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The 2011 Bargain Bag: The Best 2011 Pistols Under $2000

August 13, 2026blog, pistols1911, 2011, 9mm, bersa, cx, double stack, DS, m2xi, mac9 DS, p211 GTO, prodigy, sig sauer, staccato, tisas, XCcoldboremiracle

Buying a 2011?

There are unprecedented options for American handgun enthusiasts these days, and one of the more popular genres is the 2011 pistol market. 2011 is actually a trademarked name owned by Staccato who played no small part in making the double stack 1911 design. But like Jet-Skis and Kleenex, the name 2011 has become a universal label for the product and others like it.

Getting into a 2011 pistol can be expensive, especially if it’s an actual 2011. But today I wanted to share with you a few of my preferred and procured 2011 options that I can strongly recommend. I’ve had a few of them now, and thought I would share some insight on what you might choose if you are debating the options.

Made in America

It may seem like heresy to many 1911 fans out there, just putting a 9mm barrel into John M. Browning’s masterpiece. Not unlike putting a Toyota dual overhead cam inline-turbo-six into a 69 Camaro. But lets get right past the nonsense, and get into the guns.

You’ll find a bunch of great 2011 options made in America, but not many of them are going to come in under the $2000 mark. Many of them are well over that price-point, but there are reasons for it. I have a Staccato XC that I will often compare these other 2011 pistols to, but it is nowhere near the same price. If you are curious about the Staccato you can read my review of it here.

There are a couple options like the Kimber 2k11 series of pistols, as well as the Sig Sauer P211 GTO that I intend to review individually here soon. Though they are a bit over our $2,000 price point as well. The intro-level Platypus pistol from Stealth Arms would fall into our sub $2000 price range, and I fully intend on getting hands on one of those as well.

sig sauer, p211, gto, combat, 9mm, surefire, x300, fde, — the Sig Sauer P211 GTO Combat

The Springfield Armory DS Prodigy

The SA Prodigy comes from a big name manufacturer, and has all the features 2011 fans are after. And it comes in well under the $2000 mark at around $1600. The Prodigy uses the polymer grip frame mated to a steel frame, this is pretty common among 2011’s. It has ambidextrous safety levers, and feeds beautifully from its 17 or 20-round magazines.

Springfield Armory, prodigy, DS prodigy, 2011, 9mm, steiner, mps, red dot, surefire, x300, vampire, flying brass,

In my experience with the Prodigy, it is a smooth, well-built pistol. Its five-inch heavy match grade barrel is cut for a compensator that vents upward through the top of the slide. This helps keep it on target between shots. It also has a full length dust cover, which incorporated a picatinny accessory rail. It uses a two-piece guide rod assembled with an Allen wrench.

Springfield Armory, prodigy, DS prodigy, 2011, 9mm, steiner, mps, red dot, surefire, x300, vampire, safariland, holster, gun belt, drawing 2011 pistol from a gun belt holster, — the Prodigy fits perfectly into my 2011 holsters from Safariland, seen here also with a **Steiner MPS red dot** and the **Surefire X300V-B Vampire**

The Prodigy is a great balance of performance and value. It feels great and shoots just as well. With its slide cut for optics, it is ready to accessorize using the SA AOS plates and hit the range hard. If you’d like to see my in depth review of the Prodigy, you can read it here. This one has had zero updates from the factory, and is still going strong after the first thousand rounds.

Bersa M2Xi

You might not think of Bersa when you think of domestic manufactured 2011 pistols. But since opening their Georgia plant, Bersa has been making many new things. The Bersa M2Xi is a 5-inch ultra-match heavy-barreled 2011, with a 416 stainless frame and slide. It has a smooth glide on the frame that feels amazing. The Bersa is operated by a spring over a two-piece guide rod.

Its deep slide cuts give great purchase, and its controls are crisp and clean. The M2Xi uses a Holosun K optics footprint as well as some serrated iron sights. The flat trigger breaks nicely at just under 3 lbs, and it comes with an extended slide release that I really like.

It comes with 18-round Mec-Gar magazines that are seated neatly with the flared mawell. And as the only 2011 listed here today without a compensator it still shoots very nice, though it could shoot flatter with one. With its MSRP of $1479, the M2Xi sits neatly in the middle of our pistol lineup today. You can read my complete review of the Bersa M2Xi here.

Bersa, M2xi, 9mm, pistol, 2011, 1911, Bersa USA, holosun SCS carry, red dot, surefire X300, the completely disassembled Bersa m2xi laid out on cleaning bench,

Imported 2011’s

Many of the options for 2011 pistols getting closer to the $1000 mark are going to be imported. Not surprisingly they come from Turkey. There are many models from the Tisas brand that look nice, the Duty 9 DS Comp model very closely mimics the Prodigy’s design, and comes in a good $500 cheaper.

the Tisas Duty 9 DS Comp is very affordable, though I’ve yet to shoot it

The Military Armament Corp MAC 9 is another pistol, nearly identical to the Tisas that appears to come out of the same factory. For not even $100 more. Both of them seem to enjoy some pretty positive following from American shooting enthusiasts. I am still trying to get my hands on both of those to see how they stack up to what I know.

the **Military Armament Corp MAC 9 DS** is another cost effective option

Girsan 2311 Match X

Imported by EAA, the Girsan Match X incorporates an island compensator to its 5-inch barrel. Set on its two-tone black and tungsten frame the Match X looks fantastic. And it shoots very nicely as well with its flared magwell and fiber optic sight. An MSRP of $1199 makes it very appealing.

the Match X seen with a **Holosun 407** and **Streamlight TLR-1**

It too has a full length dust cover with a pic rail for accessories, and its polymer/steel frame carries its 17 or 20-round magazines. The Girsan is also optics ready, using an RMSC footprint. Its slide is returned using a spring over a single piece guide-rod.

Having shot this pistol, I was quite impressed with its price. It handles just as good as all the others, and it shoots accurately and reliably. This one already has over 1,000 trouble-free rounds through it.

Girsan 2311 CMXX

The CMXX from Girsan appears to be the smaller sibling of the Match X. This one uses a Commander length 4.25 -inch compensated barrel, an island compensator like the Match X. It is all black however, and looks like a shorter clone of my Staccato XC. It also is very comparable to the MAC 9 DS, as they both share the 4.25 barrel and comp design.

the CMXX is seen here with a **Vortex Defender red dot** and the **Nightstick TWM-30 weapon light**

Like the Match X, the CMXX has a great trigger to match its heavy barrel. Again a single-piece guide-rod operates the pistols action, feeding from the same 17-20-round magazines as the Match X. The big difference between the CMXX and all the others I mention here today is that it doesn’t use a grip safety. Instead they went with a firing pin block like you’d find on striker pistols. Not gonna lie, I kind of like it better.

Girsan, witness 2311, 9mm, eaa, 2011, vortex, vortex optics, defender CCW, enclosed, red dot,

The CMXX is optics cut for RMSc optics, and its flared magwell and full-length picatinny rail makes it easy to mount your favorite light. This little pistol shoots fantastic and very flat, making it an easy choice to buy at $1149 MSRP. You can read my in-depth review of the CMXX here. Sharing the same internal extractor as the rest of these models, it has yet to malfunction on me.

My Opinion

If you are a die-hard America only kind of guy, then you’d have to choose the SA Prodigy I guess. It brings great value from a big name domestic manufacturer, and with it comes great performance.

