mind that technology is always advancing, and computers are getting smaller and more powerful. It's likely that battery technology will change with the "Smart Guns."
Part of the appeal of personalized weapons is the ability to keep children from operating your firearms. My safe (and good parenting) took care of that problem when my daughter was growing up. We didn't require guns that relied upon computers, rings, pendants, research, or government grants. Neither did my parents.
Let's pretend, however, that this is why you bought your new "Smart Gun." How long do you think it will be before there's twenty "How To Hack Your Glock" videos on YouTube? Do you doubt this will happen? I suggest that you do a search about how to hack electronic gun safes, and then tell me that it's impossible.
The older your "Smart Gun" is the easier it will be for someone to hack, or find some form of work around. This holds true for both children and any criminal that gets a hold of your firearm. The older the weapon is, the more obsolete the lock will be.
Is anyone really going to keep the rings or pendants hidden from their kids? Children know where everything in the house is. It's ridiculous to believe otherwise.
How many states will require all new firearms to be personalized weapons when these "Smart Guns" (in a suitable self defense caliber) hit the market? I can think of at least a half dozen nanny states that will attempt to ban everything but "Smart Guns" after they become available.
Here's something for the SHTF crowd. Would an EMP knock out a "Smart Gun?"
If the weapon is using a fingerprint reader, then how will it work if you're wearing gloves?
Will someone eventually be able to remotely disable your firearm? With a simple online purchase, I can buy equipment to jam your cell phone. It's even possible to have someone remotely turn off your car. Can you say with assurance that it will be impossible for someone to block the signal sent from your ring/pendant to your "Smart Gun?" Will a mugger 5 years from now be able to disable the concealed carry "Smart Gun" that I bought today?
What about in 10, 20 or 30 years?
Everything sounds good in theory. I'm not interested in being the one that puts the theory to the test. Call me old fashioned, but my firearms work fine without any computer devices installed. Do the beta test with the President's Secret Service Agents first. Maybe I'll give it a look when they're done.
I am far from an expert on this topic. I'm just the average gun guy playing on the internet. I do, however, have a lot of questions about "Smart Gun" durability, long term use and practicality. It's hard to imagine how adding unnecessary technology and equipment to a firearm will increase it's reliability. Will this equipment be reliable enough to use inside the weapon that keeps me safe?
Somehow, I doubt it.
Wednesday, February 4, 2015
Friday, January 30, 2015
Other Gun And Knife Reviews On This Blog
Some of my prior gun and knife reviews on this blog can be found here.
SCCY CPX-2 Review
The 20-30yr old version of me was more likely to own a Sigma instead of a M&P, or a Bersa in place of a Kahr. This younger (and lighter) me had a lot less disposable income, but still loved his handguns.
Fast forward to 2015. I can afford more expensive firearms today than I could in the 80s and 90s. Life is pretty good. However, like most of you I still enjoy a bargain.
I think that the SCCY CPX-2 is a helluva good deal for the money. This weapon averages about $275 in my area. There's not a lot of quality budget guns out there that can beat it at that price point.
I like this gun, but I don't love it. There's several reasons for that.
I like this gun, but I don't love it. There's several reasons for that.
Let's get the specifications out of the way.
SCCY CPX-2 Specs:
Barrel Length 3.1"
Length 5.7"
Height 4"
Weight 15oz
Width 1"
Trigger Double Action (9lb)
Sights 3 Dot (Adjustable)
Capacity 10+1
Of course you could have looked up the specs here instead.
Alright, let's get down to business. I stated that this is a budget gun, and I stand by that statement. It's doubtful that many Glock owners or M&P fans are gong to put aside their current self defense picks in order to carry a SCCY. I would suspect that this pistol is intended for novice gun buyers, those on a tight budget, or people looking for a "Truck" gun. That's fine. There's a lot of those guys and gals out there. Not everyone can afford a $550 Glock, or $650 Springfield. Americans should be able to exercise their Right To Bear Arms without having to live on Ramen noodles for six months (the Liberal elite might think differently).
This model SCCY has a satin finished stainless steel slide. It's attractive looking, and I don't expect any corrosion issues (I'll keep you posted as I carry this through the spring and summer).
It's a good looking gun overall, and unlike some of it's competitors there is nothing "Cheap" feeling about this weapon.
It's a good looking gun overall, and unlike some of it's competitors there is nothing "Cheap" feeling about this weapon.
The slide serrations are well done, and are very easy to grip. I had The Daywalker and The Daywalker's Mom rack the slide, and neither woman had any issues. Both women have average hand and upper body strength for females. This pistol's ease of operation will be appreciated by those looking for an affordable self defense gun for the family.
The weapon has a dual recoil spring system that is fixed to the all steel guide rod. That will be a plus for those that dislike plastic guide rods, and cheap looking two piece recoil springs.
The sights are the normal 3 dot fare that we see on so many handguns. The rear can be easily adjusted by loosening a set screw.
The front sight is plastic while the rear is metal.
The front sight is plastic while the rear is metal.
The Zytel grip has a little bit of texturing on the sides. The cutouts on the back strap have an interesting purpose. They supposedly serve as a "Re-Coil Cushion," and I'd love to see some stats on how much recoil they actually reduce. I have my doubts about how effective they really are. Personally, I think that they're the only unattractive feature on this gun, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
You've no doubt noticed that there are finger grooves along the front of the frame, and the trigger guard is slightly undercut (I wish everyone did that).
The frame is one of the things that I'd change about this firearm. While I don't usually care one way or the other in regards to finger grooves, I don't like them on this pistol. My medium sized hands feel a little cramped when holding this gun. It feels like the grooves are too close together, and too close to the trigger guard. Perhaps if the undercutting on the trigger guard was a little higher the grip would feel better.
