Tweet
I wrote this review after picking up the Sphinx and spending about 2hrs/100rounds with it. It will be primarily compared against my German Sig P6, which I have gotten to know quite well through club matches. Also, I believe my comparisons between the SDP and P6 will transfer to the P229. Word of warning, Sig was my first pistol, so I am definitely biased towards it. And I'm not a good shooter either.
Handling Impressions
Slide
I picked up the Sphinx SDP and went straight to the range after adding some lube to the rails. I noticed it is a very tight fit when only a small amount of lube would stay. While the gun does not rattle, there are minute side-to-side movements in the slide-to-frame fit that is similar in magnitude to my Sig P6. While both the Sig and the Sphinx utilizes a tilting barrel that locks on the slide, the racking motion feels smoother on the Sig than on the Sphinx; one can feel two distinct stages with the Sphinx. Another thing to note is that because of the frame over slide design, there is less purchase on the slide for racking. I have fairly good finger strength and have no trouble, but both female testers found it nearly impossible to rack the slide. Sphinx/Kriss should consider adding charging support ala VP9, and having a straight edged rear sight to assist in one-handed clearing drills.
Field stripping is typical Browning style where you slightly pull the slide back, line up the lines between the slide and frame, remove the slide release, and pull the slide off. I definitely prefer the Sig field strip method. However, the Sphinx's captured recoil spring is a nice touch.
Frame
Unlike the Beretta/HK/CZ P07, the Sphinx decocker does not slam the hammer down on either the firing pin block or the half notch intercept. Like the Sig, the decocker allows you to "gently" lower the hammer. I use quotes because the Sphinx decocker is closer to that of the SP2022 than of a classic P series; the hammer is lowered with some vigour because of the strong spring and diminished leverage. Speaking of leverage, the Sphinx decocker has less leverage than the Sig due to placement, throw, and the small shelf. I found it very difficult to decock with one finger, and instead decock with both my thumb and trigger finger grasping the lever on both sides. Again, both female testers found it extremely difficult to decock. Overall, I prefer the Sig decocker.
It is possible to manually cock the hammer from the decocked position (half notch intercept), but it is somewhat difficult for me. One of the reason I like DA/SA with exposed hammer (in contrast to something like the P99AS) is the ability for me to go into SA for the first shot if necessary (e.g., weird stage where your first shot is a headshot at 15yd). And I'll look forward to Sphinx/Kriss releasing a full hammer like that found on the CZ P07.
Slide release is located in the same place as a 1911/BHP because of the heritage. As a Sig man, I found that it somewhat slower to have to use my support hand thumb to drop the slide rather than resting my shooting hand thumb on the lever and dropping it right when I seated the magazine. However, I'm sure 1911 shooters find it disconcerting that their thumb high grip will ride the slide release on the Sig. I'm sure this is just a manual of arms issue that can be overcome with training. The lever itself does not have a lot of leverage, and while I have trouble actuating it quickly, both females have to resort to the sling shot method to release the slide.
The grip is very comfortable. I'm 5ft10in, 200lbs, and the medium grips fill my hand quite well. The beaver tail is very comfortable but extraneous in my opinion like the P229 elite. Slide/hammer bite is not a danger on this gun and that beaver tail just adds another printing factor. I would love to see Sphinx/Kriss offer a version without the beaver tail. In addition, the frame over slide design means plenty of places for the support hand thumb in a thumbs forward grip. This gives a much more comfortable grip than the Sig.
Shooting Impressions
The Sphinx rear sights have a wider channel than the Sig or Glock17, meaning there is ample light between the rear notch and front post. I personally don't like this as I find I shoot best with only a sliver of light. Also, I love the "bar-dot" sight found on the old Sigs, and would love to see those on the Sphinx as well. If all else fails, I suppose I can mill a vertical channel and fill it with paint.
My particular Sphinx shoots low and requires a "cover the target" hold similar to a Sig. For an NRA bullseye target placed at 5yd, aiming at the 12 o'clock of the black put the hits dead centre with my 147gr handloads; 115gr Winchester white box hits even lower. So for those of you who are used to the 6 o'clock hold, be aware. I'm sure different height front/rear sights can be had to give you a hold you like. It would be very nice if the factory included a lower front sights that would give a 6 o'clock hold for those that prefer that sight picture.
