The SCCY CPX-2 has all the features you would expect in a modern, semi-automatic pistol. The slide locks back on an empty magazine, the mag drops free and the slide release is well placed on the frame. The magazine itself is a traditional double-stack 10-rounder, which is quite compact.
The slide and barrel are 416 heat-treated stainless steel. Furthermore, the slide is ballistic nitride (QPQ, Melonite, salt bath) treated, giving it excellent corrosion and scratch resistance. This feature in itself is a huge deal for me. For the last year and a half, all the barrels I’ve bought for AR-15s have been nitride treated. The increased Rockwell hardness is excellent. It shrugs off abuse remarkably well and to have a pistol slide treated in such a manner is truly something I appreciate.
It’s a double-action only pistol which is hammer fired. The hammer is internal and will not snag on clothing, which is a plus. I like the fact that it has second-strike capability. If you get a light-primer strike, all you have to do is pull the trigger again.
To increase the reliability of the CPX-2, I treated both the slide and the barrel with FrogLube paste. As a lubricating agent, it’s incredible and has decreased both the cleaning time and increased the durability of the firearm. Carbon from the cheap Russian ammunition I shoot now wipes off with ease from the inside of the CPX-2.
When I carry this pistol, I load it with hollow-point rounds. For those of you who like to carry +P ammunition, that’s fine. According to Jason, one of the Tech Gurus at SCCY, the CPX should be only fed a limited diet of +P. So it’s fine to carry in your gun and occasionally use to make sure you’re still on target. Do not run +P exclusively and heavily through this pistol and then complain down the road when it fails.
Honestly, I liked this pistol right off the bat. It’s smaller even than my HK P200SK, while retaining the same capacity. Oddly enough, I was able to force an eleventh round into it. I would not recommend this, though.
The CPX- 2 fits easily into a large back pocket
The recoil is a bit sharp, but much less than I expected from such a lightweight gun. The backstrap is designed to reduce the felt recoil. Honestly, I initially thought this to be a marketing gimmick, but after firing the CPX-2, I was convinced of the utility of the design.
Accuracy is decent. If you are firing quickly and under stress, your groups may be rather wide, though that can be said of almost any firearm. However, if you want to hit a small target, simply get used to the trigger and slow down. After a couple of my students raised doubts about the accuracy of the CPX-2, I promptly loaded a magazine, took my time and calmly shot the knuckles off of the target we were using (that target is an RPD-NV Handgun Threat 6).
This is really of very small concern, as the average handgun engagement distance is only a few yards. And defense is what the CPX-2 is made for. It’s not a target gun, and should not be judged as such. It’s a little pistol you can slip into your back pocket (if you’re too hurried to put on your holster) and get it into the fight quickly, if need be.
One of the only downfalls of the pistol is its magazine base plate. The current one has sharp edges that make it quite uncomfortable to handle outside of the gun. SCCY will be coming out with a different base plate with all rounded corners and edges. I recommend simply using 120-grit sandpaper to sand down the sharp plastic edges of the base plate. This does does not void the warranty at all.
I can’t emphasize how much I appreciate the ballistic nitride coating of the weapon slide. That alone shows an attention to detail and commitment to quality. The CPX-2 a fine carry gun, which is one of the reasons that SCCY just broke the 70,000 marker for number of guns sold. Speaking of sold, I’m sold on this pistol. I would say that I’ll be carrying it for years to come, but my wife has already laid claim to the CPX-2.
By Allen Cosby
Latest posts by 53gr (see all)
- H&H Medical: H Bandage and Thin H Bandage - January 2, 2020
- S&W M&P M2.0 Series - January 9, 2017
- SIG Sauer P938 - October 19, 2016
Great post. I feel like the CPX-3 is going to be great!
where can i find extra magazines for my wife’s cpx-2 9mm?
I would suggest that you contact SCCY directly. You can email them at
sa***@sc**.com
" rel="nofollow">
sa***@sc**.com
Buy am Uplula loader. First time I loaded mine, I was able to get 11 rounds in the magazine. I did NOT leave 11 in it, but the Uplula made it fast and easy.
Great pistol, look at the torture test on youtube! …… It looks great , high quality. I bought the two tone stainless model . It breakes down easily, and reassembles just as easily, with minium pieces.feels good in your hand, I wanted a pistol without a safety. It,as expected,has a long pull for safety. I shot about 50 rounds,without any misses. At 25 feet . With no rest ….. About 7″ to 10″ group. Sharp kick….. As typical . It is every thing a truthful review would give. I like everything about this gun, including it’s double action. The tactical review was as accurate as could be. I also own a kel-tec pf9 , also it is dependable. I live in florida ,so I am an hour away from both companys if need any fixes, also lifetime warrenty. It is a great cary pistol, no matter what price !
I just got the SCCY CPX-2, it is a nice gun. But I have one thing
I found out with it, the magazine spring is very strong and I could only get 7 shells in it, both magazine are the same, any idea what I could to so i can load it easyer?
Push harder?
But seriously, I’ve not had any trouble with their magazines. If you are having consistent trouble, contact SCCY directly. They’re professional, attentive and very devoted to their customers.
Another suggestion (from Carry Kieffer) is this: use a small dowel rod to push the magazine follower down to loosen it up.
Take the magazine spring out and cut off a little of the coils and it will load easier and still cycle fine.
Shove 10 rounds in the mag. Let it sit for about 5 days. Spring will then allow easier loading. Letting a mag sit shouldn’t be a problem, since they give you two mags.
You have to put a lot of efforf into it but the magazines will take 10. Just load them as full as possible and then let the mags sit loaded for a week or 2 and that should fix the problem. It’s that the springs are real stiff but if you let them sit loaded for a week or so the springs will lighten up and take 10the and ten. Hope this helps it worked for my cpx2 mags.