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First of all, I am not a widely experienced shooter so take this as you will. I will be adding pictures intermittently to break up the words, they will not always be relevant.
The guns I will be using for comparison throughout this thread are:
Sig Sauer P320 Full Size
Walther PPQ M2
H&K P2000 V1
Smith and Wesson M&P 9
A blurry photo featuring my three favorite handguns in my safe.
Fit and Finish
(Everything from this point on should be assumed to say "In my opinion" or "In my experience" before it.)
The P320 feels like a good service gun. It does NOT feel like a super high end safe queen. The grip is comfortable for everyone I know who has held it, from my medium glove sized hands to my buddy's XL hands. The grip texture sticks very well but I haven't tried shooting it in 105 degree heat dripping in sweat, I'll leave it as the grip is sticky to the point where it is almost but not actually abrasive. What keeps the grip from feeling as good as the others is how it feels/sounds "hollow". There is a small amount of horizontal play in the slide, less than the PPQ but more than the P2000. What I find strange is after pulling the trigger on a cocked P320 the rear of the slide actually bumps upwards a tiny bit.
The slide has my absolute favorite cocking serrations and slide angles. It is large enough to give you a nice good grip and the serrations provide the perfect amount of grip without being sharp. The angle must help somehow because it just feels great. The PPQ's tapering slide that leaves the top much thinner than the bottom just doesn't grip as well and the P2000's shallow serrations make it more slippery after sweating, neither of which is a real problem. The downside is the recoil spring insistently squeaks if I so much as think about it.
I have zero interest in changing the stock sights. I like them.
I am considering cerakoting the P320 in Magpul FDE. Photo courtesy GrumpyBiker from p250sig.com.
Trigger
Take-up:
The initial take-up is very light and unnoticeable while shooting. After that stage the weight increases to its maximum weight (for me it feels like about 6 lbs.) and stays this way until after the break. It is very predictable and consistent.
Break:
The break happens at nearly the same exact weight as the second stage of the take-up and feels smooth. During dry-fires the trigger break is audible and distinct, for live-fire the trigger break isn't even a thought due to the distracting contained explosion and consequent bullet flying out of the gun. Some guns break harshly and cause the handgun to twitch off target at the last second for me - this is not a gun that does that.
Reset:
Second best reset I have felt on a striker, after the PPQ. It is short and distinct, with the only downside being that it has the full 6 lbs. weight throughout the reset. This I will talk about later in the range report.
Summary:
It feels almost exactly like a combination of a (no grit) M&P and a PPQ. It is close to the same break and reset as the PPQ but has the consistent build up of the M&P, with a trigger weight in between the two. For me the trigger promotes accurate deliberate shots. I italicized deliberate because I think it is the best word to define it. I've seen accidental discharges from the short reset and low weight PPQ trigger, but the P320 makes sure you know when you are going to shoot and gives you time decide if you want to shoot.
Top: Walther PPQ striker assembly.
Bottom: Sig Sauer P320 striker assembly.
Recoil and Muzzle Flip
For this part I would like you to consider two things: My main handgun is a PPQ and the range I shoot only allows 1 round a second.
Muzzle flip is really not a problem for a full size 9mm P320 and neither is recoil. Since I started shooting a PPQ my grip has somehow changed to accommodate a quick muzzle flip. The P320 doesn't seem to flip all that much but I'm also not using it for competitions. Recoil was no problem at all...I don't know how else to say it. After dabbling with different loads I think I have found a reasonable comparison between the PPQ and he P320 in terms of muzzle flip. The P320 most definitely comes out favorably.
These two loads feel exactly the same (to me):
Sig P320 - Hornady FlexLock 135gr Critical Duty
Walther PPQ - handload, 115gr Berry's Preferred with 4.2gr Titegroup
The 3 standard sight pictures. Provided by pistol-training.com.
Accuracy
Here's where my credibility falls.
I did two types of shooting today and will provide targets from both. For me the handgun seemed to use sight picture 1 on the image above.
