Tanfoglio Limited Custom HC GK, cal. 9x19mm

GK - special scratch-resistant finish.

The Limited Custom is a thoroughbred sport model designed for IPSC Standard division. The pistol is offered in 9x19 Luger, .40 S.&W, .45 ACP, .38 Super and 10 mm Auto calibers. The design has been ergonomically optimized so that the pistol is easy to handle even in stressful situations. The sights are adjustable and easy to read, allowing micrometric adjustment of the point of aim, while also enabling fast and easy target acquisition. The adjustable sights are made by LPA and feature a 3 mm notch in the rear sight blade, identical to the width of the front sight. 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 quality 20 lpi checkering on the front and back, which makes it much easier to hold with wet palms and to control while shooting. The grip has the CZ 75 heritage in its genes, so it offers excellent ergonomics and allows a firm, secure hold and good control of recoil and muzzle rise while shooting. The frame optimizes a deep hold 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 joins the grip, allowing the pistol to sit even deeper in the hand. A prominent beavertail protects the back of the hand from the slide and prevents possible injury, as well as reducing muzzle rise.  The frame extends all the way to the muzzle, 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, with an overall length of 225 mm and a barrel length of 125 mm. The weight corresponds to the all-steel construction and the size of the pistol – 1200 grams. Its advantages are low muzzle rise and soft recoil, as well as pleasant shooting behavior and a quick return on target during rapid fire. The high-capacity double-stack magazine holds 16 rounds in 9 mm, 12 rounds in .40 S&W, 10 rounds in .45 ACP, 17 rounds in .38 Super and 11 rounds in 10 mm Auto. The pistol is produced in two variants. The HC version is available in 9 mm Luger and .40 S&W. It differs from the standard version in magazine capacity, which is 18 rounds in 9 Luger and 15 rounds in .40 S&W. The pistol comes in a black anthracite finish, which offers better resistance to wear, scratches and corrosion than a standard finish. The pistol is made in 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 from Lothar Walther is characterized by excellent accuracy and long service life, as confirmed by the results of the tests below. The SA trigger with a smooth pull and an average weight measured in tests below 1600 grams, with a short, smooth pull without grittiness and minimal overtravel, together with the excellent  barrel, guarantees good shooting results even under stress and in the hands of a less experienced shooter. The slide features milled-out surfaces to reduce reciprocating mass during shooting, with cocking serrations at both the front and rear for easier racking. The guide rails run along the full length of the slide and engage their counterparts in the frame. The recoil spring guide rod is a full-length type, which further helps increase accuracy. The single-sided thumb safety has an enlarged lever with a pronounced thumb rest for the dominant shooting hand for better support and control of muzzle rise. The magazine release also has an enlarged and 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. All controls, including the trigger and the skeletonized hammer, are chrome-plated, creating a distinctive aesthetic contrast with the anthracite black body of the pistol. The Limited Custom is intended for all users who require a quality, reliable firearm with an extremely long service life, even in the extreme conditions of sport shooting events. The pistol 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 prefers Tanfoglio pistols.  Given its size and weight, it is intended for shooters who prefer excellent shooting behavior over low weight. 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 a spare chrome-plated magazine with an aluminum base pad protecting the magazine bottom from damage during dynamic reloads, a fiber optic front sight, two recoil springs of different weights and a cleaning kit.
The editors of Visier magazine tested the Tanfoglio Limited Custom HC in issue 3/2012. The pistol was tested together with the new Stock III model. Test conclusion: The accuracy of the Limited Custom HC .40 S&W received an excellent, in fact the highest possible, rating; reliability and controllability in rapid fire with minimal muzzle rise were rated identically. Workmanship was also rated excellent, inside as well: all traces of the manufacturing process removed, edges carefully smoothed, excellent fit of barrel to slide and slide to frame. The table shows the results of a shooting test performed at 25 meters with 5-shot groups from a rest, for both the Tanfoglio Limited Custom HC .40 S&W and the Tanfoglio Stock III in 9 mm Luger.

Ammunition type    IPSC Factor   Velocity V2      5-shot group/25 meters 
180 grs Hornady XTP (HP) 172    301/294/290 m/s     42 mm 
155 grs Hornady XTP (HP) 180    351/352/354 m/s     - mm 
170 grs Geco FMJ FP    184    333/326/331 m/s     28 mm 
165 grs Speer Gold Dot HP 188    349/336/348 m/s     51 mm 
180 grs Remington FMJ FP 167    300/285/283 m/s     - mm 
165 grs Remington FMJ FP 166    308/307/308 m/s     - mm 
180 grs Hornady SM HP     172    295/289/291 m/s     31 mm 
165 grs Fiocchi HP     178    354/338/316 m/s     41 mm 
170 grs Fiocchi FMJ FP     176    318/317/316 m/s     48 mm 

Testing of the Tanfoglio Limited HC Custom .40 S&W, 5 shots, 25 meters from a rest, tested by Visier 3/2012

Visier 3/2012 scoring
Score    Tanfoglio Limited Custom HC    Tanfoglio Stock III
Accuracy (max. 50 points)    50    42
Reliability/safety (max. 10 points)    10    10
Trigger characteristics (max. 10 points)    9    7
Grip/trigger design (max. 5 points)    3    4
Controls (max. 10 points)    8    10
Sights (max. 5 points)    5    5
Workmanship quality (max. 10 points)    8    9
Overall rating (max. 100 points)    93    87
Verbal rating    Very good    Excellent
Price on the German market (2012)    1634 EUR    900 EUR

The verbal rating took into account the lower price (almost half) of the Stock III compared to the Limited HC, so it received a higher grade despite a lower point score. In any case, excellent accuracy, absolute reliability and a high point score earned it a top place in Visier's pistol rankings. Just for illustration – in the same issue of Visier, i.e. 3/2012, other firearms were tested with the following scores:

Beretta 92 FS INOX –    80 points - very good
Beretta PX4 Storm –    81 points - very good
ČZ 75 B –    74 points - good
ČZ – 75 SP 01 Shadow –    80 points - very good
Glock 17 3. Gen. –    82 points - very good
H&K USP –   89 points - very good
SIG Sauer 228 –   84 points - very good
Steyr M9-A1 –   84 points – very good
Walther P 99 AS –   70 points - good
Taurus PT 24/7 OSS DS –   68 points - satisfactory

Regarding service life and reliability, Caliber magazine in issue 1/2005 subjected a Tanfoglio Gold Custom Eric in 9 mm Luger to an extreme endurance test: 5080 rounds were fired in quick succession, while the pistol was tested for accuracy and reliability with a combination of various loads, bullet types, and cleaning and lubrication with various products. Absolute reliability was confirmed – there was not a single malfunction 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, with a 10-shot group of 21 mm. The testers found only minimal wear: none was measurable in the barrel area, and at the frame-to-slide interface there was a change of -0.04 mm, attributed to the normal loss of hard chrome that occurs during the break-in of the firearm. Overall, excellent quality and reliability of the pistol and its individual assemblies were confirmed, with excellent accuracy even after more than 5000 rounds fired. This unconventional, extremely demanding, well-thought-out and relatively expensive test confirmed the well-deserved reputation of the five-time world champion's pistols.