Springfield Armory, prodigy, DS prodigy, 2011, 9mm, steiner, mps, red dot, surefire, x300, vampire, reload, magazine,

The Bersa while a little less-known brand, might even bring a better performance for the price. Its just as smooth and refined as the Prodigy, and might even be a little better. As is the trigger, and this for almost $200 less.

I LOVE how smooth the Bersa is compared to the others I’ve shot

Out of the two Girsan models, I prefer the CMXX. I love it so much I would probably even pick it over the Bersa despite it not feeling quite as nice as the Bersa. Now, if the Bersa had an island compensator on a Commander barrel length that would change everything…

the CMXX might be my favorite due to size and performance.

I you are absolutely tapped out on funds, then I expect the MAC and Tisas are probably your choices. Or some of a few others that are similar.

I can happily recommend the pistols I’ve shown here, and if you are interested in them I would recommend reading my in depth reviews of them to get a better perspective on them. One thing is for sure, you will like shooting 2011 pistols. And it may be the beginning of an addiction you wont be able to kick.

-CBM

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CCW Prospect: Sig Sauer P365 XMacro Comp

July 27, 2026pistols, Product review9mm, carry, compact, concealed carry, P365, p365x, p365x-macro, sig sauer, x-carrycoldboremiracle

Introduction

Big manufacturers like Sig Sauer offer a great variety of products, sometimes they knock it out of the park, and sometimes they don’t. But today we are taking a look at one of their popular and successful designs. The Sig P365 came out some years ago, with a new perspective on compact pistols. Since its release the P365 family has grown into more like an ant colony of models filled with different sizes, feature sets and so many variants it can be hard to keep up. Todays topic is the Sig Sauer P365 XMacro Comp, an integrally compensated version of the polymer framed pistol. With any luck, I hope to extol the benefits of this pistol to help those curious about it.

sig sauer, sig p365, p365, xmacro, comp, compensator, compact, ccw, 9mm, holosun, 407k, streamlight TLr7, case, carry case, unboxing,

The P365

As I mentioned, there are far too many models for me to discuss here. But its also a topic worth going a little deeper into the colony to show a little daylight. There are different sized models, different calibers, state compliant models and more. I’ve put together some of the basic variations here, just to give you an idea. In case the model I am showing you today isn’t exactly what you are looking for.

Model	Barrel	Grip	Capacity	Notes
P365	3.1″	Short	10+1	Original micro-compact
P365-380	3.1″	Short	10+1	.380 ACP version
P365 SAS	3.1″	Short	10+1	Flush sights, anti-snag design
P365X	3.1″	XL grip	12+1	Short slide, longer grip
P365XL	3.7″	XL grip	12+1	Longer slide and barrel
P365 XL Spectre Comp	3.1″ compensated	XL grip	12+1	Integrated compensator
P365 Spectre Comp	3.1″ compensated	Macro grip	17+1	Premium Spectre series
P365 XMacro	3.1″ comp / 3.7″	Macro grip	17+1	Full-size grip, slim frame
P365 AXG Legion	3.1″ compensated	Aluminum AXG	17+1	Metal-frame premium model
P365 Fuse	4.3″	Macro grip	21+1	Largest P365 variant
P365 ROSE	Various	Various	Varies	Lena Miculek collaboration
P365 Luxe 380	3.1″ comp	AXG	10+1	Premium .380 model
P365 DH3	3.7″	Macro	17+1	Daniel Horner competition-inspired model

The P365 XMacro

Among the P365’s, the XMacro models bring more a full-size feature set to a very small handgun. Despite its narrow frame, the magazines carry 17-rounds. Which is pretty impressive for such a small gun. As a Sig-o-phile, I have long carried pistols from the manufacturer. And the P239 that I carried for nearly two decades is a little bigger and only holds 8-rounds.

LEFT: different backstrap options RIGHT: the integral compensator built into the slide

And if that wasn’t enough, the XMacro also incorporates an interchangeable backstrap system to help customize the grip to the shooter. The overall grip is surprisingly spacious and at the same time feels pretty petite.

sig sauer, sig p365, p365, xmacro, comp, compensator, compact, ccw, 9mm, holosun, 407k, streamlight TLr7, — the compensator keeps the pistol from climbing under recoil

Up top, the slide of the XMacro Comp model is optics cut to install a red dot. Fitting the RMSc footprint gives you a variety of optical sight options to install on the pistol. And at the front of the slide you will find the integral compensator. By directing muzzle blast pressure upwards, the muzzle rise is neutralized keeping the gun closer to on target for the next shot.

An accessory pic rail is located under the front of the slide, for adding a weapon light. This is a great thing to have for a CCW pistol which the P365 is meant for. And of course, like another popular Sig pistol we hear a lot about these days, the P365 has an interchangeable grip frame. The serialized part of the pistol is a removable trigger/sear pack that you can swap among a great variety of factory and aftermarket options. These are available in an impressive variety of patterns, colors, and even materials.

Specifications

Specification	P365 XMacro Comp
Caliber	9×19mm
Action	Striker-fired, short recoil
Barrel Length	3.1 in (79 mm)
Overall Length	6.6 in (168 mm)
Overall Height	5.2 in (132 mm)
Overall Width	1.1 in (28 mm)
Weight (with magazine)	21.5 oz (610 g)
Sight Radius	5.1 in
Magazine Capacity	17+1
Frame Material	Polymer XMacro grip module
Slide Material	Stainless steel, Nitron finish
Barrel Material	Carbon steel
Trigger	Flat-faced XSeries trigger
Sights	XRAY3 day/night sights
Optics Ready	Yes (RMSc / ROMEOZero footprint)
Accessory Rail	Standard 1913 Picatinny
Backstraps	Small, Medium, Large (interchangeable)
Manual Safety	Available on select models
Included Magazines	Two 17-round steel magazines

17-round magazines are impressive for this size pisol

With the basics covered, I figured it was time to outfit this pistol and get it on the range. I’m a big fan of red dots on pistols, so the P365 would get a Holosun 407. And because why not, I installed a Streamlight TLR7 weapon light. The two factory 17-round magazines would do just fine for my purposes, so I grabbed some ammunition to fill them up.

Shooting the P365 XMacro

Shooting the P365 was done during various trips to the range, both indoor and outdoor. We would shoot a variety of ammunition from Federal Champion, PMC, Remington, Winchester and Magtech. Mostly 115 grain ammunition was used but we did fire some 147 grain ammo as well. All shooting was done in the configuration seen, with the Holosun red dot and the Streamlight in place. This was done because that is how I would carry it and wanted to shoot it the same way.

here you can see the effect of the compensator, pushing down on the muzzle

Shootability

The thin grip of the P365 is easy to grab as well as tuck into clothing. It almost feels too small to me, perhaps I’m just used to gripping thicker frames. But this would be great for someone who has smaller hands, allowing a better purchase on the gun.

Trigger pull on this pistol is just what you’d want for a CCW pistol. Its neither light nor particularly short. But it feels pretty clean, with a defined reset and predictable break. We had not trouble keeping shots on target at 7 and 12 yards.

With the comped barrel, the XMacro was pretty good at staying on target. Small pistols like this in 9mm tend to be a little spicier when recoiling, the integral compensator does a good job at combatting that tendency.

Ergonomics

I mentioned the grip being almost too small for my taste, but you can adjust the grip changing out the different backstraps on the grip module. This allows you to customize the feel of the grip to your taste.

Sig’s P365 feels good in the hand, and even though I feel like this gun is a little small for my personal taste it is perfectly functional for me. There is adequate room for both hands to engage and operate the controls of the gun. And the different grip frames you can interchange increase your ability to fit.

