FK BRNO PSD... Pulled the Trigger

[dakota.potts]

As much as this is off topic, it just can’t go unchallenged

What a strange tangent you've chosen to go on. I believe absolutely it could have gone unchallenged considering we're talking about a device specifically designed for the pistol being discussed here. You understand that's what we're discussing right?

When they sell the firearm in more restrictive countries they include it with a stock because few of them have the strange laws we do about it suddenly becoming a dangerous rifle when that happens. Even if we take for granted your assumption that "most" want more regulations, I think you'd find it's only the fringe gun control advocates that would be upset at putting a pistol on a stock for easier aim. In fact many are surprised when they find out doing so is a felony.

The whole brace thing would have not been an issue if we didn't have strange unconstitutional legislation (per Miller and Heller, as stocked pistols had both militia use and common use for self defense prior to the NFA). We even had presidents who had stocked pistols in their collections scant years before the NFA passed.

All that aside it seems you have some bone to pick with the brace situation, and I'd suggest there's probably a more appropriate thread for that already under discussion elsewhere that doesn't derail this one further.

 

[JohnKSa]

Most worrying was several instances where the gun stopped short of going into battery and locked up hard.

Sounds like out of spec ammo or maybe some crud in a tight chamber.

The round not chambering fully and is jammed in there tightly by the force of the slide closing.

 

[dakota.potts]

Sounds like out of spec ammo or maybe some crud in a tight chamber.

The round not chambering fully and is jammed in there tightly by the force of the slide closing

Had that thought too. I think it was jammed so hard because it was locking up right at the point where the barrel was lifting to lock into the recesses in the slide which is why it was so hard, lots of things moving at that time within some very tight dimensions.

It should be noted the gun wasn't designed to run in 9mm and was later adapted to do so with the conversion. You've got a shorter bullet, lighter charge, lighter recoil spring, and shorter magazine with plastic spacers all trying to compensate for that.

Whatever the case, it's been flawless since cleaned and lubed and my 7.5 ammo showed up today so the real show can begin.

I also ordered a "Bungie holster" by Vega Holsters off the website due to a lack of manufacturers making holsters for this gun yet. Early testing shows this to be garbage. Cheap hardware and a rubbery construction. No positive stop or retention click. Both the holstering and the drawing is mushy and sticky. Feels like an accident waiting to happen. I understand they are short on options but if I were the company I wouldn't want my high end handgun associated with it. I am awaiting their Level 3 retention holster (not that we have open carry but for outdoors and sporting events) and probably going to have a custom IWB holster made

 

[TruthTellers]

I'm normally not a guy who thinks 2 grand for a pistol is worth it, but considering this will shoot 9 and 10mm along with the fancy, boutique 7.5 stuff (which I actually think is a good cartridge given it's built to be used for 100+ yards) I like it. If the 7.5 ammo situation can get figured out and reloading data and materials (dies, brass, bullets) can be made available, I would strongly consider purchasing this PSD.

 

[wild cat mccane]

Any first hand pics of the ammo?

 

[dakota.potts]

I'm normally not a guy who thinks 2 grand for a pistol is worth it, but considering this will shoot 9 and 10mm along with the fancy, boutique 7.5 stuff (which I actually think is a good cartridge given it's built to be used for 100+ yards) I like it.

That's pretty much how I feel about it. At $1,650 plus tax (I didn't pay shipping or transfer fees because I bought from BDU and had it transferred to a Big Daddy store since I happen to be local to them) it's expensive but in the price range of other performance production guns like the CZ Shadow II and the Walther Q5. Granted, polymer frame instead of steel, but you have the unique recoil reduction system, two sets of sights, four magazines, and it's optics ready for both RMR and Delta Point footprints. Very high quality machining and a nice nitride finish. The price isn't unreasonable even for a nice shooting 9mm or 10mm before you even consider the boutique cartridge.

That said, for the base price you only get one cartridge conversion - either 9mm or the 10mm barrel that will also shoot .40. I'm guessing (hoping) conversion barrels when available will be in the sub $200 range and the importer indicated they were thinking about threaded barrels as well. Given the multi-caliber capability, I hope either FK Brno or the US aftermarket expands to other calibers - I imagine there are at least a few more calibers that should be drop-in capable like maybe .357 Sig, .38 Super/9X23mm, and 9X25mm Dillon.

The cartridge is incredible out of a 6 inch handgun, and it's the perfect length to work in a carbine/PDW/SBR. Imagine what it's pushing out of an 8, 12, or 16 inch barrel. Maybe a system like the CMMG radial blowback would work well given the high pressure. Honestly, it would even be awesome out of a micro bolt action - think the Armscor .22 TCM rifle but shooting bullets 2 and a half times the weight.

Definitely hope some US ammo manufacturers pick it up. I'd be really curious to see what type of performance could be pushed with companies like Lehigh Defense.

 

[dakota.potts]

Any first hand pics of the ammo?

I've been posting from my phone but I'm on a computer now so it is a good time for picture time.

Here is the box the ammo comes in. I only have two types of ammo, the F5 and the S95.

On the left is the S95 bullet. This apparently was manufactured for FK Brno by Sierra. This is a hollow point meant for rapid fragmentation. It still pushes high penetration beyond FBI standards but does not have the massive penetration of the other two ammo types, making it by far the one I'm most likely to carry.

