Sig Sauer P320 Semi-Auto Pistol – 9mm

DESCRIPTION

The Sig Sauer® P320 Semi-Auto Pistol is a lightweight polymer-frame, striker-fired pistol that points on target instinctively to deliver major firepower. A smooth, consistent trigger pull permits precision shot placement as well as rapid, controlled fire. Sig semi-automatic pistols have several built-in safety features that make them suitable for safe carry. An ergonomic textured grip provides a non-slip hold, even with sweaty hands. The frame features an integral 3-lug Picatinny rail for attaching aftermarket sights and lights. A serialized, stainless steel inner frame assembly allows interchangeability with aftermarket grip modules according to one’s hand size. The corrosion-resistant, Nitron™ coated stainless steel slide features front and rear serrations to enhance the shooter’s ability to pull the slide back for loading and clearing the action. The slide is nicely chamfered and de-horned draw and re-holster effortlessly. Fully adjustable sights provide rapid sight acquisition. The Sig Sauer P320 Semi-Auto Pistol safely fieldstrips in seconds, without the use of tools for cleaning and maintenance.

Polymer-frame, striker-fired
Smooth, consistent trigger pull
Serialized, steel inner frame assembly
Nitron coated stainless steel slide
Front and rear slide serrations
Ergonomic textured grip
Built-in safety features
Fully adjustable sights
Integral 3-lug Picatinny rail
Easily fieldstrips without tools
REVIEW: Sig Sauer P320

By ALEX LUFFO FROM gunspatrol.com

Being adopted by a major military is the dream for every firearm manufacture.

But government procurement is a messy business and raises the question…Did the US Army make the right decision by choosing the Sig Sauer P320 as its new sidearm?

And just because they chose it…does the P320 make sense for you?

We’ll cover everything about the P320 in our review…from features to accuracy, reliability, ergonomics, upgrades, and pricing. By the end, you’ll know if the P320 is right for you or if the Army is stuck with a dud.

And now complete with a hands-on video review:

Striker vs Hammer

Times are changing and the striker fired polymer king Glock, is being given a run for its money by Sig Sauer.

Normally known for its double action, single action hammer fired pistols, Sig Sauer is the gold standard for semi-auto handguns.

Their entry into the striker fired market is the p320, a welcomed sight in a stagnating market and a very real replacement for Glock pistols for CCW and general shooting.

Why would Sig want to make a striker fired gun?

Well, striker fired guns have a lot of advantages that people love…a consistent trigger pull and increased internal safeties are the main reasons armed citizens, police agencies, and elite military units are switching to striker fired guns. The SEALS did it with the Glock 19.

The mechanisms that make up striker fired guns are also very easy to produce, assemble and easy for armorers to fix. All this makes striker guns cheaper than traditional guns.

This is where the Sig Sauer P320 comes in.

The major difference between the p320 and every other double stack pistol Sig Sauer has ever made is that others use hammers and the P320 uses a striker.

It offers the quality and reliability of Sig Sauer, with a tried and true striker system and ingenious features that make it a novel gun.

In a world of “innovative” guns, this truly is an innovated design and a step in the right direction for the future of pistols.

General Opinion and Background

The model tested for review was my personal Nitron carry in 9mm.

There has been a total of about 1,700 rounds of FMJ plinking and training ammo through it and about 250 defensive rounds through the bore. I would feel comfortable saying it has 2000 rounds total.

The best 9mm ammo for self-defense and plinking.

The only stoppages have been ammo related, all with steel cased ammo, including a squib load.

My overall impression is that this is a good pistol when compared to a Glock, XD, or M&P but subpar compared to a legacy P-series Sig Sauer gun.

The construction of the gun is better than others in its class but isn’t as good as an H&K, legacy Sig Sauer, or any of the high end 1911’s.

This is very much a carry or light duty gun.

If you shoot competition and can’t afford better, this is a good gun, otherwise look elsewhere.

