Gear Review: CZ Scorpion EVO 3 Factory Buttstock

It’s available! It does exist! CZ-USA is now distributing the Czech-made buttstock for the Scorpion EVO 3. That would be the same buttstock that has come from the factory on the submachine gun Scorps since 2010, and now it’s available in the U.S. for those who have filed a Form 1 and received ATF approval to go from pistol to SBR. For the time being, the stocks will only be sold in a package along with a 6-part 922(r) compliance kit, which I probably began installing before the FedEx guy was back in his truck. Although I’m a huge fan of the ACE M4 SOCOM stock that previously graced my non-compliant Scorp [paperweight], the factory model certainly has a few advantages. . .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UiLjoK03Z5A

To anyone who makes it to the end of that video, you’re welcome (may contain nudity)

The Stock

That the factory stock works really well on the gun shouldn’t be a surprise, of course, since the Scorp was designed to be an SBR from the get-go rather than some absurd, giant pistol contraption. So while the AR-15 stock adapter worked great, the Czech stock works better.

It matches up aesthetically and compositionally. The angular lines and style work with the rest of the firearm that it was designed for, as does the material — it’s made primarily from the same stiff, thick polymer.

The drop of the stock works properly for the height of the factory iron sights and riserless optics. An integrated magnet sticks the folded stock to the serial number plaque, and a relief cut molded into the rubber recoil pad provides clearance for one of the sling mount rings.

Additionally, the height of the folded stock puts it just out of the way of ejecting brass up top, and at bottom leaves clearance for a right-handed shooter’s strong hand and trigger finger to take a full, normal firing grip without interference.

The hinge structure is all anodized aluminum and takes advantage of the QD mount on the rear of the Scorpion’s receiver. Folding the stock is as simple as pushing the half-moon-shaped release button. When deployed, the stock locks into place with a satisfying clack and is rock solid.

Length of pull adjustment is done very simply by squeezing the lever in front of the recoil pad and sliding that part of the stock in or out. There are three positions in which it will lock — it’s either all the way in, in the middle, or all the way out. Approximate length of pull measurements are 12.5″, 13.5″, and 14.5″, respectively.

The 922(r) Compliance Kit

So I’ve probably beaten this dead horse into a pulp by now, but slapping the Czech stock onto the Scorpion EVO 3 S1 pistol makes it a semi-automatic rifle, which makes it subject to 922(r) with a relevant parts count of 16. That’s 16 on the list of parts from which an imported, semi-auto rifle may have a maximum of 10. As you’d guess, then, CZ-USA’s compliance parts kit comes with six parts:

• Pistol grip
• Magazine follower (x2)
• Magazine floorplate (x2)
• Trigger (the shoe / blade part)
• Disconnector
• Muzzle attachment (flash hider)

I was hoping for a drop-in fire control group replacement, which would take care of four parts (trigger, hammer, sear, disconnector) and likely come with the side benefit of an improvement in trigger pull quality, but that isn’t how it shook out. I’m sure aftermarket FCG units will be available soon enough, although the factory trigger has actually grown on me a bit.

Anyway, the pistol grip and magazine parts are polymer and basically identical to the originals except for raised “CZ-USA” lettering molded in. Domestic origin, therefore, is obvious. The trigger shoe, disconnector, and flash hider are not explicitly marked as U.S. parts, but they are all easily distinguishable from the Czech originals thanks to minor, but obvious differences in physical design.

In all six cases the parts appear to be of equivalent quality to the Czech pieces — material, machining / molding, fit, finish, etc.

On The Range

Everything works as advertised. The disconnector, which appears to be milled from a high quality carbon steel, felt and functioned just like the original. A bit of a PITA to install (another reason a drop-in FCG will be an in-demand product), but it definitely works. Zero issues with the magazine parts or pistol grip, and the magazines ran fine even when wet.