The F5 on the right is a solid copper "nose discarding" round which will drop fragments of the nose while leaving a solid slug at the base that will continue penetrating. This is marked for medium game hunting and self defense.

Both are 95 grains and marked at the same velocity (2000 FPS). The S95 is $60 for 50 rounds and the F5 is $75 for 50 rounds. For what they are I honestly think the price is very fair but I do hope for a cheaper practice round.

Both bullets next to a 9mm Speer Gold Dot 124 grain

9mm magazine vs. 7.5 magazine. The 7.5 magazine is used for the 10mm/.40 but has a reduced capacity of 10-12 rounds for these calibers. I wonder if the 9mm magazine could feed .40 instead since that's very typical of 9mm magazines, even in the CZ pattern, but I haven't tried. Note the 9mm magazine has polymer spacers to fill in the gaps in the mag well. They lock in very easily and solidly, seemingly well designed.

 

[dakota.potts]

The case it comes in is utilitarian but nice, and comes with a nice full color brochure/manual.

Quick picture I got while out shooting the 9mm

Compared to my Glock 19 Gen 5 with Griffin Armament micro carry comp and Streamlight TLR-7

And the two guns overlaid. The PSD has a reputation as a big gun, and it is, but I actually don't think it's that much bigger where it counts and I definitely think it could be concealed IWB depending how you carry and dress. The 19 is what I usually carry daily and with a good holster (PHLster) it's not a problem at all to conceal. Most of the bulky portion of the PSD will sit well below the waistline, and the grip portion is about like a Glock 17 or a full sized CZ 75. Not a compact by any means, but I think it's a little less monstrous than some make it out to be. Lack of holster manufacturers is an issue (especially since the railed version is technically the Gen 2 and the few holster makers that are out there, mostly European companies, seem to be geared up all for the Gen 1 which does not have the rail).

 

[wild cat mccane]

That dust cover over looks like a handle when compared to your Glock

Is it just the pic making the slide look grey?

Thanks for the pics as requested!

 

[dakota.potts]

The dust cover is almost big enough it could be used as a grip lol

The picture may be accentuating it but the color is a little gray. It's kind of what other companies may call a smoked nitride finish. It reminds me of a semi-fine rust blued finish in that exposure to light will bring out blue luster, but the color leans a little more to gray than blue. Has a mid-satin finish which is smooth and almost glassy but not bright and shiny in the light. I love nitride finishes, possibly my favorite for modern guns

 

[XDforever]

How many rounds do the 7.5 mags hold? How many rounds do the 9mm hold?

I'm definitely interested in this gun!

Joe

 

[dakota.potts]

17 rounds in 9mm, 16 rounds in 7.5. The manual states that the 7.5 magazines will hold 10 rounds of 10mm but various gun tubers have pushed that to 12 or so. Seems like they might do well to release a dedicated 10mm magazine in the future for people who want full capacity in that caliber.

Their website also advertises 10 round magazines, presumably for ban states or some types of shooting competitions.

 

[bac1023]

2000 FPS is slow for the ammo actually. I averaged over 2100 FPS from my Field Pistol when I tested it.

 

[dakota.potts]

Beautiful pistol for sure, the Field Pistol. But the PSD is missing an inch of barrel from the Field Pistol so back to right around 2,000 FPS in my case

 

[bac1023]

Yeah I keep forgetting the barrel is shorter. I’ll have to chronograph my PSD.

That being said, BRNO was advertising 2000 FPS long before the PSD was around. They we’re definitely sandbagging the velocity a bit.

 

[dakota.potts]

Stopped at an indoor range today and got my Holosun sighted in and ran some 9mm, then 40 rounds of 7.5mm FK.

First of all, recoil. I am a relatively recoil sensitive person not because I don't like recoil but because of issues with weak connective tissue and overactive sympathetic nervous system (translated: too much recoil makes my hands shake easily).

7.5mm recoil definitely has a little bit of snap to it. I've heard if said that it feels like a .45. I find that it has less push than a .45 but a little more snap to it. You can tell you're pushing a high velocity round. I'd say the 7.5mm is more comfortable to shoot than the Glock 23 (.40 S&W) I used to own, which is saying something. The 9mm has so little recoil it's almost giggle worthy. The 7.5 requires a firm hold and does climb but I've honestly shot pocket guns that produce more of a snap into the hand.

The report, especially in an indoor range, is impressive. The stall next to me was shooting an AR 15. The RSO told me I was creating a bigger boom. Every shot gives off a nice fireball. The RSO (who was having a kick watching) reported that it was producing a "ring of fire" effect that you see in some magnum caliber handguns.

9mm ammo kind of dribbles out of the ejection port and lands in a nice neat pile beside your right foot. 7.5mm ejects out of the port like a rocket, bounces off of your stall, and ends up 5 stalls down, in the brass bucket, on the table by the window...

No doubt about it, everything about this gun is the most unique pistol owning experience I've ever had. And personally I love that I can choose between shooting the 9mm in the tamest gun I've ever shot, or I can switch over to pocket rifle mode and it's still very controllable.

 

[JohnKSa]

Sounds like you got your money's worth already!