Sphinx SDP range report

W

Worc

New member
Got out this past weekend and went through 1,000 rounds total. The Sphinx had 400 rounds and the other 600 were divided up among four other models. I took my son and nephew along and they each put 150 rounds through five different 9mm's each and I shot the 700 rounds. Today I went through another 350 rounds total among the five 9mm's.

All 470 rounds cycled perfectly through the SDP (and the others). Like the other SDP's I have shot, mine has low recoil and muzzle rise. I'd put it right between my Steyr L9-A1 and HK P-30. Accuracy wise was very good to say the least. Hard to tell if it's as exceptional as my Sig 226 and Walther PPQ. The boys loaded the magazines before we went to the range and had mixed all my hand loads into a big pile. I think we did pretty decent at keeping most of the same ones in a magazine but likely had some mixed. I'd say that they all shot pretty similar which was well above average. I shot all my targets from 10 yards to 25 yards at a good cadence, no slow fire. Some fast fire and double taps mixed in.

I spent some time working the action by hand and releasing the slide by the slide stop/release button because it was so tight out of the box. I would guess several hundred cycles and about half as many dry fires. The pull feels like it may have lightened up a little with the dry firing and range time. I'll put the scale to it in a few days to see if it really did change any.

Both the boys really like the feel of the Sphinx except they both thought it weighed a little too much compared to some of my other models. My son being a lefty had no issues.

One nice thing was I ended up with an additional 250 + pieces of brass over what I had.

Went through about a dozen a half of targets.


The box of fun with the Sphinx and it's range mates.
 
I just threw the targets down in a pile. It looks like these are the 10 and 15 yard distance ones.
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Even still good shooting! :cool:

As time goes by I think this will be the gun on my list I always think about but never close on :(. I just wish the price was a bit lower. I think it's worth what they're asking now, but I just can't drop all that on a pistol right now wen I have so many that work great. Maybe in the summer when finances loosen up again.
 
Even still good shooting!

As time goes by I think this will be the gun on my list I always think about but never close on . I just wish the price was a bit lower. I think it's worth what they're asking now, but I just can't drop all that on a pistol right now wen I have so many that work great. Maybe in the summer when finances loosen up again.
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Ya thanks. I was pretty happy with how the SDP shot along with the others. I'll do some slower shooting to see how it compares to the others as well.

The pricing seems to have leveled off recently. When they first came out it took over a grand to buy one. I think with their pricing now more will pick them up and as the word get out more you may see prices creep back up some. I consider the Sphinx SDP a direct competitor to the Sig P series and should be priced accordingly to insure healthy sales. I don't anticipate the SDP replacing my 226 but it's a nice addition.
 
Worc
How do you compare your Sphinx SDP to the Steyr L9...
Been looking at both, but a big spread in $$s... Your thoughts?
 
I like both the Sphinx SDP and the Steyr L9-A1. They are more different than they are alike. Here's my take though.

Similarities: Both have very thin slides with fore and aft serrations. They are harder to rack the slides as they feel sprung fairly heavy. Triggers are both very good that break very clean without creep or over travel. Both have very comfortable grips and control layouts. Both have rails for mounting accessories. Both have 15 round flush magazines (9mm) and reversible push bottom mag buttons. Both have a top heavy/muzzle heavy balance point which helps reduce muzzle flip/recoil. Both of their slide are pretty flat on top and have steel sights.

Differences: The SDP is a hammer fired SA/DA with decocker where the L9-A1 is striker fired. The L9 has almost no trigger take up where the SDP has quite a bit. The reset on the SDP is decent length wise, has some take up, and is fairly tactile. The L 9's is quite short, no take up, and is not real tactile. The SDP's trigger is machined metal and the L9's is polymer and has the trigger safety. the L9 has a 4.5" and the SDP is 3.7". The L9 has a very low bore axis height and the SDP's is about mid height. The SDP has a front dot sight with a blacked out back. The L9 has the trapezoidal sights. The SDP has three different size grip inserts that cover the sides and back straps. The L9 has no adjustability. Take down on the SDP is a little more involved and you need to remove the slide lock lever. The L9 just need to press in a little plunger and pivot out the take down lever. The SDP has a smaller squared off trigger guard while the L9 is a larger semi square/round one. The frame of the L9 is polymer and only the lower half of the SDP is polymer. The SDP has full length slides and the L9 has four pads. The rails and trigger group pull out of the frame of the L9 similar to a Sig 250. The SDP has a grip angle similar to a Sig 226 and the Steyr is more like a Glock's. The SDP has a beaver tail and the L9 back has an angle equal to it's grip.The L9 has a little longer grip length. While the L9 is a bigger gun, it's lighter in weight than the SDP. The SDP costs about $300.00-$350.00 more than the L9.

So far I shoot both about as accurately as the other at any distance or speed. Recoil/muzzle flip is very close and both have been perfect reliability wise with any load used. Both make very range, duty, and/or night stand choices. Neither would be my top pick for CC use but are doable. They are also both a little different from the norm which add a little spice.

Let me know if you have any other questions or if you think I missed something.

Here's a photo with the guns out of the case.
 
Thanks for the write-up/comparison, great detail, appreciate it... Also, great collection!!
Have a bunch of SIGs, familiar there... been looking for another 'poly' and been considering the Sig P320, Sphinx, HK-P2000.
Never seen/held/shot a Steyr but have heard some good things. Right now, leaning toward the P320.
Thanks again.
 
Sure thing UZO. One thing I forgot to mention is that the RSA's guide rod on the SDP is metal and the L9's is polymer.

I encourage anyone looking at a striker fired gun to consider the Steyr's. They have great trigger characteristics and may be the best polymer striker trigger in terms of lack of take up, clean break, and pull weight. Their trigger safety is unlike most as it does not pivot but, rather is more of a plunger motion (straight). They are very accurate and don't have that cookie cutter look.

The Sphinx is a great choice if you want something with a lot of quality. It's pretty much all machined and it has a very solid feel to it. It too is unique in looks as well as some of its use of materials and overall design. It's a model that has a good trigger, ergonomics, and accuracy.
 
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