If you plan on actually shooting a gun a lot, get a better gun. Better in the sense it has better ergonomics, and is more specialized for what you need.

*Update January 2019* Sig has released their civilian version of the Army’s M17…the P320-M17.

Features

Safety

The Sig Sauer p320 has the usual suspect of safety features including firing pin, trigger bar, and others that make the gun just as safe as other pistols in the Sig line.

What this pistol does have that no other striker fired gun does…is a single piece trigger.

The trigger pack inside the gun is designed to have a one-piece trigger instead of the widespread two-piece hinged trigger of Glock and M&P design that houses a safety feature to control the striker. The safeties of this gun are all truly passive and operate without input from the shooter.

This makes the trigger very smooth, consistent and can be had in either a standard, short reach or small bladed design.

Fire Control Unit & Caliber X-Change

One of the coolest features of this gun is what part constitutes the “gun.”

As far as the ATF is concerned the “gun” is the part that has the serial number on it. That means everything else is just a part.

The slide, and more importantly, the grip frame, are not serialized. You can shoot all the common calibers out of this weapon by just changing slides and mags. You can also re-size the gun to your hand by having the entire grip changed, not just a few panels.

Sig calls them Caliber X-Change kits.

Sig offers kits to change sizes, Full Size, Compact, and Subcompact and caliber change kits for .380acp, 9mm, .40s&w, and .357 Sig. The kits include the new slide, grip module, and proper magazine for the caliber and grip size.

It should be noted that while Sig has said that .45 ACP kits are “coming soon” they have been “coming soon” for about 2 years, so maybe not as soon as it sounds. Currently, if your P320 is in .45 ACP you cannot change it to ANY other caliber. Likewise, if your P320 isn’t in .45 ACP, you cannot change it to .45 ACP.

This system works well but is a dumb way to go about it. To convert a Glock, for example, you choose from the calibers that your gun can fit and need a new barrel and a magazine. You can save several hundred dollars over buying a new weapon with this system.

You only save $150 or so when you buy a Caliber X-Change kit. You might as well buy a new gun if you want a different size or different caliber.

Especially if you factor in the cost of extra magazines. The guns come with two, the x-change kits only have one.

Buy the new gun, thank us later. Sig Sauer P320 Pistol

Grip Frames

Sharing both grip frames and magazines with the P250 the P320 has the ability to tailor the size of the gun and the circumference of the grip width, with just the change of the plastic grip frame.

The serialized part of the gun the steel fire control unit mentioned above. This means you can buy grip frames online and have them shipped to your house, no FFL required.

This is perfect for people who want different grip sizes or want a pro to stipple their grip since now you can just send the hunk of plastic through the regular mail. And if they/you mess up…you’re only out $45.

Integrated Red Dot

Sig Sauer joins others with a cutout for a red dot sight available from the factory.

The twist is that theirs comes with a red dot sight installed as well. The RX model comes with Sig’s own Romeo 1 red dot.

While not as proven as other red dot sights, having shot with one I’d have no problem carrying one or stacking it up next to a Leupold or Trijicon. Sig Sauer P320 Pistol

Take Down

The takedown of this pistol is easy and can be done without pulling the trigger. All you do is lock the slide back, rotate the takedown lever clockwise and then slide off the upper half the gun.

I have noticed that it is easier to put the slide back on with an empty magazine inserted because it lifts the slide lock and makes it easier to move the slide rearward and rotate the takedown pin counterclockwise.

Accuracy & Reliability

The gun is accurate enough to be used in a competition and will easily outshoot most shooters.

The gun functions and fires all hollow point and plinking ammo you can feed through it into one ragged hole if you do your part.

However, there are a few things to note about the accuracy of this gun.

The trigger blade is large and deeply curved. Until you get used to it the trigger can be a serious hindrance to accuracy.

The trigger pull is consistent with no stacking and seems to be within the 6-7 lbs that a striker fired gun needs.

