Don’t FK with BRNO: Does the PSD-C Live Up to the Hype?

When the Italian Firearm Group asked me if I would like a free pistol and 500 rounds of ammo, I gave the only reasonable answer, “Yes, of course.” But I didn’t quite realize then that I wasn’t only to review a gun, but a caliber. The pistol I’m holding in the photo above may be the most powerful compact pistol in the world: The FK BRNO PSD-C, the little brother of the FK BRNO PSD, both of which fire a unique caliber that only the most diehard firearm enthusiasts have heard of: The 7.5 FK, which hails from the Czech Republic. The PSD-C is available exclusively in the United States through Tascosa Machine & Tool.

The 7.5 FK was designed to bridge the gap between pistol and rifle ammunition. Compared to classic pistol calibers like the .45 ACP and even 9mm Luger, the bullet in the 7.5 FK is relatively tiny, and that’s reflected in the average bullet weight. But you compare the muzzle energy of the 7.5 FK to those pistol calibers, it blows them out of the water through the sheer speed of the muzzle velocity.

So why isn’t every police department and military switching over? For one, it’s a matter of cost. The FK BRNO PSD-C retails for $1,495 and each round of ammo costs about $1.20 from Tascosa Machine, whether you buy the flat-nose or hollow-point. Each additional magazine costs $80. This is not a gun for the budget-conscious firearm enthusiast.

To help offset the ammo cost, FK BRNO offers a conversion barrel for $175, which lets you shoot .40 S&W and 10mm. The Italian Firearm Group included one in my review package. FK BRNO also offers a 9mm conversion barrel, however, Tascosa Machine doesn’t sell it, and it’s a bit more complex, requiring separate magazines and a different recoil spring.

Note that I misstated the cost of the PSD-C in the video. I said it’s $1,600 when it’s $1,495—I confused it for the FK BRNO PSD, which costs $1,650. Though frankly, what’s an extra $155?

Read on for more analysis of the pistol and my range test. Let’s talk about BRNO.

The Beast from the East

There’s something very retro-futuristic about the PSD-C. It looks and feels like a real-life version of the 10mm pistol from the Fallout games, and it would feel equally at home beside Rick Deckard’s Pfläger-Katsumata Series D 5223 from Blade Runner. I’m willing to bet it would be an even match for both Radscorpions and renegade replicants.

Despite that empty space, the PSD-C is a hefty pistol, weighing in at 2.3 pounds empty. Also, I’m not aware of any holsters yet made for the PSD-C, so this isn’t exactly going to be a concealed carry option.

Thankfully, that weight is well-balanced. The grip is excellent, well-curved with a nice rough grippy surface. The trigger pull is nice, light, and crisp. It pretty much functions like a standard hammer-fired 1911 with a manual safety. There’s also a front rail for lights and other accessories.

I like this pistol a lot, but I have a couple of quibbles. For one, the included pinpoint sights are tiny and hard to see. My other quibble is that the slide is surprisingly skinny and therefore hard to grip. Thankfully, both problems have a built-in solution, as the PSD-C is cut for Aimpoint ACRO optics. Unfortunately, if you’re like me and only have RMR red dots, the RMR to ACRO adapter plates aren’t cheap.

Accuracy: 7.5 FK vs. .40 S&W vs. 10mm Auto

I then tried .40 S&W, which isn’t my favorite pistol cartridge due to its “snappy” nature. There’s something about .40 S&W’s recoil which feels very artificial to me, but I barely noticed the recoil from the PSD-C.

I should add that changing barrels in the PSD-C is simple: Push the slide slightly out of battery, pull out the slide stop, pull off the slide, and pop out the barrel. It’s only slightly more challenging than changing a Glock’s barrel and is easy enough to do in the field.

My accuracy suffered with the .40 S&W as my shots drifted down from the bullseye, but these five rounds produced my tightest grouping of the lot.

Does the 7.5 FK Live Up to the Hype?

In a word: Yes. This is an incredible caliber. In my testing, it wasn’t quite as accurate as .40 S&W but produced a much greater wound channel, comparable to 10mm Auto, but with less recoil. It’s also worth noting that the 7.5 FK performs like the 10mm Auto in a much smaller package—the same magazine can hold 14 rounds of 7.5 FK but only 10 rounds of .40 S&W or 10mm Auto.

Unfortunately, it’s also a very expensive cartridge to shoot and you’re limited to FK BRNO’s small lineup of pistols with a dearth of accessory options. For now, while it’s a very promising cartridge, it’s also impractical.

Final Thoughts: Is the PSD-C Worth It?

I’ve greatly enjoyed testing this gun, but I also love free beer. Ultimately, we have to ask: Who is this for? For the roughly $1,500 price point, there are many more “fun” guns I could buy. So I must defer to Rusty S.’s 2021 review of the FK BRNO PSD. Rusty has had many more adventures, shot many larger animals, and is a much better shot than I am. This is his final verdict on the original PSD:

“The FK Brno PSD is without a doubt, the most easily accessible and controllable of any ‘hand cannon’ that I have shot…Is the ammo expensive? Yes, it’s over a dollar a round, however, that’s comparable to what 9mm HST is currently going for and 7.5FK is available.”

“I would recommend the FK Brno PSD for anyone who spends a lot of time in the backcountry or other areas where one might be dealing with ornery large animals. I would also recommend it as an excellent hunting handgun. Bottom line: it’s like having an AK shrunken down to the size of a large handgun, and that’s pretty amazing in and of itself. I ended up liking the FK Brno PSD so much, that I asked to purchase it, and it will supplant my 10mm pistols for hunting and large animal defense.”

If I had to venture into bear country, the PSD-C loaded with 7.5 FK would be my first choice of sidearm. The sandpaper grip and excellent recoil compensation would be a godsend when soaked with sweat and piss shooting at an angry bear.

That is, if it had a good, solid holster. Something like a nice Safariland ALS or SLS that would hold it tightly against my hip or leg. As it is, I would have to, I dunno, duct tape it to my backpack or lug it around in the biggest Uncle Mike’s I could find. It’s a bit silly and a shame that a compact pistol has no real options for holsters.

Thanks to Chris at the Italian Firearm Group for sending me the pistol and ammo, and Adam Scepaniak for sending me Ted.

FK BRNO PSD-C Pros

• Outstanding recoil compensation
• Crisp trigger
• Supports multiple calibers
• Optics-ready

FK BRNO PSD-C Cons

• Expensive upfront price
• Expensive ammo
• Expensive magazines
• Thin, hard to pull slide
• No good holster options