As things currently stand, I don't think the grip fits me very well, and I'd give it a "Meh" for comfort. The grip isn't horrible, and I wouldn't have bought the gun if I couldn't work with it. It could, however, be improved by taking away the finger grooves.
I'd also like some kind of texturing on the front of the frame. Some Talon Grips are definitely in the future for this little gun.
The slide lock and magazine release are easy to reach and operate. No unusual contortions or obscenely high amount of hand strength are required. As I said earlier, my wife and daughter could easily cycle the slide (worth noting since not self defense guns are purchased for big hairy guys).
Magazines drop free easily. A firm slap is sometimes needed to fully seat a topped off 10 round magazine. That's nothing unusual.
Magazines drop free easily. A firm slap is sometimes needed to fully seat a topped off 10 round magazine. That's nothing unusual.
While I've only had this weapon for a couple of months, I've tried to carry it as much as possible. It's carried IWB, and there have been no issues with accidentally releasing the mag. The magazine release has never been accidentally pressed while shooting, or reholstering
I know that it's probably at least 50% holster, but this handgun carries really well. The weight is very good. I don't usually carry a double stack semi auto IWB, but there's no problem with this weapon being too thick.
I know that it's probably at least 50% holster, but this handgun carries really well. The weight is very good. I don't usually carry a double stack semi auto IWB, but there's no problem with this weapon being too thick.
Recoil, while not punishing, is heavy enough that many beginners won't like this handgun. Actually a lot of long time shooters won't like the recoil. My wife and daughter weren't fans of this pistol, and they shoot (full sized service pistols) more in a year than most people do in a lifetime. If you're buying this as your single home defense gun then it's worth considering how your spouse handles recoil. Unfortunately, unless you go down in caliber or up in the physical size of the gun it's hard to beat physics. Smaller guns are always going to kick more.
I have to note that the SCCY has less felt recoil than J frame revolvers (which a lot of new shooters seem to end up with).
I have to note that the SCCY has less felt recoil than J frame revolvers (which a lot of new shooters seem to end up with).
We're told that the trigger pull is 9lbs, but I'd guess that it was heavier. There's about 1/8" of slack in the trigger before the long heavy double action pull begins. The trigger pull is very consistent throughout it's entire range. It's actually pretty smooth.
It's just too damn heavy.
I love my Kahr CW9 (DAO). I really like my Ruger LCR (DAO), and don't have a problem dealing with double action only triggers on carry guns. I'm not a Glock fanboy bitching because everything isn't exactly like a G19. Anyone looking through my prior reviews will note that there is a nice mix of handguns in there, and firearms with DAO triggers are well represented.
I just don't like this trigger. It sucks a lot of the fun out of shooting this weapon.
The trigger reset is very long. You'll need to let it fully out after each shot. Yes, this slows down your follow up shots.
Of course this DAO hammer fired weapon has a second strike capability.
A few hours ago, I was sitting around dry firing the SCCY and my LCR. The trigger pulls aren't that different, but I noticed that the trigger is much more rounded on the Ruger. It "Feels" better than the squared off trigger on the CPX-2. I know that the two firearms are apples and oranges. That's just my two cents.
Edit: I had the chance to shoot a Ruger LC9 this week. It also has a ridiculously heavy trigger pull. The LC9 trigger is rounded instead of the flat trigger on the CPX-2. I think that the more rounded shaped trigger feels better, but to each his own).
The trigger reset is very long. You'll need to let it fully out after each shot. Yes, this slows down your follow up shots.
Of course this DAO hammer fired weapon has a second strike capability.
A few hours ago, I was sitting around dry firing the SCCY and my LCR. The trigger pulls aren't that different, but I noticed that the trigger is much more rounded on the Ruger. It "Feels" better than the squared off trigger on the CPX-2. I know that the two firearms are apples and oranges. That's just my two cents.
Edit: I had the chance to shoot a Ruger LC9 this week. It also has a ridiculously heavy trigger pull. The LC9 trigger is rounded instead of the flat trigger on the CPX-2. I think that the more rounded shaped trigger feels better, but to each his own).
Nuff said about the trigger.
The magazines are produced by Mec-Gar, and as expected, are very well made. The CPX-2 comes with two mags. Each one has a flush fitting baseplate for better concealed carry and an extended finger groove baseplate. That's a nice feature, especially since many manufacturers can't be bothered to even include a second magazine with their pistols.
It's reasonably easy to top off the 10 round mags, and I doubt that many people will need a magazine loading tool.
There are witness holes at the 5 and 10 round mark on the side of the magazines.
Good luck finding someone that has magazines in stock (as of 2/20/15). It's been a lost cause for me.
Edit: I finally found one vendor with mags. It took several weeks of checking two to three times per week to find one company with magazines in stock. The vendor was Tombstone Tactical if you're interested.
The three things that the majority of us care most about are reliability, accuracy, and price. I'll start off with reliability while my last range trip is still fresh in my mind.
I've made three trips to the range with this weapon. So far it's had 300 rounds of WWB, 50 rounds of Remington 115gr, a few dozen rounds of 115gr Atlantic Arms, 50 rounds of Blazer Brass, and one box of Speer Gold Dot 124gr +P. The round count is about 450 thus far.
There was one malfunction during the 200 round break in period, and I'm not quite sure how to characterize it. I'll call it a stovepipe although that's not entirely accurate. At about 170 rounds there was one instance of a bullet sitting vertical in the ejection port instead of chambering. The slide closed on the bullet, and it looked like a stovepipe. I've never had this happen with a live round before. It's always occurred after extraction on other weapons. This malfunction was on the last round of the magazine. It hasn't happened since.