Stacking is where the trigger gets heavier as you pull it until it breaks, common on older pistol designs, especially double action triggers. Sig Sauer P320 Pistol

Finally, the grip panels are good and the overall width of the grip can be tailored by ordering one of several different available plastic frames.

Ergonomics

This gun feels very much like a Sig.

The high bore axis makes it feel a little like holding a ray gun but it is very comfortable in the hand.

The plastic frame feels warm even in cold weather and the grip panels feel almost like skateboard tape, but without the sand. It’s a subdued stippling that works better than it looks. I hate saying this but…the gun almost needs to be felt in hand and fired to appreciate it.

The slide serrations should be larger, I had trouble racking the slide with sweaty hands. Deep slide serrations like those found on the S&W M&P would be great here.

Truth be told, I have huge hands so this might be a slight bias but the P320 feels good in the hand…but I don’t like the mag release or the baseplate.

I had trouble in both bare and gloved hand with the mag dropping free for a reload. This is definitely a problem and if you carry the compact or subcompact models you might have the same problem.

This is because the magazine floorplate is a piece of the grip and if you have a meaty palm then you’ll prevent the magazine from dropping free. I never had any problems with the magazine jamming and not coming out, just an ergonomic problem with the gun in general. Sig Sauer P320 Pistol

The feeling of the pistol is hand feels wonky with a loaded magazine, once you put rounds in the gun it handles like a dream, despite the high bore axis.

I don’t use the slide lock to run the gun but it is easy to use if you’re inclined.

The magazines when I first got them were very, very stiff and had to be downloaded by 2. The fix was for the magazines needed to be left loaded for two weeks, then you can load them to capacity.

The trigger is nothing special…it’s a decent striker fired trigger without stacking and decent weight.

I have large fingers but many report the trigger blade being too wide and uncomfortable to shoot. I didn’t find any problems while shooting, but the ladies who shot my gun had to use almost their entire finger. Sig Sauer P320 Pistol

Quality & Durability

The Sig P320 is an entry-level Sig gun. That doesn’t mean that it is low quality.

Sig Sauer makes by far the best polymer framed guns in the world and by far some of the most accurate and dependable pistols. You must accept the fact though…the grip frame is made to be almost disposable.

This is important because the plastic of the 320 isn’t as resilient as Glocks or M&Ps.

All the models offer Picatinny rails that are squared away under the barrel, in front of the trigger guard for mounting a light or laser. The whole gun, finish included just seems more susceptible to dings, and scratches…more so than any other gun I’ve ever used.

The finish on the gun is said to be the same as on other guns, but my Sig P250, the predecessor of the P320, seems infinitely more durable with regards to finish. This, of course, doesn’t hurt the reliability of the gun, just affects the quality and long-term appearance.

I live in South Florida, and in December the average temperature is still around 80 degrees with 70% or so humidity.

Guns rust literally on store shelves here, but the Sig P320 doesn’t. The first week I got this pistol I took it kayaking and I accidentally dropped the whole pistol into a pool of salt water. Sig Sauer P320 Pistol

I did nothing more than field strip it and reassemble it wet. Never had a problem with rust or reliability.

Applications

Guns obviously have more than one use but a .50 BMG rifle is bad for plinking just like a .22 LR pistol is bad for self defence.

The Sig Sauer P320 is good for many things but there are a few models that are better suited than others.

The RX carry is probably the most capable of the bunch. It comes with a red dot sight mounted on the slide. The carry model, in general, is a great size, it’s plenty big enough to use for serious work but small enough to conceal.

The Tacops model are a good model for duty use if you are an officer or security guard that can choose their own weapon. The factory included 21 rounds magazines are only useful for open carry or for competition/range use.

Currently there the Sig P320 lags behind the classic Sig guns in regards for professional quality gear but it is being embraced by and large by consumer gear manufacturers.

If more agencies and large Security firms adopt the Sig P320 we might see a rise in the duty gear selection but only time will tell.