Reaching all the controls was easy, and they are very serviceable. I was concerned the slide release might be a bit tough, but it was fine. The mag release is clean, dropping the magazine free with little effort.

Accuracy

I mentioned we had not trouble keeping on target at typical CCW defense distances. At 10 yards I found I could keep groups under a couple inches. This is of course under controlled conditions, and I would expect under a stressful situation that would open up.

a typical group from 10-yards

But for general CCW purposes I think the XMacro is perfectly adequate in the accuracy department. Hopefully I never have to find out.

Reliability

We experienced no malfunctions while shooting the P365. Feeding and ejecting rounds went perfectly. I did notice one thing that was slightly irritating though, with the magazine loaded to the full 17-rounds, it sometimes was a challenge to seat in the pistol. It only slightly concerns me as the resistance isn’t something I’d want to deal with in a stressful shooting scenario. But certainly worth noting, perhaps I’d just load 16 for carry. Which is still ahead of many other CCW pistols.

control surfaces were great for operating the pistol

Value

I see P365 pistols all over for as little as $499, which is pretty reasonable. The XMacro models on the other hand are going to cost a bit more. Prices between seven and eight-hundred dollars for the model we tested today are more likely what you’d pay. That isn’t unreasonable in my opinion. The added ammo capacity of the P365 is great, but incorporating the compensator is another increase in both value and performance. So if you can get into a P365 XMacro for $800 or less I think you are doing well.

the Sig P365 chewed through everything we fed it

Pros and Cons

As my gun collection increases with age, I find a tendency to have a firearm for every life situation I might encounter. And the P365 seems like one I would want to carry for a situation where needing it is likely.

It shoots well, and allows me to get hits on targets without much effort. It has the accessory options that I look for in a handgun and the capacity to give you a good chance in a defensive scenario. Its customizable will being still pretty uniform as handguns go. And unlike its P320 sibling, the P365 has a pretty good record of service. There isn’t much to say against the pistol, other than the small gripes I mentioned above.

Conclusion

The Sig Sauer P365 XMacro has spread like wildfire, and not just because of Sig’s massive marketing campaigns. People really seem to like the gun, and the way they can customize it to their tastes. Despite being mistreated like all Sig Sauer customers, I still find myself pulled to many of their firearms. The P365 is one of those, it is fun to shoot and very useful in your hands. Like any good gun, with the right training it can become your most trusted tool in life.

-CBM

Check out additional CCW pistol options here

Sig Sauer P239: A Classic Compact

June 5, 2026pistols, Product review, Shooting hardware9mm, compact, p-series, p239, pistol, sig sauercoldboremiracle

Preface

Sig Sauer pistols have been in the media a lot lately, and having been a Sigophant for decades I have been watching closely. As a giant in the firearms community Sig has an incredible diversity of products as well as the issues that might accompany such an extravagant position. But today we won’t be discussing problems, instead our focus is on something Sig Sauer got right. The P-Series of pistols have been around as long as me, originally coming from Swiss and West German craftsmen. For decades they were the gold standard used by law enforcement and those who’s lives depended on their tools. Today we are taking a look at a lesser known pistol from the P-Series, but one that certainly deserves your consideration. Join me as we dive into the Sig Sauer P239 compact, a single stack hammer-fired pistol trusted by professionals.

sig sauer, p239, 9mm, pistol, compact, magazine, single stack, magazine pouch,

The P239

Sig’s P239 incorporates all the same features as its popular and larger siblings. The P220 and P226 are popular with both professionals and enthusiasts alike. There are likely hundreds of law enforcement agencies using them in dozens of countries. And the US Navy SEAL teams adopted the P226 as their handgun (designated the Mk 24 and Mk25). The P239 was later developed to be a compact comparable handgun to be used either as a backup or as covert concealed weapon.

Much like its popular full-size equivalents, the P239 is made for action. Using the very same functions and features as the P226. It can be fired in both in single and double actions, allowing it to be carried with the hammer down. There is no safety but the one you pick your nose with, but it does have a de-cocking lever designed to safely lower the hammer.

sig sauer, p239, compact 9mm, magazine, ammunition, P239 pistol sitting on top of boxes of ammunition, — just some of the countless ammo types this little pistol has chewed through; **Winchester**, **Federal Champion** and a little **Sierra Defense ammo**

Single stack magazines are released using a traditional button on the left side of the grip. And there is a disassembly cam lever in the traditional location above the trigger area.

Specifications

Caliber	9×19, .40S&W, .357 Sig
Barrel Length	3.5-inches
Length	6.5-inches
Height	5.2-inches
Weight	27-ounces
Action	Single action/Double action
Capacity	8 & 10 round mags (9×19) 7 & 8 round mags (.40 and .357)
Frame material	Aluminum
Slide material	Stainless steel
Finish	Black Nitron slide (PVD), black anodized aluminum

I purchased this pistol back in the 1990’s when they were more of a new item. It was my first compact pistol, and I was a brand new concealed carry permit holder. For nearly two decades this pistol was my go-to carry gun, and I learned many of the do’s and don’ts of CCW with it. But it also came out for other activities as well, and even pulled off some pretty impressive shots over the many years in my possession.

Shooting the Sig P239

Shootability

One of the first things I did with this pistol was to swap out the hard polymer grip panels for a softer set. I found a rubberized grip set from Hogue, that was much easier to hold onto in my opinion. I have average sized hands, and I feel the P239 fit just perfectly for a compact pistol grip.

The trigger is pretty predictable for a service grade handgun. The double-action is obvious longer, but I have always found it to be fine for the first shot out of the magazine. Shooting the single-action is better, with a clean predictable break.

Looking down the semi-low profile sights gives a fine sight picture without making big snag points. The slide itself has gripping texture cuts along the back for drawing the slide. As a product of its time, there is no accessory rail on the frame which is a bit of a downer. All the controls are easily reached and actuated making it a smooth operation.

Reliability

In my near thirty years with this pistol, I’d imagine I must’ve had some kind of jam or malfunction. But to be completely honest, not a single memory of it comes to mind. Much like the proverbial Swiss watch, my P239 has long functioned as flawlessly as I could have asked it to. Unlike many of the guns I get to review, I have literally shot thousands of rounds over decades with this one. Giving about as good a perspective as you can get.

I’ve accumulated around half a dozen magazines over the years, both the 8-round and 10-round models. The 239 feeds perfectly from them, with a clean up and right ejection pattern. I’ve shot countless different ammunition types, everything from posh defensive loads to gun show bulk stuff and even my own handloads. The Sig P239 has always been a lead pump with no notable issues of any kind.

Accuracy

With its three and a half inch barrel, the P239 does pretty good. I’ve never had any issues hitting what I was aiming at. A typical shot group from the pistol at seven yards is between one and three inches depending on ammunition quality. Here is an example of a typical 5-shot group with some inexpensive bulk packed ammunition provided by Ammotogo.com.

Ergonomics

Like most P-Series pistols, the 239 fits my hand perfectly. I don’t usually care for the polymer grips, as they seem a little slippery. The textured ones on the other hand are quite nice, but I’ll stick with the sticky rubber ones.

sig sauer, p239, pistol, 9mm, compact, a woman shooting a compact pistol with bright muzzle flash,

The controls are all very intuitive and easy to reach and operate. I like that you can feel every movement of the controls, it gives a sensation of connection with every operation of the pistol.

