Sphinx Sub-Compact warning... Maybe too tight.
- Thread starter WVsig
- Start date
I just picked up a Sphinx compact alpha from buds gun shop in Lexington over the weekend. I'm extremely impressed. I got it for a decent $899 which puts it at a cheaper price than my Sig P226 SAO. Comparing the two I found the Sig to shoot softer but the SA trigger in the Sphinx was better. Overall I think the Sphinx is my current favorite. I'm very interested now in the subcompact as the compact tends to print fairly easily. The rubberized grip tends to cling to your shirt when you stand up so you gotta be a little careful to pull your shirt down as you stand up. It looks like the sub doesn't have that kind of grip material on it.
Walt Sherrill
New member
For those who aren't familiar with both the old and new Sphinx compacts, here are photos. (The top one was sold a couple of years ago.)
The top one, mag inserted, is a "safety"-equipped model AT 2000P
The bottom one, mag missing, is the decocker-equipped SDP.
Added as an afterthought: In comparing the two guns, the SDP does look a bit more blocky (and less svelte than the older model), but some of that is due to the fact that the SDP has a full-length dust cover and an accessory rail, features that the original Sphinx compacts did not have. The rest of the SDP has curves in many of the same places that the older Sphinx guns, especially in the grip and beavertail
I didn't have both at the same time, so comparisons are difficult, but both shot very well, and the newer SDP, with adjustable grip inserts is likely to fit more shooters than the AT 2000P. Both had great triggers, out of the box; the SDP trigger was MUCH heavier, but just as smooth. (The smoothness makes it feel lighter than it is!) My trigger pull measurements using the CZ compact 17 lb hammer spring in the SDP (but with a new, but spring-loaded trigger scale) are almost the same as those WVsig got with his SDP, with the CGW Spring kit installed. (As noted above, I have the CGW kit but just haven't installed it yet.)
I would prefer an SDP with safety, and may eventually get one -- just have to decide what I want to sell or trade -- a number of my guns aren't getting shot, and I see no reason to have even MORE gun safe queens.
Sphinx, in making changes to the design of the new SDP incorporated the SIG lockup design, (as did CZs with the CZ-40B, CZ-97B, and the P-07/P-09) The end of the barrel locks against a base area in the slide near the front of the ejection port, rather than the linking up using the more-traditional barrel lugs on top of the barrel. Unlike SIG and CZ (which have an OPEN underlug), the Sphinx retains the closed kidney-shaped underlug on the barrel.
I have only one SIG on hand now -- a Gray Guns-tuned P-228r -- so can't do a comparison of SDP vs. SIG trigger pulls or weights. That said, I've never been all that impressed with most SIG triggers, and I've had a bunch of SIGs. The P-228r had about $300 worth of Gray Guns trigger work done to it before I bought it, and has the short reset trigger. It might be like comparing two different fruits, both quite delicious and certainly not a meaningful comparison for this discussion.
The picture below is a SIG P-226 X Five I traded away last year. We didn't get along -- but others didn't have a problem with it. It's a gorgeous gun, but sort of "blocky", too. Mine (which apparently wasn't typical of the breed) was badly oversprung from the factory, and replacement springs from SIG didn't help much. You can't just use standard P-226 springs, so Wolff Springs wasn't an option. I traded it for several guns and cash.
The fullsize 3000 series Sphinx uses the same two-part frame design as the SDP, and is also "blocky" -- but quite attractive. (This is NOT my gun, and the image is from Sphinx...) I was told I could get one to evaluate if I wanted (by my KRISS rep) but declined. (While "too many guns" is probably an oxymoronic term, I've got more handguns than I can shoot, now, and I like most of what I have -- and that means I don't want to sell or trade. And since I'm now retired, a 3000 Sphinx would upset my balance or my budget.)
Here's another shot of an older, competition version of the 3000 Sphinx. Still with a two-part frame, but the grip section is different. I'd say that blocky or not, it's also gorgeous.
The top one, mag inserted, is a "safety"-equipped model AT 2000P
The bottom one, mag missing, is the decocker-equipped SDP.
Added as an afterthought: In comparing the two guns, the SDP does look a bit more blocky (and less svelte than the older model), but some of that is due to the fact that the SDP has a full-length dust cover and an accessory rail, features that the original Sphinx compacts did not have. The rest of the SDP has curves in many of the same places that the older Sphinx guns, especially in the grip and beavertail
I didn't have both at the same time, so comparisons are difficult, but both shot very well, and the newer SDP, with adjustable grip inserts is likely to fit more shooters than the AT 2000P. Both had great triggers, out of the box; the SDP trigger was MUCH heavier, but just as smooth. (The smoothness makes it feel lighter than it is!) My trigger pull measurements using the CZ compact 17 lb hammer spring in the SDP (but with a new, but spring-loaded trigger scale) are almost the same as those WVsig got with his SDP, with the CGW Spring kit installed. (As noted above, I have the CGW kit but just haven't installed it yet.)
I would prefer an SDP with safety, and may eventually get one -- just have to decide what I want to sell or trade -- a number of my guns aren't getting shot, and I see no reason to have even MORE gun safe queens.
Sphinx, in making changes to the design of the new SDP incorporated the SIG lockup design, (as did CZs with the CZ-40B, CZ-97B, and the P-07/P-09) The end of the barrel locks against a base area in the slide near the front of the ejection port, rather than the linking up using the more-traditional barrel lugs on top of the barrel. Unlike SIG and CZ (which have an OPEN underlug), the Sphinx retains the closed kidney-shaped underlug on the barrel.
I have only one SIG on hand now -- a Gray Guns-tuned P-228r -- so can't do a comparison of SDP vs. SIG trigger pulls or weights. That said, I've never been all that impressed with most SIG triggers, and I've had a bunch of SIGs. The P-228r had about $300 worth of Gray Guns trigger work done to it before I bought it, and has the short reset trigger. It might be like comparing two different fruits, both quite delicious and certainly not a meaningful comparison for this discussion.
The picture below is a SIG P-226 X Five I traded away last year. We didn't get along -- but others didn't have a problem with it. It's a gorgeous gun, but sort of "blocky", too. Mine (which apparently wasn't typical of the breed) was badly oversprung from the factory, and replacement springs from SIG didn't help much. You can't just use standard P-226 springs, so Wolff Springs wasn't an option. I traded it for several guns and cash.
The fullsize 3000 series Sphinx uses the same two-part frame design as the SDP, and is also "blocky" -- but quite attractive. (This is NOT my gun, and the image is from Sphinx...) I was told I could get one to evaluate if I wanted (by my KRISS rep) but declined. (While "too many guns" is probably an oxymoronic term, I've got more handguns than I can shoot, now, and I like most of what I have -- and that means I don't want to sell or trade. And since I'm now retired, a 3000 Sphinx would upset my balance or my budget.)
Here's another shot of an older, competition version of the 3000 Sphinx. Still with a two-part frame, but the grip section is different. I'd say that blocky or not, it's also gorgeous.
Last edited:
Walt Sherrill
New member
Yotecallr said:
Sorry. I missed your question earlier.
It's the B&J P500 Universal sight tool... I got mine at Brownells. It is now $129, but was a bit cheaper when I bought mine about 10 years ago. (I have a C&R FFL and you get dealer discounts on most products, at Brownells -- MidwayUSA, too.)
I think they have a new model, as well, that has an extra restraining assembly across the top to hold things more securely.
http://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-tools-supplies/sight-scope-installation-tools/sight-movers/p500-universal-sight-tool-prod17840.aspx