The stock, of course, is the star of the show and it’s just what you’d expect from the stock that was meant to be on this SMG/PDW/SBR in the first place. It took me a while to intuitively mount it high enough on my shoulder, as the drop at heel is a change from a completely straight-combed AR stock. Once I got used to it, it brought the riserless optic up to just the right height for a proper cheek weld, and the fast length of pull adjustment makes it super easy to slam the stock to full length.

Magnet closure is a pretty cool feature. It holds the stock completely wobble-free against the receiver, which is a change from the detent-retained folding stocks I’ve played with. However, it’s also very easy to grab it and slap it into action, locking into place solidly with a nice click.

I admit I may have slightly failed in this review as I didn’t bother to install or test the flash hider. Sure, it’s cleanly machined from steel and nicely parkerized or black oxidized, but as the U.S.-made Liberty Mystic X mount also counts towards 922(r) compliance and lives on the muzzle of my Scorp even when the rest of the Mystic moves to another firearm, I just left it on. Plus, given the option to shoot suppressed, it’s a hard sell to get me to do otherwise.

Conclusions

Once the aftermarket offers enough U.S.-made parts for a Scorpion owner to be 922(r) compliant — and I have two pistol grips plus a magazine follower and floorplate from Yeti Wurks here right now, so we’re getting close already — I expect CZ-USA will start selling the stock on its own. For now, it’s understandably only available with the six, 922(r) parts and the entire package MSRPs at $199.

My Scorpion has seen both a SIG brace and an AR-15 stock, and each of them enhanced the shootability of what is otherwise an awkward pistol. But neither of those were designed from the get-go to grace the tail end of the Scorpion EVO. The factory stock was, and it’s better for it.

For those looking to complete a Form 1 and use the factory stock on the resulting SBR, the official overall length stat (with the factory flash hider) is 26″.

Specifications (CZ Scorpion EVO 3 Stock):

Weight: 15.5 oz
Length of Pull: 3-position adjustable; approximately 12.5″, 13.5″, or 14.5″
MSRP: $199 with the 922(r) compliance parts kit included

Ratings (out of five stars):

East of Installation * * * * *
Five stars for the stock itself. The QD mount makes it the quickest, easiest stock install ever (it just slides on and clicks itself into place). The rest of the kit is straightforward and easy as well, with the exception of the disconnector, which involves punching out a pin and wrestling with a couple of springs and a spacer.

Quality / Fit / Finish * * * * 
The polymer is rock solid and its finish is above average, but there are still some visible mold lines and such. Machining and finish on the aluminum mount are very good, and the fit between mount and receiver is perfect. It’s a high quality piece. As for the 922(r) parts, they seem entirely on par with the Czech parts in every way, and the finish on some is actually slightly better.

Overall Rating * * * *
There are a lot of parts and value here for $199, but it’s frustrating to have to pay to replace perfectly good parts that you’re only replacing due to some absurd law. I expect that once the stock is sold on its own at a lower price, I’d be a lot more likely to give it a five star review. With the 922(r) kit included, CZ-USA gets screwed out of a star here because of my distaste for being forced to spend money due to ridiculous Federal laws (NFA included).

Of course, if CZ-USA begins shipping all Scorpion EVOs with the 922(r) parts already installed then people like me wouldn’t be frustrated about having to throw out the perfectly good Czech parts after paying for near-identical U.S. replacements. My conjecture is that this will begin happening, and CZ-USA will eventually begin importing Scorpions from CZUB missing the six, 922(r) parts and will just add those here. To take the guesswork one step further, with 922(r) taken care of I also bet we’ll see a carbine variant within a year. Factory buttstock, 922(r) kit installed from CZ-USA, 16″ barrel. Likely an extended-length handguard, too.

By the way, the Scorpion is accurate. These are 5-shot groups shot from a sandbag with a 4x scope at 25 yards with the factory flash hider on:

And then I did a 5-shot group with the Liberty Mystic attached. Yes, this is five shots from 25 yards. It was shot with the American Eagle 147 grain (the HST round was just thrown on the target later for scale).

By the way #2, with the stock folded it fits handily into the BLACKHAWK! Diversion Racquet Bag complete with optic, suppressor, and 30-round mag.