SCCY CPX2 9mm Review

The SCCY CPX2 seems to be gaining in popularity. Reviews and range reports have improved somewhat since the first SCCY firearms were introduced. The CPX2 is a small double stack 9mm which favors and has its origins in the KelTec P11. Not surprising when the founder of SCCY Industries is a former KelTec employee. An important feature of these handguns is the limited lifetime warranty that stays with the gun. This means that if you purchase a used CPX2 that it will still be covered by the limited warranty.

The present version is called the Generation 2 CPX and features many improvements and design changes to get the gun to operate reliably. These include:
Barrel and slide – machined from stainless steel
Receiver – machined from 7075‐T6 aircraft grade heat treated aluminum alloy
Grip Frame – Zytel polymer with finger grooves and cushion back‐strap
3 dot sight system – Windage adjustable rear sight
Hammer firing system –  double action only internal hammer
Manual Safety – On CPX‐1 only. CPX-2 has NO manual safety
Double action trigger – 9 pound trigger pull
Magazine – Two 10 round double stack magazines included

CPX-1 and CPX-2 Generation 2 Specifications
Barrel Length: 3.1″
Height: 4″
Length: 5.7″
Width: 1″
Weight: 15oz

Video Review

The reviews and range reports are mixed. I looked into buying a CPX2 but decided against  it. I already purchased one low buck pistol, the KelTec PF9. My opinion at this time is that you get what you pay for. The whole purpose of these small concealable pistols is self defense. I just can’t get by idea of trusting a cheap handgun. For example, why buy a PF9 that often requires some fitting and polishing to get the gun to operate reliably. For $100.00 more you can buy the Ruger LC9, virtually the same gun but heavier built with quality fit and finish. The CPX2 is in the same category. There are many more similar sized proven 9mm concealed carry pistols on the market. Unless you just like to fiddle with your gun why buy a cheap pistol and get involved with product beta testing.

Here is an excellent CPX2 review that addresses the pros and cons of this inexpensive KelTec P11 clone.

” This gun had a crappy reputation in it’s original incarnation. SKYY, as the company was originally called, was founded by former Kel-Tec employees who apparently were not terribly bright. First they built a gun with sub-standard materials. There were more than a few examples of the CPX-1 exploding and injuring shooters. The owner of my local range said they had a CPX-1 explode and shred a guy’s hand at the range. So why did I buy it?

SCCY also designed a piss-poor manual safety which was too easy to manipulate. Apparently it was not uncommon to have the recoil from the first shot cause your thumb to actuate the safety, thus preventing you from firing a follow-up shot without taking the safety off. By that time, though, unless your first shot was a good one, you’re dead. Anyway, the problem was so bad that the company started sending out kits to allow you to remove the safety lever. You don’t need one in a double-action-only (DAO) gun anyway…your finger is the safety. But, I digress.

To make things worse, the company CEO got caught trolling message boards bragging about his products pretending to be a regular consumer. Not good form. Top it off with the fact that the Vodka brand SKYY forced them to change the company name to the even more rediculous “SCCY” (still pronounced “sky”) and you’ve got a winner, right?

I saw a Second Generation CPX-2 at a local shop and actually fondled it and it felt really good in my hand. So I did some research on the internet and read some good things about the second generation. They apparently dumped the idiot CEO, changed raw materials providers, and changed the design of the gun to merit a handful of promising reviews. Plus it was selling for right around two bills.

The gun breaks down like a Kel-Tec or a Ruger LCP. It has last-round hold-open and a manual slide lock. While the CPX-1 still has a manual safety, the CPX-2 eliminated it altogether. It has a long, heavy, nine pound, double-action trigger pull, eliminating the need for an external safety. The sub-standard steel used in the first generation has been replaced by stainless steel slides and barrels in the second. It is hammer fired, not striker fired, but the hammer is internal, giving it the appearance of a striker-fired gun.

My first range trip was not promising, though. It felt good in the hand, but shooting it was another story. The light weight means the recoil is pretty snappy, and after about 75 rounds the palm of my strong hand was throbbing. Understanding that this is a self-defense gun, not a range gun, I reluctantly dismissed that issue.

The biggest problem, though, was the magazines. The gun ships with two steel, 10-round, double-stack magazines with interchangeable floor-plates with finger extensions. Unfortunately I was never able to get 10 rounds in them. One of them maxed out at eight and the other at five. If you forced more than that, the followers got stuck and the ammo jammed. I took both mags apart and re-assembled them. I even sanded the followers to reduce any drag, which seemed to help, but it never solved the problem entirely.

I called SCCY customer service to ask about the magazines, hoping they would offer replacements. They didn’t. The lady on the phone was not very helpful and didn’t go out of her way to be friendly. She offered no advice and basically told me to ship them back and they would have a look at them. At my expense.

Despite the initial objections of the instructor, I successfully qualified with it to get my Concealed Handgun Permit, shooting a perfect score with reasonable accuracy. The instructor impressed on me the need to carry a “combat proven” brand so I traded up.

Overall, I’d say the SCCY is proof that you get what you pay for. It has the makings of a decent pistol, and SCCY may yet overcome their rough start, but both the gun and the company still have some maturing to do.

Concealability: a very concealable form factor just 1″ thick, 4″ high, and 5.7″ long with snag-free edges.

Accuracy: not intended for long-range shooting, but will get the job done at self-defense range (3-7 yards).

Reliability: there were plenty of feed issues, mostly related to crappy magazines.

Ease of Use: disassembles/reassembles like a Kel-Tec or Ruger LCP.

Features: two magazines standard, adjustable sights, “second strike capability” so if the round doesn’t ignite, you can pull the trigger try again.

Aesthetics: has a basic Kel-Tec look with nicer lines.

Comfort: the textured grip feels good in the hand and supposedly reduces felt recoil, but the light weight makes it a very snappy shooter. Definitely not a range gun.”

You can read the original SCCY CPX2 Review on the Armed Lutheran blog.

Here are links to some additional SCCY CPX2 9mm Reviews that may be helpful and of interest:

Review 1

Review 2

Review 3

Review 4

Other SCCY Posts on Home Defense Weapons website:
SCCY CPX-2 Subcompact Review