Tanfoglio Stock III (Witness Match Optic)

The Tanfoglio Stock III is the budget all-steel CZ-pattern competition pistol that has built a cult following in USPSA Carry Optics and Production divisions. Built in Italy on a Tanfoglio frame derived from the CZ 75 lineage, the Stock III ships with a factory optic cut for RMR-pattern dots, a 4.45-inch barrel, and a DA/SA trigger that breaks single-action at approximately 3.5 pounds with a short reset.

The all-steel construction at 43 ounces puts it just below the Shadow 2 OR on weight, well within Carry Optics' 59-ounce ceiling. The Tanfoglio frame is dimensionally similar to the CZ 75 but uses Tanfoglio's own proprietary magazine pattern with 17-round capacity. Magazines and aftermarket parts come from Patriot Defense, Shooters Connection, and EAA Corp; the ecosystem is smaller than CZ but sufficient for Carry Optics.

At $943 to $1,049 street, the Stock III is the lowest-priced steel-frame DA/SA Carry Optics legal pistol on the market. The trade-off vs the Shadow 2 OR is finish quality (Tanfoglio is functional but less refined), trigger out of the box (Tanfoglio SA pull is 3.5 lb vs Shadow 2's tuned 3.0 lb), and aftermarket depth. For a budget-conscious shooter who wants a 2011-feel trigger in a Carry Optics legal pistol, the Stock III is the answer.