This is a review of Frenzy 1x20x24 CZ® P-10 / Shadow 2 OR Red Dot Sight from Jani Nordman
Vector Optics Frenzy CZ P-10 / Shadow 2 direct mount red dot SCRD-82
Finally, we have options to skip the optics plate and just directly mount the red dot on the slide. This version will be for the CZ family optics-ready pistols, Shadow 2, and P-10.
Benefits
Why is the direct mount better than having a mount? First thing is the obvious money saving, as the adapter plates cost you a lot of money, some places they go anywhere from 50$ to 90$, depending on the region, taxes, etc, but generally around that amount. Of course, you might find them on questionable sites or platforms for “cheap” but generally, cheap doesn’t follow quality.
The second benefit is that you have one less failure point. I can tell you, having been involved in sport shooting for multiple years (close to 10 years and 20 years in the firearm circles), that optics adapter plates are not rock solid, or even in some cases good. There are even manufacturers that have plastic adapter plates, so this eliminates one less thing to fail by directly mounting to the frame using the pattern of the adapter plate.
Third positive aspect for this mounting style is the optics sit very low, meaning in the p10 case you get the added safety of seeing the iron sights through the red dot, so if the optic ever fails you’ll still have sight to fall back to, but unfortunately CZ Shadow 2 OR the rear sight comes off with the plate so you have no rear sight with the optic, and the optic itself doesn’t come with any rear sight.
Glass
Window size is 20mm x 24mm, this should be good enough for any use, it’s not too big to bring extra weight to the slide, and not too small so you have to find the dot all the time. But of course, this is a subjective point as what works for me might not work for you. Glass clarity is on point, no colour shift on any part of the window, and the distortion is the usual amount, not too distracting.
The dot
You get a crisp, clear dot, size is 3 MOA, so if that is your preferred size, you’re in luck, as you don’t get any other choice, no other sizes or colours available. More on that at the final thoughts. Illumination levels are decent, daylight visible, but you might struggle in direct sunlight if the sun is low and in front.
Features
The battery compartment is where it should be, on the side with two screws. The battery is the smaller version CR1632, with a robust mount, so I don’t think there will be any issues with the battery compartment. Also, you get replacement screws in the box, as they are easy to lose.
The windage and elevation are controlled via a small flat-head screwdriver. My only pet peeve is that the size is so small that none of my other optic small screwdrivers fit, and spent casing is too small, so you’ll need to have a specific small one for this if you need to make adjustments.
Buttons are big and tactile, so making adjustments is easy even on the move.
Motion sensor with auto shutoff so you don’t have to turn off or on the optic, saving you battery.
Fit
As you can see from the pictures and the video, the fit to the slide is very tight, so I don’t think there will be any issues with movement during firing, but my 10.000 round test will be the judge for this. I’ll follow up if issues arise. Both P10 and Shadow 2 have zero issues with the fitment, and it looks good on either platform. If you have either platform, this is a good choice.
!NOTE! You cannot use this in either P10 or Shadow 2 if your gun isn’t the optics ready model, no there is no adapter, if you want to use this on a non optics ready P10 or Shadow 2, even a Shadow 1 or a plain CZ75 you’ll have to take your gun to a qualified gunsmith and have them mill the slide for the optic ready footprint. I do not promise it’ll be possible for your model or if your gunsmith is qualified enough to do said mount.
Final thoughts
This and the other straight-to-OR slide-mounted red dots are a welcome addition to Vector Optics' inventory and will be popular amongst the wider shooting community. I just think Vector Optis is missing a huge opportunity, the one that I’ve been screaming at them for years now: give people options, one size doesn’t fit all. This model only comes in 3 MOA; what about the people who shoot better with a 6 MOA, or even 8 MOA? No, you get nothing, and for some models, you only get a 6 MOA and no other choices. We’ve gone through this, and the answer always is that some distributors say they only want the 6 MOA version, but what about the customers? What about the rifle or PCC shooters? They are stuck with the wrong size dot just because some people think that is all you need. What if this were the same, let’s say, in the car industry, you want an automatic transmission? Nope, because Dave the distributor doesn’t like automatics, so no one can have one. That car company would quickly see competition outsell them as people like options, the optics market is exploding with new manufacturers, so if you don’t offer choice, people will move to where they have a choice. Rant over!
But final final thoughts, it’s a good optic with great features, and if the 3 MOA is your thing, go for it.
Positives
+ Direct mount (optic is as low as it gets)
+ Battery compartment on the side
+ Big buttons for illumination
+ Good fit to slide on both models
+ Lifetime warranty
+ Affordable price
+ Waterproof IPX7
+ 7075-T6 aluminium
Negatives
- Only one red dot size available
- Small adjustment slots for windage and elevation
- No rubber cover
If you are interested in original review, please click here to view all.