The Sphinx DA trigger is heavy. While it wasn't Sig smooth out of the box, it has gotten much better after this quick range session, and I expect it to wear well. If all else fails, try dry firing while putting forward pressure on the hammer to accelerate the wear. With my P6, I found myself throwing the DA shot almost a foot low because of the heavy spring makes me pull the nose low. After I swapped out the mainspring to that from a P225, the DA pull was a joy and I stopped shooting low. I found myself throwing shots low on the Sphinx when I'm not concentrating, and am looking forward to seeing Sphinx/Kriss releasing a lighter mainspring.
The Sphinx SA trigger is best described as a rolling trigger. There is a long takeup as with any DA/SA design before you get to a well defined "wall". There is some creep in the trigger, but only if you are consciously trying to feel it. If you're shooting fast or under stress, you won't feel it at all. Kind of like how I hate the Glock's bumpy and long trigger when shooting bullseye, but don't notice it when shooting fast. My Sig exhibits the same small amount of "creep" in SA. Overall, I would call these triggers a "rolling trigger" rather than a "glass rod" 1911 trigger. Having shot both, I prefer a rolling trigger when shooting fast because it forces me to press the trigger smoothly rather than "I want the shot....NOW!" that leads to a jerk.
As mentioned before, I notice I was throwing DA shots low when I'm rushing. When I'm concentrating, the gun hits fine. At the beginning, my shots were stringing vertically. I blame this on an unfamiliar recoil pattern and not timing my next shot correctly. All the shooting showcased here is done at the 5yds line on an NRA bullseye target, ammunition is handloaded 147gr Xtreme plated FMJ, with 3.2gr of Red Dot, and a CCI primer. As an aside, the lane I'm on is quite dark, and the 115gr has noticeably more muzzle flash and blast than my 147gr. The recoil impulse also feels softer with the 147gr. As I get more experience, things got a bit better. Despite my misgivings about having a wide rear sight channel, I did not experience much lateral dispersion.
Sphinx Run1, target middle bottom
Sphinx Run2, target top left
As comparison, I did a string with a buddy's Glock17. Same target at 5yds but with Winchester 115gr this time. I was surprised with the recoil in the first shot and hesitated a bit before adapting. I can honestly say there is more recoil this time around, though I can't say how much is attributed to the gun vs. the ammo. Another thing of note is that the extra sight radius and thinner rear sight channel makes the Glock17 easier to shoot accurate.
Glock17, target bottom right
While it maybe difficult to see in the video, I don't ride the trigger reset. I release the trigger way past reset and then prepping it for the next shot. So to me, a short reset doesn't do much. The reset on the SDP feels average, but what makes it special is the strong trigger return spring. It propels my finger forward and in my opinion, is conducive to shooting fast. Since I don't care about reset, the stronger trigger return spring makes me give the edge to the Sphinx over the Sig.
Final Thoughts
I like the gun and consider it a good buy. My Glock17 buddy likes it as well. I don't think you can go wrong with using this as your last SSE slot. However, I'm not sure the extra premium over the SP01/P07 is worth it to everyone. To me, the Swiss mystique is a good reason (yes, I drank the kool-aid by the gallon), and as an engineer, I genuinely appreciate the mechanical beauty of a well tuned state machine. I also realize that not everyone will consider those features as money well spent. I've never shot a CZ SP01 or P07, but would advise prospective buyers to rent one of those first and make your own conclusions.
In comparison to the Sig, I would say things are a wash. I like the ergo on the Sig better, but the lighter weight and smaller form-factor of the Sphinx is nice in the post-Peruta world. Even though the Sig is not ambi, I've shot it left handed in IDPA with no problem; it really can be overcome with training. The bigger consideration would be whether you can manipulate the firearm. As previously mentioned, both female had trouble manipulating the Sphinx, and I would not recommend it as a defensive choice for them. If you plan on using this as your home defense firearm, I would make sure everyone can manipulate the firearm before making the purchase.
