The SIG Sauer is a handgun originally designed with military use in mind. Given its popularity among law enforcement and the general public, we wanted to undertake a SIG P320 review to see what the weapon is really all about.
Our SIG P320 review takes a look at the popular handgun’s modular design that lets you change the caliber and size of the gun to meet your individual needs. This gun is large enough for home defense while being small enough for many individuals to conceal and carry.
We also looked at some of its features, such as the three-point take-down safety system that keeps the piston from breaking down when a magazine is still inserted or if the slide is locked to the rear.
This SIG P320 review will demonstrate that this is a customizable pistol that meets a variety of needs; but how does it compare to similar competitors?
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What Is the SIG P320?
The SIG Sauer P320 pistol is used by government agencies as well as sportsmen for its efficiency, adaptability and customization. The SIG Sauer P320 comes in four different sizes: Full Size, Carry, Compact and Sub Compact. For our SIG P320 review, we looked at the full-size and compact model, each chambered for 9mm cartridges. The models also come in .40 and .45 as well.
The SIG Sauer P320 is a striker-fired pistol with a polymer frame. The polymer is fiberglass-reinforced, and the full-size SIG offers a sturdy rail for accessories. The SIG system has a barrel and chamber titled downward from the slide at the time the gun is fired. The striker is cocked every time you rack the slide. The full-size SIG comes with 17-round magazines, while the compact offers 15 rounds.
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Grip and Feel
SIG’s grip options come in a variety of sizes and switching grips in the SIG P320 review was easy to do. Changing the caliber is also user-friendly with the SIG P320, as the pistol offers guaranteed modularity.
Textured panels are round on each side of the handle as well as the frontstrap and backstrap. The magazine release is reversible for right- and left-handers. All the SIG’s features are ambidextrous. The trigger guard features an upward curve with a deep undercut for a high, comfortable grip. This also helps control recoil.
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Durability and Performance
The slide is made of a high-grade stainless steel with bevels that run the length of the unit, and it features slide serrations on the front and rear. The slide has a Nitron finish to defend against corrosion. The Nitron finish involves heat treating the steel with a chemical bath in order to create a very hard oxidized surface.
A sturdy three-dot sight system sits atop the slide. Windage can be adjusted by drifting the dovetail sights. Both models of the SIG Sauer P320 consistently scored well on accuracy in a range of weather conditions. Recoil is minimal in both models, and the iron sights useful to most shooters.
Product Specs
Pricing
The manufacturer’s suggested retail price for the SIG Sauer P320, depending on the model, ranges from $597 to $679. During our SIG P320 review, we found a number of SIGs for sale around $530, and one listed near $500.
Prices of similar competitors ranged from around $450 to near $630.
How It Compares
We picked a few similar products available on the market to see how they compare.
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Glock 19 Gen5
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HK VP9
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Ruger SR 9
Sig P320
Price $$
Ease of Use [***]
The SIG Sauer P320 is comfortable in the hand with grip panels that feel like non-slip floor tape. Serrations in the slide help with gripping and pulling, but it can still be difficult for weaker shooters to pull. During SIG P320 reviews, sweaty hands also caused problems despite the serrations.
The magazine floor plate is actually a piece of the grip. Some shooters with bigger hands accidentally prevent the magazine from dropping while gripping the gun.
When using the weapon, the SIG Sauer P320 handles very well.
Design Quality [****]
The SIG Sauer P320 modular design lets you customize your gun. The handguns made in 9mm, .357 SIG, and .40 S&W calibers can be converted from one to another using a caliber exchange kit. Some switches require only a barrel change.
SIG Sauer P320 features a lightweight polymer frame with interchangeable grips. It uses contrast sights for accuracy. The front and rear sights are fixed.
Warranty [****]
The SIG Sauer comes with a limited lifetime warranty covering defects in material, workmanship and mechanical function.
Pros
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Consistent trigger
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Customizable
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Good warranty
Cons
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Expensive magazines
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Slide pull can be difficult
Glock 19 Gen5
Glock is a heralded name in the firearm industry, and the Glock 19 was already one of the best handguns on the market before the Gen 5 updates. For starters, the finger grooves were removed, making the grip a better fit for a larger number of people.
The G19 Gen 5 slide is ambidextrous. The slide-release lever is more pronounced and offers a smooth release. The finish on the barrel and slide is durable, but in extreme conditions or with sweaty hands it can be slippery. A Marksman barrel offers a recessed crown, and they have eliminated the polygonal rifling.
Price $$
Ease of Use [****]
The Glock 26 Gen 5 utilizes a dual recoil spring to absorb recoil. It features a 10-round magazine capacity.
An ambidextrous slide stop lever allows users to manipulate the slide as right- or left-handers. Further personalization is available in the customizable frame size. The Gen 5 comes with backstraps in two sizes, with and without beavertail. The customizable frame allows users to adjust the circumference of the grip for individual hand size.
