Sccy CPX-2 Pistol Review
 Part 1 - Introduction, Specifications and Summary
March 21, 2013*

Sccy CPX-2 Review

In January of 2013, I performed a review of the H&R Pardner Pump Protector Shotgun which is a very value oriented shotgun.  I reviewed this shotgun because I wanted to target some firearms specifically for the budget-minded consumer, which in today's economy may be all of us.  One of my readers contacted me and suggested I review one of the Sccy 2nd generation pistols for the same reason, so I went to the Sccy Industries website to take a look at what Sccy had to offer.  One of the first things I noticed at the Sccy website was their very competitive MSRPs ranging from $299 to $339.  From there, I started taking a look at the models and specifications for this pistol.  Sccy offers two models; one with (CPX-1) a manual safety and one without (CPX-2) a manual safety.  Each model comes in either a two tone finish or all black finish.  The CPX pistols are basically compact 9mm double action only pistols that come with two 10 round magazines.  From the website, I thought the Sccy pistols had an attractive look and after doing some research on the web, I thought these pistols appeared to have some real potential.  The two photos below show the CPX-2 Pistol in the Two Tone and Black Finishes.

Figure 1                                                                 Figure 2
  

During my research, I found that there may have been some issues with the earlier 1st generation pistol.  Since I don't have any first hand knowledge of the original pistols, this review will focus on the 2nd Generation CPX-2 Pistol I received for review.  Although I really like the look of two tone pistols, I decided to review the black model which has a stainless steel slide with a black nitride finish.

 

During my reviews I like to compare my results to the manufacturer's claims where possible so the following text in colored italics was taken directly from the Sccy website on 2/23/13 and gives the Features and Specifications for the CPX-2 Pistol.  The , and are my way to keep up with details that I have covered in this review with either photos, commentary or both.

Generation 2 CPX Features

  • Barrel: machined from bar stock with 7 lands and grooves having a 16:1 (should be 1:16) right hand twist.
  • Receiver: 7075-T6 aircraft grade heat treated aluminum alloy, machined from bar stock.
  • Grip/Frame: Made from Zytel polymer , with ergonomic finger grooves and an integral "RE-COIL CUSHION" on the back‐strap . I feel the cushioning ability of this area on the backstrap to be minimal.
  • Recoil Spring System: all steel, fully encapsulated for ease of disassembly and reassembly.
  • Slide Lock/Release: steel with a Zytel over molded polymer extension for ease of operation.
  • 3 dot sight system: steel rear sight, adjustable for windage only with locking screw.
  • Hammer firing system: double action only, internal hammer with inertial firing pin to prevent accidental discharge if dropped.
  • CPX-2 has NO manual safety.
  • Double action trigger: specifically designed for shooter comfort and accuracy by designing the system to have a smooth effortless, consistent 9 pound trigger pull.
  • Magazine: included with (2) double stack, 10 round capacity magazines with finger extension base installed and 2 flat magazine bases included.
  • Trigger Guard Lock: custom designed to properly fit and be child resistant. Includes 2 keys.
  • SCCY Firearms carry a lifetime warranty that stays with the gun, not with the owner.
  • We manufacture and assemble our firearms right here in the USA.

Specification

  • Model: CPX-2
  • Barrel Length: 3.1" review barrel measured 3.14"
  • Height: 4" the review pistol measured 4.48" and 4.80" in height with the flat and then finger extension magazine bases installed
  • Length: 5.7" the review pistol measured 6.00" in length
  • Width: 1" across the slide, 1.11" across the grip and 1.27" across the slide hold open lever
  • Weight: 15 oz The review pistol weighed in at 15.10 ounces without a magazine, 17.30 ounces with an empty magazine and 21.40 ounces with a magazine and 10 rounds of 115gr ammunition.  To compare the weight of this pistol against others, typically you would use the weight including a magazine.
  • MSRP: Carbon Steel $299 , Stainless Steel $339 online price for carbon steel version ranges from $250 to $270 when doing a quick internet search
  • Made in the USA

This review is broken down into multiple parts with this page providing links to each part along with an overall summary of the specifications, pros and cons, and my final "bottom line" comments.  Make sure you take time to checkout the other parts of the review because they contain many photos and lots of commentary.  Also, there is an extreme amount of detail in those parts which is not covered on this page.

As you read these Pros and Cons below, keep in mind that it is hard to keep my particular preferences from creeping in the equation.  Therefore, it is important that you take the time to look at the other parts of this review so you can decide yourself on items which may be more of a personal preference.

Pros:

  • Value is clearly a significant pro.  The CPX-2 has a MSRP of $299 for the model covered in this review and an online price at a low end of $250 to $270,
  • Made in the USA.
  • Smooth 8.5 pound trigger pull on the review pistol.
  • Comes with two 10-round magazines.
  • The Sccy CPX-2 Pistol seems like a very simple and functional design.  The pistol was designed as a "carry" pistol and has eliminated various mechanical safeties which greatly simplifies the pistol and I'm sure helps keep the cost down.
  • I was able to achieve a 2" average of five 8-shot groups at 7 yards from a bench.  This tells me the CPX-2 has plenty of accuracy for carry situations.
  • I had no failure to fire or failure to feed issues.  I did have three failure to ejects with steel case ammo, but a good chamber cleaning fixed the issue.

Pro/Con/Comment (you decide)?:

  • Since it clearly states on the side of the pistol that the pistol will fire without a magazine installed, there is no magazine disconnect in the CPX-2 Pistol.
  • No manual safety on the CPX-2 model.
  • Although the grip seems large, it has a good feel in my hand, but those with smaller hands may prefer a smaller grip.
  • Disassembly was very simple.  Other than needing a small tool to pry with (the tip of a key will work), I think it compares with most pistols.
  • After about the 7th round was loaded into the magazine, the rounds would sometimes rattle slightly.  With the magazine in the pistol, sometimes they would still rattle and sometimes they were solid.  Regardless, this rattling didn't seem to have any impact on the function of the pistol during testing.
  • One thing I plan on doing is rounding the front edge of the trigger slightly so that it doesn't press into your finger.  You can take a look at this photo to see the trigger edge.  I feel doing this would make shooting a couple of boxes at the range even more enjoyable.

Cons:

  • Be aware that some of the specifications were slightly different from that measured.
  • The CPX-2 seemed to shoot high.  With the rear sight having no elevation adjustment, you will either need to adjust your sight picture or find a shorter rear sight.

 

Bottom Line:

I feel the Sccy CPX-2 Pistol is a great value at a street price of about $260.  It seems to have the ability to deliver good accuracy and proved to be reliable.  It's light weight and compact size would make it a good carry pistol or one (or more) to put away in your car and/or home.  Although shooting a couple hundred rounds through the pistol doesn't tell how it will hold up over time, it did give me a good idea on what to expect from one out of the box.  Only time will tell in the long run, but today I feel it is a good buy and you should take a close look at one the next time your are at a gun store.

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