Imagine feeding a CZ 75 TS and its ammo a steady diet of steroids before sending it to charm school, and you’ll get an idea of what the FK BRNO Field Pistol is all about. This refined bruiser sends a 95 grain bullet downrange at a whopping 2,000 feet per second. Accurately, too. It’ll down hogs or deer or penetrate soft armor out to at least 150 meters . . .
It’s called the 7.5 FK Field Pistol because it shoots a new, proprietary cartridge: the 7.5 FK (or 7.5×27). Coincidentally, the Field Pistol also costs 7.5 thousand dollars. Presumably that isn’t how Luxury Firearms, the Field Pistol’s U.S. importer/distributor, decided on the MSRP figure, but it is a funny coincidence. That’s seven thousand five hundred dollars, just to be clear. $7,500 USD.
Regard! Left to right: 9mm (IMI 115 grain Di-Cut), 9×25 Dillon (Underwood 90 grain Xtreme Defender), 7.5 FK (95 grain High Terminal Effect).
Neck down a 10mm Auto for a 9mm projectile and you have the 9×25 Dillon. Though FK BRNO states the 7.5 FK is not a necked-down version of any other caliber, it sure looks the part of coming from the same, .30 Remington parent case as the 10mm Auto and 9×25 Dillon. Including the identical 10.8mm base diameter.
So is it a rich man’s 9×25 Dillon? Ehh, not exactly.
Though the Underwood 9×25 stuff seen above sends that 90 grain bullet at a legit 2,000 FPS and the 7.5 FK pushes 95 grains at the same 2,000 FPS, the FK’s .30 caliber projectile is a bit slipperier. It’ll maintain its velocity better over longer distances. It’ll penetrate the aforementioned hog or soft body armor from farther away than the 9×25.
On the other hand, the round is currently proprietary to the Field Pistol and FK BRNO. You can’t buy a $115 conversion barrel for your GLOCK 20 and start shooting 7.5 FK like you can 9×25. Not that the existence of a $550 plastic frame GLOCK would cannibalize sales from a beautiful, $7,500 all-steel luxury firearm anyway. They don’t scratch the same itch.
Don’t expect any GLOCK or 1911 conversions in the future, either. The additional 3.2mm of overall cartridge length is enough to prevent the 7.5 FK from fitting “in any other manufacturer’s magazine.” I suppose we’re excepting the Coonan .357s and Desert Eagles and such, but okay, I get the drift.
They’re extremely nice magazines, by the way. High quality, fantastic finish, feed lips that don’t gouge your thumb. They hold 15 for sure or potentially 16 rounds, depending on how strong that thumb is (and whether you’re on the U.S. site or the Czech site — metric system?).
As for the Field Pistol itself, the handgun clearly began with the CZ 75 design. The slide rides inside of the frame on full-length rails.
Anyone familiar with the CZ 75 series fire control group will immediately recognize the Field Pistol’s. It’s a single action only setup like the 75 SA, TS, and a few other CZ models.
What’s noticeably different: the recoil system. FK BRNO has moved the recoil spring down well below the barrel. This setup may reduce muzzle flip by lowering the spring’s “push” point and giving it less leverage above the shooter’s hand.
That recoil spring plug is a heavy chunk of steel. It may be at the front of the slide when the gun’s at rest, but when the Field Pistol fires and cycles, the weight moves rearwards along with the slide. According to patent drawings, this affects how the gun’s center of mass moves during cycling. Again, this appears to be aimed primarily at reducing muzzle rise.
I don’t know about all that, but I can tell you that the Field Pistol is highly controllable and recoil is entirely comfortable. Though you know from the solid push and the big bada boom that you’re firing an extremely powerful handgun. About 850 ft-lbs powerful. That’s 136% more than a 9mm’s 360 ft-lbs.
While that lower recoil system is a novel design that almost certainly does lessen muzzle flip, some of the Field Pistol’s ability to soak up recoil is simply due to its size and weight. This bad boy is 10.25 inches long and weighs a hair over 46 ounces.
It’s called the “Field Pistol” because it’s for use in “the field,” though, right? Plus it came with a holster in its waterproof, lockable, Pelican-style case. So . . .
I carried it. For a week straight. It’s silly long but it carries shockingly well (I’m sure the Klik Belts belt helped support the weight). It even conceals well as long as you wear a long shirt or jacket. Or move my wallet (not pictured) and tuck the Field Pistol’s muzzle into my back pocket as suggested by Chris. Or appendix carry it and look happy to see you.
No doubt this easy carrying nature is due to the Field Pistol being so nice and smooth and polished and rounded and dehorned. The thing has practically no edges. The controls are rounded and beveled and de-edge-ified and the trigger guard is beautifully sculpted and the beavertail is softly shaped.
It isn’t a thick gun, either. Frame width is an inch, not counting the slide stop and safety.
Square-back aluminum grip panels add very little to the Field Pistol’s one-inch width stat. They looked like they’d be uncomfortable but they felt good in my hands. That wide surface likely helps spread out the recoil impulse. It sounds like other options will be available, too, including rounded versions and wood, plastic, and G10 panels.