Value

I honestly can’t remember what I paid for mine, and since their discontinuation in 2018 new ones are not available. But there are plenty of them on the used market available from anywhere between $400 and $1000 for some of the more rare configurations. For those prices I think the P239 is a great pistol, and a bit of a collectible for Sig Sauer enthusiasts.

Pros and Cons

I’ve gone over most of the pros already; its a very reliable pistol, with distinguished service. It’s built like a tank, and ready for action at any moment. Its controls are very functional and it shoots well.

sig sauer, p239, compact 9mm, magazine, disassembly — the easily disassembled P239, notice the full length rails to keep slide and frame tight

If I had to come up with some negative things to say about this old friend, it would be these; The Sig P239 is from an era long gone now, so you wont find many of our modern pistol features that we’ve taken for granted. Things like optics cuts, accessory rails and double stack mags are not options with this pistol. With the 10-round magazines it is a pretty decent defense, but most of the guns I carry now a days carry at least 15.

Verdict

The Sig Sauer P239 Compact is a classic pistol, in many ways. Mine will never go anywhere but in my safe or on my hip. But I can see that times have also brought some changes, and sometimes that’s a good thing. I would love to see Sig bring it back, and maybe even modernize it with like a 12-round magazine, an optics cut, and a weapon light suitable pic rail. But I doubt that will ever happen. But if you are looking for one of these handsome old Sig pistols, I can strongly endorse the P239. It is a reliable, straight shooting tool. And built like it came from a time where they knew what they were doing.

-CBM

Check out my other favorite Sig Sauer Pistols here

Sig Sauer P320 AXG Legion 9mm Pistol

September 17, 2024pistols, Product reviewaxg, Legion, P320, sig, sig sauercoldboremiracle

Preface

I remember the day I was first infected, it was before the turn of the century at a tightly packed local gun shop in Salt Lake City Utah. It was the day I picked up my first P-series pistol from Sig Sauer. I walked out of that shop carrying a Sig P239 compact, but it was just the beginning of my love affair with them. I’ve since enjoyed 220’s, 226’s, 229’s and of course the very popular P320. Today I bring you another variant of the popular striker fired pistol; the Sig Sauer P320 AXG Legion.

The AXG Legion is a slight departure from the rest of the P320 family, in that it uses an aluminum grip module. While this may seem counterintuitive, it is dead sexy and reminds me of the impure thoughts the P226 once inspired in me. Apart from its non-polymer grip module, the AXG Legion also incorporated a ported slide to compensate for muzzle-rise. It does this while maintaining the same footprint and familiarity of the popular M17 variant of the P320. Additionally, like most modern pistols the AXG Legion comes optics ready for your favorite red dot.

Sig Sauer P320 AXG Legion

P320 AXG LEGION FEATURES:

Length: 8.2 Inches
Width: 1.6 Inches
Height: 5.5 inches
Barrel Length: 3.9 Inches
Weight: 36.1 Ounces
Sight Radius: 5.9 Inches
Two Port Slide Integrated Expansion Chamber for recoil mitigation
Optic Ready Slide with enhanced serrations
AXG Grip Module with installed Magwell and Hogue Custom G10 Grips
X Flat Skeletonized Trigger
XRay3 Day/Night Sights
(3) 21rd or (3) 10rd Steel Magazines
Romeo Pro footprint

Like most P320 pistols the AXG Legion has a suite of features that make it both adaptably modern, as well as historically rugged. (insert your “gun goes off” jokes here). Things like a picatinny accessory rail and night sights will make the gun familiar to those familiar with tactical pistols. And more modern features like the optics ready slide and muzzle compensator will impress even those who nerd out over such things.

The added weight of the AXG aluminum grip module makes the gun feel very potent, as well as keeping it pretty mild under recoil. It really feels like you’ve got a hold of something when you pick it up. The very same P320 trigger pack drops into the frame, like every other P320 pistol. Additionally the AXG comes with a flared aluminum magazine well, and some handsome grips that give it a pretty classy look.

The flat trigger feels nice and looks sharp as well, and the pistol uses the longer full-size 17 and up magazines. It comes with three of the larger 21-round magazines, and I had more from my P320 X5 Legion which uses the same.

Lastly, the model tested here today also came with the Romeo X red dot already installed. This is very convenient, particularly because I’ve become a bit of a red dot hound and am always looking for more.

sig sauer p320 — note the perfect optics cut allowing the rear sight usage

Shooting the P320 AXG Legion

After securing a shipment of Trailforger ammunition from MWLP, I headed up to my shooting spot. It wasn’t long before I was stuffing twenty-one rounds at a time into the magazines. I mostly shot 115 grain ammo, but I also shot a few boxes of 124 grain ammo.

I also took advantage of the opportunity to use my newest Safariland ALS holster, crisp AF with an Arctic Multicam cordura wrap. I also installed my Surefire X300 weapon-light, as it completes the ensemble.

sig sauer p320 axg legion, Safariland ALS holster — The Safariland ALS holster is my first choice most of the time

You may not believe this, but the AXG shoots very much like the rest of the P320 family. Of course the major thing that stands out is the muzzle compensator. The added weight of the grip module bundled with the compensator made this gun shoot smooth. Muzzle rise was significantly better with the dual port comp up front. I haven’t shot the Spectre Comp version of the P320, but others have told me that the AXG Legion is a flatter shooter. Perhaps I’ll get to try them both together someday soon.

safariland ALS holster, sig sauer p320 — the Legion pistol fit perfectly into my **Safariland ALS holster** (note tactical flip flops)

As is, I found the AXG Legion to be very flat shooting. It was fast and fun to transition from one target to another punching each one smoothly and often twice.

As an unrepentant Sig-ophile the controls to this pistol were just like coming home. Though occasionally I feel myself reaching for the de-cock lever 😜. The feel of the pistol is fantastic, and though I felt fine shooting with the stock trigger part of me wanted to see how well it could be improved.

Reloading the pistol was also as familiar as mom’s Sunday dinner. The flared magwell made it easy, allowing me to plow through far too much ammo.

Accuracy from the AXG Legion was as expected, by that I mean everything I aimed at could be hit as long as I didn’t pull the shot. The kind of shots you would do with a pistol were easily made, and accurate enough to be very deadly.

During the course of shooting the pistol, we had no malfunctions. Ejection was very predictable and well clear of the gun. Cycling cartridges was also flawless, and the gun always locked open when the magazine went empty.

Pros and Cons

Remember what I said at the top of this piece, I’m a big fan of P-series pistols. So keep that in mind. First off this pistol is just handsome, it has the classic Sig look that first caught my eye years ago. And it shoots as good as it looks, chewing through ammo of all kinds. And since the P320 is so universally used, its aftermarket support is likely only eclipsed by the Glock family.

All the extra features make this a definite step up from many of the standard P320 models. And of course that comes at a cost, so it may not be in your budget range. It also weighs a bit more than it’s siblings, six ounces more than the M18 model for example. This can be a good or bad thing depending on what you’re looking for.

I think the P320 AXG Legion stands up to its price point, though that can be very subjective. Even so it might not be for beginners. Maybe you prefer the lower bore axis of other pistol designs, or maybe you like hammers.

Last Words on the AXG Legion

I really enjoy this pistol, it has everything a Sig fan could like. And even if you’re not a Sig fan there is much to like about it. Sure, it might be a bit much to bite off for a first time pistol enthusiast. But it brings more features, and it performs outstanding. You get all the familiarity and aftermarket support of the P-series, as well as some advanced enhancements.