Design Quality [****]
At least 20 changes improve the Glock19 Gen 5 over predecessors. Among these changes are the elimination of finger grooves, a glared mag well, ambidextrous slide stop, and a Glock marksman barrel.
The overall length of the Glock 19 is 7.28 inches including a 4.02-inch barrel. Trigger pull weight ranges from five to 6.5 pounds. With an empty magazine, the gun weighs about 24 ounces. It has a width of 1.34 inches.
Warranty [**]
Glock handguns have a one-year warranty, but Glock consistently services their guns beyond one year.
Pros
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Improved trigger from the Gen 5
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Internals from Gen 4 can be used in Gen 5
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Marksman barrel
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Good accuracy for a small gun
Cons
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Addition of the ambidextrous slide release may not work with your previous holster
HK VP9
The Heckler and Koch VP9 features a unique striker-firing system and light-pull trigger. It offers some of the best trigger quality available for striker-fired handguns. The trigger has a short, light pull with a crisp, single-action break and a clear reset.
The Heckler and Koch hammer-forged barrel of canon-grade steel ensure long life.
Price $$
Ease of Use [***]
An extended Picatinny rail is molded into the frame allowing users to add lights or other accessories they need.
A proprietary captive flat recoil spring efficiently reduces recoil when shooting and helps the shooter better control the gun. It also helps enable more rapid fire. The polygonal bore has no grooves or similar features.
The most user-friendly feature of the VP9 is the custom striker-fired system and top-of-the-line trigger.
Design Quality [****]
An ergonomic hand grip features three changeable backstraps and six side panels sure to service all hand sizes. The front of the grip has finger grooves. All VP9 controls are ambidextrous with slide releases on each side of the gun. The magazine release is placed for right- or left-handed access.
The rear slide has components on each side to offer better grip and leverage for racking the slide. They also serve shooters with less hand strength. Ten and 15-round magazines are available. A rail can support accessories up to five-and-a-half ounces.
The gun is 7.34-inches long and 5.41-inches tall. Its width measures 1.32 inches. The barrel is 4.09 inches with a sight radius of 6.38 inches. The trigger pull weight is 5.4 pounds. With an empty magazine the gun weighs 25.56 ounces.
Warranty [***]
Pros
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Customized grip system
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Top-notch trigger
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Ambidextrous options
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Unique striker-fire mechanics
Cons
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Some do not like the paddle-style magazine release
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Some do not like the unique gripping
Ruger SR 9
The Ruger SR9c is a compact pistol with a 1.27-inch-width grip; the same as its full-sized counterpart, the SR9. It includes a 10-round magazine, a finger grip extension, and an extra 17-round magazine.
The pistol has is a 3.5-inch barrel with noticeable three-dot sights. The slide is serrated for a better grip and an easy way to check the chamber. Other safety features include an ambidextrous manual safety, internal trigger bar, striker blocker, and loaded chamber indicator.
Price $
Ease of Use [***]
The SR9c handles nicely for a small gun with very little recoil. The gun gives the shooter 9mm power with very little effort on the shooter’s end. Shooters do experience a bit of muzzle climb, but it is subtle. Short distance accuracy is attainable without the need for extra optics. The gun is point-and-shoot-ready from the box, and it assembles and disassembles easily.
Design Quality [***]
With a thick grip and double-stack magazine, the firearm has been used by law enforcement and is popular among concealed carry options for the public.
The 9mm pistol has a polymer stock with a Nitride finish accomplished by heating in the presence of ammonia or other nitrogenous material to increase durability and corrosion resistance.
The gun has on overall length of 6.85 inches with a 3.5-inch barrel. The gun’s width is 1.27 inches, and it measures 4.61 inches in height. The overall weight of the gun is 23.4 ounces. It includes two 17-round removable magazines. All the gun’s sights are fixed within a three-dot scheme.
Warranty [**]
This gun comes with a one-year warranty for the original owner.
Pros
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Sights are easy to use and do not snag on clothes or holster
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Loaded chamber indicator
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Nitride finish
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Minimal recoil
Cons
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The grips are sticky enough to catch debris
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Some users report difficulty racking the slide
Conclusion: SIG P320 Review
After completing our SIG P320 review, we confidently give the SIG Sauer P320 four stars. Its incredible adaptability and customization are as good as any in the business, from calibers to sizes to grips.
A shooter never again has to worry about the width or circumference of grip with SIG’s interchangeable modules. Convertible calibers include 9mm, .357 SIG, or .40 S&W. Even the pistol sizes range for your preference from full-size all the way to subcompact.
This SIG P320 review also alerted us to the accessory rail. This is one of the most stable systems we have seen and great for lights, lasers and other needs.
Also, it should not go unnoticed that SIG went out of its way to put safety first. The Striker safety does not allow the pistol to release until the shooter pulls the trigger. SIG worked hard to make a great pistol, and they have succeeded.