At 450 rounds there was a failure to go into battery.
There have been many instances of the slide not locking open on the last round. It's possible (hell, it's probable) that my thumb was resting on the slide lock. I won't ding it for the slide not locking open.
Bear in mind that this CPX-2 got a very cursory cleaning before the first range trip, and no other maintenance in the first 450 rounds. It was truly filthy when broken down for cleaning tonight.
I'll continue to update this post as more rounds put through the weapon.
Edit: Another 50 rounds of reloads were ran through this gun last night. Other than the slide not locking open on an empty mag about half of the time, the gun ran fine.
Edit: Another 50 rounds of 115gr Remington was put through the SCCY. No issues other than the slide not locking open. Two more magazines have arrived, so I'll start tracking whether or not the slide not locking open is a mag issue.
Take down is pretty simple. I'm not going to go into great detail describing the procedure since it's somewhat similar to most semi autos. A link to the manual is provided below.
One difference with the CPX-2 is that you don't have to squeeze the trigger when removing the slide. That's a big deal to some, but isn't a plus or minus for me.
When putting the weapon back together, make sure that it's pointed down and the barrel protrudes from the frame. You may have to rack it a couple of times in order to get the barrel to drop down. You'll lock the slide open at this point and then insert the take down pin.
Some will fault this gun for not having a take down pin fixed to the frame. I don't really care about that. It's simply one more part to keep an eye on. Those of us with M1911s are used to having a loose take down pin on the table during cleaning.
If you screw up the reassembly procedure, I suggest you visit the FAQ section on this site.
The instruction manual can be found here.
I stated earlier that I carry IWB. Here's the gear used at this time.
This magazine pouch is made by The Masters's Holster. I like them a lot, and have several of their mag pouches for my CCW guns.
The holster is a Bianchi 6D ATB. I like the holster overall, and it gives good retention (as it should since there's a strap). There's a few things that I'm not crazy about, and I'll talk about them in another post.
Pocket carry doesn't work for me with this gun. I can fit the CPX-2, and a pocket holster, into my jeans pocket but the bulge is too noticeable.
I'll be honest. I don't know how accurate this 9mm is. It will take another day or two at the range to get used to that trigger. I'm happy enough with being able to get reasonable groups with it, but I know that I can do a lot better.
This is the first 20 rounds that I shot through the SCCY CPX-2. The distance was 7 yards, and approx. one round per second was fired. The rear sight was drifted to the right. Another shooter tried the handgun, and actually shot a bit low. I wasn't very happy with this group.
The target on the right was shot at 7 yards a little later in the day, most of my groups looked very similar to this. No, I wasn't breathing when shooting. That trigger was just kicking my butt. There were a lot of handguns brought to the range that day, and it was hard to get used to the SCCY as it had the heaviest trigger pull of the lot.
The targets on the left were from a week later. The SCCY was the only thing that I used that day, and I think that I did a little better this time.
The left target was shot slow fire. Without the flyer, this group would be about 2".
The right target was shot at a rate of one round per second. The distance was 7 yards.
This target was from my last trip to the range. The group is 2.75", and 20 rounds were fired at 7 yards. There was approximately 1 second between each shot (with a slight pause for the mag change).
Soooo... long story short, my shooting with this gun is OK. You have to work a little harder to shoot this weapon accurately than you will with some of the other CCW guns that I've handled over the last year. I know that with a little more practice I'll close up the groups. I think that this is a very accurate gun when I do my part, and concentrate on my trigger squeeze.
It took a few hundred rounds to tighten up my groups with my Ruger LCR, and I can live with my current level of accuracy (for now).
Moving on. Let's talk about price, and some of the other choices on the market.
I've seen the SCCY CPX-2 listed for as $250 - $300 in my area.
What you see is what you get. The cardboard packaging is not something that concerns me. I have some really nice Springfield gun cases in the top of my closet. The boxes provided by Kimber, Taurus, and S&W are also pretty good. None of them get used... ever. I'd rather save $15 (or get a second mag), and have a simple cardboard box. Kudos to SCCY for not charging extra for needless junk.
I thought that I would give you a few pictures for a size comparison. The SCCY CPX-2 is slightly smaller than Kahr CW9. Of course being a double stack, it is a little wider.
I can't pocket carry the Kahr either.
As you can see, there's not a lot of length/height difference between these two weapons. The Kahr CW9 sells for $340 to $400 in my area. Of course that's only with one magazine so add another $35 to the price of the weapon. The CW9 is probably out of the ballpark for a lot of SCCY buyers (as is the Shield, XDS, Nano, etc).
So why even discuss it then? Well... it's priced in between the SCCY and the hugely popular S&W Shield so why not mention it? It seems to be the next step up in semi auto pricing for carry guns.
What is in the SCCY price range?
The very popular Kel-Tec PF9 comes to mind, but it's a single stack, and only has one magazine. The Kel-Tec P11 is about $260 locally, and also comes with a single mag (so tack on another $20 or so).
The previously reviewed P11 seems to be the SCCY's closest competitor. While I think the pistol "Feels" a bit cheap, it does have one great selling point. You can get high capacity magazines for the Kel-Tec (um... unless you live in one of the nanny states).
Other than the P11, I really can't think of any other small double stack 9mm that's in the same price range as the SCCY.
Alright then, what about a snub nosed revolver? As the Taurus, Rossi, and Charter Arms snubbies run about $310 locally, it's very likely that the SCCY shopper might consider one of them while shopping.
Since I don't have a Taurus or Charter Arms revolver, I was forced to use my Ruger LCR for a size comparison against the CPX-2.