If you too find yourself looking for a full-size tactical pistol, I can strongly recommend this one. It is incredibly fun to shoot, reliable and accurate. The included Romeo X makes the deal even better. It’s a big step away from my old P239 that started this infatuation, but in a good way. Either way, I don’t see my affinity for P-series pistols going away any time soon.

-CBM

Check out more classic Sig Sauer pistols here

Sig Sauer P320 X-Five DH3

February 20, 2024pistols, Product reviewdh3, sig sauercoldboremiracle

Introduction

Few names command recognition in the firearms world like Sig Sauer. When I first picked up a P226 over thirty years ago, even as a youth I was greatly impressed with it. Sig Sauer has been manufacturing excellent firearms since its inception in Europe. The company was more recently moved to America, no doubt a good move for all involved. I have been a Sig fan for as long as I can remember, so I am happy to bring you today’s subject: the Sig Sauer P320 X-Five DH3.

The P320 family of pistols is incredibly popular in our firearms market, likely due to the incredible variety and customization of its models. The X-Five series brings full size function for serious pistol-work. The DH3 Model was developed with input from Sig’s professional shooting team member Daniel Horner. It hosts features ideal for competitive and action shooting, like a flared magwell, X-Ray3 sights, accessory rail, optics ready slide, and more.

The Sig Sauer P320 X-Five DH3

I’m no stranger to the P320 X-Five, as I’ve been shooting one for several years now. Upgrading to the DH3 model seemed easy, and some of the differences are notable. The tungsten infused X-Five grip modules give the durability and function of polymer, and yet still feel like a metal pistol-frame. The DH3 adds to this quality feel by embedding silicon carbide into the grip area to enhance your feel of the grip. It feels like skateboard tape, but it can’t come off.

The X-Ray3 suppressor height sights are good day or night. And allow the use of a suppressor, as well as co-witnessing with your favorite red dot. There are also some of the same features you’ll find on other X-Five pistols, like two included recoil springs to customize operation. Of course you’ll find the accessory rail under the slide to mount your favorite weapon light. And the flared magwell makes quick mag changes smooth and secure.

Caliber	9mm
Length	8.5 inches
Width	1.6 inches
Height	6.5 inches
Weight	43.5 ounces
Optics footprint	Deltapoint Pro
Magazines	21 round 3 included
Barrel & Slide material	Stainless steel
Finish	Coyote Tan Cerakote
Sight radius	6.6 inches

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Range Ready

Since I already have an X-Five Legion, it was easy to simply swap some accessories over to the DH3 to get it ready to shoot. It was also very convenient that it fit the same Safariland holster, which would make shooting the gun on the go even more fun.

In addition, I also installed a Romeo 1 Pro red dot sight on the DH3. It fit perfectly and allowed use of both the red dot and the X-Ray3 sights. All that was left was installing a Surefire X300 weapon-light to complete the ensemble.

In addition to those accessories, I also grabbed my Armory Craft threaded match barrel. As well as my Yankee Hill Machine Nitro N2.0 suppressor. There was nothing standing between me and a great time now.

I grabbed a few boxes of Federal Champion 115 grain ammo, and it was time to hit the range.

On the Range with the Sig Sauer P320 X-Five DH3

Getting some trigger time with the DH3 couldn’t come soon enough. As soon as time would permit I was on my range getting the pistol broken in. Stuffing the 21-round magazines full of ammo would ensure some good hot testing. And following them up with some single round loaded magazines to test my reloading skills would come next.

As I expected, the DH3 shoots as smooth as a guy could ask for. Maybe not like some tuned out competition 2011, but good enough to bring smiles all around. The weight of the X-Five pistols feels fantastic while shooting. The gun moves very little and barely strays from the target.

The Trigger is crisp and resets clean, while the mag release easily drops free the magazine making way for you to stab another. The flared magwell makes even a clown like me reload pretty quick. The grip texture made the pistol feel anchored to your bones.

Picking up the glow of the X-Ray sights in low light was easy, but it was easier still to look through the Romeo 1 Pro. Hits kept coming every time I lined em up right. The accuracy was excellent, just like my other X-Five. Keeping shots touching at ten yards was easy.

Suppressor Time

I love suppressed shooting, and the DH3 would make a great host if it shot anything like my other X-Five. For that I swapped out the barrels, and installed my titanium suppressor. Adding the weight to the front only further tamed the DH3, and the hushed pops of each shot will please any true gun nut.

the P320 X-Five DH3 looks even better with a suppressor

I usually have better accuracy results when shooting suppressed. But this time I’m not sure if its because of the suppressor or the Match Grade Armory Craft barrel. Regardless of the reason, it felt like nothing within pistol range could escape me and the DH3.

Pros and Cons

There is no shame for me claiming the moniker of a Sig-ophile. Saying I am a fan of these pistols would be an understatement. I suppose that makes it a little bit hard for me to be completely candid about the downsides of this pistol. But I will give it my best.

Cons

As sexy as the slide cuts are on the DH3, I found that they engaged occasionally with the retention clip in my Safariland SLS holster. This is probably something that can be mitigated, but it was a little irritating when it occurred.

The Silicon carbide texturing is fantastic. I love it because the only occasion my hands receive any kind of ointment is when they are bleeding. However if you’re the kind of guy who wears socks to bed, you might need to wear your Isotoner gloves while shooting.

Pros

This feature rich pistol has a little something for everybody. You’ve got all the standard things like accessory rail and undercut trigger-guard. But you’ve also got the dead sexy Cerakote color and contrasting silicon carbide grip texturing. As well as the slide cuts and X-Ray sights.

The optics cut is a must have nowadays, and the Romeo 1 Pro is a great fit. The extra included 21-round magazines function flawlessly, keeping you pumping lead steadily. The extra recoil spring included also gives you the option to customize the function of your X-Five.

The rich aftermarket support for these pistols give you all kinds of options. I would strongly recommend one due to that added benefit.

Continue reading the story here

If you like the DH3, check out our other P320 X-Five Legion review

Sig Sauer P320 X5 Legion

November 7, 2023pistols, Product review9mm, Legion, P320, sig sauercoldboremiracle

Statement of Facts

Today I come before you as an unrepentant Sigo-phant. By that I mean that I have been a big fan of the P-Series of pistols for as far back as I can remember. In one form or another I have carried a P pistol for almost twenty-five years now. Including today’s subject, the Sig Sauer P320 X5 Legion.

Sharing this perspective is only to clarify that I have a bit of a bias on today’s review. So keep that in mind as you read for the next few minutes.

Having said that, let’s get started. The P320 came to market nearly a decade ago, a cutting edge design many would say. This because of the P320’s ability to morph into any number of configurations.

At it’s heart, the P320 is a striker fired semi-automatic pistol. But there is more to the P320 inside, its serialized fire control unit (FCU) holds the trigger and sear mechanism. This allows the FCU to be swapped between different grip modules and used with what has become a plethora of different slide, caliber and barrel combinations.

All this modularity has resulted in an exhausting list of P320 options, including recently adopted military designated models.

P320 X5 Legion Specifications

Caliber	9mm
Capacity	17 +1 (3 mags included)
Sights	Dawson precision
Red Dot footprint	PRO (DeltaPoint Pro)
Length	8.5 in [216 mm]
Width	1.6 in [41 mm]
Height	5.8 in (147 mm)
Weight	43.5 oz (1.2 kg)
Sight Radius	6.8 in (173 mm)
Barrel Material	Carbon steel
Finish	Legion Gray Cerakote

us optics RISE red dot, sig sauer p320 X5 legion

Like all Legion series pistols, the P320 X5 Legion uses most of the popular features available. It is optics ready, though it often will require the use of Springer Precision mounting plates. An accessory picatinny rail under the slide fits all your weapon light options. And things like a flared magwell and skeletonized flat-shoe trigger add to the ensemble.

