I have a weird love for K model submachine guns, and since I can’t easily acquire one, the world of PCCs and big pistols has to satisfy me. As a CZ Scorpion fan, when the EVO 3 S2 Pistol Micro (yes, that’s a mouth full) premiered, I knew I had to have it, and I aggressively pursued obtaining one. This particular model was the first model that came with the collapsible brace that was a team-up between Manticore Arms, CZ USA, and SB Tactical.
I was an early adopter of the S2 Pistol Micro and my version has since been discontinued. The current model has an HB Industries handguard and a folding SB Tactical brace. The rest is basically the same.
In the Box
The S2 Pistol Micro comes with two 20-round CZ magazines. That’s a genius piece of marketing because you are then, of course, going to go out and buy 30-round magazines. However, the 20-rounders are also a throwback to the original VZ 61 Skorpion, which came with 20-round magazines.
The gun also ships with an excellent set of iron sights and a bore snake. It’s a simple package, and as the owner of other Scorpion rifles and pistols, I already had a bucketful of various magazines.
The EVO 3 S2 Pistol Micro has a 4.12-inch barrel compared to the standard Scorpion’s 7.72-inch barrel. However, the overall length is nearly unchanged. The S1 model of the Scorpion is 16 inches without a brace. The Micro Scorpion is 16.35 inches long, with the brace collapsed.
My discontinued model has a faux suppressor-like square muzzle device. The current model has a smaller “flash can” muzzle. Other than that they are basically the same gun. The handguard allows you to mount an actual suppressor, and it would be encompassed by the handguard. So you can save some room if you run a suppressor on your Scorpion.
Operation and Features
The Scorpion Pistol Micro is a basic, bare bones blowback operated weapon. It uses a large and hefty bolt, one of the downsides to blowback operation. This massive bolt adds weight and affects recoil in general. The blowback system is proven and reliable, and likely keeps the price of the EVO 3 S2 Pistol Micro lower than other options. Subguns with alternative AR 15 lower like systems like the Banshee or MPX tend to be more expensive.
The gun comes with a set of metal sights that are absolutely fantastic. The front sight is an AR-type post; however, annoyingly enough, an AR front sight tool won’t adjust the front sight.
CZ makes their own front sight tool and it’s included with the Scorpion Micro. The rear sight has four different apertures of varying peep sizes for various degrees of speed and precision.
The latest iteration of the gun has Magpul MBUS irons.
The handguard ditches the Picatinny rail of the old Scorpion models and incorporates a short M-LOK handguard with tons of different positions for mounting accessories and rails. I replaced the standard handstop with a TLR RM 1, and because the gun is so short, I use a half magwell grip, so it fits just fine.
The top has a full-length Picatinny rail for mounting the optic of your choice. In the glorious year of 2020, ammo costs a lot of money, so I tossed on a red dot I was testing at the same time as the Scorpion to save time, but all accuracy testing was done with iron sights.
Micro Scorpion Ergonomics
Mixed bag is the best way to describe the Scorpion EVO 3 S2 Pistol Micro’s ergonomics. It’s mostly good, but it has that same terrible safety that’s on all Scorpion variants. It’s ambidextrous, which is nice, but it also tends to dig into your trigger finger with every shot. It was bad enough that I changed it for a Strike Industries single-sided safety. On my other Scorpion, I just Dremeled it off.
The pistol grip is okay, but Europeans seem to really like that swept back grip design, and it’s perfectly suitable here. I have no significant issues with it, but I replaced it with a more vertical option from Strike that also houses a compartment for tools or candy or whatever.
I have huge hands, so the stock magazine release worked perfectly for me for both speed and reloads with retention. However, people with less gigantic genetics had issues with a trigger finger speed reload. I changed mine just because I like to tinker. However, I had no need to with my massive hands.
Strike and Magpul both make extended magazine releases to solve the problem for people with average size paws.
The charging handle is reversible and is easily swapped for left or right-handed use. The charging handle is non-reciprocating, and while it’s short, I still find it very easy to grip and rip. The charging handle can be locked into a notch, and you can give it the ol’ HK slap if you so choose.