Obviously there is a massive amount of difference between a 10+1 semi automatic and a 5 shot J frame revolver (I know that the LCR isn't a J frame). However, a lot of gun buyers are only going to be looking at the price and size of the weapon. Some might consider a revolver to be a better choice. I know people with hand injuries, weak hands, and even one individual that lost an arm. There are those that will never shoot a semi auto enough to be competent in their gun handling. There is no one size fits all choice for self defense guns. A .38 spl Taurus will trump a SCCY CPX-2 for some people.
Soooo... as Taurus, Rossi, and Charter Arms snubbies are priced at around $300, it's likely that some shoppers will at least look at them when checking out the SCCY.
The aftermarket for the SCCY isn't too bad. The manufacturer lists a few holsters that will work for the gun, and this forum has a decent list of holsters as well. A lot of them are intended for the Glock 26 or Kel-Tec P11, but work OK with SCCYs.
And now for the anecdotes:
I discussed the SCCY pistols with a couple of different salesmen at the local gun stores. I always like to pick their brains while waiting on my background check to come through. I've found that the clerks are much more willing to talk trash about a weapon/manufacturer once they've made a sale. It's interesting to talk to the people that are the first line in hearing complaints.
I was told that they've seen a few CPX-1 pistols come back in with broken safety levers. SCCY has outstanding customer service, and a great lifetime warranty. I've never heard any problems with them not fixing an issue.
Some people seem to think that the safety lever makes the grip even more uncomfortable. I'd guess that they have larger hands than I do. I have to admit that my experience with the CPX-1 is very limited.
In spite of my earlier complaints about the grip and trigger, I really like the SCCY CPX-2. I like it, but I don't love it. I've tried to judge it as both a budget gun, and a concealed carry weapon. Concealed carry guns are always a compromise, and when one retails for under $300 it's ridiculous to expect perfection in every category. This handgun is affordable, probably more accurate than the shooter, and I expect it to be reliable with a reasonable amount of cleaning.
I'd recommend the SCCY for those looking for a small, inexpensive (but not cheap) 9mm. As long as they realize going in that the pistol will have a fair amount of recoil, and the trigger is mediocre they shouldn't be disappointed.
Edit: A few more months have passed since I did this review. The CPX-2 is starting to grow on me a bit more. I still stand by everything that I wrote earlier about the awful trigger, and the grip not fitting me very well. Regardless of that, I find myself enjoying this gun at the range. As I look to the left and right on the firing line, I notice that my groups are generally a lot better than what I see from other shooters in spite of my using a budget CCW gun instead of a high end service pistol.
So I'll say it again, the SCCY gets the job done for a reasonable price.
Edit: Several more months have passed. It's now mid July. The SCCY has been shot on many more occasions, and I've learned a few more things about the weapon.
First of all, I finally found some more magazines. It took months, and they weren't cheap. I now have four factory mags for this "Truck gun" (which is what it's used for). Remember when I said that the slide doesn't consistently lock open on an empty magazine? That holds true with all of my mags.
But...
After running through a box of ammo while using only two rounds per magazine, I'm certain that it's me and not the gun. I made sure that I didn't touch the slide lock during this test. The slide locked open when the weapon ran dry 24 out of 25 times. While I'm sure that my thumb has been hitting the slide lock all of these months, it's worth stating that if you even look hard at the slide lock on MY pistol then it's not going to lock open after that last round goes downrange. It's also worth stating that due to the design of the weapon and MY hand size/shape , it is very hard to keep my big fat thumb well away from the slide lock. If I was shooting rapidly or under pressure then it's a given that I'm going to be greeted with a "Click" instead of a "Bang" on the 11th trigger squeeze.
Next up is the gun's reliability. It's a very reliable firearm when clean. Once I reached the 200-250 round mark without a cleaning, I began to experience feedway stoppages. I'll be honest, I shoot a lot and don't clean my pistols until they've been to the range 3 or 4 times. I usually make it a point to wipe down the feed ramp, and put a couple of drops of oil on the rails after shooting. It only takes a few seconds, and goes a long way towards stretching out the time between real cleanings. This practice got me through the first few months of owning this gun without any issues showing. It took a while to discover that THIS pistol needs to be reasonably clean to run. Now I know. It's not that big of deal to me as a little basic cleaning should be done after a day at the range. If I get into a 250 round defensive encounter, then the S has truly HTF.
While I don't recommend having a dirty self defense weapon, I like knowing what my pistols will do when they're dry/dirty. The SCCY is well out of the testing phase for me. Now that I know it's quirks, the CPX-2 gets more maintenance than some of my other weapons. No biggie.
Long story short, due to the gun's design, my hand size, bad gripping habits (?), etc. the slide is not going to consistently lock open on an empty mag. The firearm is reliable as long as you at least keep the feedramp clean, and a couple of drops of oil on the rails.
I'd still recommend the CPX-2. It's hard to beat at the $275 price range. It is still a great budget/truck gun IMO.
BTW, this is a great video for those that have to leave a firearm in their vehicle (when at work, travelling, etc). I honestly believe that we are fast approaching the time when gun owners are sued or prosecuted for a criminal stealing/using their weapon. Another layer of security on top of a trunk or locked car door is a plus.
Other gun and knife reviews on this blog can be found here.
Update: It's Sept 2017, and I no longer own this little pistol. It was sold to a friend, and the money used to buy something that I wanted more. I'd still recommend this 9mm for those on a budget, or looking for a "Truck Gun." I still think that most people will have trouble mastering the heavy trigger pull.
There are witness holes at the 5 and 10 round mark on the side of the magazines.
Good luck finding someone that has magazines in stock (as of 2/20/15). It's been a lost cause for me.