As the flagship of the P320 line of pistols, Sig has added some sexy slide cuts and balanced the pistol by adding weight to the grip frame. The tungsten infused polymer grip frame feels like its made from metal, which in my opinion adds to the quality feel.

The X5 comes with two recoil springs and a solid steel op rod, to allow shooters to customize the operation of the pistol. All the customization is part of the P320 family.

Pro & Cons

Pros

Modular design allows customization
Great trigger
Optics ready
Dawson Precision sights
17+1 Capacity (comes with 3mags)
Accessory Rail
Flared Magwell
Ambi slide release
It’s a Sig Sauer FFS!

Cons

Not lightweight
Limited holster options

First Impressions

Opening the box I knew exactly what I was getting, but I was excited none the less. The Legion came with all the traditional stuff in the box, including two extra mags which I thought was nice.

I lifted the pistol from the box and was immediately stirred by the feel of it. It reminded me of the P226 that I always loved. Excellent weight and balance let you know this thing was meant to shoot particularly hard.

Drawing the slide seemed easier than expected, probably due to the weight of the slide. Pressing the trigger proved to seal the deal for me, everything about this pistol felt as I had hoped it would.

Time to Accessorize

Wasting no time, I had pre ordered several great accessories for the X5. Because that is the American thing to do. Selecting a good holster for it from Safariland’s holster finder was easy enough, though I was a bit let down by how few options there were. Mainly due to the longer barrel configuration, but I ended up with a Safariland SLS holster that fit perfectly. Most P320 models have an incredible assortment of holster options.

Weapon lights are a must-have, and I ordered the holster to fit a Surefire X300. There are many great light options, but I went with a mainstream choice because it works and has history.

Even breaking out the credit card to order a custom threaded match barrel from Armory Craft wasn’t out of order. I wanted the ability to shoot the X5 suppressed, and the boys at Armory Craft know the P320 as well as anybody.

For a suppressor I usually shoot either my Yankee Hill Machine Nitro N2.0 or the Yankee Hill Machine R9.

Extra magazines are always nice, so I bought a few of those as well because you can never have too many. Topping off the slide with a US Optics DRS 2.0 Enhanced red dot made shooting the gun even more fun.

Field Testing the P320 X5 Legion

Traditionally I do reviews fairly early with new guns, but today I am writing this after having shot and carried this pistol for more than a year. So I can cut to the chase a little bit here. After thousands of rounds, weeks and months of carry, I am quite confident in the function and performance of the X5.

After all this time, it still feels fantastic in my hand. And having shot it countless times with very satisfying results keeps me sleeping very tight at night. And regardless of shooting the pistol suppressed or otherwise, I can’t remember much in the way of malfunctions. I have no doubt there have been some, but I can’t remember them.

Accuracy with the P320 X5 Legion has been fantastic, shooting better than I thought I could shoot. Once adding a red dot it seemed like I could hit anything a pistol would be shot at.

Breaking the trigger feels even better now, the ease of reloads and hitting the magazine just right every time. Its enough to make me feel like one of those hot chicks in the Taran Tactical videos. I’ve shot everything from steel and paper targets to charging badgers, and this X5 is just hot shit, I love it.

Score Card

Reliability (9-10)

As I just mentioned, I can’t even remember any significant malfunctions with the P320 X5 Legion. Though I think I had an occasional failure to lock back. For the most part it runs like a typewriter. Everybody laughs about the history of P320’s going off unexpectedly, but it appears that issue has been put to bed.

Ergonomics (8.5-10)

The standard X5 Legion grip module fits my hand perfectly. So I don’t really have any complaints, though I’d like it if there was an adjustable backstrap. The controls are in all the right spots, and it flows just right as you operate every function.

Customization (9-10)

I’ve already mentioned all the custom options with the P320 family of pistols. The incredible aftermarket support allows you to do near anything with this pistol.

us optics RISE, sig sauer p320 x5 legion — the X5 with the new **US Optics RISE red dot** and **Surefire X300 light**

Appearance (9-10)

Again, remember I am biased. But this is one of the best looking mainstream pistols out there in my opinion. Everything about it looks good; cuts in all the right places, the textures, and finish all look fantastic.

Value (8.5-10)

For the $1000 street price, the X5 Legion is not out of reach for serious pistol fanatics. Sure I wouldn’t call it cheap, but there is more value to be found over the lifetime of the pistol.

Final Thoughts on the X5

Like I said from the beginning, I am a registered Sigo-phile. But with experiences like Ive had with the P320 X5 Legion you can’t blame me. The pistol just shoots!

Its handsome and functional while bringing an incredible array of customization and aftermarket part options. If you too love the feel of P-series pistols, the X5 Legion will surely fit your fancy as well. As long as you keep in mind this isn’t a carry pistol, it’s a serious range gun. Or I suppose if you are a security or law enforcement professional it would also fit in nicely. Surely it won’t be long before I add another P320 to the family, stay tuned until then…

-CBM

If you like this review, check out our other pistol reviews

Sig Sauer MCX Spear LT 5.56 SBR

April 21, 2023Product review, Shooting hardwaremcx, mcx spear, mcx spear lt, sig, sig sauercoldboremiracle

INTRODUCTION

There has been a lot of talk lately about the new Sig Sauer MCX Spear. However, there is also another version… Today, we are diving into a Sig Sauer MCX Spear LT review.

Having had a little experience with previous versions of the MCX I was excited to see this new variant. Today we will be looking at the Sig Sauer MCX Spear LT, which is an 11.5-inch 5.56 rifle, making it an SBR.

The Spear is a perfect candidate for the EOtech EXPS3

The MCX Spear is a short-stroke piston-operated carbine. It utilizes a spring and buffer system that is housed in the upper portion of the receiver. This has removed the classic AR-type rifle buffer tube where the butt stock was typically attached.

Do you need a Spear LT of your own? Click Here

By removing the buffer tube, the role of the Spear can be further adapted to different uses. It can be removed entirely to be used as a “pistol,” or it can be fired with its folding butt stock folded to the side.

The MCX Spear uses many features and familiar parts for AR-15 owners, but I was surprised to see how many differences there were, even with parts that are shared.

The Spear brings with it the incredible adaptability that MCXs are known for and the robust reliability that Sig has rightfully retained. This newest member of the MCX family brings a lighter handguard with improved fasteners to increase rigidity.

Within the handguard is a lighter profile barrel to reduce the weight of the rifle. Inside the rifle’s receiver, there are ambidextrous controls with both safety and bolt-catch on either side of the rifle, and seated in the bottom is Sig’s Flatblade Match Trigger.

I’ve been a little bit of a Sig fan for a few decades, so I was very excited to play with this rifle, and after just a few minutes of handling it, I was hooked.

The quality of the rifle was apparent in every little thing I inspected. Outstanding craftsmanship and perfect lines that all matched up made the rifle incredibly pleasing.