A magazine well funnel aids mag insertion without increasing the Field Pistol’s footprint much. One small gripe: even though the grip panel screws were tight, I could feel the panels wiggle a little when I inserted a fresh magazine. They have just a tiny bit of play on the frame.
Otherwise, fit and finish are extremely good. Machining is excellent and there are no tool marks on or in the Field Pistol.
The 6-inch barrel fits snugly and precisely in the slide, locking up securely at the muzzle and the lugs.
Slide-to-frame fit is also precise. There’s zero wiggle and the slide moves like it’s on glass.
Grip serrations are precise and clean, the nitride finish is even and deep, and man hours were definitely spent on a polishing wheel after this thing exited the CNC.
The only flaw I found was a little rainbow-shaped discoloration swirl in the nitriding on the slide above “Field Pistol.” As this was already a used gun when I got my hands on it, I can’t say if it left the factory that way or if it happened later.
In keeping with the field use theme, the FK’s single action trigger isn’t tuned to the level of a competition gun. It breaks at four pounds and it does exhibit a few millimeters of creep after the take-up is taken up. It’s smooth enough, but doesn’t enjoy the benefit of hand polished internals.
Ultimately, it’s a good trigger but it’s nowhere near a decent 1911’s trigger and it falls short of the factory trigger on a CZ Tactical Sport, for example, too. I’d be very pleased with it if the gun didn’t cost $7,500.
A set screw through the face of the trigger allows for end-user adjustment of overtravel. I found it was adjusted just fine from the factory, but unfortunately it didn’t stay that way.
The set screw is a bit loose in the trigger’s threads and, while the owner’s manual suggests using blue Loctite before tuning the screw yourself, for $7,500 I’d kind of like them to do that before shipping the gun to me. At the least, the threads should be cut tighter so the screw doesn’t walk out progressively farther while firing until it’s noticeably poking into one’s finger. I screwed it back in four or five times during the course of testing, too lazy to Loctite it on a loaner gun but continually wishing I had.
From the extended magazine release to the nicely sculpted slide stop and manual thumb safety, the controls were great. Positioned in just the right spots and shaped in just the right way.
And then there’s the sights. I can’t say I was a big fan of the front sight; finding it to be very small and somewhat dark. It has a painted red dot on it, but it just isn’t bright enough to stand out against some backgrounds.
However, the rear sight is something unique and cool. FK BRNO calls this the “Butterfly Sight,” and as you can see it’s a rear peep.
Center the front dot in the rear circle, center it on your target, and squeeze the trigger. It’s a precise and simple aiming system that maintains a good view of your target, blocking less of it than a traditional sight setup.
It isn’t fast to acquire, in part because of how small and dark that front sight was for me, but it’s precise.
On the range, Chris and I were reliably pinging a small steel IPSC silhouette from 106 and 125 yards standing and seated. Aligning these sights for long shots is easier for me than with traditional pistol sights. And those fast-moving copper slugs sure leave their mark.
That was after adjusting the sights, though. Feeling I was hitting left after shooting an initial 10 rounds through the gun, I plunked down and shot a group at 25 yards with the Field Pistol rested on a table. Sure enough, POI was well left.
The group was pretty darn good, though. Likely as good as I’m personally capable of with iron sights on a pistol at 25 yards, if I’m honest, what with my in-need-of-vision-correction dominant eye.
Drifting the rear sight is very easily accomplished by loosening two set screws. At that point, the sight slides freely in its dovetail. I got the FK sighted in without too much fuss, but was disappointed to find that the sight had to be at the most extreme right side of its dovetail, almost protruding, and indented on the left side for the gun to shoot straight.
While this is totally normal in many cases, it isn’t something I’d be happy with if I paid $7,500 for this pistol. Actually, I wouldn’t be happy with it in an Ed Brown or Nighthawk or other, similar gun at less than half the price and I’d probably be more like “pissed” if this were my Field Pistol.
If the Butterfly Sight doesn’t tickle your fancy, a standard 2-dot rear is also included with the Field Pistol. It’s a perfectly nice steel sight but, again, considering the price of the Field Pistol it’s hard not to see this unit as a bit lackluster. A serrated, black rear blade all target style and fully adjustable would be far more appropriate.
Though my tester didn’t come with it, an optional RMR mount can replace the rear sight and allow the use of, well, a Trijicon RMR or other reflex optic that uses the same mount pattern.
Included in the box was a higher strength recoil spring. I didn’t realize that initially, and commented within the first couple magazines that the gun was under-sprung. The recoil impulse was sharp from the slide slamming into its travel stop and brass was entering low earth orbit. I was frustrated and somewhat miffed that such a nice and expensive firearm could be, in my opinion, improperly tuned to such an extent.
Thankfully, the stiffer recoil spring fixed that up and the Field Pistol felt better and ejected empty cases an appropriate and more consistent distance. I still think the spring could be a couple/few pounds heavier, but it would make the slide harder to rack and FK has probably achieved a nice balance with the higher strength spring. However, I have no idea why the light one is installed from the factory or why it even exists.