Edit: I finally found one vendor with mags. It took several weeks of checking two to three times per week to find one company with magazines in stock. The vendor was Tombstone Tactical if you're interested.
The three things that the majority of us care most about are reliability, accuracy, and price. I'll start off with reliability while my last range trip is still fresh in my mind.
I've made three trips to the range with this weapon. So far it's had 300 rounds of WWB, 50 rounds of Remington 115gr, a few dozen rounds of 115gr Atlantic Arms, 50 rounds of Blazer Brass, and one box of Speer Gold Dot 124gr +P. The round count is about 450 thus far.
There was one malfunction during the 200 round break in period, and I'm not quite sure how to characterize it. I'll call it a stovepipe although that's not entirely accurate. At about 170 rounds there was one instance of a bullet sitting vertical in the ejection port instead of chambering. The slide closed on the bullet, and it looked like a stovepipe. I've never had this happen with a live round before. It's always occurred after extraction on other weapons. This malfunction was on the last round of the magazine. It hasn't happened since.
At 450 rounds there was a failure to go into battery.
There have been many instances of the slide not locking open on the last round. It's possible (hell, it's probable) that my thumb was resting on the slide lock. I won't ding it for the slide not locking open.
Bear in mind that this CPX-2 got a very cursory cleaning before the first range trip, and no other maintenance in the first 450 rounds. It was truly filthy when broken down for cleaning tonight.
I'll continue to update this post as more rounds put through the weapon.
Edit: Another 50 rounds of reloads were ran through this gun last night. Other than the slide not locking open on an empty mag about half of the time, the gun ran fine.
Edit: Another 50 rounds of 115gr Remington was put through the SCCY. No issues other than the slide not locking open. Two more magazines have arrived, so I'll start tracking whether or not the slide not locking open is a mag issue.
One difference with the CPX-2 is that you don't have to squeeze the trigger when removing the slide. That's a big deal to some, but isn't a plus or minus for me.
When putting the weapon back together, make sure that it's pointed down and the barrel protrudes from the frame. You may have to rack it a couple of times in order to get the barrel to drop down. You'll lock the slide open at this point and then insert the take down pin.
Some will fault this gun for not having a take down pin fixed to the frame. I don't really care about that. It's simply one more part to keep an eye on. Those of us with M1911s are used to having a loose take down pin on the table during cleaning.
If you screw up the reassembly procedure, I suggest you visit the FAQ section on this site.
The instruction manual can be found here.
I stated earlier that I carry IWB. Here's the gear used at this time.
This magazine pouch is made by The Masters's Holster. I like them a lot, and have several of their mag pouches for my CCW guns.
The holster is a Bianchi 6D ATB. I like the holster overall, and it gives good retention (as it should since there's a strap). There's a few things that I'm not crazy about, and I'll talk about them in another post.
Pocket carry doesn't work for me with this gun. I can fit the CPX-2, and a pocket holster, into my jeans pocket but the bulge is too noticeable.
I'll be honest. I don't know how accurate this 9mm is. It will take another day or two at the range to get used to that trigger. I'm happy enough with being able to get reasonable groups with it, but I know that I can do a lot better.
 |
| 2" Bullseye |
The target on the right was shot at 7 yards a little later in the day, most of my groups looked very similar to this. No, I wasn't breathing when shooting. That trigger was just kicking my butt. There were a lot of handguns brought to the range that day, and it was hard to get used to the SCCY as it had the heaviest trigger pull of the lot.
 |
| 2" Orange Bullseye |
The left target was shot slow fire. Without the flyer, this group would be about 2".
The right target was shot at a rate of one round per second. The distance was 7 yards.
Soooo... long story short, my shooting with this gun is OK. You have to work a little harder to shoot this weapon accurately than you will with some of the other CCW guns that I've handled over the last year. I know that with a little more practice I'll close up the groups. I think that this is a very accurate gun when I do my part, and concentrate on my trigger squeeze.
It took a few hundred rounds to tighten up my groups with my Ruger LCR, and I can live with my current level of accuracy (for now).
Moving on. Let's talk about price, and some of the other choices on the market.
I've seen the SCCY CPX-2 listed for as $250 - $300 in my area.
What you see is what you get. The cardboard packaging is not something that concerns me. I have some really nice Springfield gun cases in the top of my closet. The boxes provided by Kimber, Taurus, and S&W are also pretty good. None of them get used... ever. I'd rather save $15 (or get a second mag), and have a simple cardboard box. Kudos to SCCY for not charging extra for needless junk.
I thought that I would give you a few pictures for a size comparison. The SCCY CPX-2 is slightly smaller than Kahr CW9. Of course being a double stack, it is a little wider.I can't pocket carry the Kahr either.
 |
| The Kahr is sitting on top of the SCCY |
 |
| The CPX-2 is sitting on top of the CW9 |
So why even discuss it then? Well... it's priced in between the SCCY and the hugely popular S&W Shield so why not mention it? It seems to be the next step up in semi auto pricing for carry guns.
What is in the SCCY price range?
The very popular Kel-Tec PF9 comes to mind, but it's a single stack, and only has one magazine. The Kel-Tec P11 is about $260 locally, and also comes with a single mag (so tack on another $20 or so).
The previously reviewed P11 seems to be the SCCY's closest competitor. While I think the pistol "Feels" a bit cheap, it does have one great selling point. You can get high capacity magazines for the Kel-Tec (um... unless you live in one of the nanny states).
Other than the P11, I really can't think of any other small double stack 9mm that's in the same price range as the SCCY.
Alright then, what about a snub nosed revolver? As the Taurus, Rossi, and Charter Arms snubbies run about $310 locally, it's very likely that the SCCY shopper might consider one of them while shopping.