Holsters

Nearly every custom Kydex maker has holsters for this gun so for concealed carry or for range use you should be fine. Including holsters for weapon lights, red dot sights, and suppressor height sights.

If you’re an officer or security guard that can choose their own weapon this is a great pistol but it can be difficult to find retention holsters.

There are the typical level 2 and level 3 drop leg and duty holsters available from the usual suspects. However, if you need a holster for plainclothes police or detective work you’re better off with a shoulder holster than looking for a concealable holster with retention. Sig Sauer P320 Pistol

Magazines

The biggest downside of the Sig Sauer p320 is the premium price of magazines.

That goes for the full capacity and the state compliant models with limited round counts.

Sig Sauer does offer extended 21 round magazines to the tune of $58. Sig Sauer has also been plagued with high shipping costs and long wait times due to extreme order volume. Order from a retailer if you can find a deal or need the mags quick.

The magazines currently used are the same design from the p250 and they haven’t come down in price so I don’t believe they’ll come down in price anytime soon. Aftermarket magazines aren’t available but they could come depending on the long-term success, and honestly the competition use, of this pistol.

Weapon Light

No defensive gun is complete without a good light mounted on it, for the P320 (and most other guns) the Streamlight TLR-7is an outstanding choice. Sig Sauer P320 Pistol

Delivering high lumens, great durability, and coming in at a decent price – it’s a must-have.

Parts & Upgrades

Sights aside, there aren’t many parts available for the P320 yet.

Sig Sauer offers replacement spring kits and grip modules as well as the previously mentioned caliber X-change kits. The offer a thin-bladed trigger that is available for purchase, it’s not an upgraded trigger, just a different blade.

The only “big” upgrade currently offered is the Apex Trigger Kitavailable. I haven’t used the trigger myself so I can’t comment on its use but it is a completely flat faced trigger that looks like a competition upgrade and is getting good reports thus far.

Sig Sauer is also offering a grip module that has a built-in laser. It looks like an overgrown S&W Bodyguard .380 and is very expensive. You also lose the ability to mount a light and need a custom holster.

I’d steer clear, at least until the part has been proven in the field.

By the Numbers

Let’s see how this gun stacks up in the good ‘ole 5 point scoring metric:

Reliability: 5/5

Zero problems in testing and with all kinds of different ammo.

Accuracy: 4/5

More so than a Glock, this pistol’s main competitor but won’t keep up with a race-gun 1911.

Ergonomics: 3/5

Can feel a bit like holding onto a finely shaved 2×4. It also takes a hit for the trigger blade, not the feeling of the trigger, the literal part of the trigger you touch, it’s huge. Sig Sauer P320 Pistol

Looks: 3.5/5

It looks like a space pistol, especially the full sized gun. Super cool if you’re into that kinda thing.

Customization: 4/5

This is an excellent gun to customize, as long as sig makes what you like. The pistol is still lagging in aftermarket parts, especially mags, but SIg makes plenty of parts to change out and it’s the easiest gun by far to have stippled.

Bang for the Buck: 5/5

Simply awesome, the reliability of a Glock, the performance of a SIg, and the pricing of a Taurus. WHat’s not to love?

Overall Rating: 5/5

This is a darn excellent pistol.

I’m not a lover of most striker fired guns but this is just a great gun. It certainly has it quirks but overall you can’t go wrong with purchasing this gun for yourself, as a present or for your significant other.

Conclusion

Sig Sauer’s striker-fired P320 is the Army’s newest sidearm and plenty of people’s carry gun for good reason. It’s reliable, accurate, and modular. There’s plenty of different models to suit your desires but ergonomics might be an issue for some hand sizes.

If you’re in the market for your first handgun, this is a good bet. If you’re a collector and just likes this gun, then get at it! And I feel the Army made a pretty good decision too. Sig Sauer P320 Pistol

However, if you’re the type that already has a Glock or M&P and are happy with it, this gun is different, but not an upgrade.