7.5 FK ammo is being manufactured in the U.S. and will be available through Luxury Firearms and their dealers. MSRP is $70 for a 50-round box.
TTAG burned through $280 worth without a single malfunction. The Field Pistol fed, fired, and ejected every round. It hit steel reliably at 125 yards. It exploded 2 liters of soda and jugs of water with great prejudice. It produces a heck of a boom and a satisfying, smooth, strong-yet-controllable and comfortable recoil.
It’ll whiz through IIIA soft armor, though we didn’t specifically test that. I have tested the aforementioned 90 grain 9×25 Dillon load, though, and it passed through a IIIA vest front and rear with a Rubber Dummy in the middle. So this skinnier, heavier, just-as-fast 7.5 round should as well.
Of note: it isn’t an expanding hollow point design. The front “cup” is there for aerodynamics and simply sheds off upon impact, leaving a caliber-diameter, solid copper slug to do the dirty work. Penetration is fairly extreme; like a yard through ballistics gel.
When all is said and done, I’m left wanting the 7.5 FK round in a PDW. In a little SBR pistol caliber carbine job. I admit I may not “get it” in this giant pistol application. I just don’t see somebody paying $7,500 for this gun and then dragging it into the field on hunts for feral pigs or deer.
FK BRNO’s and Luxury Firearms’ strong focus is ballistics beyond 100 meters. Long range competition and silhouette shooting, but mostly hunting. While there is no doubt that the caliber is capable of it and the pistol is plenty accurate enough, and the peep sight layout helps, most shooters still won’t be capable of consistent, ethical shots on a hog or deer at these ranges from a handgun. Not even on a stationary creature, such as the one they appear to have gut shot in their promo video (yes, that’s Rob Pincus, who’s a great shot).
They also push tactical applications. Again, I can see it for the caliber but not for the pistol (maybe with the folding stock and a red dot). It’s too big, too heavy, and too expensive for Operator use.
The powers that be were somewhat irate upon seeing my 7.5 FK vs. 9×25 Dillon video. I don’t “get it,” it’s insane to compare it to a GLOCK, it isn’t for close range use, it’s too luxurious for frivolous use, you must shoot it at 130 meters, you’re doing it wrong, etc.
Frankly, I don’t think I am. In my opinion, the Field Pistol is a BBQ gun. It’s going to be a collector item for wealthy individuals. Maybe it’ll get shot once a year on July 4th when it comes out of the vault to impress friends and provide some good ol’ American fun. Doing what? Exploding watermelons and 2 liters from ranges the average Joe can hit with a pistol.
Specifications: FK BRNO 7.5 FK Field Pistol
Length: 10.25 inches
Barrel Length: 6 inches
Width: 1 inch
Height: 5.63 inches with Butterfly Sight
Weight: 46 ounces (2.866 pounds)
Magazine Capacity: 15 or 16 rounds
Finish: nitride
Action: single action, hammer-fired
MSRP: $7,500
Ratings (out of five stars):
Style and appearance * * * * *
It has style, it has presence, and it’s obviously high-end. I’d cast it in a movie for sure.
Ergonomics * * * *
It’s possible I’d enjoy the grip panels with the rounded rear even more, but the Field Pistol’s ergos are still top notch. A bit heavy, though, and long in a holster.
Quality * *
At $1,999 I’d probably give the Field Pistol five stars here. On a price point curve, though, it falls painfully behind less expensive yet nicer competition from the likes of Nighthawk, Cabot, Ed Brown, Carolina Arms Group, Korth, etc. The trigger should be polished, tuned, and adjusted from the factory with a set screw that doesn’t walk out, the sight shouldn’t have to be drifted until one side is almost dangling out of the dovetail to get POI on target, and the grip panels shouldn’t wiggle. It’s a very well-made gun, but it isn’t a hand-tuned, custom gun; yet it’s twice the price of one.
Accuracy * * *
It’s solidly accurate, but better accuracy can be had for far less money. For instance, some custom 1911 manufacturers guarantee tighter groups from some of their 1911s for under $3k. I’ve shot tighter groups with production CZs. The Field Pistol is accurate, but in no way is it in a class of its own. Except on price.
Reliability * * * * *
Zero issues.
Overall * * *
This is a tough one. On one hand, the Field Pistol is a fantastic, unique gun. It’s beautiful and well-made. It’s fun to shoot. It’s a veritable hand cannon. It could be a five star gun were it offered at a reasonable price. But if you’re after 800+ ft-lbs in a semi-auto pistol you can shoot 9×25 Dillon or .460 Rowland starting at about $650. If you’re after high-end precision, finish, fit, and accuracy you can get a completely custom, hand-made 1911 for under $4k. But if you’re after rarity and exclusivity that can still be used — perhaps taking it out on July 4th to explode some fruit — the $7,500 Field Pistol will definitely fit the bill.