:: Build based on one of the first 40 Stribog SP10A3 pistols imported to the U.S.
:: Custom laser engraving and paintwork by Stronghold Coating in Mesa, AZ
:: Chambered in 10mm
If you have ever had the pleasure of handling a Grand Power Stribog SP9A pistol, you’ll know how much fun it is to shoot. With very little recoil and flat shooting straight out of the box, it’s a fantastic platform. And with a handful of aftermarket companies supporting it, there are also some worthwhile upgrades available to really make it your own.
So what do you do when Stribog ups the game one millimeter, from 9mm to 10? I was fortunate to have Global Ordnance, USA distributor for Grand Power, reach out to see if I could help create a custom build centered on the new Stribog SP10A3 pistol to debut at SHOT Show.
Being that it would be one of the first 40 units to enter the USA, and having a small window to get something custom created, this was without a doubt a challenge. Luckily there are a few great companies who also had the opportunity to get their hands on these units to see which parts are shared with the 9mm variant and which aren’t.
When you take one of these pistols up into the ready position, one of the first things you notice is its overall boxiness, with no overly comfortable place to put your support hand. A3 Tactical came to mind as I was considering how to assist with more comfort and maneuverability.
The company offers numerous foregrip variations designed for the Stribog that fit perfectly on the factory Picatinny rail. I decided the one best suited for this build was the angled slimline foregrip. You can run it either direction depending on how it suits you best.
The pistol features a non-reciprocating charging handle up toward the front. HB Industries makes a great folding handle that’s easy to install, folds out of the way instead of sticking out like the factory unit, and is ambidextrous, so you can run it on either side. The HB charging handle is mated up to the same company’s locking charging block. This is a direct replacement for the floating charging handle shuttle and made of high-temp Delrin with a stainless steel detent, which locks the handle forward while the bolt carrier is running.
I’m generally of the opinion that everything is better suppressed out front, so I elected to run the JMac Customs 360 KeyMicro mount/muzzle brake. It’s perfectly short when you want to shoot unsuppressed, while remaining ready to go when the time comes to add a suppressor.
Since the SP10A3’s overall dimensions are fairly compact, selecting a small-but-mighty optic that looks the part and functions just as well was pretty easy. Holosun’s AEMS (Advanced Enclosed Micro Sight) matches the overall boxiness of the build perfectly. The AEMS uses the MRS (multi-reticle system), which is a precision 2 MOA dot inside of a 65 MOA circle. Dimensionally, it is only around 2.2 inches long and 2.5 inches tall, and lightweight at only 3.9 ounces.
The trigger on this build remains the factory unit, as the internal springs from the 9mm variant do not work with 10mm, and during this build there were no other options on the market. With that said, the factory trigger is more than adequate for now and features a fairly light pull.
Moving rearward, I found myself going back and forth on whether to keep it as a pistol or turn it into an SBR. HB Industries showed me their SBT side-folding brace adapter. Mating that with the SB Tactical SBT-G2 brace made for a solid, nice-looking unit while allowing the brace to fold aside if desired, out of the way, nice and tight.
Moving on to other controls, the factory safety selector sits quite high on the lower receiver, so for some people it might take a bit of extra manipulation to toggle it between safe and fire. HB Industries had a fix for that as well: a modular ambi safety selector kit.
This is an absolute must on a build like this, as you can now reach and manipulate the safety without having to move your hand around on the lower. If you don’t want to run it as ambidextrous, they also include a flat plate adapter for the opposite side.
One caveat here is that it is a little difficult working on the Stribog as far as getting the safety mechanism in and out of the lower. This is also what holds the trigger pack in, so it needs to be removed if you are planning on doing anything with the trigger itself. We recommend viewing some tutorials on disassembly before attempting to tackle it.
Finally, we have to talk about the awesome laser and paint work. So much flat space on the upper really lends itself as a great platform to do all kinds of unique, custom laser work. Alex Davies of Stronghold Coating in Mesa, Arizona, was tasked with this project.
I had worked with him on numerous projects even long before he had his own shop, when he was working at another well-known place. He’s a talented artist who draws many of his custom projects from scratch, and it was easy to sit down with him and bounce a few ideas off the wall. I had not seen many custom medieval-themed builds, and it just so happened to be a topic he enjoys.
With that, I asked him to let his creativity run rampant and only really gave him the subject matter, which was the overall medieval flavor complete with coat of arms. He was able to take the factory Stribog font (love it or hate it) and incorporate it into the design flawlessly on one side.
On the other, he was able to take Stribog’s flag and incorporate it seamlessly into the medieval crest, along with a pair of crossed swords toward the front. After the etching was complete, he sprayed Gun Candy Carbonite gray over the entire build to give it a bit of a knight-in-armor style luster.
With all the new parts and the optic added, this firearm weighs in at 6 pounds, 9 ounces. Considering that and its overall dimensions, it’s the perfect size for a backpack build, or for if you envision yourself needing something close to your hip while out in the wilderness, where you’d want something on the order of a 10mm round.
With the brace folded, the Stribog’s overall length is only 18 inches, and with the brace extended it measures in at 26 inches of total length.
After getting back from SHOT Show, and having a day or so to decompress, I was able to get this out to the range and put more than 300 rounds of Sellier & Bellot 180-grain (you can get this ammo directly from Global Ordnance, along with that of many other companies and calibers) through it without a single hiccup. Words by Jay Canter
Build Sheet
Grand Power Stribog SP10A3
Specifications
Caliber: 10mm
Capacity: 20 + 1
Barrel Length: 8 in.
Overall Length: 18 in. (brace folded), 26 in. (brace extended)
Weight Unloaded: 6 lbs, 9 oz.
Finish: Custom laser work & Gun Candy Carbonite Grey by Stronghold Coating
Featured Accessories
Pistol Brace: SB Tactical SBT-G2
Optic: Holosun AEMS
Parts & Accessories: JMac Customs 360 taper KeyMicro muzzle brake, A3 Tactical Stribog slimline angled foregrip, HB Industries folding charging handle, HB Industries locking charging block, HB Industries Stribog SBT folding brace adapter, HB Industries modular ambi safety selector
Sources
A3 Tactical
Stribog angled foregrip (slimline)
URL: a3tactical.com
Global Ordnance
Sellier & Bellot 180-grain 10mm
URL: globalordnance.com
HB Industries
Charging handle, locking charging block, safety selector, side-folding brace adapter
URL: hbindustries.net
Holosun
AEMS
URL: holosun.com
JMac Custom
360 taper KeyMicro muzzle brake
URL: jmac-customs.com
SB Tactical
SBT-G2 brace
URL: sb-tactical.com
Stronghold Coating
Custom laser & paint
URL: strongholdcoatingaz.com