The Grand Power Stribog SP10 A3: On the Range with a Single-Point Sling

When Grand Power introduced the Stribog SP9 pistol, it was considered the hidden gem for sub-gun-sized weapons. It was reliable, compact, and, most of all, it was priced well. Now, they are not so hidden and Grand Power is continuing to expand the line of Stribog weapons. Among the newest is the 10mm SP10, built around the same reliable platform as the SP9 but with some improvements. I’ve taken it out to the range multiple times, and it’s performed flawlessly on every occasion. And, thanks to its roller-delayed blowback system, it has very little recoil, making it easy to stay on target.

When the 10mm round was developed, it was originally intended for handguns. However, it wasn’t until recently that the 10mm cartridge started becoming popular. After the FBI discontinued using it, the .40 S&W took the spotlight before the 9mm came back with a vengeance. But in a sub-gun size weapon, the 10mm round is a powerful bullet with a lot of knock-down power behind it. When fired from a gun like the Stribog SP10, it becomes the perfect self-defense weapon. Let’s discuss why.

Why shoot with a sling?

On the first few trips to the range, I used a pistol brace attachment on the Stribog SP10. It has a Picatinny rail on the rear of the receiver, allowing you to attach whatever accessories you desire. With the arm brace rule being questionable, however, some have decided to play it safe for now and stay away from pistol braces.

Putting the arm brace rules aside, some people just prefer a sling on a sub-gun-sized weapon over a brace or stock anyway. You can shoot accurately and quickly with a sling when used correctly. Some of my favorite slings are the Magpul MS3, Blue Force Vicker’s 2-point sling, and the GroveTec MOLLE Balance Point Sling.

To many, a sling is just something that holds your gun over your shoulder while transporting it. While this is true, a sling can also be used to stabilize a firearm platform. One of the biggest advantages of a sling is it allows the shooter to stabilize the weapon without a stock. This means you can carry a much smaller compact weapon and have the stability of a rifle platform. This is often preferred in close quarters, even if the weapon has some type of stock.

If you remember seeing photos of the British SAS entering a building full of terrorists back in 1980, they used slings instead of stocks or braces. This would later become known as sling tension shooting or “the SAS method.” This method requires shooters to push the weapon away from their body and create tension on the sling. This is backward from what we are used to with a stock, which is to pull the weapon into our shoulder.

On the Range with the Grand Power Stribog and a Single-Point Sling

On our most recent range day, our agency set up a moving qualification that involved targets from 7 yards to 75 yards. For this course, we have windows to shoot through, barricades to shoot under, and multiple targets to engage at one time. You can run it with a handgun only, a rifle only, or a combination of both. After going through it a few times with a handgun and rifle, I took the Stribog SP10 A3 for a spin with some 10mm, 180-grain Sellier & Bellot ammunition provided by Global Ordnance.

I used a single-point sling attached to the back of the gun instead of a pistol brace. If you are not used to shooting with a sling, it’s not as bad as you think. Once you remember to push out on the gun and create tension instead of pulling in on your shoulder, lining up the target with your optic is easy. I was able to run through the course as efficiently as I did with my rifle.

I often use two-point slings with any rifle or sub-gun because it provides more stability for your weapon. When you let go of your sub-gun or rifle to draw a handgun, a single-point sling keeps the gun secured to your body. The Stribog accommodates a two-point sling by adding a QD attachment to the handguards’ front M-LOK slot. Because I was already at the range, I stuck with the single-point sling for the day.

Is the Grand Power Stribog 10mm SP10 A3 worth it?

My first Stribog was the SP9 A1, and it still shoots great. I also have a B&T, Scorpion EVO 3, and some AR-15 pistols chambered in 9mm. While they all are great weapons, the new 10mm Stribog gives them a run for their money. It does hold less ammo in the mags, which are 20-rounders instead of the heftier 30-round mags for most 9mm sub-guns. But the lower recoil and heavier bullet is a wicked combination that’s just hard to compete with.

A threaded barrel allows you to attach a suppressor or muzzle brake for even greater accuracy and muzzle velocity. The SP10 is fully ambidextrous. Furthermore, the charging handle mounts to either side to accommodate left or right-handed shooters. There are M-LOK slots on the left and right side with Picatinny rails on top and bottom. To me, this is a great combination for a smaller sub-gun-sized weapon.

There is enough rail space on top to mount just about any type of optic you want, including a magnifier if desired. While you could mount iron sights, the SP10 already includes built-in iron sights countersunk in the Picatinny rail. The bolt is non-reciprocating, so you can use any type of grip you want while shooting. While using the sling and a Sig Sauer red dot, I was able to hit an 8-inch gong at 75 yards with ease.

Final thoughts

By the end of the day, we fired more than 200 rounds through the Stribog SP10 and never had an issue. This is my fourth training session with this gun, and it has performed great each time. Mag changes were easy to make, and the price for a gun of this quality is more than budget-friendly.

There are some advantages to having one caliber for all your guns, which is why 9mm PDW and PCC weapons have become so popular. But just about every major gun manufacturer is making a 10mm pistol now, so there are even more benefits to owning 10mm weapons. The ammo is more expensive, but when you need it for self-defense, a 10mm bullet has the right amount of stopping power to effectively eliminate a threat. Check out the Grand Power Stribog line of weapons and see what all the fuss is about. They even have a new .45 caliber Stribog and a large selection of 9mm Stribogs available if 10mm isn’t your thing.