Tanfoglio Limited Custom / Limited Custom HC

The Limited Custom is a thoroughbred sport model designed for the IPSC Standard division. The pistol is offered in 9x19 Luger, .40 S.&W, .45 ACP, .38 Super and 10 mm Auto. Its design has been optimized for ergonomics 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. At the same time, they allow 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 frame material is high-strength steel. The grip panels are made of aluminum. The grip itself features quality 20 lpi checkering on the front and back, which greatly improves the hold with wet palms and control while shooting. The grip has the CZ 75 heritage in its genes and therefore offers excellent ergonomics, allowing a firm, secure hold and good control of recoil and muzzle flip while shooting. The frame is designed for a deep, high 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 meets the grip, allowing an even deeper hold. The prominent beavertail protects the back of the hand from the recoiling slide, preventing injury, and also reduces muzzle flip. The frame extends all the way to the muzzle, which improves the pistol's behavior while shooting and reduces muzzle flip and recoil. The flared magwell makes magazine changes easier. The pistol is full-size: the overall length is 225 mm and the barrel length is 125 mm. The weight corresponds to the all-steel construction and size of the pistol - 1200 grams. Its advantages are low muzzle flip and mild recoil, as well as pleasant handling while shooting and a quick return to the point of aim 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 made 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 and scratching as well as corrosion than the standard finish. It is made to Tanfoglio's typically high quality, with excellent machining and finishing even of internal non-functional surfaces. The precise, high-quality heavy-walled Match Bull barrel with polygonal rifling from Lothar Walther is characterized by excellent accuracy and a long service life, as confirmed by the test results below. The smooth SA trigger, with an average pull weight measured in tests of under 1600 grams and a short, smooth, creep-free pull with minimal overtravel, together with the excellent barrel, guarantees good shooting results even under stress and in the hands of less experienced shooters. The slide features the typical milled-out surfaces that reduce reciprocating mass during firing, as well as cocking serrations at the front and rear that make it easier to rack. The guide rails run along the full length of the slide and fit into their counterparts in the frame. The recoil spring guide rod is a full-length design, which further helps increase accuracy. The single-sided thumb safety has an enlarged pad and a pronounced thumb rest for the dominant shooting hand, providing better support and control of muzzle flip. The magazine release also has an enlarged, raised button for easy, intuitive operation even under stressful conditions. 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 an unmistakable aesthetic contrast with the anthracite black body of the pistol. The Limited Custom is intended for all users who demand a high-quality, reliable pistol 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 pistol 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 handling on the range over low weight. The all-steel construction provides a performance reserve as well as long-term durability and high resistance. The pistol is supplied in a case together with a spare chrome-plated magazine with an aluminum base pad that protects the bottom of the magazine from damage during dynamic reloads, a fiber optic front sight, two recoil springs of different strengths 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 flip were rated identically. The workmanship was also rated as excellent, including inside: 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 conducted at 25 meters with 5-shot groups from a rest, for the Tanfoglio Limited Custom HC .40 S&W together with the Tanfoglio Stock III in 9 mm Luger.

Ammunition type IPSC Factor Velocity V2 Group 5 shots/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 (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 with the Limited HC, so it received a higher grade despite its lower score. In any case, excellent accuracy, absolute reliability and a high 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 pistols 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 3rd 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

As for service life and reliability, Caliber magazine, in its issue 1/2005, subjected a Tanfoglio Gold Custom Eric in 9 mm Luger to an extreme endurance test: 5080 rounds were fired from the pistol in quick succession, while the pistol 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 - 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 noted only minimal wear: it was not measurable in the barrel area, and at the frame-to-slide interface there was a change of -0.04 mm, which was attributed to the normal loss of the hard chrome layer that occurs during the so-called 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 5000 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.