Louisville carries. Lexington carries. The rest of the Bluegrass mostly keeps a pistol in the nightstand and takes it to the range on Saturday, and the new CZ DUTY 4.0 was built for exactly that split. CZ's newest striker-fired 9x19 uses a serialized internal chassis, so the fiberglass-reinforced polymer grip frame is a modular part. The slide is direct-mount optics ready with fixed sights, and the barrel is 4 inches and not threaded.

Pick your size. The DUTY 4.0 C is the compact, 15+1 (17+1 with the extended base plate), 770 g and 135 mm tall, the carry pick for Shepherdsville, Bardstown or Nicholasville. The DUTY 4.0 F is full-size at 17+1 (19+1 extended), 780 g and 143 mm, the better nightstand gun for a house in Georgetown or up in Covington and Florence. Both sizes come with or without a manual thumb safety; the MS marking tells you which. CZ's refined SFDA trigger measures 25±4 N, about 5.6 lbs, with a 4 mm reset. New release, $729 MSRP.

Three things define the DUTY 4.0. First, a serial-numbered modular chassis: the serial-numbered part is inside, the grip frame around it is modular. Second, the trigger, a striker SFDA rated at 25 ± 4 N (5.6 ± 0.9 lbs), 0.16 in (4 mm) reset, 9 ± 1 mm (0.4 ± 0.04 in) travel, which is short and repeatable for a service pistol. Third, a direct-mount optics-ready slide, shown by CZ with Holosun, Aimpoint and Shield dots fitted, so a red dot sits low without a stack of plates.

Capacity on the short-grip is 15+1, with a 17+1 option through the longer base plate. Height is 5.3 in (135 mm) and the empty weight 27.2 oz (770 g). If you carry, this is the DUTY to look at; if you mostly shoot at the range, see the F.

MS stands for external safety. This model adds a thumb safety lever to the automatic safeties every DUTY has: the firing pin block, the trigger safety and the trigger-bar safety. Agencies and shooters who want a positive on/off control choose this version; the trigger itself is unchanged.

The CZ DUTY 4.0 C MS suits anyone who wants a modern optics-ready 9mm with CZ's grip and a trigger that is better than the class average: concealed carry where your state allows it, home defense, and range time that does not need a service-size grip.

Kentucky has no permit to purchase and no state waiting period. At checkout, name the Kentucky dealer you want, and the DUTY 4.0 ships to that FFL. Your dealer runs the background check at pickup and you leave with the pistol. Ammo, optics and gear ship to your door. A live price and stock confirmation runs when you order, before any payment.

Questions buyers ask: Is the DUTY 4.0 C small enough for daily carry? It is 135 mm tall, 188 mm long, 33 mm wide and 770 g, with 15+1 on board. That is a mid-size carry gun, not a pocket pistol. Can I pick it up in Kentucky without a permit? Yes. Kentucky has no permit to purchase and no state waiting period; the dealer runs the background check when you collect it. What does MS mean on the CZ DUTY 4.0 C MS? Manual safety. It adds a thumb safety lever to the firing pin block, trigger safety and trigger-bar safety that every DUTY has.