While I was at SHOT Show 2017, the Army announced their selection of the SIG Sauer P320 as their handgun. The 10-year contract included both the full sized and compact versions of the P320. I had to test one.
The SIG Sauer P320 is one of the most versatile handguns in the history of firearms manufacturing. It is a striker-fired system whose entire firing mechanism is contained in a single chassis. It is the only serialized part of the gun.
This chassis, a complete fire control system, can be moved from frame to frame, and converted to any of four calibers. The conversions are cheap, and complete new frames can be as inexpensive as $44.
The P320 has been around since 2014. Its predecessor, the P250, is similar in construction, except the P250 has an external hammer, not a striker. Both models have a modular fire control system that is contained in a single chassis. Users can move the chassis from one interchangeable grip module to another. Thus, the P320 can go from subcompact to a full sized “tactical” model from a simple field strip.
I’ve been in the industry long enough to remember the last time there was an Army contract selection. I knew that all of a sudden, everyone would be scrambling to have a holster that fits, and the accessory and aftermarket wheels would be turning.
I was actually on the SIG Sauer range at SHOT Show when I heard the news. I had just been shooting a P320 and a P320 CO2 pistol. I flagged down the media rep for SIG Sauer and asked how quickly I could get one. I got, “It’s too early to tell,” which was reasonable.
I found out later that the P320 was almost impossible to acquire in California because of the legislators in Sacramento.
Modularity
My whole purpose with getting a modular gun that can be configured in so many ways was so my wife would always know what she could get me for Christmas: new accessories for my P320.
Modularity rules when it comes to handguns. When I was assigned to train soldiers in handgun qualification, it was evident that not every soldier could get their mitts around an M9. I was always assigned soldiers whose fingertips could barely touch the front of the trigger after attempting to obtain their master grip. The truth is, one size does not fit all.
The P320 grip modules can be purchased with different grip circumference sizes, affording a custom fit for each shooter. The grip modules have their sizes, S, M, and L, marked on the heel of the gun. If an agency issues a P320, it can be configured to accommodate every officer and every assignment. This includes shooters who are “wrong handed”. The mag release button is reversible.
Changing grip assemblies is very simple. The gun is field stripped, and then the fire control chassis is removed by drifting three pins. The chassis just drops into the new grip assembly. These assemblies are very, very inexpensive. For example, the 9mm, .40 Auto full sized grip module is $44.
The P320 uses a captive recoil spring and a rotating takedown lever. The field strip is simple, and disassembly does not require pulling the trigger. After clearing and removing the magazine, one locks the slide to the rear. After rotating the takedown lever, the slide can simply be removed from the front of the gun.
We found that one must avoid drifting the pin connected to the trigger linkage, once the chassis is removed. I didn’t do it, but it looks like punching it out all the way means putting the whole assembly back together.
Slide assemblies are swapped by simply field stripping the gun, then swapping the assembly. Swapping calibers is as easy as field stripping, then assembling using parts appropriate for the caliber. Caliber change kits, called X-Change Kits, include barrel/slide assembly, grip module and magazine.
All P320 slide assemblies come with either contrast or SIGLITE tritium night sights, including the RX (reflex sight) models. The SIGLITE sights are quick to acquire in low light and great for duty use.
How do they fire?
Considering the whole fire control assembly for this gun is smaller than a magazine that feeds it, the trigger pull is surprisingly smooth. The gun doesn’t have any external safeties, but it has a disconnect and striker safety. The former prevents firing out of battery, the latter prevents firing unless the trigger is pulled.
One thing that we did find was that the P320 will “click” when the trigger is pulled as if the sear has been reset without manipulating the slide. It’s unique to this kind of action, but our team was wondering if it had dry fire training potential or if it would harm the action in the long run.
We shot the P320 in 9mm and the Sig Sauer P320 Air Pistol side by side. The air pistol, a CO2 .177 caliber replica, is designed to fit the same holsters and have the same balance and operating system as the real thing. In fact, the two are hard to distinguish from a distance. If one were to pick them up while blindfolded, it still would be hard to tell. The P320 Air Pistol actually is balanced in a similar fashion. While it does not have the same durable finish as the real thing, it looks and acts like one, right down to a fully functional magazine release and slide that blows back when fired.
The only major difference is the manual safety on the Air Pistol. It was designed to be operated by the right-handed shooter’s thumb. This safety was in the same place as the slide release and only slightly changed the feel of one of the holsters we had on the range. It was not enough to be noticeable.
The 9mm P320 we used weighed about 29.5 oz. The P320 Air Pistol was 35 oz. There are other “real” P320 configurations that weigh about 35 oz. The Air Pistol was as close to the real operation of the gun as one could possibly get.
Believe me, I have a shelf full of air pistols and rifles, and this is the best one I have seen yet.
The Air Pistol was as accurate as the 9mm at close combat ranges. We were shooting 2 inch groups from standing between 3-10 yards with both pistols.
Obviously, as a trainer, the advantage of using cheaper ammo without hearing protection is a great means of skills building. Being able to use the same holster and having a gun that cycles when the trigger is pulled is awesome.
We got between 60 to 90 shots from a 12 gram CO2 cartridge. The 30 round magazines fly out of the gun like the real ones and it is suitable for moving and shooting scenarios.
The only real difference was the longer sear reset of the CO2 pistol, compared to the 9mm P320. One had to let the trigger out a bit more to get the subsequent shots. It was not enough to create training scars, but it was definitely present.
Agencies that adopt the P320 should provide the P320 Air Pistol and use it for skills building. ($119.99 MSRP)
The P320 is definitely on top of the heap for modularity. For military and law enforcement applications, it is one of the most universal products to ever hit the market.