Potential improvements/options:
1) Add charging support ears ala VP9
2) Rear Sight with perpendicular leading edge for one-handed manipulation
3) Bar-Dot sight setup with a narrower rear sight channel
4) Include additional front sight from factory that would give a 6o'clock hold sight picture
5) Full hammer like that found on CZ P07
6) Remove beaver tail
7) Lighter hammer spring
To CGN:
Handling Impressions
Slide
I picked up the Sphinx SDP and went straight to the range after adding some lube to the rails. I noticed it is a very tight fit when only a small amount of lube would stay. While the gun does not rattle, there are minute side-to-side movements in the slide-to-frame fit that is similar in magnitude to my Sig P6. While both the Sig and the Sphinx utilizes a tilting barrel that locks on the slide, the racking motion feels smoother on the Sig than on the Sphinx; one can feel two distinct stages with the Sphinx. Another thing to note is that because of the frame over slide design, there is less purchase on the slide for racking. I have fairly good finger strength and have no trouble, but both female testers found it nearly impossible to rack the slide. Sphinx/Kriss should consider adding charging support ala VP9, and having a straight edged rear sight to assist in one-handed clearing drills.
Field stripping is typical Browning style where you slightly pull the slide back, line up the lines between the slide and frame, remove the slide release, and pull the slide off. I definitely prefer the Sig field strip method. However, the Sphinx's captured recoil spring is a nice touch.
Frame
Unlike the Beretta/HK/CZ P07, the Sphinx decocker does not slam the hammer down on either the firing pin block or the half notch intercept. Like the Sig, the decocker allows you to "gently" lower the hammer. I use quotes because the Sphinx decocker is closer to that of the SP2022 than of a classic P series; the hammer is lowered with some vigour because of the strong spring and diminished leverage. Speaking of leverage, the Sphinx decocker has less leverage than the Sig due to placement, throw, and the small shelf. I found it very difficult to decock with one finger, and instead decock with both my thumb and trigger finger grasping the lever on both sides. Again, both female testers found it extremely difficult to decock. Overall, I prefer the Sig decocker.
It is possible to manually cock the hammer from the decocked position (half notch intercept), but it is somewhat difficult for me. One of the reason I like DA/SA with exposed hammer (in contrast to something like the P99AS) is the ability for me to go into SA for the first shot if necessary (e.g., weird stage where your first shot is a headshot at 15yd). And I'll look forward to Sphinx/Kriss releasing a full hammer like that found on the CZ P07.
Slide release is located in the same place as a 1911/BHP because of the heritage. As a Sig man, I found that it somewhat slower to have to use my support hand thumb to drop the slide rather than resting my shooting hand thumb on the lever and dropping it right when I seated the magazine. However, I'm sure 1911 shooters find it disconcerting that their thumb high grip will ride the slide release on the Sig. I'm sure this is just a manual of arms issue that can be overcome with training. The lever itself does not have a lot of leverage, and while I have trouble actuating it quickly, both females have to resort to the sling shot method to release the slide.
The grip is very comfortable. I'm 5ft10in, 200lbs, and the medium grips fill my hand quite well. The beaver tail is very comfortable but extraneous in my opinion like the P229 elite. Slide/hammer bite is not a danger on this gun and that beaver tail just adds another printing factor. I would love to see Sphinx/Kriss offer a version without the beaver tail. In addition, the frame over slide design means plenty of places for the support hand thumb in a thumbs forward grip. This gives a much more comfortable grip than the Sig.
Shooting Impressions
The Sphinx rear sights have a wider channel than the Sig or Glock17, meaning there is ample light between the rear notch and front post. I personally don't like this as I find I shoot best with only a sliver of light. Also, I love the "bar-dot" sight found on the old Sigs, and would love to see those on the Sphinx as well. If all else fails, I suppose I can mill a vertical channel and fill it with paint.
My particular Sphinx shoots low and requires a "cover the target" hold similar to a Sig. For an NRA bullseye target placed at 5yd, aiming at the 12 o'clock of the black put the hits dead centre with my 147gr handloads; 115gr Winchester white box hits even lower. So for those of you who are used to the 6 o'clock hold, be aware. I'm sure different height front/rear sights can be had to give you a hold you like. It would be very nice if the factory included a lower front sights that would give a 6 o'clock hold for those that prefer that sight picture.