SIG SAUER MCX SPEAR LT REVIEW

SPECIFICATIONS

Caliber	5.56 Nato
Capacity	30 rounds
Barrel Length	11.5 inches
Barrel Twist	1-7 inches
Overall Length	29.5 inches
Width	2.9 inches
Height	7.5 inches
Weight	6.9 pounds
Muzzle Threads	½-28 TPI
Color	FDE

PROS & CONS

PROS

No buffer tube, fires from folder or without stock
M Lok compatible
Short Stroke piston operating system
Very nice trigger
Quality controls all around
Adjustable gas block
Fully ambidextrous
Interchangeable barrel capacity
Multiple calibers (5.56, 300blk, 7.62×39)
Handsome as the day is long

CONS

Rokset muzzle device
SBR requires interaction with tyrannical government

ON THE RANGE TESTING

sig sauer mcx spear lt hands on test at range

The MCX Spear was begging to be shot, so I wasted no time.

We took the rifle to a local range which typically, for me, is a non-starter, but today I would make an exception. With an EOtech mounted on top, it was time to cook the tip of the Spear. Today we were shooting some Hornady Black 62 grain FMJ ammunition, which would work great in the MCX’s one in seven twist.

I played with the folding stock for a moment, if only to familiarize myself with it. Pushing on the button with a lifting motion released the dovetail lock of the stock.

With the stock folded off to the side, the rifle supremely compact; only a bullpup could have been much shorter and still maintain a reasonable barrel length.

Shooting the Spear like this would have been easy, but I couldn’t bring myself to shoot it like a pistol, especially after all the legwork of a form four.

With loaded magazines and open range I fired a few rounds, which were quite mild. Small caliber rifles of this size are a joy to shoot. I would have enjoyed it, even more, had Sig not used Rokset on the muzzle brake. Who would buy this thing only to run the factory flash-hider?

To be fair it would be someone with a Sig suppressor that mounts to the brake, but I am not that guy. So I was kind of chapped that it would have taken significantly more effort to remove the flash-hider, so I chose to leave it alone for now.

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But I would have loved to shoot it suppressed to see how the rifle worked and if the dual gas settings were acceptable. The eleven-inch barrel definitely needed a flash hider because it launched some serious fireballs.

Shooting the MCS Spear was pleasant as can be, the Sig grip had a very comfortable angle, and the handguard filled the support hand too. The short size of the rifle can, at times, get your support hand a little close to the muzzle, another reason I would have liked to suppress it. The diminutive size of the rifle also made it easy to balance and maneuver.

sig sauer mcx spear lt hands on test at range jeff wood

The MCX Spear isn’t what I’d consider a precision rifle, nor would many folks imagine. That said it was easy to keep shots on target at one hundred yards with no magnification. After fudging with the EOtech holographic sight to get a dirty zero, it was easy to keep the shots within an inch or two of the point of aim.
I love the controls of the rifle. The safety was smooth and easily put into either position. The ambidextrous mag releases were right where I expected them and functioned with minimal effort. The ambi bolt-catch made for quick reloads using the trigger finger to send the bolt home after loading a fresh magazine.

It’s also handy for locking the bolt back for inspection or other purposes.

The other finishing touches of the MCX Spear were things like the steel QD sling cups that were fit into the different parts of the rifle. I even disassembled the rifle a bit to see how the piston system and barrel clamp worked.

The handguard was easily removed by two screws and a take-down pin. It slides on a tongue and groove with the monolith top rail of the upper receiver. Underneath, I found the barrel trunnion with two clamping screws; I tipped my hat clean off as I figured out the cunning design Sig had devised.
The two screws work dual purpose as they house a pair of jaws with a tapered face, and they marry an opposite tapered face on the front of the barrel extension. As the screws are tightened, the jaws draw the barrel extension tight into the barrel trunnion block.

Once snugged down, the screws’ second purpose begins to apply clamping force to each side of the split trunnion. Once tight, the barrel extension has been seated tightly against its mating face ensuring accurate head spacing. And the clamping force holds the barrel tight into place.

Besides its intricate manufacturing and design, the MCX Spear LT was just plain handsome! The Coyote finish is a beautiful shade, and the coatings of the other parts were equally immaculate. Every little thing seemed well thought out and executed, and after shooting over a hundred rounds on the first trip, I already loved this rifle.

RELIABILITY

During the course of several hundred rounds, the MCX Spear LT worked flawlessly. I experienced no malfunctions during testing.

ACCURACY

The Spear LT isn’t exactly made for precise shooting, but it is more than accurate enough for the typical duties of a short-barreled rifle.

OVERALL FEEL

You may have gathered by now that I am quite happy with this rifle. Everything about it feels good and aesthetically pleasing to my eyes. The coatings, finishes, and every little edge are cleaned up, and it functions as good as it looks.

FEATURES

BUFFER TUBELESS ACTION

The dual-spring buffer rides above the bolt carrier in the upper receiver, part of which hangs down to engage the top of the bolt carrier.

By moving the whole recoil operation into the upper receiver, the stock options of the rifle can be changed to near any configuration, or none at all. The already short Spear LT can be further shortened and fired with a folding stock.

AMBIDEXTROUS CONTROLS

The ambidextrous controls of the Spear LT are convenient regardless of your preferred shooting stance. My favorite part is the right-side bolt release, which makes it extremely easy to reload. As you insert a fresh magazine, you can immediately charge the rifle with your trigger finger while your support hand finds its way to the handguard.

With controls on both sides it makes the rifle even easier to operate and obviously much friendlier for left-handed shooters.

sig standard mcx vs mcx spear lt — *On top is the **SIG standard MCX** compared to the MCX Spear LT on the bottom.*

FOLDING BUTTSTOCK

The Sig folding buttstock attaches to a vertical pic rail at the back of the lower receiver. The simple construction of the stock appeals to the minimalist in me, with very few things to go wrong.

They even added a small polymer cover where your cheek might touch the stock, which was one of my complaints with the original MCX. Adding a steel sling cup to the back also gives you more sling options.

ADJUSTABLE GAS BLOCK

As I’d already mentioned, I wasn’t going to try and get the muzzle device off this rifle. Much to my dismay, as one of my favorite things to do is test suppressors on different rifles. I would have loved to see how the two-position gas block would have fared with a couple of different suppressors on it.

It is certainly nice to know that the option is there, though I don’t think it would be too hard for Sig to make a three or four-position to give a little more customization options.

LIGHTWEIGHT HANDGUARD

The lightweight handguard of the MCX Spear is comfortable and easy to work on.

MLok slots all over give the user many options to customize the rifle and put accessories where they want them. And if you choose to swap the barrel out of your rifle, the handguard is easily removed to allow access to the barrel trunnion and its clamping screws.

TRIGGER

The Flatblade match trigger in the Spear was outstanding. A much better trigger than I anticipated in an SBR, and it likely helped with accurate shooting.

This is the kind of trigger I would expect in a nice DMR-type rifle, and it was very welcome for me.

HOW WE TESTED

I shot the MCX Spear LT over a few range trips, using the aforementioned Hornady ammunition and some PMC Xtac 55-grain ammunition. For the majority of the shooting I used an EOTech holographic sight, which I might add is an excellent option to go with the Spear.

Shooting the rifle was mostly done at closer ranges, mainly because I think that’s where rifles of this configuration shine. Pulling the rifle out in a vehicle showed how handy the little SBR can be, and shooting it from the folded position also put its utility on display.

Reloading the rifle was smooth and seamless, mainly due to the ambi bolt-catch I already mentioned. The Pmags flowed in and out of the magwell through a great many reloads, and it felt like the kind of rifle you’d want in a gunfight, should such a thing happen.

AMMO USED

sig sauer mcx spear lt close up with Hornady black ammo

Hornady Black ammunition was used for the majority of my testing. The 62-grain load worked great in the rifle. I also used several boxes of the PMC Xtac 55-grain ammo and some Frontier 55 grain HP loads. All of them worked well, but the 62-grain load was for sure the best in this rifle.