Since I don't have a Taurus or Charter Arms revolver, I was forced to use my Ruger LCR for a size comparison against the CPX-2.
Soooo... as Taurus, Rossi, and Charter Arms snubbies are priced at around $300, it's likely that some shoppers will at least look at them when checking out the SCCY.
The aftermarket for the SCCY isn't too bad. The manufacturer lists a few holsters that will work for the gun, and this forum has a decent list of holsters as well. A lot of them are intended for the Glock 26 or Kel-Tec P11, but work OK with SCCYs.
And now for the anecdotes:
I discussed the SCCY pistols with a couple of different salesmen at the local gun stores. I always like to pick their brains while waiting on my background check to come through. I've found that the clerks are much more willing to talk trash about a weapon/manufacturer once they've made a sale. It's interesting to talk to the people that are the first line in hearing complaints.
I was told that they've seen a few CPX-1 pistols come back in with broken safety levers. SCCY has outstanding customer service, and a great lifetime warranty. I've never heard any problems with them not fixing an issue.
Some people seem to think that the safety lever makes the grip even more uncomfortable. I'd guess that they have larger hands than I do. I have to admit that my experience with the CPX-1 is very limited.
In spite of my earlier complaints about the grip and trigger, I really like the SCCY CPX-2. I like it, but I don't love it. I've tried to judge it as both a budget gun, and a concealed carry weapon. Concealed carry guns are always a compromise, and when one retails for under $300 it's ridiculous to expect perfection in every category. This handgun is affordable, probably more accurate than the shooter, and I expect it to be reliable with a reasonable amount of cleaning.
I'd recommend the SCCY for those looking for a small, inexpensive (but not cheap) 9mm. As long as they realize going in that the pistol will have a fair amount of recoil, and the trigger is mediocre they shouldn't be disappointed.
Edit: A few more months have passed since I did this review. The CPX-2 is starting to grow on me a bit more. I still stand by everything that I wrote earlier about the awful trigger, and the grip not fitting me very well. Regardless of that, I find myself enjoying this gun at the range. As I look to the left and right on the firing line, I notice that my groups are generally a lot better than what I see from other shooters in spite of my using a budget CCW gun instead of a high end service pistol.
So I'll say it again, the SCCY gets the job done for a reasonable price.
Edit: Several more months have passed. It's now mid July. The SCCY has been shot on many more occasions, and I've learned a few more things about the weapon.
First of all, I finally found some more magazines. It took months, and they weren't cheap. I now have four factory mags for this "Truck gun" (which is what it's used for). Remember when I said that the slide doesn't consistently lock open on an empty magazine? That holds true with all of my mags.
But...
After running through a box of ammo while using only two rounds per magazine, I'm certain that it's me and not the gun. I made sure that I didn't touch the slide lock during this test. The slide locked open when the weapon ran dry 24 out of 25 times. While I'm sure that my thumb has been hitting the slide lock all of these months, it's worth stating that if you even look hard at the slide lock on MY pistol then it's not going to lock open after that last round goes downrange. It's also worth stating that due to the design of the weapon and MY hand size/shape , it is very hard to keep my big fat thumb well away from the slide lock. If I was shooting rapidly or under pressure then it's a given that I'm going to be greeted with a "Click" instead of a "Bang" on the 11th trigger squeeze.
Next up is the gun's reliability. It's a very reliable firearm when clean. Once I reached the 200-250 round mark without a cleaning, I began to experience feedway stoppages. I'll be honest, I shoot a lot and don't clean my pistols until they've been to the range 3 or 4 times. I usually make it a point to wipe down the feed ramp, and put a couple of drops of oil on the rails after shooting. It only takes a few seconds, and goes a long way towards stretching out the time between real cleanings. This practice got me through the first few months of owning this gun without any issues showing. It took a while to discover that THIS pistol needs to be reasonably clean to run. Now I know. It's not that big of deal to me as a little basic cleaning should be done after a day at the range. If I get into a 250 round defensive encounter, then the S has truly HTF.
While I don't recommend having a dirty self defense weapon, I like knowing what my pistols will do when they're dry/dirty. The SCCY is well out of the testing phase for me. Now that I know it's quirks, the CPX-2 gets more maintenance than some of my other weapons. No biggie.
Long story short, due to the gun's design, my hand size, bad gripping habits (?), etc. the slide is not going to consistently lock open on an empty mag. The firearm is reliable as long as you at least keep the feedramp clean, and a couple of drops of oil on the rails.
I'd still recommend the CPX-2. It's hard to beat at the $275 price range. It is still a great budget/truck gun IMO.
BTW, this is a great video for those that have to leave a firearm in their vehicle (when at work, travelling, etc). I honestly believe that we are fast approaching the time when gun owners are sued or prosecuted for a criminal stealing/using their weapon. Another layer of security on top of a trunk or locked car door is a plus.
Other gun and knife reviews on this blog can be found here.
Update: It's Sept 2017, and I no longer own this little pistol. It was sold to a friend, and the money used to buy something that I wanted more. I'd still recommend this 9mm for those on a budget, or looking for a "Truck Gun." I still think that most people will have trouble mastering the heavy trigger pull.
