Tanfoglio Pistols?

[Kevin]

At Contenders I shot an STI, which is now Staccato. Not sure why a gun company would change their name, but they did.

Anyway, I have always enjoyed competition style pistols, even though I don’t compete at all. There is something about them, they do seem to have better grip frame and grips.

As I was watching some reviews about CZ pistols due to the other thread about CZ’s which are just awesome. I came across Tanfoglio pistols. One reviewer even said they take CZ pistols. Not sure if that’s true or not. Could be I suppose.

Are Tanfoglio pistols any good? They are Italian, and while I don’t have a Ferrari or Lambroghini, Italian style sure looks good.

Does anyone have one they care to comment on?

 

[NC FNS]

I had a full size 9mm in the "Wonder" finish. As I recall, it was accurate and a pleasure to shoot. Gave me some trouble one day, but worked great after I cleaned all the goop out of the firing pin channel. Still have a mag for it laying around somewhere…
Like the CZs, the chamber is tight. Had my first reloading issues when they wouldn’t chamber in the Tanfoglio.

 

[NikA]

Tangfolio pistols are quality CZ clones that generally accept CZ magazines (some differences in .45 and I've never seen a CZ double stack 10mm). I have two, neither is the "competition" style though I understand those are quite popular.

There was an issue with slide or frame cracking on the .40/10mm versions that resulted in a slide redesign. Plenty of info on the web about it.

"Wonder" finish is not stainless but is quite durable.

 

[contender]

As a USPSA competitor & Range Officer,, I've seen several Tangfolio handguns in use. Many seem to enjoy them,, but I've not shot enough of them to give any real world info directly.

As for the name change,, apparently it was a business decision that was due to some changes in the management area. Maybe it was sold,, but everything stayed in the same location & such. I can't recall directly.

But I can say the STI's/ Staccato guns are WELL respected,, and as you saw,, they do perform quite well. Kinda the measuring stick used in USPSA competition.

If I had a choice,, I'd go with the Staccato/STI about 3-4 times as fast as I would a CZ or their clones.

 

[the_leper_colony]

... Not sure why a gun company would change their name, but they did...

One of the Kel-Tec clone companies started out with the name "SKYY", but got sued by the vodka company (obviously their name wasn't any more original than their firearms design). So, they changed their name to "SCCY".

I suspect with a reputable company like STI that it was some other reason entirely!

As always IMHO, FWIW, YMMV, etc., etc.
:)

 

[Kevin]

Interesting, and thanks for the comments.
Yes Contender, I think I would agree with you, sometimes those Italian clone guns might look nice, but I don’t know. How will they be in 3 or 4 years after being used a lot? Ya know?

 

[protoolman]

Isn't Tanfoglio the company that has the hot babes in all their ads? I'd probably buy one if they gave me a poster! Apparently the Italians still believe sex sells.

 

[contender]

:D :D

EAA does a fair amount of ads with ladies I believe.

Kevin,, the STI has a strong, well established reputation as the gun to get if you are serious. Many of the top, world class shooters built their level starting with those guns. Once they got big named sponsors,, they use those named products. But they all still keep STI's & such. I know a few of them, that have stuff built,, and use,, but do NOT advertise it as being modified from their sponsors products. The mods are legal in their divisions etc,, but since they aren't "as built by the factory" they can't discuss the mods. But I've shot a few tricked out guns by top names & WOW the differences.
But the STI/Staccato line is still tops for most serious competitors who use that type of gun for their divisions. SVI is another name that used to be pretty close to STI,, but never enjoyed the top level success. Nothing wrong with the product,, just didn't enjoy the same success.

 

[bykerhd]

I have an EAA Tanfoglio Match model single action only in 9mm as well as the .22 LR conversion for it.
Bought it right quite a while back with plans for other conversions like maybe 10mm but, shortly after the prices for conversions jumped to near what I had paid for the Match and the selections offered declined.
The pistol is a bit large for a 9mm as it is the newer "large" frame but handles well.
The only issue I have had is occasionally the slide locks back with one round still in the magazine, 9mm only. .22 works fine.
I have no real faith that EAA would provide any real support as their product line seems to be continually changing.

 

[Kevin]

Thanks for all the info. I do want one, they are just a lot of money and I have to budget for it. My daughter probably wants to eat lunch after all .

I haven’t heard of SVI. But there’s a gun shop here that says they sell a lot of the Staccato pistols. So people must be buying them for just range/target pistols.

Do entire police departments really issue them to officers? The Staccato P model? Seems really expensive.