Unlike an HK, the bolt locks to the rear when the last round is fired. The bolt release is a big L-shaped design that works perfectly with my hand placement on the mag well. I can just throw my thumb back and hit it.
The PDW style brace my Scorpion Micro came with is only available as an aftermarket option now. The newer EVO 3 S2 Pistol Micro models come with a folding SB Tactical brace. My brace is small and wiggly and offers no cheek weld, but man, it’s perfect for keeping a gun small and compact. It also has a QD attachment point, which is a nice touch since the rear sling point from the regular Socprion has been eliminated.
Range Time
I’ve owned the Scorpion EVO 3 S2 Pistol Micro for a couple of years now, and I really love it. It’s a ton of fun to shoot, and when ammo prices are normal — remember those days? — it got shot a lot. I’ve yet to have this thing malfunction or fail in any way. It eats every type of 9mm I can put through it. No failures, and I have no idea how many rounds I’ve placed through it, but it’s a lot.
Accuracy is another mixed bag, but overall, very good. The EVO 3 S2 Pistol Micro’s sights are incredible, the cold hammer-forged barrel is lovely, but the trigger is a hefty nine pounds and some change. My cheap pull weight scale tops out at nine pounds. The good news is the trigger is relatively short and is smooth..
This is a 50-yard gun, and I shot it both benched, and standing at 50 yards with just the included iron sights using the smallest aperture.
The top group was shot from the bench. The lower group was standing. Benched, I shot a pretty impressive group into the forehead of a Birchwood Casey 3D target. Standing with the gun and firing offhand produced a perfectly acceptable group at 50 yards. In my experience, the Scorpion series works best with heavier ammo, and I used Armscor 147 grain for the accuracy test.
Out to 100 yards, I can still hit the target with the Scorpion EVO 3 S2 Pistol Micro. Aiming at the head, or what I guessed was the head, meant I’d score a chest shot. I was shooting from a rested kneeling position to make my hits at that distance.
The blowback design with a heavy bolt means there’s a lot of mass smashing back at you. That big heavy bolt causes some felt recoil that’s akin to a 5.56 carbine. Not a lot, but noticeable. Muzzle rise isn’t a significant factor and honestly, shooting this thing fast is a lot of fun. The Scorpion EVO 3 S2 Pistol Micro is often described as a fun gun, but it’s still a very competent home defense weapon.
If you feel an AR is too long or unwieldy, the Scorpion EVO 3 S2 Pistol Micro might be a great choice. Both the Pistol Micro or the standard Scorpion are undoubtedly capable fighting weapons. Pair them with a good defensive round, and you have yourself a light and very handy gun for home defense.
Specifications: CZ Scorpion EVO 3 S2 Pistol Micro
Barrel Length: 4.12 inches
Overall Length: 16.35 / 23.35 inches
Weight: 5.5 pounds
Height: 9.4 inches
Caliber: 9mm
Capacity: 10 to 35\
MSRP: $1,227
Reliability * * * * *
After a couple of years of use and abuse, I’ve yet to find a way to make this thing malfunction. That includes feeding it tons of cheap ammo from dubious former Soviet states. the EVO 3 S2 Micro just works and works and works.
Ergonomics * * *
Maybe I’m a little overzealous here, but anything that causes me pain and needs parts replaced has got to knock some points off. Besides the safety, though, nothing is inherently wrong ergonomically with the gun.
Accuracy * * * *
This little 9mm is quite accurate inside of 50 yards, personal defense distance. The awesome iron sights help a lot, and the only real detractor here is the meh trigger.
Customization * * *
If the AR-15 is a five-star in the degree of customization, then the Scorpion is a very comfortable three. There is lots of good stuff out there from companies like Magpul, Strike, and smaller companies like Yeti Wurks make some awesome stuff, too.
Overall * * * *
The CZ Scorpion EVO 3 S2 Pistol Micro is a supremely reliable, accurate, and fun gun with decent customization options. It’s an awesome little K model subgun and one of my constant go-tos when I just want to shoot for fun (back when I could afford to do that).