Compact Pistol Showdown: Glock 19 vs CZ P-10 C

Ring the bell, it’s a compact pistol showdown, y’all!

The Glock 19 is thee gun when it comes to finding the right balance between a duty weapon and a concealed carry pistol. For a long time, the G19 reigned supreme as Glock’s flagship pistol in both civilian carry as well as law enforcement and military use. As with every great product, challengers are to be expected and many have tried to take the Glock 19’s crown. One stand out in the compact pistols realm is the CZ P-10 C. The CZ is a lot like the Glock 19; they’re both polymer-framed, striker-fired pistols from legendary companies.

So how does the ever-popular Glock 19 stack up against the formidable CZ P-10 C? Comparing the standard factory models of each gun – no special editions or custom models – here’s how they break down:

Benefits of Compact Pistols 

These guns are not the smallest and considerably more significant in size than popular carry guns like the Sig Sauer P365 and Springfield Armory Hellcat. With that in mind, they are still relatively easy to conceal in well-made, reliable holsters.

These compact pistols also large enough to fulfill the role of home defense gun. Both feature rail systems to accommodate lights and lasers, as well as optic cut options for those looking to take that route. Compact pistols are easier to reload, have a longer sight radius, and have less recoil and muzzle rise than smaller pocket-sized guns.

Both the Glock 19 (Gen 5) and the CZ P-10 C are designed to hold a standard 15 round magazine plus 1 round in the chamber and both are excellent guns for a wide variety of tasks, so here’s how they stack up against each other:

Optics Ready?

Firearms with the ability to mount an optic are becoming all the rage these days. They make you faster, more precise, and give a clear advantage over iron sights. Both the P-10 C and Glock 19 make optic’s ready models. Compact pistols have a shorter sight radius, but a mounted red dot removes that an issue altogether. 

The Glock 19 MOS gun does give you a lot more options for optics, as it comes with four plates to accommodate about a dozen optics. The CZ P-10 C optics-ready gun is designed for the Trijicon RMR and the Delta Point Pro.

In the optics department, Glock has a slight advantage. 

Features

Both compact pistols come with front and rear serrations, a Picatinny rail, ambidextrous slide locks, and a trigger with built-in safety. Neither gun has a manual safety. The Glock 19 has a reversible magazine button, but the P-10 C has an ambidextrous magazine release. 

The sights that come with stock Glocks are plastic and won’t stand up to wear, so most people swap them out straight away. The sights on the CZ are metal, much more durable, and are easy to use right out of the box. 

The Glock 19 (Gen 5) comes with the Glock Marksman’s barrel, which reportedly offers superior accuracy to previous generations, and features a flared magazine well for quicker and easier reloads. 

Triggers

The CZ P-10 C comes with a flat face trigger, which has less reach than a curved trigger and offers more control. The standard Glock trigger has never been bad but that being said, it’s also been painfully average. That being said, the thing I like about the Glock trigger is that it’s super simple and easy to swap. 

The CZ P-10 C trigger is crisper, cleaner, and overall the trigger you would otherwise pay extra money to slap into a Glock. 

Compact Pistols and Ergonomics 

Ergonomics are always a mixed bag and unless they are weird or vastly different, they will be more or less up the end-user. There are a few things I’ve noticed, and one is that the Glock doesn’t provide enough grip to the gun. One of the more common Glock upgrades is stippling the frame.

The CZ P-10 C has a very aggressive and rough grip texture that sticks to your hand exceptionally well. I’ve never had an issue with stock Glock stippling, so I’m not biased in either way. The aggressive texture of the CZ grip can be slightly uncomfortable when it rubs against the body when carried IWB and bother shooters who have an exceptionally tight grip. 

The CZ’s compact pistol controls are more significant than the Glocks. The magazine and slide release are much larger and more comfortable to engage. With my big hands, my thumbs hold down the Glock’s slide lock, and the slide will not engage the slide lock when empty with my big hands. The CZ doesn’t present the same issue with me. 

On the subject of grip angle, I prefer the CZ’s and the CZ’s grip overall, but to be objective, that is purely a matter of personal preference. 

Which is Better? 

While I personally prefer the CZ P-10 C, the Glock 19 has a proven track record for decades. And while the G19 has been adopted by various military and law enforcement departments worldwide, responsibly armed citizens continue to sing the P-10 C’s praises.

Both guns are proven performers, excellent lead slingers, and are perfect for concealed carry, duty use, and home defense. So what say you – which of these compact pistols do you prefer?  Sound off in the comments below, we want to hear from you!

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Travis Pike is a former Marine Machine gunner who served with 2nd Bn 2nd Marines for 5 years. He deployed in 2009 to Afghanistan and again in 2011 with the 22nd MEU(SOC) during a record-setting 11 months at sea. Travis has trained with the Romanian Army, the Spanish Marines, the Emirate Marines, and the Afghan National Army.

He serves as an NRA certified pistol instructor and pursues a variety of firearms based hobbies.

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