Tanfoglio Stock III

The Stock III sits on the border between Tanfoglio's thoroughbred sport models and its duty models. It is primarily intended for the IPSC Production division, while fully retaining its duty usability. The gun is offered in 9x19 Luger, .40 S.&W, .45 ACP, .38 Super and 10 mm Auto calibers. The design of the gun has been ergonomically optimized so that it 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 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 brown wood. The grip itself is textured with quality 20 lpi checkering at the front and back, which greatly facilitates gripping with wet palms and control during shooting. The grip carries the heritage of the ČZ 75 in its genes and therefore offers excellent ergonomics, allowing a firm, secure hold and good control of recoil and muzzle rise during shooting. The frame optimizes a deep seating of the gun 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 gun to sit even deeper in the palm. The prominent beavertail protects the back of the hand from the reciprocating slide, preventing possible injury, and also reduces muzzle rise. The frame extends all the way to the muzzle, which improves the behavior of the gun during shooting and reduces muzzle rise and recoil. At its lower front, the frame is machined into a Picatinny rail for mounting light, laser or combined underbarrel modules. These accessories expand the possibilities of use, especially in poor light conditions and at night. The flared magazine well makes magazine changes easier. The gun 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 size of the gun – 1200 grams. Its advantages are low muzzle rise and mild recoil, pleasant shooting behavior and a fast return to the sight picture 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 gun is supplied in a matte black finish that does not give away the shooter's position with unwanted reflections and glare. The gun is made to the typically high quality with excellent machining and finishing, even of internal non-functional surfaces. The precise, high-quality conical barrel with classic land-and-groove rifling by Lothar Walther is characterized by excellent accuracy and long service life, as confirmed by the test results below. The DA trigger with smooth travel and an average pull measured in tests of up to 5000 grams in DA mode and up to 2100 grams in SA, with a short, smooth, grit-free travel and minimal overtravel, together with the excellent barrel, guarantee good shooting results even under stress and in the hands of a less experienced shooter. The slide features the typical cocking serrations at the front and rear for easier racking. 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 version, which further helps increase accuracy. The ambidextrous thumb safety has enlarged pads 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, of excellent design and ergonomics, and can be operated without shifting the grip. The Stock III is intended for all users who demand a quality, reliable gun with an extremely long service life, even in the extreme conditions of shooting sport events or in combat conditions, regardless of latitude, season, climate or how dirty the gun itself is. Given its dimensions and weight, it is intended for duty use or for shooters who prefer excellent shooting behavior over low weight.
The gun will deliver maximum performance regardless of latitude, season, climate or how dirty the gun itself is. It is no coincidence that five-time world champion Eric Grauffel prefers Tanfoglio guns. Given its dimensions and weight, it is intended for shooters who prefer excellent shooting behavior over low weight, and at the same time it is suitable for duty use. The all-steel construction provides a performance reserve, long-term service life and great durability. The gun is supplied in a case together with a spare magazine and a cleaning kit.

The editors of Visier magazine tested the Tanfoglio Stock III in issue 3/2012. The gun was tested together with the new Limited Custom HC .40 S&W model. Test conclusion: the accuracy of the Stock III .40 S&W was rated very good, and its reliability and controllability in rapid fire with minimal muzzle rise were rated even better. The 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-round groups from a rested gun, for the Tanfoglio Limited Custom HC .40 S&W and the Tanfoglio Stock III in 9 mm Luger.

Ammunition type IPSC factor Velocity V2 Group 5 rounds/25 meters
124 grs PMC Bronze FMJ 133 322/333/328 m/s 64 mm
115 grs PMC Bronze FMJ 130 326/346/350 m/s 71 mm
124 grs Geco FMJ RN 137 333/319/340 m/s 77 mm
124 grs S&B FMJ RN 134 328/331/329 m/s 55 mm
140 grs S&B Subs. FMJFP 127 269/258/276 m/s 49 mm
95 grs TopShot Comp.FMJ 123 373/373/397 m/s 61 mm
124 grs Winchester FMJ 140 327/339/348 m/s 66 mm
115 grs Magtech FMJ FP 137 318/317/316 m/s 68 mm

Testing of the Tanfoglio Stock III 9 mm Luger, 5 rounds, 25 meters rested, tested by Visier 3/2012

Visier 3/2012 scoring

Score Limited Custom HC 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 score (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 guns 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 gun in quick succession, while the gun 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 gun, 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 a distance of 25 meters was excellent; the 10-shot group measured 21 mm. The testers found only minimal wear: none was measurable in 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 so-called break-in of the gun. Overall, excellent quality and reliability of the gun 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 guns.