I jumped on the Sig p320 bandwagon

R

redhologram

New member
And my lighter purse strings are the fault of several of you on here... All the talk about it recently around here piqued my interest enough that I ended up going to the LGS on Monday to check it out.... I'm huge on how something feels in my hand and everything has to be "just right" and I knew this one was my bowl of porridge. :D
I got the p320 Carry, since that was the only one they had but not that much difference between it and the compact and it's only going to be a fun range gun for me anyway so wasn't too concerned with size. :Update: It's the Compact... Not the Carry...:
I have 5 other Sigs but this is my first polymer. I sat Monday afternoon holding it, my G19 and HK VP9 comparing the three and they all three have their own merits. I can't wait to get them all out on the range together.

But I just wanted to say thanks to those of you who will have me eating ramen til next payday... :)
 
Last edited:
Very fine pistol. I shot it a bit better than the HK VP9. Hard to day which had the better trigger.

I had planned to buy a carry-sized P320 in .45 caliber and a 9mm compact caliber X-change kit. But my plans have changed since Sig raised the price of the X-change kits by $100 overnight a day or two ago.

Now the choice comes down to the HK VP9 vs the Walther PPQ, which I have not yet had a chance to try.
 
Now is it a true Carry with full size 17 rd grip or a Compact with the 15 rd grip? That designation will confuse me until the end of time.
 
TunnelRat!!!! You made me do some investigating.. Guess what... The Sig site shows everything down to subcompact as being 17rd mags.. I was looking at mine and it has a 15 rd mag.. Total what the heck moment... :confused: So I just called Sig...
Turns out the LGS had it labeled as a Carry but right down on the right side on the frame it says Compact Medium as big as you please in black on black..
So.... I have a Compact...

And yes, I see a few of you guilty parties stepping forward acknowledging the fact ya'll did this to me...:D
 
To add to the confusion, when I got my P320c back in July the Carry model as defined now didn't exist. In fact what is now the Compact model, 15rd mags, was back then called the Carry model. :eek::confused: Anyway, I have your model and it's a swell one, enjoy! :D
 
This is why I did a P320 Terminology on the Sig site.

Here it is:

There have been a number of confusion on the Sig P320 and the names and sizes. I am going to try to give a basic overview.


First you need to know that any sizes mag capacity will fit in any size frame providing its long enough. This is very similar to the Glock and mini Glocks.
This means if you buy a P320 subcompact (the smallest of the line up) that comes with a 12+1 in 9mm, you can use any of the larger mags even though it will hang out of the bottom of the frame.
For example: You purchase a P320 subcompact or P320 compact for your daily carry gun you also use as a night stand gun when home. You may want to purchase a few additional full size P320 mags that hold 17 rounds of 9mm as a back up mag for your more smaller size P320 when you are not carrying it.

Sizes and names decoded:

The smallest of the P320 family is the "Subcompact": It is close to the size of a baby Glock like the G26. The P320SC has a thinner frame, shorter slide and rounded trigger guard. Much easier to shoot than a G26 and is a great concealment pistol that you can also shoot on the weekends and not feel like a pocket pistol. Flush fit magazines hold 12+1 of 9mm and rounds and 10+1 of 40s&w, 357Sig. 17 and 15 round magazines will also fit. Sight radius is 5.5". Barrel length is 3.6"

Next in size is the "Compact":It is about the size of a Glock 19. It has a longer slide and frame than the subcompact with a squared off trigger guard and accessory rails for a light if you wish. Great all purpose size for carry and LE.
Certainly will be the most popular size for new and experienced shooters since its larger frame is easier to fit most hands and mitigate recoil. Flush fit magazines hold 15+1 of 9mm and 13+1 of 40s&w, 357Sig. Sight radius is 5.8"
Barrel length is 3.9"


Next after would be the "Carry". This is a hybrid of the smaller compact slide mounted to the full size frame. This gives you the same barrel, slide and sight radius as the Compact but allowing you to flush fit the largest magazines in its larger frame. I understand that this model was requested by Law Enforcment as a duty gun. Flush fit magazines hold 17+1 of 9mm and 14+1 of 40s&w,357Sig. Sight radius is 5.8". Barrel length is 3.9".

Last and largest in size is the "Full-Size".
This is the largest of the P320 family. It is a full size duty gun for LE. It would make a great IDPA shooter and range gun.
Flush fit magazines hold 17+1 of 9mm and 14+1 of 40s&w,357Sig. Sight radius is 6.6". Barrel length is 4.7".

My thought and input on these sizes for new buyers.
If you want the best size for carry and home use , the clear winner is the Compact. Its grip size will fit most all shooters and ability. It gives you 15+1 of 9mm and the ability to use the larger 17+1 full size magazine as a backup for home and car.

The "Subcompact" is easily the smallest to carry and conceal. It has a narrower and shorter frame with rounded trigger guard than the rest of the P320 family. It feels more like a single stack pistol than a double stack which it is. The frame is shorter so if you wear mens size L/XL gloves, your pinky will fall below the grip. The slide is also the shortest for ease of carry but not so short it puts it in a pocket pistol or micro gun category. It could easily be your one and only gun IF you can shoot with your pinky not on the frame. Recoil is not a factor even with hot +p ammo. I found it much easier to shoot than a G26/27 and could be a LE Detectives gun.


The "Carry" size is strange in its application. In 9mm it will give you 2 extra rounds over the Compact but in 40/357sig it only gives you 1 extra round over the Compact. The 9mm may be worth it to buy it over the Compact IF you need a flush fitting magazine but in 40/357sig the one extra round isn't worth the larger size frame. Consider than any of the of its smaller family members can use the larger capacity magazines, the Carry doesn't make a good argument for the non-LE buyer. I believe even most LE will choose the Compact or Full over the Carry.

The Full size is the range gun. Its longer barrel will get the highest velocities and mitigate recoild better than the rest of the P320 family. Its also a great choice if you have extremely large hands and are looking for a house gun or firearm you will open carry. The IDPA shooters will love this gun. It certainly has LE written all over it since it is very similar the the G17 in size.

With the various X-change kits, the mix and max possibilities are almost endless. It would be impossible not to find a size and caliber you won't love if you are a striker fire fan. Factor in the great clean breaking trigger and short reset and you will always have your ideal gun however you choose to configure it.

Please post your own size comparison pics below and label what you got.

For a reference pic, here is the Subcompact in my hands.


Here is the Subcompact with a Emerson cqc7v



Simplicity at its finest:
 
Well... When it was first released, they had the full size and carry model...

Similar to a glock 17 and 19 in thought and form/function/size.


Now after input from customers and police agencies... They have introduced an in between size...

Because of this, they renamed the lineup.

You still have the full size...

The old carry is now called "compact" which falls in line with the current trend... Just like how the g19 is called compact.


Then you have the new in between size, which they gave the name "carry"...

This version has the full sized grip and flush fitting 17rd mag capacity... But the shorter slide of the compact version... So it is kind of a hybrid of a full size and compact.

Imagine a glock 17 with a 19 slide on top... the dust cover/rail cut back to match... and you have a good idea of what it is.

It is designed for open carry in a duty holster, as some wanted the full grip but slightly smaller length. I can see its place for use by police agencies, if for some reason they don't want a full size.


But having a name changed around and an existing model designation being used on a new model, while the old model has a name change... Can add a little confusion.


I am looking to get a new "carry" grip for my full size, to make the front end have less of a blocky squared off shape and look.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top