Cyanide971
New member
Thanks TunnelRat!
Sphinx SDP Compact owners...
- Thread starter Cyanide971
- Start date
Gray, non-colored spring. Shorter than the factory. Ran great with federal but choked on the WWB. This was a Wolff hammer spring not the CGW which is actually longer than the factory spring. I ended up picking up a full FDE glock 19 gen 4 that the range had in stock and am carrying that instead. My attempt at finding a hybrid holster for the Sphinx failed and I decided I liked it too much to get it scratched up. It's going to take nightstand duty now. I was pleasantly surprised at how much better the G19 conceals for me and I have no qualms about beating that thing up. The Sphinx unsurprisingly had a good deal less muzzle rise, feels better in the hand, and is much more accurate, but the G19 works better for me for CC.
So the CGW kit is different and should work fine with the hammer spring it comes with, assuming you also install the lighter firing pin spring that is included. A lighter firing pin spring means there is less resistance as the firing pin is moving forward after being hit with the hammer (in a hammer fired gun the purpose of the firing pin spring isn't to push the firing pin forward like in a striker fired pistol but actually rearward so that at rest it won't impact the primer on a cartridge). This allows you to use lighter hammer springs that impart less energy on the firing pin and still hit the firing pin with the same amount (or very close to) of force and ending penetration as the original setup. With the CGW spring I get pretty decent craters in primers. Now removing the firing pin from the Sphinx isn't complicated in terms of steps but the retaining pin Sphinx uses is machined to ludicrous tolerances that require a mallet with a decent weight to move (and a decent set of punches).
I'm going to throw something else out there and you're free to totally ignore it. I'd honestly not suggest carrying a striker fired safe-action type pistol like a Glock and using a DA/SA pistol for the night stand. They're two rather different trigger systems with notably different pull weights and manual of arms (not to mention these two pistols also have notably different points of aim). DA/SA requires a significant amount of practice to master in both DA and SA as well as learning the transition (people can have a tendency to flinch). You also need to remember to decock. I have taken multiple courses now where instructors have had to remind people to decock because they simply forget. At night when you're woken up from bed and you're not used to decocking your carry pistol after doing a chamber check or general handling it could be easily forgotten and you don't want a negligent discharge. The slide releases are also in slightly different locations which could be an issue depending on how you reload. I carried DA/SA for years and I obviously have no opposition to it, but I literally practiced to the point where decocking is an ingrained behavior. A Glock in this regard, while potentially less forgiving of trigger finger placement, is much simpler. I actually carry and use a Glock 19 as my night stand gun.
My point is they are two rather different sets of muscle memory. If you do decide to use both, make sure you are dry firing and practicing operating the controls on both pistols daily. I'm not trying to tell you how to live your life; this is a free country. Just understand that your current choice will involve a certain amount of complexity and a lot of practice.
I'm going to throw something else out there and you're free to totally ignore it. I'd honestly not suggest carrying a striker fired safe-action type pistol like a Glock and using a DA/SA pistol for the night stand. They're two rather different trigger systems with notably different pull weights and manual of arms (not to mention these two pistols also have notably different points of aim). DA/SA requires a significant amount of practice to master in both DA and SA as well as learning the transition (people can have a tendency to flinch). You also need to remember to decock. I have taken multiple courses now where instructors have had to remind people to decock because they simply forget. At night when you're woken up from bed and you're not used to decocking your carry pistol after doing a chamber check or general handling it could be easily forgotten and you don't want a negligent discharge. The slide releases are also in slightly different locations which could be an issue depending on how you reload. I carried DA/SA for years and I obviously have no opposition to it, but I literally practiced to the point where decocking is an ingrained behavior. A Glock in this regard, while potentially less forgiving of trigger finger placement, is much simpler. I actually carry and use a Glock 19 as my night stand gun.
My point is they are two rather different sets of muscle memory. If you do decide to use both, make sure you are dry firing and practicing operating the controls on both pistols daily. I'm not trying to tell you how to live your life; this is a free country. Just understand that your current choice will involve a certain amount of complexity and a lot of practice.
You bring up valid concerns, and quite frankly ones that I never considered. I'll probably put my Sig P226 SAO back and leave the Sphinx for the range. I have a lot of practice with the 1911 MoA and a single trigger pull will be more inline with strikers. Those range only guns don't stick around very long in my house though.
I hear you. There are so many great guns out there. I've owned close to 80 handguns and I only have 10 or so still. There are so many that while I enjoy I don't shoot them enough to warrant keeping them or they are too different to keep commonality with my carry guns. I at least enjoyed having them. I am not sure I'll keep my Sphinx but I want to wear it out a bit more first.
Cyanide971
New member
Finally got it, initial range visit tomorrow!
Y'all weren't fibbin' about the quality and craftsmanship. Like has been said before, a P-07 on steroids. Though, I'm kinda looking at it as more of a combo of the P-01 and P-07 on them due to the construction and design.
As can be expected from a traditional DA/SA pistol, a long but very smooth 10# pull. I'll see how my DA shots and groupings are after multiple range visits before I explore the possibility of changing any springs out (if even).
But the single action is where the Sphinx really shines. A little bit of takeup, followed by what feels to be about a 4# pull, very smooth and crisp, and then that reset.... WOW!
Sphinx on left, my old P-07 Duty on the right:
Cannot wait to get to the range!
Y'all weren't fibbin' about the quality and craftsmanship. Like has been said before, a P-07 on steroids. Though, I'm kinda looking at it as more of a combo of the P-01 and P-07 on them due to the construction and design.
