Tanfoglio Gold Custom Eric 2010

The Gold Custom Eric 2010 is a thoroughbred sport model designed for IPSC Open division. It is essentially a mild evolution of its 2007 predecessor, and in addition comes fully equipped with accessories. The pistol is offered  in 9x19 Luger, .40 S.&W, .45 ACP, .38 Super and 10 mm Auto. The design has been optimized for ergonomics so that the pistol is easy to handle even in stressful situations. The pistol has gradually undergone evolutionary changes that made it ever shorter, as well as its barrel, while the number and position of the compensator ports also changed. The pistol has no fixed sights; 4 pairs of pre-drilled mounting holes on the sides of the pistol are intended for installing a C-More red dot sight. This excellent red dot sight is part of the standard equipment of the Eric 2010, as is its shield, which protects the sight from fouling by propellant gases. Where the rear sight would normally be, there is a slide cocking handle that allows fast and reliable racking of the slide even with the red dot sight mounted. The main structural material of the frame is high-strength steel. The grip panels are made of aluminum pressings. The grip itself is textured with high-quality 20 lpi checkering on the front and back, which greatly facilitates gripping with wet palms and control during shooting. The grip has the CZ 75 heritage in its genes and therefore offers excellent ergonomics, a firm, secure hold and good control of recoil and muzzle rise during shooting. The frame optimizes the grip with deep seating in the palm, resulting in a low bore axis above the axis of the shooting hand. The trigger guard has a pronounced undercut where it meets the grip, allowing the pistol to sit even deeper in the palm. The prominent beavertail protects the back of the hand from the rearward-moving slide, preventing possible injury, and also reduces muzzle rise.  The frame extends all the way to the start of the compensator, which improves the pistol's behavior during shooting and reduces muzzle rise and recoil. The flared magazine well makes reloading easier. The pistol is full size; its overall length, which is also affected by the compensator, is 249 mm, and the barrel length is 145 mm. The weight corresponds to the all-steel construction and size – 1250 grams. The advantages are low muzzle rise and mild recoil, as well as pleasant shooting behavior and a fast return to the point of aim during rapid fire. The high-capacity double-stack magazine holds 15 rounds in 9 mm, 12 rounds in .40 S&W, 10 rounds in .45 ACP, 15 rounds in .38 Super and 11 rounds in 10 mm Auto. The pistol is produced in two variants. It is supplied in a special GK finish, which offers better resistance to wear, scratches and corrosion than a standard finish. The pistol is made to the typically high quality, with excellent machining and finishing even of internal non-functional surfaces.  The precise, high-quality thick-walled Match Bull barrel with polygonal rifling and compensator by Lothar Walther is characterized by excellent accuracy and long service life, as confirmed by the test results below. The barrel has an overall length of 147 mm, of which the rifled length is 128 mm. The barrel has 4 pairs of hybrid ports angled 45° from the vertical outward and forward. At the front there are two more pairs of hybrid ports that are angled only sideways, not forward. These two pairs of angled ports are located on either side of the central port. The compensator has two compensation chambers at the very front measuring 5.8 mm×17.8 mm. The adjustable SA trigger with a smooth pull and an average pull weight measured in tests below 1,100 grams, with a short, smooth, creep-free travel and minimal overtravel, together with the excellent barrel, guarantees good shooting results even under stress. The editors of DWJ (Deutsche Waffen Journal) 3/2008 tested the Gold Custom Eric 2007 in .38 Super Auto. They did not hold back on superlatives, achieving 10-shot groups at 25 meters of 35 mm and less. The excellent trigger played a large part in the outstanding results:  „Perfekt. 1,1 kg Auslösegewicht, 2,2 mm Vorzug, 1,0 mm später, nach einem Gesamtweg von 3,7 mm die Auslösung und einen Überzug von 0,6 mm bis zum Triggerstop. Und das ab Werk.“ Approximate translation: “Perfect. Trigger pull weight 1.1 kg, trigger travel to hammer release 3.7 mm, of which the first 2 mm with a pull weight of up to 0.5 kg, 0.6 mm of overtravel after release. 
The slide features the typical milled cut-outs for the compensator port outlets, which reduce the reciprocating mass during shooting, and cocking serrations at the front and rear for easier racking, although here they serve a more aesthetic function. Racking the slide is handled by the cocking handle mentioned above. The guide rails run along the entire length of the slide and engage their counterparts in the frame. The recoil spring guide rod is a full-length design, which further helps increase accuracy. The ambidextrous thumb safety has an enlarged pad and a pronounced thumb rest for the dominant shooting hand for better support and control of muzzle rise, and clearly defined position changes with distinct tactile and audible feedback. The magazine release also has an enlarged, raised button for easy, intuitive operation even under stress. . It is within easy reach, with excellent design and ergonomics, and can be operated without shifting the grip. Incidentally, the magazines have been significantly improved. They have a new, more reliable follower in contrasting orange, a capacity of 18 rounds, and a base with a cut-out that corresponds to the cut-out in the magwell. This design feature allows removal even of a dirty magazine that is stuck in the well with sand or mud. All controls, including the trigger, the skeletonized hammer and the grip panels, are in the color of the pistol (GK finish). The Gold Custom Eric 2010 is intended for all users who require a high-quality, reliable firearm with an extremely long service life even in the extreme conditions of shooting sport events. The pistol is ready for competition straight out of the box. It will deliver maximum performance regardless of latitude, season, climate or how dirty the firearm itself is. It is no coincidence that five-time world champion Eric Grauffel, who took part in developing the pistol, prefers Tanfoglio pistols.  This model is identical to the competition model of the five-time world champion. The all-steel construction provides a performance reserve as well as long service life and high durability. The pistol is supplied in a case together with two spare chrome magazines with an aluminum base pad protecting the bottom of the magazine from damage during dynamic reloads, one 170 mm magazine, a C-More red dot sight with protective shield, two recoil springs of different weights and a cleaning kit.
As for service life and reliability, Caliber magazine, in its issue 1/2005, put a Tanfoglio Gold Custom Eric in 9 mm Luger through an extreme endurance test: 5,080 rounds were fired from the pistol in quick succession, while it was tested for accuracy and reliability with a combination of different loads, bullet types, and cleaning and lubrication with various products. Absolute reliability was confirmed – not a single malfunction was caused by the pistol, its design or the failure of individual parts. Accuracy at the end of the test – shots 5021 to 5030 – with Lapua CEPP 120 grs. FMJ ammunition at 25 meters was excellent, the 10-shot group measured 21 mm. The testers found only minimal wear: none was measurable on the barrel, and at the frame-to-slide interface there was a change of -0.04 mm, attributed to the normal loss of the hard chrome layer that occurs during the break-in of the pistol. Overall, excellent quality and reliability of the pistol and its individual assemblies were confirmed, with excellent accuracy even after more than 5,000 rounds fired. This unconventional, extremely demanding, well-thought-out and relatively costly test confirmed the well-deserved reputation of the five-time world champion's pistols.