The Sig Sauer P320.

The Sig Sauer P320.

When I look at a new gun, I like to spot the one big thing that’s different. I always hope there is something noteworthy and unique, or else it would be like plenty of other guns, and that would be a boring review, wouldn’t it? With the Sig Sauer P320, finding that one big area of differentiation was easy: its modularity. Well, technically speaking, I suppose there are three big areas because that modularity concept applies to fit, size, and caliber.

Modular Fit

Most modern handguns come with optional grip back strap pieces of different size. The idea is that, with one of these inserts, you make the grip larger because adding a larger back panel makes the back bigger. But that’s exactly what the back strap approach does – make the back strap bigger. It’s not a holistic approach to grip size. If you want to fit a P320 to a shooter with smaller or larger hands, you replace the whole lower frame. Sig offers small, medium and large grip size frames to fit a wide variety of hand sizes. That sounds complicated and expensive, but it’s not, as we’ll see in a minute.

The “gun” part of the P320 is actually the steel trigger assembly. All of the other components are just parts.

The “gun” part of the P320 is actually the steel trigger assembly. All of the other components are just parts.

Modular Size

If you use a gun, it can be awfully handy to have different sizes for different purposes. If you choose to carry one concealed, something more compact is a plus, because it’s easier to hide and lighter to lug around. If it’s for home defense, something physically bigger can be a benefit as a larger and longer gun is easier to aim and control and it holds more cartridges. If you like to compete in shooting sports, a larger gun with more capacity is also desirable.

What would be really cool is having the same exact gun fit all these needs. If it had the same trigger and feel of operation, the same mode of operation and the same overall feel, you’d be a better all-around shooter because you’re always using the same basic gun. That’s exactly what Sig did with the P320 platform. Besides the frame, the ability to swap out the barrel and slide is also part of the deal. The best part is that you can do all that without more background checks and paperwork with your dealer. You can even order the components online. Sig P320 components will be available to configure full-size, compact, and subcompact sizes. Hold this thought too – we’ll explain in a bit.

Read the rest at Range365.