As can be expected from a traditional DA/SA pistol, a long but very smooth 10# pull. I'll see how my DA shots and groupings are after multiple range visits before I explore the possibility of changing any springs out (if even).
But the single action is where the Sphinx really shines. A little bit of takeup, followed by what feels to be about a 4# pull, very smooth and crisp, and then that reset.... WOW!
Sphinx on left, my old P-07 Duty on the right:
Cannot wait to get to the range!
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Do you have any Kydex holsters for your P-07? I would love to know if any of a SDP would fit in one. I want a hybrid leather/Kydex holster (king tuk/super tuck/alien gear type) for my SDP, but no one makes one. I have a Blade Tech Nano for the SDP and it's okay. Recently, I went back to carrying my Glock 19 in a Galco King Tuk and I forgot how well the holster spreads out the weight and helps to easily conceal a "bigger" pistol.
Walt Sherrill
New member
I have an AlienGear holster for the CZ P-07, and it seems to be a perfect fit for the SDP... It was about $35.00 I suspect a P-07 holster, if you go to a gunshow, will be just about right. (Take your SDP with you to be sure...)
Cheaper Than Dirt had a Safariland OWB holster for about $15 recently. I picked one up just in case. An extra holster that's just $10 and which works, is always good to have around. (I've had other Safariland holsters, but this is my first Kydex-type from them.)
-----------------
Products Ordered
Item Description Quantity Price Total
7-6378 Safariland ALS Sphinx SDP Compact Paddle Holster Right Hand Smooth STX Finish 6378-285-131-MS30 1 $9.94 $9.94
Promotions Applied $0.00
Credits Applied $0.00
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal $9.94
Shipping $4.34
Tax $0.00
Total $14.28
Cheaper Than Dirt had a Safariland OWB holster for about $15 recently. I picked one up just in case. An extra holster that's just $10 and which works, is always good to have around. (I've had other Safariland holsters, but this is my first Kydex-type from them.)
-----------------
Products Ordered
Item Description Quantity Price Total
7-6378 Safariland ALS Sphinx SDP Compact Paddle Holster Right Hand Smooth STX Finish 6378-285-131-MS30 1 $9.94 $9.94
Promotions Applied $0.00
Credits Applied $0.00
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal $9.94
Shipping $4.34
Tax $0.00
Total $14.28
Last edited:
Cyanide971
New member
[emoji31] UGH!
Well no sooner than getting to the range and starting to shoot, got some news from work about a very unexpected financial emergency and have no choice but to put my Sphinx on the market (along with my Glock and all it's stuff). Talk about a hit below the belt!
Anyway, bad news aside, didn't really have the worst day shooting. At least not until I received the aforementioned news just before firing at the 15 yard line. Here's how my limited Sphinx shooting session went:
• P.O.A. for 7 and 10 yards was the target's center.
• 15 yard P.O.A. was the blue and red boxes, respectively.
• Blue numbers denote single action fire.
• Red numbers denote double action fire, decocking the hammer before every shot.
Close-up shot:
Can't for the life of me figure out why I shoot better when slow-firing D.A., as I did the same thing with my P-07's and P-01, and I don't do half bad with my DAO CZ 100's, Sig P250, and Beretta PX4 D.
Anyway, a rather bittersweet day after being so elated to finally acquire the SDP. Y'all have a great night....
[emoji45]
Well no sooner than getting to the range and starting to shoot, got some news from work about a very unexpected financial emergency and have no choice but to put my Sphinx on the market (along with my Glock and all it's stuff). Talk about a hit below the belt!
Anyway, bad news aside, didn't really have the worst day shooting. At least not until I received the aforementioned news just before firing at the 15 yard line. Here's how my limited Sphinx shooting session went:
• P.O.A. for 7 and 10 yards was the target's center.
• 15 yard P.O.A. was the blue and red boxes, respectively.
• Blue numbers denote single action fire.
• Red numbers denote double action fire, decocking the hammer before every shot.
Close-up shot:
Can't for the life of me figure out why I shoot better when slow-firing D.A., as I did the same thing with my P-07's and P-01, and I don't do half bad with my DAO CZ 100's, Sig P250, and Beretta PX4 D.
Anyway, a rather bittersweet day after being so elated to finally acquire the SDP. Y'all have a great night....
[emoji45]
Walt Sherrill
New member
I feel your pain. I had a similar crisis some years ago, and found myself compelled to sell a P-210-6, a S&W 52-2, and a collectible Luger. It kept me out of debt when I needed to buy a good used truck...
Decocking the SDP is similar to decocking a PCR or P-01 -- it lowers the hammer, but not all the way down, so you get to start (as is intended) from a partially-cocked hammer position (arguably closer to 1/3 cocked than half-cocked.) Makes for a lighter, shorter trigger pull.
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Cyanide971
New member
Thanks Walt, definitely in a potential pickle right now, so if the Sphinx sells it'll alleviate almost all the financial stress. Fingers crossed!
My Milt Sparks VMII arrived today and it fits my Compact and my Subcompact. The subcompact is a bit short of course but it is perfectly snug and feels perfect on the belt. With a few more range sessions and the sub will be my daily carry!
I am convienced that any holster designed for the Sphinx Compact will hold the sub-compact!
I am convienced that any holster designed for the Sphinx Compact will hold the sub-compact!
Cyanide971
New member
Congrats WVsig, post some pics!