The P320 AXG — Steel Frame Fantastic

My favorite pistols have metal frames. Guns like the CZ 75, the SIG P226, the Walther PPK, and the like are all some of my absolute favorites. There is something about a metal frame that fits my hand better and is ergonomically superior to polymer frames. Not that I hate polymer frames, I have polymer frame friends, you guys. Metal frames feel better in my hands, so when SIG announced the P320 AXG, I got excited.

Enter the P320 AXG

AXG stands for Alloy XSeries Grip, and as the name implies, it’s a metal grip frame. The P320 is traditionally a polymer frame, so the P320 AXG is a significant departure from the original design—it’s a variant of the carry model of the P320. The carry model incorporates a compact slide with a full-sized grip module.

It’s an interesting setup. I’d be more of a fan of a full-length slide on a compact frame, but the AXG is tough to complain about.

This is the Scorpion model, and when SIG releases a Scorpion designated gun, it pretty much means premium grade flat dark earth gun. SIG does the Scorpion model in 1911s, P226s, and now the P320.

The AXG model has grip panels and a rear insert made by Hogue from G10 material. These appear to be removable but also are proprietary to the AXG model, or at least they seem to be.

So…Many…Features

The P320 AXG is shoved full of features to justify its rather high price tag. This includes the high-end Negrini box that’s got custom foam cut for the gun and magazines. This case can look and comes with a combination lock system that’s TSA compliant.

The gun itself comes with XRAY3 sights, which are combination day and night sight. The front sight has a high visibility polymer green insert with a tritium center and blacked-out rear sight with two tritium inserts.

If the sights aren’t doing it for them, the gun comes optics-ready with a slot to accommodate SIG Romeo sights.

The Sig AXG package is Optics Ready. Unlike other SIG, the optics plate does not remove the rear sight to add the optic.

The trigger is far from stock and is the Legion series lightened flat trigger. It is exceptional and match-grade-like in its quality. The flat-face is a nice touch, and flat triggers seem to be the future of precision triggers.

The pistol comes topped with a Picatinny rail and three 17 round magazines. If the 17 rounders don’t do it for you, the 21 round X series mags are a perfect addition. Be warned the P320 ETS magazines will not fit in the tight AXG grip module.

P320 AXG Ergonomics

Oh lord, do I love a metal grip. I think the CZ 75 was my first love and it fit me like a glove when I first picked it up. The way a gun feels hardly matters in terms of— well, it shoots and performs. But when a gun can both perform and feel good, I can remark on it.

Outside of the very subjective ‘it feels good’ I can remark that the ergonomics are spot on.

SIG precision machine the P320 AXG grip module and the when compared next to a polymer X Series grip module there are some clear differences. The trigger guard has a very high undercut and allows for a very comfortable and high grip. The gun also incorporates a beavertail big enough to deal with a hammer. Again the beavertail allows for a very high grip.

High grips mean good control. When you combine that with aggressively textured grip panels, you get a gun that sticks to your hand through thick and thin, through range ammo, and +P rounds.

The flat-faced trigger allows the necessary reach to the trigger, and surprisingly enough, this makes the gun quite comfortable for shooters with smaller hands. The metal grip itself feels thinner and more accommodating than the smaller hands all around.

Lastly, I have this weird issue with SIGs where, regardless of the gun, my thumbs pin the slide lock down. It’s been this way through P226s, P220s, and P365s. With a thumbs forward grip, the slide lock is useless. However, for the first time with a SIG, my thumbs do not pin down the slide lock. It’s actually useful and it’s ambidextrous as well.

To the Range

I immediately fell in love with how the gun handled when I hit the range the first day. I started small but immediately had an excellent impression of the AXG.

The gun is very controllable, and recoil takes a hearty reduction to the extra weight the metal grip module packs on. The high grip of the gun offers improved control and helps you naturally fight muzzle rise.

Mag dumping with the ole AXG is a good bit of fun—a waste of ammo, but still fun.

Outside of mag dumps, more useful stuff like controlled pairs and double taps can be achieved very quickly and efficiently. The control combined with the high visibility front sight makes tracking sights and staying on target simple and addictive.

What’s even more addictive is how accurate the P320 AXG is.

The trigger system is impressive, and that helps in the accuracy department. The Legion series trigger is super light and easy to control with a short takeup, a small wall, and then a boom.  I went back as far as 50 yards and achieved an 80% hit rate on a 10-inch rifle gong in a standing position.

The constant ring and ding of the targets was a pleasant sound throughout the first range day.

Moving towards more tactical and practical shooting revealed a gun that’s inherently very easy to control and to shoot. Moving between targets and practicing proper shot placement against the clock showed the gun to be a practical choice. The P320 AXG is the sum of its parts, and its parts are designed to make it a combat-oriented pistol.

Worth the Hype?

It’s a SIG that looks like a BBQ gun but performs like a fighting pistol.

Through nearly a thousand rounds, the P320 proved itself to be extremely reliable. It met some failures to fire with some cheaper S&B 9mm loads, but that was on the ammo, not the gun. Those same rounds wouldn’t ignite in two other firearms, so it’s safe to assume it’s a cheap ammo issue.

The P320 AXG is not a cheap pistol by any means, and many people may not care about a metal frame on a modern pistol. That’s understandable, but I adore it, and I’m planning to make this my main carry gun. I think it’s worth every dime, and I’m growing into a fan of the P320 series because of it.