Out in Hunterdon County, and really across all 21 New Jersey counties, the question with any new pistol is simple: is it worth a handgun permit? CZ's DUTY 4.0 makes a strong case. It is the company's new-generation striker-fired 9x19mm, with the serial number on an internal chassis so the fiberglass-reinforced polymer grip frame is modular. The SFDA trigger has been refined to a 5.6-pound pull, 9 mm of travel and a 4 mm reset. Each model wears a 4-inch unthreaded barrel, fixed sights and a slide ready for a direct-mount red dot.

New Jersey shooters from High Bridge and Phillipsburg to Somerville, New Brunswick, Freehold, Newark and Jersey City mostly buy a gun like this for home defense and club shooting. The DUTY 4.0 C compact is 5.3 inches tall and 27.2 ounces; the F full-size is 5.6 inches and 27.5 ounces. The MS versions add a manual thumb safety to the three internal safeties.

Under the DUTY name sits a serial-numbered modular chassis, a 33 mm (1.3 in) wide fiberglass-reinforced polymer frame, a 4-inch barrel and a trigger CZ rates at 25 ± 4 N (5.6 ± 0.9 lbs) with a 4 mm (0.16 in) reset. The slide is optics-ready by direct mount rather than an adapter plate. Fixed sights come standard, and the barrel is not threaded.

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

There is no external safety on this model. Drop safety comes from the firing pin block, the trigger safety and the trigger bar safety, the way most modern striker-action pistols are set up. If you want a frame-mounted lever, the MS version has one.

The CZ DUTY 4.0 C suits anyone who wants a modern optics-ready 9mm with CZ's grip and a trigger that is better than the class average: daily carry, a nightstand gun that also rides along, and new buyers who want one pistol for everything.

New Jersey requires a separate permit to purchase for each handgun, and a firearms purchaser identification card for long guns; once the permit is in hand there is no extra waiting period. The DUTY 4.0 ships to the New Jersey dealer you choose at checkout, and that dealer applies the state's rules at pickup. Ammunition and gear come to your door. Stock and price get a live check at checkout, before you pay.

Questions buyers ask: What paperwork do I need for a DUTY 4.0 in New Jersey? A New Jersey permit to purchase a handgun, one per handgun. Bring it to the dealer you chose at checkout; the dealer will walk you through anything state-specific. Which DUTY 4.0 fits a home-defense role best? The F full-size gives the longest grip and sits well in a bedside safe; the C compact is easier to handle for smaller hands. Both take a red dot. Does the CZ DUTY 4.0 C take CZ P-10 magazines? CZ lists the DUTY with its own 15-round magazine and an extended floor plate for 17+1. P-10 magazine fit is not confirmed, so plan on DUTY magazines.