This is a fantastic carry gun and a great alternative for a Glock or M&P. I say buy the frame size, and caliber you want because for the street price of an X-Change kit is almost the cost of another gun.

Shooting Review: Sig Sauer P320 Carry

By FRED TOAST FROM gunspatrol.com

Since I have for some time had my carry weapon system locked in, I don’t spend much effort trying to find the next pistol I want to buy. But once in a while a worthwhile innovation makes me sit up, take notice, and contemplate reconsidering my carry platform. The Sig P320 is one of these and I’ve been waiting with great anticipation to get my hands on a model other than the full size to try out.

Recently I’ve been shooting the P320 Carry model chambered in 9mm, which is the compact slide with the full-size grip. While shooting it presents some fundamental challenges to my ingrained habits, I’m finding the experience to be compelling. Especially given some of the features this newish Sig Sauer pistol offers. Here are my thoughts on the Sig P320 Carry model after putting a few hundred rounds through it this month. Sig Sauer P320 Pistol

Why Consider the Sig P320 Carry?

The P320 Carry and compact models are purpose-made concealed-carry pistols. The relatively short length of the slide means that they’ll work for any standard position for IWB carry: 3-5 o’clock or appendix position. Unlike most of Sig Sauer’s pistol line, the P320 is striker fired. In keeping with good sense for a carry gun, it has no external safety or any other superfluous external controls.

Yet another reason to consider the P320 Compact or Carry is its modular chassis system. The serialized component is not the frame lower, but the chassis that rides inside of the un-serialized frame. This means that you can swap out frames to fit your hand size (sm, md, lg)—even going from full-size to subcompact—and even changing from 9mm to Sig .357 to .40 to .45ACP without changing from one serialized gun to another. I think this is a wonderful system for a modern firearm.

Sig P320 Carry Specs:

Chambering: 9mm
Length: 7.2”
Height: 5.5”
Width: 1.4”
Barrel: 3.9”
Trigger: ~5.5 lb.
Sights: SIGLITE® Night Sights
Safety: n/a
Weight: 26 oz.
Slide: Black, Nitron® finish
Capacity: 17+1
MSRP: $628
Shooting the P320

For the purpose of this review I shot the Carry model 9mm, which has the compact slide and the full-size grip. It’s all but identical to the compact model (only 2/10” difference in overall height). The Carry model does, however, get 2 extra rounds in the magazine as compared to the compact model. Sig Sauer P320 Pistol

The first thing I noticed is that although the P320 is a striker-fired gun, it is configured like a hammer-fired pistol, with the beavertail and high bore axis. Given this configuration, I was worried that it would display undue muzzle flip while shooting. I found that while there is more muzzle flip than say on a similarly sized Glock 19, with its low bore axis, the P320 wasn’t so bad.

The most significant difference here from what I’m used to shooting is that the grip angle on the P320 is more vertical than that on a Glock. It’s the typical Sig grip angle, similar to a 1911. This meant that my well-drilled point of aim had the muzzle pointing below proper position and it took me a few shots to remember to adjust so that my press-out placed the sights in proper alignment. Once I did, though, shooting the P320 was a nice experience, especially due to the excellent trigger.

Comfort, Controllability, & Capacity

The grip of the P320 is rather substantial. It feels a little fat because it is more rounded on the sides than most grips. Even with the full-feeling grip, my medium-sized hand has no trouble getting a good position on the trigger. I found it to be quite comfortable. Of course if you don’t like the grip size, you can always change the frame for a larger or smaller one, at minimal expense. Sig Sauer P320 Pistol

There is a bit more muzzle flip than I find on most striker-fired pistols, but by resting my support-hand thumb forward on the takedown lever I found it easy to control the recoil. I had no trouble shooting strings of several shots in quick succession and at multiple targets, so there are no control issues with this gun. With 17-round magazines for the carry model and 15-rounders for the compact, the capacity is right in line with what I’d expect. Interesting to note that the carry model grip is only 2/10” taller than the compact model, but you get 2 extra rounds in the mag.

