CZ-USA has announced that the CZ TS 3 ORANGE is now shipping in the United States. This is the newest generation of its Tactical Sports competition line, built on the foundation of the CZ TS 2 ORANGE, and it just helped my good old friend Eric Grauffel to win his 11th IPSC World Champion title. Chris Sprangers, Director of Marketing at CZ-USA, credits the TS 3 ORANGE with refined ergonomics, enhanced optics integration, and elevated performance for modern competitive shooters. What that means is that the TS 3 ORANGE carries a direct-mount optics interface, which lets the system use compatible red dot sights to directly attach to the slide without an adapter plate, and lists RMR, RMSc, DeltaPoint Pro, and Holosun K as supported footprints. I’m missing the Aimpoint A-Cut COA here, but hopefully that will arrive later. A cold hammer forged bull barrel sits at the center of the platform. Updated chamber geometry, a newly designed barrel crown, and a mirror-polished, nitrided exterior round out the barrel work, all from the specifications. CZ also points to a series of ergonomic changes on the all-steel frame, including a deeper undercut beneath the trigger guard and a redesigned beavertail, both aimed at helping competitors establish a higher, more secure grip. G10 grips, an adjustable magazine release, and competition-focused controls join those changes. The trigger is new as well. CZ lists a Single Action Only design with a competition hammer, a stated pull weight of approximately 1.3 pounds, adjustable take-up and overtravel, and a short reset. The company says the slide, frame, and barrel are individually fitted on each pistol. CZ first introduced the TS 2 ORANGE, the predecessor to this model, in November 2022 as a sport pistol built around the IPSC discipline, also centered on a heavy, polished bull barrel. To freshen your memory, here’s a link to our article. The CZ TS 3 ORANGE is now available through CZ dealers across the United States. As a European, I’ve been admiring this model for a while, but its price of $3,549 (it’s even more in Europe!) and the fact that I already run a somewhat similar Tanfoglio have kept me from buying one. CZ TS 3 ORANGE Specifications:Chambering: 9x19mmCapacity: 20+1Trigger: Single Action Only, approximately 1.3-lb. pull, adjustable take-up and overtravelBarrel: Heavy cold hammer forged bull barrel, redesigned crown, mirror-polished nitrided exteriorOptics interface: Direct-mount, compatible with RMR, RMSc, DeltaPoint Pro, Holosun K footprintsFrame: All-steel, hand-fitted slide, frame, and barrelGrip: G10 panelsMagazine release: Adjustable, five positioning options“It feels so good in hand that you’ll want to go straight to the shooting range.” - Eric Grauffel Do you think the $3,549 price point reflects the hand-fitting and construction CZ describes for this platform?