What interested me about the SDP family as opposed to the hand fitted earlier models? First of all, it's the construction: steel slide, aluminum alloy upper frame and plastic lower frame - the trifecta. Other SDP Compact families also feature a steel frame for those who prefer an all-steel pistol, different coating colors, threaded barrel, etc. However they're pretty much the same - still a design influenced by CZ-75. The difference is that the SDP so far only has a decocker similar to the CZ-75BD.
Too bad they didn't go all the way and offer a safety that can act as either decocker or cock & lock. Or offer a cock & lock version.
When it comes to aesthetics and ergonomics, I'm subjective just like most people. Ergo, these are my observations based on my preferences and expectations.
Pros:
Great fit and finish (the physical vapor deposition titanium aluminum nitride finish is about as pretty as an industrial type finish can be made - easily matches the P210 Legend in appearance and consistency), nice smooth DA trigger and crisp SA trigger (after the long take-up but it's a traditional DA/SA pull so it is what it is), clear and easy to acquire sight picture, takes CZ75B full size mags, weird triple material construction of steel, aluminum alloy and plastic, doesn't feel top heavy like many of the plastic framed guns.
Cons:
Slightly hefty (not heavy but not a lightweight either), wider slides & frames than necessary. I understand that the Compact's width is pretty much fixed by the existence of the rail itself, but the upper portion of the slide is quite blocky. I'm sure that if Sphinx were to slim down the slide, they could shave a couple of ounces off. Didn't feel a big difference when replaced the stock medium grip insert with small insert, if anything I would have preferred the small insert to have a flatter back strap instead of the hump on the current insert. Recoil spring and hammer spring are definitely stout. Eat up your Wheaties, boys. Probably not friendly for an average woman who has weak arms. Another weird design is that the rear sight is raised off the slide by probably a millimeter or two. Instead of sitting flat on the slide, you can see day light between the slide and the bottom of the rear iron sight - this happens on both Compact and Subcompact so I don't think that it's bad manufacturing.
The box is a nice plastic box with two grip inserts (Small & Large), a glossy operator's manual, a mag loader that looks like Glock mag loader, a cleaning kit, a bag of dessicant, an extra mag (though there is another slot for a 3rd mag) and a spring clip thingie to help pull the grip insert off the frame.
I'm sure you guys are saying to yourselves, "yeah, yeah, whatever, how does she shoot?"
She shoot good, kinda, sorta.
Mechanically she shoots fine, but I'm having a bit of a learning curve with her when it comes to precision shooting. Me and the sight picture - we no likie each other too much. The rear notch is wider than I would prefer and I find it tough to align the sights for precision shooting. I'm sure that with some more blasting, I'll get used to the wide rear notch. Great trigger pulls. On Mozambique drills, I can't tell which shot is from the DA first shot and which shot is from the SA second shot. SA pull is crisp and clean.
I need to round up some hollowpoints and see how she'd feed them as well.
Note the gaps between the bottom of rear sights and slide tops. Mags have both calibers and models marked on the bodies. Nice touch. Looks like Mec-Gar mags to me. Stamped "made in Italy" and have the smooth black anti-friction finishes that Mec-Gar had been putting on lots of their magazines.
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Too bad they didn't go all the way and offer a safety that can act as either decocker or cock & lock. Or offer a cock & lock version.
When it comes to aesthetics and ergonomics, I'm subjective just like most people. Ergo, these are my observations based on my preferences and expectations.
Pros:
Great fit and finish (the physical vapor deposition titanium aluminum nitride finish is about as pretty as an industrial type finish can be made - easily matches the P210 Legend in appearance and consistency), nice smooth DA trigger and crisp SA trigger (after the long take-up but it's a traditional DA/SA pull so it is what it is), clear and easy to acquire sight picture, takes CZ75B full size mags, weird triple material construction of steel, aluminum alloy and plastic, doesn't feel top heavy like many of the plastic framed guns.
Cons:
Slightly hefty (not heavy but not a lightweight either), wider slides & frames than necessary. I understand that the Compact's width is pretty much fixed by the existence of the rail itself, but the upper portion of the slide is quite blocky. I'm sure that if Sphinx were to slim down the slide, they could shave a couple of ounces off. Didn't feel a big difference when replaced the stock medium grip insert with small insert, if anything I would have preferred the small insert to have a flatter back strap instead of the hump on the current insert. Recoil spring and hammer spring are definitely stout. Eat up your Wheaties, boys. Probably not friendly for an average woman who has weak arms. Another weird design is that the rear sight is raised off the slide by probably a millimeter or two. Instead of sitting flat on the slide, you can see day light between the slide and the bottom of the rear iron sight - this happens on both Compact and Subcompact so I don't think that it's bad manufacturing.
The box is a nice plastic box with two grip inserts (Small & Large), a glossy operator's manual, a mag loader that looks like Glock mag loader, a cleaning kit, a bag of dessicant, an extra mag (though there is another slot for a 3rd mag) and a spring clip thingie to help pull the grip insert off the frame.
I'm sure you guys are saying to yourselves, "yeah, yeah, whatever, how does she shoot?"
She shoot good, kinda, sorta.
Mechanically she shoots fine, but I'm having a bit of a learning curve with her when it comes to precision shooting. Me and the sight picture - we no likie each other too much. The rear notch is wider than I would prefer and I find it tough to align the sights for precision shooting. I'm sure that with some more blasting, I'll get used to the wide rear notch. Great trigger pulls. On Mozambique drills, I can't tell which shot is from the DA first shot and which shot is from the SA second shot. SA pull is crisp and clean.
I need to round up some hollowpoints and see how she'd feed them as well.
Note the gaps between the bottom of rear sights and slide tops. Mags have both calibers and models marked on the bodies. Nice touch. Looks like Mec-Gar mags to me. Stamped "made in Italy" and have the smooth black anti-friction finishes that Mec-Gar had been putting on lots of their magazines.