Components and Features

The trigger on the P320 is without a doubt the best I’ve felt on any polymer, striker-fired pistol. If I could get this sort of feel and action into my pistols, I’d do it in a heartbeat. I’m guessing some folks will enjoy the absence of a trigger-safety sticking out from the shoe, giving the trigger a more comfortable marriage with your finger pad.

The frame of the Sig P320 is kind of awesome. Because of the modular chassis, you can change out frames for grip size, color, model size, and even chambering without changing (serialized) guns. Framers are available for about $46 in three colors: black, flat dark earth, and OD green; and each is available in small, medium, and large sizes to fit your preferred grip size. For an armorer/tinker like me this is a wonderful and compelling innovation. More stuff to play around with! I note that the frame texture is quite mild, so like all other polymer pistols it’ll be useless if your hands are sweaty or bloody. Stippling is required. Sig Sauer P320 Pistol

The sights are iron, 3-dot night sights and the rear sight has a nice flat front face for easy purchase in one-handed slide racking. I found them easy enough to pick up visually when firing and transitioning to different targets.

The magazines are steel, with polymer base plates, and very nicely constructed. They drop free when ejected. They’re exchangeable between the P320 and the P250 of the same caliber and size. Unlike some steel mags, these don’t terribly abrade your thumb when charging rounds into them. The external controls on the pistol seem well positioned to me and the magazine release is reversible. The slide has serrations fore and aft and interesting contours and the frame’s picatinny rail allows for a flashlight or laser. I like the fact that the bottom of the grip has a cutout for better purchase on the magazine base plate; useful for those malfunctions where the mag tends to stick.

Though this is just a shooting review and I did not field strip the pistol, the P320 has an easy and safe disassembly. Rotation of the takedown lever allows disassembly without tools or trigger manipulation, which brings an added level of safety for careless people. Internals include a striker safety and disconnect safety.

Conclusions

Pros
The P320’s frame can be swapped for color or just the right fit, and even from compact to full-size and different calibers. The trigger is as good as it gets for a polymer, striker pistol. The components are just right out of the box and the must-haves and must-not-haves are good to go here. You get two magazines with the pistol. For me, it’s the only pistol I’ve encountered that could tempt me away from my current everyday-carry system. Sig Sauer P320 Pistol

Cons
As a carry gun, the P320 is a bit wider than you may like. For comparison, while a Glock runs 1.18” in width the P320 is a bit wider at 1.4”, which may impact how you choose to carry it. The hammer–fired-like profile of this striker-fired pistol gives it quite a high bore axis, adding to the felt recoil and muzzle flip. Using the takedown lever as a thumb rest for recoil management works, but is perhaps not the most comfortable proposition when shooting hundreds of rounds in one session (my already calloused thumb was rubbed pretty raw).

So for rating the Sig P320…

Ergonomics (****)
With the multi-size and comfortable frames, the only knock against the ergonomics is the high bore axis and different (for me) grip angle. This grip angle will be familiar for many folks. Sig Sauer P320 Pistol

Shootability (****)
Shoots great! Only the slight addition of muzzle flip due to the bore axis counts against it.

Accuracy (****)
I found nothing to complain about with its accuracy. I note that I had to use a 6 o’clock hold for 25-yard shots.

Concealability (***)
The P320 Carry will not be as concealable as would the compact model, due to the slightly longer grip. Also, at 1.4” wide the P320 is not the slimmest carry gun you’ll encounter.

In Summary

The sum of the positives here is compelling and could one day tempt me away from my almost exclusive dedication to Glocks as my carry guns. The chassis system is fantastic and makes me wonder if other manufacturers will try it out.

If you’re a striker-fired enthusiast, the Sig P320 is one pistol you simply have to check out and evaluate…for all of its many virtues. Rent this gun and give it a try (I note that Eagle Gun Range has a full-size and Carry model in their rental case). I bet you’ll be impressed on several levels