The Sphinx DA trigger is heavy. While it wasn't Sig smooth out of the box, it has gotten much better after this quick range session, and I expect it to wear well. If all else fails, try dry firing while putting forward pressure on the hammer to accelerate the wear. With my P6, I found myself throwing the DA shot almost a foot low because of the heavy spring makes me pull the nose low. After I swapped out the mainspring to that from a P225, the DA pull was a joy and I stopped shooting low. I found myself throwing shots low on the Sphinx when I'm not concentrating, and am looking forward to seeing Sphinx/Kriss releasing a lighter mainspring.
The Sphinx SA trigger is best described as a rolling trigger. There is a long takeup as with any DA/SA design before you get to a well defined "wall". There is some creep in the trigger, but only if you are consciously trying to feel it. If you're shooting fast or under stress, you won't feel it at all. Kind of like how I hate the Glock's bumpy and long trigger when shooting bullseye, but don't notice it when shooting fast. My Sig exhibits the same small amount of "creep" in SA. Overall, I would call these triggers a "rolling trigger" rather than a "glass rod" 1911 trigger. Having shot both, I prefer a rolling trigger when shooting fast because it forces me to press the trigger smoothly rather than "I want the shot....NOW!" that leads to a jerk.
As mentioned before, I notice I was throwing DA shots low when I'm rushing. When I'm concentrating, the gun hits fine. At the beginning, my shots were stringing vertically. I blame this on an unfamiliar recoil pattern and not timing my next shot correctly. All the shooting showcased here is done at the 5yds line on an NRA bullseye target, ammunition is handloaded 147gr Xtreme plated FMJ, with 3.2gr of Red Dot, and a CCI primer. As an aside, the lane I'm on is quite dark, and the 115gr has noticeably more muzzle flash and blast than my 147gr. The recoil impulse also feels softer with the 147gr. As I get more experience, things got a bit better. Despite my misgivings about having a wide rear sight channel, I did not experience much lateral dispersion.
Sphinx Run1, target middle bottom
Sphinx Run2, target top left
As comparison, I did a string with a buddy's Glock17. Same target at 5yds but with Winchester 115gr this time. I was surprised with the recoil in the first shot and hesitated a bit before adapting. I can honestly say there is more recoil this time around, though I can't say how much is attributed to the gun vs. the ammo. Another thing of note is that the extra sight radius and thinner rear sight channel makes the Glock17 easier to shoot accurate.
Glock17, target bottom right
While it maybe difficult to see in the video, I don't ride the trigger reset. I release the trigger way past reset and then prepping it for the next shot. So to me, a short reset doesn't do much. The reset on the SDP feels average, but what makes it special is the strong trigger return spring. It propels my finger forward and in my opinion, is conducive to shooting fast. Since I don't care about reset, the stronger trigger return spring makes me give the edge to the Sphinx over the Sig.
Final Thoughts
I like the gun and consider it a good buy. My Glock17 buddy likes it as well. I don't think you can go wrong with using this as your last SSE slot. However, I'm not sure the extra premium over the SP01/P07 is worth it to everyone. To me, the Swiss mystique is a good reason (yes, I drank the kool-aid by the gallon), and as an engineer, I genuinely appreciate the mechanical beauty of a well tuned state machine. I also realize that not everyone will consider those features as money well spent. I've never shot a CZ SP01 or P07, but would advise prospective buyers to rent one of those first and make your own conclusions.
In comparison to the Sig, I would say things are a wash. I like the ergo on the Sig better, but the lighter weight and smaller form-factor of the Sphinx is nice in the post-Peruta world. Even though the Sig is not ambi, I've shot it left handed in IDPA with no problem; it really can be overcome with training. The bigger consideration would be whether you can manipulate the firearm. As previously mentioned, both female had trouble manipulating the Sphinx, and I would not recommend it as a defensive choice for them. If you plan on using this as your home defense firearm, I would make sure everyone can manipulate the firearm before making the purchase.
Potential improvements/options:
1) Add charging support ears ala VP9
2) Rear Sight with perpendicular leading edge for one-handed manipulation
3) Bar-Dot sight setup with a narrower rear sight channel
4) Include additional front sight from factory that would give a 6o'clock hold sight picture
5) Full hammer like that found on CZ P07
6) Remove beaver tail
7) Lighter hammer spring
To CGN:
- Feel free to comment on my shooting. I can always use pointers.
- Can someone run the videos thru a shot counter to get split times? I'm curious how I did.
Comment