Friday, January 9, 2015
In The News
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Fatal Firearm Accident Comparisons
A Tale Of Two Tauruses
Gun Review: Kel-Tec PF9
.308 vs 7.62x51mm
More On .308 vs 7.62x51mm
How To Grip Your Pistol
Blaming The Gun For Battle Losses
What Happened To The M16 In Vietnam
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Gun Trouble
What Really Happened At Wanat
Managing The Trigger
Armed Criminal Killed By Police, The Usual Protests Ensue
Mob Violence Breaks Out All Over The Country
Yet Another Brawl At The Mall
Top Political Donors
CNN Pushes Racial Bias Fiction... Again
Panicked NYPD Rookie Kills Unarmed Man In Housing Project Stairwell
Mother Of 12 Y/O Killed By Police Wants Convictions, Why She Won't Get Them
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How To Cure A Flinch
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3 Common Shooting Mistakes And How To Fix Them
5 Reasons The Beretta Will Be The Next Service Pistol
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Al Sharpton Looking Like An A-Hole
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July 4, 1776
What The Stats Really Say About Racially Motivated Cop Killings
"I Can't Breathe" Protesters Keep Paramedics From Dying Man
Man Died After Berkeley Protests Delayed Help
Ferguson Witness Floats Bizarre Phone Tale
"Witness 40" : Exposing A Fraud In Ferguson
2014's Knockout Game Victims
"Witness 40 Is A Racist Liar"
NYC Protesters Chant For Dead Cops
Why Lying Witnesses Were Presented To The Ferguson Grand Jury
More On Lying Grand Jury Witnesses In Ferguson
Proper Handgun Fit
Sig P290RS Review
EAA SAR B6P Compact
Rifle Scopes-4 Terms You Should Understand
Quality-1911, Glock, Taurus
Fatal Firearm Accident Comparisons
A Tale Of Two Tauruses
Gun Review: Kel-Tec PF9
.308 vs 7.62x51mm
More On .308 vs 7.62x51mm
How To Grip Your Pistol
Blaming The Gun For Battle Losses
What Happened To The M16 In Vietnam
The M4 Carbine Is Here To Stay
Gun Trouble
What Really Happened At Wanat
Managing The Trigger
Armed Criminal Killed By Police, The Usual Protests Ensue
Mob Violence Breaks Out All Over The Country
Yet Another Brawl At The Mall
Top Political Donors
CNN Pushes Racial Bias Fiction... Again
Panicked NYPD Rookie Kills Unarmed Man In Housing Project Stairwell
Mother Of 12 Y/O Killed By Police Wants Convictions, Why She Won't Get Them
The Truth Behind The Death Of Tamir Rice
How To Cure A Flinch
Common Hangups In Handgun Shooting
3 Common Shooting Mistakes And How To Fix Them
5 Reasons The Beretta Will Be The Next Service Pistol
The Ins And Outs Of Working WIth Kydex
S&W Model 19 - The Police Officers Perfect Revolver
Al Sharpton Looking Like An A-Hole
Welfare Terrorists
Feinsteins Gun Ban Wishlist
July 4, 1776
What The Stats Really Say About Racially Motivated Cop Killings
"I Can't Breathe" Protesters Keep Paramedics From Dying Man
Man Died After Berkeley Protests Delayed Help
Ferguson Witness Floats Bizarre Phone Tale
"Witness 40" : Exposing A Fraud In Ferguson
2014's Knockout Game Victims
"Witness 40 Is A Racist Liar"
NYC Protesters Chant For Dead Cops
Why Lying Witnesses Were Presented To The Ferguson Grand Jury
More On Lying Grand Jury Witnesses In Ferguson
Tuesday, December 16, 2014
In The News
Short SCCY CPX-2 Review
CPX-2 Review From The American Rifleman
Another Good CPX-2 Evaluation
SCCY Forum
Finding Holsters For Light And Laser Equipped Handguns
Let's Talk About Handgun Stopping Power
9 Great CCW Belts
AR15 Torture Test - 15,000 Rounds And A Bag Of Sand
6 Reasons Modern Defensive Ammo Is Better Than Ever
7 Gun Myths, Attacked Head On
Stopping Power Series From Grant Cunningham
Environmentally Friendly Ammo - The Green Bullet
The M855A1 "Green" Round For Soldiers
Kahr CT380 Review
Fobus Any Tactical Light Holster
Hindsight Is 30/06
CCW Tips That You Probably Forgot
A First Hand Look Back At The LA Riots
So You Want To Buy A 1911
Common Hangups In Handgun Shooting
Pistol Training-The Basics
Ferguson Grand Jury Papers Full Of Inconsistencies
The Ferguson Riots Are Nothing Like The Original Tea Party Protests
FDNY Drops Physical Requirements To Boost Female Hires
No Coverage, No Riots
What We Didn't Hear In The Eric Garner Case But The Grand Jury Did
11 Facts About The Eric Garner Case
Gang Attacks Now The "Norm" In St. Louis
Prepping 101: Beans, Bullets, And Band Aids
Ferguson Witness Claims Brown Charged Officer
11 Facts About The Eric Garner Case The Media Won't Tell You
8-9 Million Assault Weapons In Civilian Hands
Dangerous Distortions About Cops Shooting Black Men
Some Of The Weapons That Special Forces Really Use
Latest Jobs Report Is A Joke
Obama Donor Indicted For Molesting Kids
Another Race Hoax. Media Largely Silent
Mike Brown's Stepdad Has A Police Record
Why Mike Brown's Friends Story Isn't Credible
USA vs England, Rates Of Violent Crime
Bomb Plots, Assasination Plots, But Only Gun Charges Filed By Feds
Many More Whites Than Blacks Killed By Cops Every Year
