Over the last few years, SIG has really proved the versatility of the P320 platform. In past articles, I've looked at the various aftermarket compensators like the Parker Mountain Machine JTTC compensators and shown they are effective at reducing muzzle rise and felt recoil. SIG has decided to throw their hat in the ring with a compensated Spectre variant with a lot of interesting features I wanted to test out. Let's take a closer look at the SIG Sauer P320 Spectre Comp.
Specs
The P320 Spectre Comp is the latest addition to SIG's Spectre line of pistols. With the TIN flat-style gold trigger and barrel, the P320 Spectre Comp definitely has the high-end look the Spectre line of pistols has had so far. The biggest change between this handgun from any other P320 has to be the factory-installed compensator system. SIG decided to go with a very sturdy single-chamber compensator with the front sight post stretched out to sit on top of the compensator. This gives you a tad bit more sight radius which will ultimately offer slightly better accuracy.
The new P320 Spectre Comp comes standard with the X-RAY3 day/night sights that are separate from the optics plate to ensure you always have iron sights. For this model, I have a Romeo1 PRO attached on top of the handgun to test out as well. When it comes to the grip module, SIG decided to use their Tungsten Infused TXG Full-Size XGRIP Module to add a bit of heft to the overall handgun as well as help balance the firearm when firing. Overall weight is just under 42oz which definitely helps keep the full-size 9mm handgun shoot with little to no muzzle rise.
The P320 Spectre Comp comes standard with two 21-round magazines and flared magwell. In addition to all the other upgrades on this pistol, the slide has been redesigned with lightening cuts as well as various texture improvements on the side and top of the slide for easier engagement. MSRP for the P320 Spectre Comp is $1,499.99 and it's available in stores currently.
SPEC LIST:
CALIBER: 9mm Luger
MAGS INCLUDED: (2) 21rd Steel Mag
SIGHTS: X-RAY3 Day/Night Sights
THREADED BARREL: Yes
PISTOL SIZE: Full-Size X-Series
OVERALL LENGTH: 8.5 in
OVERALL WIDTH: 1.6 in
HEIGHT: 5.8 in
BARREL LENGTH: 4.6 in
WEIGHT: 41.8 oz
TRIGGER ACTION: Striker
TRIGGER TYPE: XSeries Flat TiN Gold
GRIP MODULE: TXG Full-Size XGRIP Module
BARREL MATERIAL: Carbon Steel w/ TiN Gold Finish
MANUAL SAFETY: No
OPTIC READY: Yes
Range Time
So far, I've had the P320 Spectre Comp for roughly 5 months and put just over 2,150 rounds through it. This was one of the more interesting pistols to come across my radar in a while that's straight from a large factory. SIG looked at some of the offerings in the aftermarket space and made a really well-built factory version of what's on the market. The single chamber compensator most certainly does its job cutting the felt recoil as well as the muzzle rise making it a very flat shooting pistol. For the price, this rivals shooting just as flat as a 2011-style handgun or the P226 XFive that I reviewed last month. This pistol doesn't have a full steel frame like the other models mentioned, but it's an incredibly flat shooting pistol.
COMPENSATOR LOCK UP
Out of the box, I would say the P320 Spectre Comp rivals the Max Michelle P320 from SIG with its overall weight and feel making it a very good contender for a competition pistol or an extremely capable range/ training course pistol. I really like the overall design of the compensator, it's threaded onto the barrel and has two taper screws to keep it locked into place. This makes disassembly and reassembly super easy since there's really only one way to put it back together. The next big thing to take a look at is how the P320 Spectre Comp performed during my various range/training sessions.
ACCURACY
The 4.6″ TiN barrel is long enough to make accurate shots but the compensator gets rid of a ton of felt recoil making your follow-up shots more accurate without the recoil causing you to jump around as much. With my testing at 15 yards, I used a few different types of ammo for my accuracy testing. The ammo I settled on was the 124gr HST rounds from Federal, 115gr Magtech ammunition and 115gr Stand1 Armory ammunition. For the two 115gr ball rounds, I consistently got 1″-1.25″ groups when shooting slowly and taking my time. The 124gr HST rounds printed around .75-1″ groups when shooting slowly and the recoil felt less than the 115gr ammunition which surprised me. Whether it's the compensator, red dot or just overall weight, I was really surprised just how easy it was to shoot tight groups quickly with this P320 Spectre Comp.
RELIABILITY
When it comes to reliability with compensated pistols, there can certainly be a break-in period with specialized pistols like this. Normally, when I review a pistol, I start the testing without cleaning it just to see how it performs straight out of the box. With this P320 Spectre Comp, I had two malfunctions in the first magazine. Both malfunctions were failures to fully feed the round with the slide slightly out of battery. I proceeded to eject the empty magazine and reloaded the Spectre Comp with a fresh magazine.
After those 2 malfunctions in the first magazine, I never had another hiccup or issue for the following 2,000+ rounds. I truly believe it was the TIN finish breaking in with the other parts. Once everything was worked out, it was an incredibly smooth shooter and I had no issues. I decided to clean it after the first 200 rounds and lubricate the barrel and slide action. Once I did that and got the packing grease off the firearm, it was incredibly smooth and really was even nicer to shoot. After my 2,000+ rounds with this gun, I can happily say I've really grown fond of the P320 Spectre Comp.
Compensator Effectiveness
Currently, in my collection, I have right around eight P320s of various configurations. Out of everything I shoot on a regular basis, I typically will head to the range with a P320 strapped to my side as a standard range handgun. I also have a fair bit of experience with the Parker Mountain Machine JTTC compensators which gives me a baseline to judge the P320 Spectre Comp. The compensator on this model has an overall smaller port chamber compared to the PMM comps because it includes the front sight and taper screws on the comp.
That being said, the compensator on the Spectre Comp does effectively cut down on recoil and directs the burning powder and gases upward which helps cut down on muzzle rise and recoil. I think there are enough differences and similarities between the two systems that I will break them down into separate reviews comparing each system, so be sure to check that out when it drops later this month. SIG claims there is up to a 30% reduction of felt recoil and muzzle rise which I don't doubt. Throughout my time with the Spectre Comp, I really see the effectiveness of the compensator when doing quick double taps or a fast chain of firing. Add in the extra weight of the TXG grip module and you have an incredibly flat shooting pistol.
Overall Thoughts
In the world of aftermarket parts for the P320 system, the choices are endless. I think it's pretty awesome that SIG is stepping out of their comfort zone to create a tricked-out high-end P320 straight from the factory. The TiN barrel and trigger really make the whole gun look and feel like it's just something different from the standard gun. Add in the compensator and optics ready cut and this is a truly built range gun ready for competition and training courses. I think it's important to see these guns may require a little break-in compared to the standard models, but this really isn't a carry gun in my eyes.
After shooting a little bit and cleaning the gun, it is buttery smooth now and I don't plan on letting go of this gun any time soon. It feels special and elevates your shooting experience with the cut-down muzzle rise which just makes banging steel that much more enjoyable. Let me know what you guys think of the P320 Spectre Comp in the comments below. Is it too flashy for you or are the upgrades from the standard model a welcome change? If you have questions about the P320 Spectre Comp or firearms in general, feel free to shoot me a message on Instagram @fridgeoperator. Stay safe out there and we will see you in the next review.
Read the original article in its entirety at thefirearmsblog.com.
