CZ P10 M vs Taurus GX4 Pistols: A Comparison Review

Two of the pistols that are often overlooked because of their low price point are the Taurus GX4 and CZ P10 M handguns. Both guns retail in the $300 range, both are 9mm and both are compact light-weight guns. Not everyone can spend a lot of money on a handgun, and as we all know, guns ain’t cheap. But in today’s world, $300 can buy a decent-quality gun for personal protection. The only problem is deciding which $300 gun is the best one to buy.

Thanks to competition between gun companies to produce affordable guns, there are plenty of options out there. If you find yourself trying to choose between the GX4 and CZ P10 M, you’re in luck. We will cover some information that may help you decide which gun is right for you. Before we even get into the details of each one, I’ll say both guns are great quality guns for this price. I’m not going to reveal some dark secret about one or the other that will leave a clear winner with a gold star.

Instead, I will simply share my thoughts about the pros and cons of each gun. Most of the time, I wait until the end to share my “final thoughts“ on which gun trumps the other. But in this case, I’ll share my final thoughts before we get into the details: Both guns are of decent quality for the price, but for concealed carry, I prefer the Taurus a little more.

Without further ado, let’s get into it.

Size, Trigger Pull, and Grip

Overall, these two guns are in the same family when it comes to size. The P10 M has a slightly longer frame and slide than the GX4, but not by much. The difference in length is not enough that it affects me at all when carrying it. I like the slide serrations on the CZ more than the GX4 because they are deeper and wider, and allow you to grip the slide better. The grip texturing on the P10 M, however, is a little too aggressive for me. After you shoot a few hundred rounds through it, the backstrap starts to feel like sandpaper, which is not ideal.

I don’t mind aggressive texturing, but I think CZ went a little overboard on this one. Gripping the GX4 is much more pleasant, especially after shooting several hundred rounds. The mag release is also a little better on the Taurus because it sticks out just a little, making it easy for the thumb to find. CZ made their mag release low-profile on purpose, which is a plus for me. I like the idea of everything setting flush and not snagging on clothes or the holster.

But, I still prefer a mag release that is easier to push. In the winter, I wear gloves regularly and the mag released on the P10 M is harder to push while wearing gloves. Both handguns have a little take-up on the trigger with a clean break. The P10 M trigger is noticeably heavier than the GX4. In fact, my trigger gauge was showing the GX4 at 6 lbs and the P10 M at 7 lbs. This isn’t a huge issue, but it made the GX4 trigger feel a little better to me.

Range Time with Both Pistols

One feature that CZ added as part of their low-profile frame is an internal slide catch. This means there is no external slide release on the gun. If you were a competition shooter, this may bother you. The GX4 has a small slide release, but I pull back on the slide during reloads instead of using the slide release anyway. Just be aware of this if you like to use the slide release on compact pistols. I performed mag change drills with both pistols and didn’t find one better than the other.

After firing several hundred rounds through each gun, neither one had any feeding issues. I do like the 3-dot sights on the CZ a little more than the GX4 one-dot front sight. The CZ sights also have a soft green glow to them in the dark. You can’t see the GX4 sights at all without light. I fired at targets from 10, 15, and 25 yards with both pistols and shot about the same. The heavier trigger on the CZ made it a little harder to stay on target, but it wasn’t terrible. The most obvious difference between the two pistols is the ammo capacity.

The GX4 has an impressive 13-round mag while the P-10 M only holds seven. This would be more understandable if the CZ was much thinner but it’s not. Both guns are about one inch in width at the bottom of the grip, with the CZ being just a hair thinner. The CZ gets even thinner (about 0.75 inches) towards the top of the grip, but this is almost too thin for me, and I have medium-sized hands. I’m not sure the difference in grip is worth giving up six rounds.

Holsters and Everyday Carry

With a gun this small, I prefer a polymer IWB (inside the waistband) holster. During the hot summer months, I often wear an IWB holster with no undershirt. This means the handle of the gun touches my side. This brings me back to those aggressive grips on the CZ. The sides of the grip are not nearly as bad as the backstrap but after a full day, it still bothered me somewhat. When wearing the GX4, I completely forgot about it because it didn’t bother me at all.

The extra ammo, night sights, trigger, and comfort of carrying are what make me lean toward the GX4. Even the flush-fitting mag on the GX4 holds 11 rounds, giving you a little more firepower. While holsters could be found for both guns, there are a few more options for the GX4 than the CZ. Both guns have trigger safety and a decent amount of room in the trigger guard for winter carry. I would be more included to carry the P10 M during cold weather just because the aggressive smaller grips may work well with gloves on.

Summary

Overall, I like the looks of the CZ P-10 M more than the Taurus GX4. The grooves on the slide and the texturing on the grip just make it look better. But for carrying, I liked the GX4 just a little more. This is all based on my preferences, however, because either gun would be a great selection in this price range. If you need to watch every penny you spend, the CZ can be found cheaper than the GX4.

Doing some quick searching on Google, I found a few places selling the P-10 M for $288. I like having more ammo on me, and the GX4 didn’t feel any heavier or bulker carrying than the CZ. I like both guns, but I’d pick the Taurus over the CZ in this case. You may decide you like the CZ a little better because it fits your preference more. I don’t think there is a bad choice between these two guns though. For $300-ish dollars, either one is a good deal.