CPX-2 Review From The American Rifleman
Another Good CPX-2 Evaluation
SCCY Forum
Finding Holsters For Light And Laser Equipped Handguns
Let's Talk About Handgun Stopping Power
9 Great CCW Belts
AR15 Torture Test - 15,000 Rounds And A Bag Of Sand
6 Reasons Modern Defensive Ammo Is Better Than Ever
7 Gun Myths, Attacked Head On
Stopping Power Series From Grant Cunningham
Environmentally Friendly Ammo - The Green Bullet
The M855A1 "Green" Round For Soldiers
Kahr CT380 Review
Fobus Any Tactical Light Holster
Hindsight Is 30/06
CCW Tips That You Probably Forgot
A First Hand Look Back At The LA Riots
So You Want To Buy A 1911
Common Hangups In Handgun Shooting
Pistol Training-The Basics
Ferguson Grand Jury Papers Full Of Inconsistencies
The Ferguson Riots Are Nothing Like The Original Tea Party Protests
FDNY Drops Physical Requirements To Boost Female Hires
No Coverage, No Riots
What We Didn't Hear In The Eric Garner Case But The Grand Jury Did
11 Facts About The Eric Garner Case
Gang Attacks Now The "Norm" In St. Louis
Prepping 101: Beans, Bullets, And Band Aids
Ferguson Witness Claims Brown Charged Officer
11 Facts About The Eric Garner Case The Media Won't Tell You
8-9 Million Assault Weapons In Civilian Hands
Dangerous Distortions About Cops Shooting Black Men
Some Of The Weapons That Special Forces Really Use
Latest Jobs Report Is A Joke
Obama Donor Indicted For Molesting Kids
Another Race Hoax. Media Largely Silent
Mike Brown's Stepdad Has A Police Record
Why Mike Brown's Friends Story Isn't Credible
USA vs England, Rates Of Violent Crime
Bomb Plots, Assasination Plots, But Only Gun Charges Filed By Feds
Many More Whites Than Blacks Killed By Cops Every Year
Wednesday, December 3, 2014
In The News
5 Crucial Pieces Of Evidence The Ferguson Grand Jury Saw
Witness 10 Backs Up Officer's Account - FSA Media Ignores Account
Understanding Why Wilson's Pistol Didn't Fire During The Struggle
When Europeans Were Slaves
The Ferguson Race War? Not Really
Ferguson Grand Jury Papers Full Of Inconsistencies
Ferguson Grand Jury Witnesses Often Cited Fear In Testifying
"Burn This Bitch Down"
Witness Claims Mike Brown Charged Wilson "Like A Football Player. Head Down."
Ferguson PD Botched Brown Investigation
"Hands Up, Don't Shoot" Was A Lie According To Testimony
Oathkeepers Protect Ferguson
Witness Claimed Brown Charged Cop
Militias Keep The Peace In Ferguson When Cops Fail
CNN Lies About "Peaceful" Ferguson Protests
Another Officer Was Punched (And Murdered) While Sitting In His Cruiser
A Punch To The Head Is Potentialy Deadly Force
Dem - Vote Multiple Times, You Won't Be Prosecuted
NAEP Achievement Gaps In School
The Brits Cook The Books Regarding Crime Stats
FSU Student Shot In Leg Had CCP But Not Allowed Weapon
FSA Bomb Plot Foiled Due To Maxed Out Credit Card
Al Sharpton Owes Gov $4.5 Million In Unpaid Taxes
How To Return NYC To The Street Gangs
The Most Violent Crime Ridden States In America
One Of The Real Causes Of Violent Crime
The Mind Of A Violent Criminal
Hunters Feed The Hungry
Stocking Up On Antibiotics Without A Rx?
Feds Withhold Data On CA Lead Ammo Ban
Springfield XDS Review
8 Uncommon Rifle Shooting Tips For Beginners
Bersa BP380CC Review
RIA 9mm TAC1911 Review
5 Reasons I Hate The .40 Short Bus
30 Signs That You're One Of Those Crazy Preppers
45 More Signs That You Might Be One Of Those Crazy Preppers
Witness 10 Backs Up Officer's Account - FSA Media Ignores Account
Understanding Why Wilson's Pistol Didn't Fire During The Struggle
When Europeans Were Slaves
The Ferguson Race War? Not Really
Ferguson Grand Jury Papers Full Of Inconsistencies
Ferguson Grand Jury Witnesses Often Cited Fear In Testifying
"Burn This Bitch Down"
Witness Claims Mike Brown Charged Wilson "Like A Football Player. Head Down."
Ferguson PD Botched Brown Investigation
"Hands Up, Don't Shoot" Was A Lie According To Testimony
Oathkeepers Protect Ferguson
Witness Claimed Brown Charged Cop
Militias Keep The Peace In Ferguson When Cops Fail
CNN Lies About "Peaceful" Ferguson Protests
Another Officer Was Punched (And Murdered) While Sitting In His Cruiser
A Punch To The Head Is Potentialy Deadly Force
Dem - Vote Multiple Times, You Won't Be Prosecuted
NAEP Achievement Gaps In School
The Brits Cook The Books Regarding Crime Stats
FSU Student Shot In Leg Had CCP But Not Allowed Weapon
FSA Bomb Plot Foiled Due To Maxed Out Credit Card
Al Sharpton Owes Gov $4.5 Million In Unpaid Taxes
How To Return NYC To The Street Gangs
The Most Violent Crime Ridden States In America
One Of The Real Causes Of Violent Crime
The Mind Of A Violent Criminal
Hunters Feed The Hungry
Stocking Up On Antibiotics Without A Rx?
Feds Withhold Data On CA Lead Ammo Ban
Springfield XDS Review
8 Uncommon Rifle Shooting Tips For Beginners
Bersa BP380CC Review
RIA 9mm TAC1911 Review
5 Reasons I Hate The .40 Short Bus
30 Signs That You're One Of Those Crazy Preppers
45 More Signs That You Might Be One Of Those Crazy Preppers
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