CZ P-10 M vs Glock 43: Comparing Quality and Price

It’s hard to compete with Glock. They have maintained a solid grip on the gun market for years now. It started in the law enforcement market and then spread to other markets including CCW. The Glock 43 was a big hit with concealed carry holders and the Glock 43X has proven to be another strong addition. But not everyone is a Glock fan and even if they are, not everyone wants to pay a Glock price.

Now don’t get me wrong, Glocks are not the most expensive guns on the market. In fact, they are priced reasonably compared to some other brands. But with a slumping economy and prices at an all-time high, people are looking for cheaper alternatives. One of the competitors is the CZ P-10 M which is the micro version of the full-size P-10.

The P-10 was designed specifically for concealed carry and it’s about the same size as a Glock, making it a formidable challenger. CZ has a great reputation for building firearms and with a much lower price point, this little gun is something to consider.

So which one comes out on top? Is it the legendary Glock name that has become so popular, or the cheaper, but reliable CZ P-10?

For those new or soon-to-be gun owners, it’s difficult trying to sort it out. Guns are not always simple to select based on price. A lower-priced gun does not necessarily mean cheaper quality. So, let’s look at some differences between these two 9mm handguns.

CZ P-10 M vs. Glock 43: What do you get for the price?

When people are looking for a gun, the first and most obvious thing they notice is the price. The price tag will keep you looking, turn you away, or get you excited. To me, Glock pistols are in the middle. They are not overpriced at all, but they are not what I would call a steal either. The CZ P-10 M on the other hand has that price tag that makes me want a closer look.

A Glock 43 sells for around $450 depending on the options you pick. If you can find one on sale, it may be closer to the $400 price range. CZ announced its new recommended price for the CZ P-10 M was $299. I found one on sale, however, for $230. This makes it about half the price of a Glock 43 which really makes you wonder if the extra cash is worth it.

Both guns are around the same size. The Glock 43 is just a little thinner, and about two ounces lighter. Both guns have double recoil springs, and both have a trigger safety. CZ added a little more texturing and serrations to the P-10 than Glock did for the 43. The P-10 M has a rail on the front that can hold a small flashlight and Glock doesn’t.

Another interesting turn that CZ took was removing the external slide release. It still has one, but not on the outside. This means the slide will lock open on the last round, but there is no manual slide release to hit. You can just pull the slide back and release it instead, but some may not like this.

Trigger and Grip Comparison

Without a mag extender, the Glock 43 holds six rounds and the P-10 holds seven. Both guns use single-stack mags, so this isn’t surprising and not a big difference. When it comes to shooting however there were a couple of things I noticed right away.

The first was the difference in triggers. The P-10 has a much stiffer trigger than the G43 which made it harder to hit targets further away. My trigger gauge showed an average of 7.5 pounds for the P-10 while my G43 averages six pounds. This doesn’t sound like a big difference but on the range it was noticeable. Someone carrying concealed may like the extra weight on the trigger though.

The next thing that was obvious was the texturing on the back of the grip. I like having a good texture on a small handgun, but CZ may have overdone it just a little. This isn’t a big deal if you don’t shoot it a lot. But after a couple of hundred rounds on the range, the grip was rubbing a raw spot on the web of my hand.

If you don’t shoot a lot of ammo at one time, this probably wouldn’t be a big issue. The aggressive texturing is beneficial in a self-defense situation so it’s a trade-off. Other than the heavier trigger and texture on the grip, the CZ shot as well as the G43. Both guns cycled without any issues regardless of the type of ammo I put through them.

What about the accessories?

You pay more money for the Glock 43, but here is where it really earns the price tag. If you want options for holsters, mags, triggers, mag releases, and every other part on a gun, the G43 is the way to go. There are some aftermarket parts for the P-10, but nothing compared to the Glock 43.

This really isn’t a deal breaker for me because a small CCW gun isn’t something I want to play dress-up with anyway. CZ didn’t intend for there to be many accessories for the gun itself though. Having a smooth exterior is one of the features they advertise with this gun.

Except for the mag release, there is nothing at all sticking out on the P-10. Holsters are available for the CZ and my leather G43 holster also works for it. Molded holsters from a G43 will not fit, but leather will stretch just enough to work with either gun.

Summary

Selecting a gun from these two is a hard task. Both guns are made by reputable companies and both guns are dependable. If you are considering purchasing one, I would decide if you will want any upgrades in the future. Purchasing a lot of mags in different capacities is easy to do with Glock.

If you want to buy a gun to carry and money is tight, the CZ P-10 M is an excellent choice. I carry a Glock 43 frequently because I carry a Glock at work and I’m familiar and comfortable with Glock handguns. But having said that, I like the look of the P-10 M better, and again, it’s half the price.

So, if I’m going to pick one that is the best deal for the money, I think I would have to go with the P-10 M. If you find it on sale, it may be too good to pass up. Pick the one you like best. But if you don’t have a preference, you could buy two CZ’s for the price of one Glock.