ACCURACY RESULTS: CZ-USA P-01
.9mm AMMO TYPE	BULLET WEIGHT (gr.)	AVG. VELOCITY (fps)	STANDARD DEVIATION	AVG. GROUP (in.)
Hornady FMJ/strong>	100	1,184	12	3.00
Remington JHP	115	1,148	9	2.75
Federal FMJ	123	1,1015	11	2.50
Notes: Velocity recorded 10 feet from the muzzle with a Shooting Chrony Chronograph. Accuracy tested offhand; results are the average of five shot groups at seven yards. FMJ, Full Metal Jacket; JHP, jacketed howllowpoint.

The P-01 is available with Crimson Trace LaserGrips.

Whoever designed the P-01 was really thinking when it came to the operator controls. For one thing, the magazine release has been extended for easy access. To release the magazine, all I have to do is turn the gun just a little to the left, push inward and full or empty magazines eject without balking.

Directly above the release is the slide lock or release and again, it is made for stressful defensive situations; the slide can be release with a minimum of effort. The release has a large thumb pad with steps that add to the non-slip qualities.

The P-01 features a decocker, which is located at the rear of the slide. With the gun cocked, pushing the decocker down and past an audible click lowers the hammer from a full cocked position to a hammer safety notch position (half cock). This action also returns the trigger to double-action mode.

The laser is activated via a pressure pad housed in the front strap of the grip. On the range, both the laser and the point of aim were the same at seven yards.

Trigger pull on my sample was 61⁄2 pounds single action, 14 pounds in full double action and a little less when hammer is at the safety position. There is a bit of slack in single action, but with the trigger polished smooth and contoured for your finger, most of this feeling is forgiven when firing.

Topside on the slide you'll find the three-dot front and rear sight assemblies with tritium inserts. The rear sight fixture is adjustable only for windage; the front blade is pinned in place. A light rail has been machined directly under the muzzle end of the frame.

The P-01 is a really comfortable gun thanks to the arched frame and extended beavertail. Note the lanyard loop and the on/off switch for the Crimson Trace grips.

As mentioned, in addition to the fixed sights, my gun came with the new Crimson Trace LaserGrips. The laser is activated by slight pressure on a pressure switch located about halfway up the grip frame, and there's an on/off switch on the bottom left panel.

One thing that may be of interest to CZ fans is that the P-01 is the only NATO spec pistol on the market that is available to the public, and after three years of very intensive testing is now used by the Czech National Police as their official sidearm. With only seven malfunctions in more than 15,000 rounds fired, I can see why.

Chambered for the 9mm Luger, testing the gun was a pleasure simply because of the geometry of the gun. The gun shoots at its point of aim, it breaks down easily for maintenance--all for a price I can handle. What more can you ask?