I must admit that when the SIG P320 first came out I found it rather uninspiring. Yet another striker-fired, polymer-framed 9mm pistol. The fire control unit (FCU) concept was novel, but of course there wasn’t yet much aftermarket to support the existence of it.
Fast forward to today and the P320 line of pistols has expanded tremendously (now 23 options including a stand-alone FCU) and the aftermarket community has rapidly grown with SIG’s support. I too have grown as a shooter with more trigger time, experiencing a couple hundred more firearms, and attending half a dozen or so more major shooting schools.
It’s time for a more current look at the P320. Take a look at the P320 XCompact in the tabletop video below.
The P320 XCompact puts a 3.6″ barrel on a 15-round frame, but one of a slightly different shape than the base P320. It also incorporates the flat-bade trigger from SIG’s X line.
The grip module used for the XCompact visually appears a bit odd and contrasts with the smooth lines of the regular P320 line with blocky contours. The effects of this shape ended up surprising us on the range.
We tested the pistol’s ability to run a full magazine plus one, digest ten different loads including hollow points, FMJ, TMJ, brass, steel, and plated cases, how easy it was for two shooters to learn the sights and trigger for timed shots, and performed a practical accuracy test before giving our concluding thoughts.
You can witness all of that, unedited, in the shooting impressions video below.
Aside from the un-gated slide stop causing one premature lock-open, the pistol was very easy to master as both Teya Freeman and I found ourselves not only shooting well, but enjoying the experience. I don’t know what specifically SIG did, but 3.6″-barreled pistols are fairly snappy in the hand. Also, 15-round compact frames are usually a touch short in my big hands. Not so with the XCompact.
The SIG X-Ray sights were excellent for both attracting the eye to the front sight and being subtle enough to permit precise aiming off the top edge of them.
The XCompact comes with an optics-ready slide so you can easily mount the pistol red dot of your choice.
The SIG XCompact is something of a mystery. I can’t put my finger on any one specific trait or feature that made the range experience so great, which can only mean that as a total package this pistol is simply amazing. Now that parts and kits are readily available, not only from SIG, but also from great aftermarket companies like Icarus Precision, I’m actually excited to own a P320.
There is no mechanical difference in the trigger in the X-series fire control unit and the FCU in a base P320 model. The only change is the flat-faced trigger.
The advantage of the flat trigger, though, is that by placing the finger lower on the show we gain more leverage and an effectively lighter pull weight. I’ve also noticed that from FCU to FCU, the feel isn’t always the same. That makes sense given standard manufacturing tolerances.
Our recent-production pistol and FCU feels great, however, with a very predictable break and controllable reset.
Specifications: SIG SAUER P320 XCompact Pistol
Caliber: 9mm
Trigger mechanism: Striker
Standard magazine capacity: 15
Length: 7″
Barrel length: 3.6″
Weight: 25.3oz
Price: Around $650 retail
Ratings (out of five stars):
Reliability * * * * *
With 11 different loads tested of various projectile types and weights, not one of them malfunctioned. The only issue experienced was user error when bumping the slide lock during recoil.
Ergonomics * * * * *
Goldilocks-like traction…just the right amount with a shape that fit both my XXL-glove and Teya’s M-glove hands.
Accuracy * * * * *
Mechanical accuracy that can be practically applied thanks to a predictable trigger and excellent (personal preference) sites.
Concealability * * * *
The beaver tail may print depending on carry location, holster choice and cover garment. Some may shy from carrying a traditional double stack gun, but with a 3.6″ barrel carrying the P320 XCompact is plenty comfortable.
Overall: * * * * *
I was very impressed with the shooting performance of this sized-for-versatility pistol. With the FCU concept there’s no reason to not be happy with a P320 as any other grip module, slide and barrel combination can easily be swapped out for far less hassle and expense than purchasing a complete other gun. That makes it very hard not to be happy with a P320 XCompact.