First up is slow accurate shooting. This target is what remains from 25 shots; 5 shots at 10 yards, 10 shots at 15 yards, and 10 shots at 20 yards. The indoor range I shot at does not go beyond 20 yards. The hole within the circle that has tape over it was actually from the 10 yard line...let's pretend I sneezed or something. I was very happy with how it shot when I took my time and it provided some of the best groups I've shot from 15 yards. The ones around the outside of the head are all from the 20 yard line. Overall this was the easiest gun to shoot accurately when I took my time. The P2000 was more accurate when I concentrated 100% but it is not forgiving in the least. UPDATE: I can now get 3.5" groups quite consistently with the P320 at 15 yards.Flyers are nearly non-existent at this point, the trigger really rewards smooth control. My father picked it up and put 100 rounds downrange with it, after about 50 rounds of warmup he outshot my groups. :P
Holes within the circle are my shots. Holes outside the circle belong to my father who wanted to share targets.
Second was more rapid, shots had approximately .9s splits...all at 10 yards. This is where I have the least amount of experience - and it shows. I had to concentrate pretty hard on getting the gun to shoot where I wanted but I chalk that down to inexperience. The first shots of a magazine were held pretty tightly but as it went on I started shooting all over the place. My last shots I started pulling low left to an unsatisfactory degree and I believe that was due to both mental fatigue and mental fatigue. Despite the great reset and smooth pull I am just not accustomed to the heavier weight of the trigger as opposed to the PPQ and my groups were much better with the PPQ doing this type of shooting.
Holes above the line are mine and holes below are my fathers.
Conclusion
To me there isn't really a "conclusion" to firearm reviews. The best I can tell you is that given the opportunity to buy it again, I would. Given the choices that most people are looking at right now between the P320, PPQ, and VP9 the following would be my criteria:
- Do you have good trigger control?
If the answer is no and you don't plan on improving, by all means go with something else. The trigger is good but the PPQ trigger is just plain easy.
- Do you really think the modularity is important to you?
Personally, I am going to get a .357 sig and possible a 9mm subcompact for this. I also hope someone comes out with an aluminum frame because I think it would feel amazing on there.
- How many handguns do you plan on having?
This goes in line with the modularity question. You might not want a .45 now but you might in the future and the option is there. For a one-caliber guy like me it is important that I know I can shoot .45 in the future without worrying about the roster getting rid of all the guns I'm comfortable with.
- Is gun overlap a problem?
This might be a little strange but it matters to me. I already had the PPQ but I chose the P320 over the VP9 because it seemed like the PPQ and the VP9 are so similar they overlap. The P320 offers something that neither of the others do.
First of all, I am not a widely experienced shooter so take this as you will. I will be adding pictures intermittently to break up the words, they will not always be relevant.
The guns I will be using for comparison throughout this thread are:
Sig Sauer P320 Full Size
Walther PPQ M2
H&K P2000 V1
Smith and Wesson M&P 9
A blurry photo featuring my three favorite handguns in my safe.
Fit and Finish
(Everything from this point on should be assumed to say "In my opinion" or "In my experience" before it.)
The P320 feels like a good service gun. It does NOT feel like a super high end safe queen. The grip is comfortable for everyone I know who has held it, from my medium glove sized hands to my buddy's XL hands. The grip texture sticks very well but I haven't tried shooting it in 105 degree heat dripping in sweat, I'll leave it as the grip is sticky to the point where it is almost but not actually abrasive. What keeps the grip from feeling as good as the others is how it feels/sounds "hollow". There is a small amount of horizontal play in the slide, less than the PPQ but more than the P2000. What I find strange is after pulling the trigger on a cocked P320 the rear of the slide actually bumps upwards a tiny bit.
The slide has my absolute favorite cocking serrations and slide angles. It is large enough to give you a nice good grip and the serrations provide the perfect amount of grip without being sharp. The angle must help somehow because it just feels great. The PPQ's tapering slide that leaves the top much thinner than the bottom just doesn't grip as well and the P2000's shallow serrations make it more slippery after sweating, neither of which is a real problem. The downside is the recoil spring insistently squeaks if I so much as think about it.
I have zero interest in changing the stock sights. I like them.
I am considering cerakoting the P320 in Magpul FDE. Photo courtesy GrumpyBiker from p250sig.com.
Trigger
Take-up:
The initial take-up is very light and unnoticeable while shooting. After that stage the weight increases to its maximum weight (for me it feels like about 6 lbs.) and stays this way until after the break. It is very predictable and consistent.
Break:
The break happens at nearly the same exact weight as the second stage of the take-up and feels smooth. During dry-fires the trigger break is audible and distinct, for live-fire the trigger break isn't even a thought due to the distracting contained explosion and consequent bullet flying out of the gun. Some guns break harshly and cause the handgun to twitch off target at the last second for me - this is not a gun that does that.
