Sig 320/M17

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WR Moore

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Not much of a crowd at the LGS the other day and I got to fondle one of the M17s. Fits the hand well, controls well located, but a bit minimal in size. The safety worked well as is. The slide stop has me wondering and I didn't want to try to use it. Anyone know if it really works as is? (PLEASE, sometimes you only have one hand available and I don't want to hear about "the right way" to release the slide.)

The front of the trigger guard angular, but slanted. Wonder why? If at right angles, you could brace it against a barricade. OTOH, the provision for optic mounting is a plate at the rear of the slide. The rear sight is on the plate. Apparently, if you use an optic, you lose the rear sight. That's not good. The issue optic doesn't have a rear sight feature SFAIK.

Being able to change the grip size kinda appeals to me. But at my age, the optic is a good idea, and I don't want to give up backup iron sights.
 
I have a M18, the shorter slide stable mate to the M17. Just used it in my local USPSA match and did well with it.

For me, it’s one of my favorite polymer striker guns. Modular, accurate, fits me well (especially with the Wilson combat grip module), capable of taking RDS.

Several RDS come with a rear sight or something that performs as a rough rear sight, so you have options.
 
Have both a 17 and an 18. I like them, the ergonomics fit my smallish hand well. Mine have been reliable and surprisingly accurate
 
For a while SIG was know for having slide catches that needed a second hand to operate. Look at the positioning of a 226 slide catch vs a 1911.
My 320 slide catch is in a better spot, but I find it easier to operate with the support hand. One handed, you can shift your grip and reach it depending on your hand/finger/grip size. You could also run the slide against something to cycle it one handed.
 
I could reach the slide stop OK, just not sure there was enough purchase to drop the slide. The M&P 1.0 was supposed to have a flat slide stop as a sop those who insist the only proper way to release the slide involves the "other" hand. The slide stop it was released with was an option for the LE market. NO ONE wanted the original version, those guns are collectors items.

Yeah, I know some optics come with a rear sight. That isn't the point. The optic is a supplemental sight, not the only sight.
 
I pulled my 320 out and checked. I could trip the catch with my thumb. I was also able to trip the catch with my trigger finger if I broke my grip. My 320 is set up with a Wilson combat compact grip frame and full size slide.
 
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Thanks. Usually use a digit on the "other" hand if both are available.
 
Be aware, Sig optics are not standard and changing can be problematic... I have an older P320 X-five... it can ONLY use the old original Sig optic without modifications... current optics don't fit...
 

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I don’t have an M17, but have a P320 with factory red dot and it has the rear sight mounted separately from the optic. So that’s an option of you like the M17 but want a rear sight like that.
 
SIG was a premium pistol in the 1980s. The first batch I saw was marketed under the Browning Banner. I would like a P220 or a P226.

But when they started doing Glock Clones they just seem cheap, JMHO YMMV.
 
robvious said:
Be aware, Sig optics are not standard and changing can be problematic... I have an older P320 X-five... it can ONLY use the old original Sig optic without modifications... current optics don't fit...
Click to expand...

OK, the official M17 optic is the RMR. Hummmmm. The main interest was being able to swap out the grip frame to lower overall height.
 
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As a prior 9/11-era active duty Army officer, how my branch got hoodwinked into thinking the P320 dumpster-fire was a viable service sidearm is beyond me. The modern Beretta 92 variants offered all of the features needed to update the platform without drinking the striker koolaid. The current P226 would have also been an excellent choice if you had to absolutely get away from the Beretta.
 
.455_Hunter said:
As a prior 9/11-era active duty Army officer, how my branch got hoodwinked into thinking the P320 dumpster-fire was a viable service sidearm is beyond me. The modern Beretta 92 variants offered all of the features needed to update the platform without drinking the striker koolaid. The current P226 would have also been an excellent choice if you had to absolutely get away from the Beretta.
Click to expand...

I've qualed on both the M9 and M17, and frankly perfer the M17. Easier to shoot, lighter to carry. We dodged the drop safe issue with ECP 4. There where early issues, some the gun, some the ammo. However, I don't know anyone on active duty who describes it as a dumpster fire. I'm tracking the testing issue, but I've also seen the follow on testing that the M17 went through. I've seen some issues with pistols in the field, but I've seen issues with the M9 too and frankly the M9s in the units I was in that actually carry them where worn silver.

Interestingly enough, the M9 had issues that required a redesign of the pistol (enlarged hammer pin), ammo issues, a second competition(M10), a GAO investigation and a lawsuit. That sounds more like a dumpster fire then the M17.

I own a Berretta 92, SIG 226, SIG 228,SIG 239, Glock, 1911 and several 320 PROs, plus S&W and a Ruger revolver. They have all served as duty pistols in the last century, all are decent, all have their pluses and minuses.
 
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