SCORE CARD

RELIABILITY (10/10)

Rifle ran flawlessly for the duration of my testing.

ERGONOMICS (10/10)

With the customization utility of the MLok handguard, I think you could set this rifle up to be perfect for you. Out of the box, it is not bad at all, either.

CUSTOMIZATION (9/10)

The buttstock options, while awesome, are also slightly limited. I’m still mad bout the Rokset muzzle brake.

APPEARANCE (10/10)

Dead sexy. Nothing more to say.

VALUE (9/10)

The Spear LT is not inexpensive, with a street price of around $2500.00 it could be tough for many to justify. But if you were ever gonna splurge on an SBR, splurge here.

CONCLUSION

The Sig Sauer MCX Spear LT is an excellent choice for a defensive rifle, a sport rifle, or really for almost any other shooting activity suited for an SBR.

It brings Sig’s high quality and service standard to a very handsome and usable rifle without having the large footprint of a full-size rifle. If you are in the market for a good SBR that you’d want in a life-or-death situation, the MCX Spear LT would surely be at the top of my list.

-CBM

Read the conclusion here…

Sig Sauer MCX 5.56

January 9, 2023Product review, Shooting hardwarear15, mcx, sig sauercoldboremiracle

Introduction to the MCX

You may have been hiding under a rock if you’ve not heard of the new Sig Sauer MCX Spear, the MCX family of rifles has been a popular stalwart in the Sig Sauer lineup for some time. The industry giant has been bringing all kinds of developments over the decades they have been manufacturing firearms, and the MCX is one of them. At a glance, the Sig Sauer MCX appears to be just an AR-15, but a deeper look into the rifle will show something quite different.

The Dawn of Modern Sporting rifles

Since the first Stoner variant of the AR-15, a buffer tube protruding from the rear of the lower receiver has long been commonplace. The buffer tube serves two purposes; first it houses the buffer and spring which are vital parts of the function of the action, and second it serves as the base structure for the buttstock of the firearm. Buttstocks are typically attached around or to the buffer tube itself, which has dominated the design of all the various available buttstocks for AR patterned rifles.
The design of the MCX migrated the buffer spring and its associated hardware into the upper receiver, an in doing so has changed several aspects of the platform itself. Gone are the days of fitting your buttstock to the tube, in fact, you don’t even need a stock with the MCX. There are “pistol” configurations that don’t even utilize a buttstock.
This tubeless design makes the MCX stand out from the AR crowd, but there is more to this gun than just the buttstock.

The Sig Sauer MCX

The MCX shares a great deal of parts with most AR-15 style rifles. Magazines, triggers, and such are compatible, but there are also plenty of differences. The bolt carrier in the MCX is driven forward by a pair of springs that ride just above the carrier inside the receiver. The charging handle also sandwiches into the same area as the recoil springs and bolt carrier. The handguard is attached to the upper receiver and features a very skeletonized keymod attachment section, newer models also have MLok compatible handguards. There is a small window in the front of the handguard to access the two-position gas valve.

Bolt carrier and receivers detail

The lower receiver is very similar to traditional AR lowers except where the buttstock attaches, and additionally features an extra magazine release on the left side of the receiver. There is also a small spring plunger mounted behind the trigger, it appears to be an accurizing add-on to reduce the play between upper and lower receivers. The buttstock itself is a skeletonized design with a built in folding hinge allowing the stock to be stowed to the side of the rifle, this of course doesn’t effect the operation of the rifle. All the mechanics of the operating system are contained within the receivers, so the rifle can fire regardless of the stock position.

Rangetime

As soon as I could, I prepared the MCX for the range. I mounted up a fresh Tango MSR scope also from Sig Sauer, the 1-6 power scope would be an excellent compliment to the MCX. I also grabbed a suppressor because I wanted to see how the rifle functioned suppressed. I packed up some PMC Xtac 55 grain ball ammo to shoot in the rifle, as well as a Magpul MS4 sling to use on the rifle. I also brought a couple assorted P-mags and GI magazines to try in the rifle.

After boresighting the scope, I cracked off the first few rounds and they were quite close to my point of aim. It only took minor adjustments to get the scope zeroed and then it was go time. Shooting the rifle at a hundred yards I quickly gained familiarity with both the rifle and scope, hits came easily as the MCX churned away smoothly. The weight felt surprisingly light, I believe they were advertised at six pounds though I think that is a little under what this one weighed naked.
The three-pronged flash hider seemed very effective at reducing muzzle flash, and the recoil of the 5.56 cartridge is very easy to handle in a rifle this size. The rifle was very comfortable in maneuvering and made for a very enjoyable time spending my money. I stretched the rifle out to the three-hundred yard line where I found it to be still quite accurate, I imagined an errant coyote who might have wandered into range would have been easily dispatched.
Shooting from P-mags and GI metal mags both functioned flawlessly as I would expect from this rifle, I figured it was time to install my suppressor to see how the rifle performed suppressed. This required removing the factory flash hider, and installing my suppressor mount. Sig uses a taper on many of their muzzle devices to aid in alignment, since I wasn’t using a Sig suppressor the taper was unneeded. I mounted up my Yankee Hill Machine Turbo 556 suppressor and went right back to town on the targets.

Suppressed shooting made the MCX really shine. The increased weight seemed to calm down the recoil impulse even further making it easy enough to spot my own hits at 200 yards. The reduced noise is always welcome, and hearing steel targets ring without hearing protection is always better.

Accuracy

Accuracy shown here from the MCX wasn’t spectacular, but I can certainly explain that. The included picture shows five shots from 55 grain PMC Xtac ammunition, it shot much better with Hornady Black 75 gr match but I didn’t get it on paper. Shooting from bags at one-hundred yards with an eight-power scope shivering in below freezing temps may not have given the MCX a fair shake. Continue Reading Here…

Pros & Cons

It was easy to find things about the MCX that I liked. The controls were all comfortable and smooth. There is a little bit of noticeable refinement with many of the little things on this rifle. The reliability and flawless function are definitely at the top of my list, as is the lightweight of the rifle. I really prefer accurate rifles, and this one seemed to have a very acceptable level of accuracy. It seemed enhanced when used with a suppressor. It was perfectly familiar and uniquely exceptional.

Now for the things I didn’t like. These were few, and I’m sure I could probably live with them if needed. The skeletonized buttstock was perfect except for a good cheek rest. It seemed a touch low. In this winter weather, it was way too cold to be resting your face on. It seems like it would be really easy to fashion a simple polymer snap-on cheekpiece that would be unobtrusive and serve that purpose.

Also due to the cold temps, I considered some synthetic material to add to the handguard. Obviously, this could be overcome with gloves, as I imagine the same problem is to be had in the extreme heat.

Pros:

Comfortable and smooth controls
Low recoil
No buffer tube
Reliable
Lightweight
Accurate
Suppressor ready

Cons:

Could use a better cheek rest
Furniture can be cold/hot depending on temps

FINAL THOUGHTS

It came as no surprise that I really enjoyed the MCX from SIG Sauer. I have long been a SIG fan, and the MCX fits perfect into my collection of carbines.

The reliable piston-driven and bufferless system seems to have worked out perfectly for SIG, at least the next-generation MCX Spear would suggest so. This rifle would make a fine addition to your collection if your tastes are similar to mine. It has certainly driven my desire to get the next-generation MCX even more.

-CBM