Reset:
Second best reset I have felt on a striker, after the PPQ. It is short and distinct, with the only downside being that it has the full 6 lbs. weight throughout the reset. This I will talk about later in the range report.
Summary:
It feels almost exactly like a combination of a (no grit) M&P and a PPQ. It is close to the same break and reset as the PPQ but has the consistent build up of the M&P, with a trigger weight in between the two. For me the trigger promotes accurate deliberate shots. I italicized deliberate because I think it is the best word to define it. I've seen accidental discharges from the short reset and low weight PPQ trigger, but the P320 makes sure you know when you are going to shoot and gives you time decide if you want to shoot.
Top: Walther PPQ striker assembly.
Bottom: Sig Sauer P320 striker assembly.
Recoil and Muzzle Flip
For this part I would like you to consider two things: My main handgun is a PPQ and the range I shoot only allows 1 round a second.
Muzzle flip is really not a problem for a full size 9mm P320 and neither is recoil. Since I started shooting a PPQ my grip has somehow changed to accommodate a quick muzzle flip. The P320 doesn't seem to flip all that much but I'm also not using it for competitions. Recoil was no problem at all...I don't know how else to say it. After dabbling with different loads I think I have found a reasonable comparison between the PPQ and he P320 in terms of muzzle flip. The P320 most definitely comes out favorably.
These two loads feel exactly the same (to me):
Sig P320 - Hornady FlexLock 135gr Critical Duty
Walther PPQ - handload, 115gr Berry's Preferred with 4.2gr Titegroup
The 3 standard sight pictures. Provided by pistol-training.com.
Accuracy
Here's where my credibility falls.
I did two types of shooting today and will provide targets from both. For me the handgun seemed to use sight picture 1 on the image above.
First up is slow accurate shooting. This target is what remains from 25 shots; 5 shots at 10 yards, 10 shots at 15 yards, and 10 shots at 20 yards. The indoor range I shot at does not go beyond 20 yards. The hole within the circle that has tape over it was actually from the 10 yard line...let's pretend I sneezed or something. I was very happy with how it shot when I took my time and it provided some of the best groups I've shot from 15 yards. The ones around the outside of the head are all from the 20 yard line. Overall this was the easiest gun to shoot accurately when I took my time. The P2000 was more accurate when I concentrated 100% but it is not forgiving in the least. UPDATE: I can now get 3.5" groups quite consistently with the P320 at 15 yards.Flyers are nearly non-existent at this point, the trigger really rewards smooth control. My father picked it up and put 100 rounds downrange with it, after about 50 rounds of warmup he outshot my groups. :P
Holes within the circle are my shots. Holes outside the circle belong to my father who wanted to share targets.
Second was more rapid, shots had approximately .9s splits...all at 10 yards. This is where I have the least amount of experience - and it shows. I had to concentrate pretty hard on getting the gun to shoot where I wanted but I chalk that down to inexperience. The first shots of a magazine were held pretty tightly but as it went on I started shooting all over the place. My last shots I started pulling low left to an unsatisfactory degree and I believe that was due to both mental fatigue and mental fatigue. Despite the great reset and smooth pull I am just not accustomed to the heavier weight of the trigger as opposed to the PPQ and my groups were much better with the PPQ doing this type of shooting.
Holes above the line are mine and holes below are my fathers.
Conclusion
To me there isn't really a "conclusion" to firearm reviews. The best I can tell you is that given the opportunity to buy it again, I would. Given the choices that most people are looking at right now between the P320, PPQ, and VP9 the following would be my criteria:
- Do you have good trigger control?
If the answer is no and you don't plan on improving, by all means go with something else. The trigger is good but the PPQ trigger is just plain easy.
- Do you really think the modularity is important to you?
Personally, I am going to get a .357 sig and possible a 9mm subcompact for this. I also hope someone comes out with an aluminum frame because I think it would feel amazing on there.
- How many handguns do you plan on having?
This goes in line with the modularity question. You might not want a .45 now but you might in the future and the option is there. For a one-caliber guy like me it is important that I know I can shoot .45 in the future without worrying about the roster getting rid of all the guns I'm comfortable with.
- Is gun overlap a problem?
This might be a little strange but it matters to me. I already had the PPQ but I chose the P320 over the VP9 because it seemed like the PPQ and the VP9 are so similar they overlap. The P320 offers something that neither of the others do.
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