It’s pretty amazing how fast the firearms market keeps moving with the introduction of new models and designs. Current lines are being improved almost constantly. It was just a couple of months ago that Wilson Combat’s SFX9 HC 3.25 took the crown for Ballistic’s Best of 2021 for compact pistols. As good as that pistol is or was, depending on your perspective, they’re already back with a new model. The SFX9 series of pistols gets even better with the Wilson Combat SFX9 4-inch.
Shooting the Wilson Combat SFX9 4-Inch
The SFX9 HC 3.25 we reviewed for Ballistic’s Best had a taller, high-capacity frame that was able to natively host 15-round magazines. If there was one issue I had with the SFX9 3.25, it was the barrel length. I’m not opposed to sub-compact pistols with shorter barrels and grip frames. However, since the grip is the hardest part to conceal, if I’m going to have a taller, high-capacity frame, then I’ll go ahead and take a little extra barrel length as well.
Well, that’s just what the SFX9 4-inch brings to the table—a longer barrel and slide. It’s only three-quarters of an inch longer, but I’ll take a little extra velocity and sight radius if it doesn’t really cost me anything. Now, that’s not a huge upgrade from model to model, but that’s not the only thing the folks at Wilson Combat have been working on lately.
The company has also developed an optics-mounting solution for its SFX9 and EDC X9 series of pistols. With some crafty engineering, the machinists there manufactured steel adapter plates to match up with the pistol’s tri-top slide for a rugged and seamless fit that doesn’t interfere with the pistol’s operation.
Optics-Ready Design
While most adapter plates for different pistols on the market are affixed with two screws, Wilson’s solution integrates three screws for a robust fixture. Aside from the threaded holes for mounting an optic, there’s an extra hole that allows easy access to the roll pin for working on the extractor.
Currently, Wilson Combat offers mounting solutions for the Trijicon RMR/SRO, Aimpoint Acro, Leupold DeltaPoint Pro and the Vortex Razor/Venom. A couple of those solutions are plates, and others are directly mounted to the slide. For the pistol I requested to do this review, I was given the option of taller sights for co-witnessing with the optic. Naturally, I opted for that feature as I ordered a plate for a Trijicon RMR/SRO.
The steel adapter plate that was attached to the review SFX9 4-inch had an extension to the rear with a dovetail where the rear sight was secured. This makes the co-witness rear sight driftable for windage, unlike many similar setups on the market. Like I said before, this was some crafty engineering.
SFX9 Backstory
Before getting too far into the review, it’s worth taking a closer look at the SFX9’s origin, features, components and build quality. The SFX9 is essentially a variant of Wilson’s EDC X9 series. The ECD X9 offers customary, but ultra-thin, grip slabs with a small window cut into the grip frame. However, the SFX9 lineup offers a solid, T6-7075 aluminum frame (hence, “SF”) with the “grips” integrally machined into the frame via texturing. This is done with Wilson’s X-TAC texturing on the front and backstrap and the company’s starburst design on the sides.
The SFX9 sports a plethora of top-tier features and components, almost of them made in house by skilled employees at Wilson Combat. Up top is a stainless steel, tri-top slide that shaves off a bit of weight and that facilitates easier re-holstering. The slide includes Wilson’s X-TAC texturing at the front and rear to provide plenty of traction for manipulating the slide. It includes 30 lines-per-inch serrations on top to assist with glare mitigation, adding a little more visual appeal as well. The slide exhibits a DLC finish also.
Within the SFX9 resides a 4-inch, conical barrel that’s fashioned from stainless steel. It includes fluting on the barrel and the chamber area. The barrel also features Wilson’s Enhanced Reliability Lock Up and it sports a flush-cut, reverse crown that also adds to the aesthetics while protecting the rifling for enhanced accuracy. Speaking of which, the SFX9 is guaranteed to shoot 1.5 inches or better at 25 yards, and that’s no small thing.
Quality Aplenty
When you zoom in on the details, the quality is also evident in the smaller parts as well. Wilson Combat has its own line of “Bullet Proof” parts that are machined from billet steel for ultimate durability. The SFX9 has integrated several of these parts including the thumb safety, extractor, hammer and the magazine release. Wilson also offers a variety of its own sight packages, which can include fiber-optic pipes, gold beads or tritium inserts. My sample pistol had a fiber-optic front sight and a suppressor-height version of the company’s serrated Battlesight.
Of course, none of this means too much if there’s not a solid foundation and the mechanism doesn’t operate correctly. That’s where the fit between the slide and the frame come into play as well as the optimized feed angle for the round to travel up the feed ramp into the chamber. The smiths at Wilson paid careful attention to these details as they brought everything together into one cohesive package.
Another tool in their kit bag to ensure perfect function is the company’s Enhanced Reliability Frame Rails. These are sized for minimal drag on the slide by reducing unnecessary points of contact. Additionally, the barrel itself does not have the typical locking lugs you find with 1911-style 9mm pistols. Instead, the front of the barrel hood locks up into the front of the ejection port, similar to other modern pistols on the market. All of these measures work together to ensure that the SFX9 runs as good as it looks.
Going Hot
Before I and my buddy, Jamie, hit the range with the SFX9, I did a quick inspection and added a few drops of oil to make sure it was ready for action. After that, I mounted a Trijicon SRO to the installed adapter plate. Personally, with the pistol’s compact size, I think the SRO is a little large for the it—at least as far as how it looks. The RMR seems to be more size appropriate, but I like the SRO’s larger window since it lets me find the dot just a bit quicker.
After zeroing in the SRO, we started off with a good supply of Wilson’s 135-grain HBFN loads to get acclimated to the gun. Whether we were at five yards or 30 yards, it was like we couldn’t miss. Some of that was thanks to the red dot, but a lot of it was due to the accuracy and the shootability of the SFX9.
Though not technically a 1911, the SFX9 works much the same way. It has a single-action-only operating system that requires the hammer to be cocked before each shot. Before the first shot, the user can cock the hammer or cycle the slide manually to cock the hammer. After that, recoil cycles the slide back to cock the hammer for each subsequent shot.
Getting on the Trigger
This type of operating system allows the user to have a light and consistent trigger pull each time. That light trigger press allows the user to stay on target better and no company does it better than Wilson Combat. The trigger on my sample SFX9 had the barest hint of pre-travel until it hit the wall and then let off with an extra-crisp break at an average of 3.15 pounds.
The SFX9 features a generously sized thumb safety, allowing the pistol carried “cocked and locked.” The thumb safety provides fast and easy access without getting the the way of the other controls, including the slide release. Further there’s no mush with the thumb safety. It locks in positively and produces a snappy response when flipping it both on or off safe.
The texturing on the frontstrap and backstrap, along with the starburst texturing on the sides, did a fantastic job of locking in ours grips for superb control during recoil. There’s no shifting or adjustments needed after a shot. The purchase on the pistol was tight as a drum, and we could stay focused on what was downrange.
As good as the ergos and the mechanics are, a pistol still needs to be inherently accurate to consistently deliver the goods, and the SFX9 offered up plenty in this area as well. The folks at Wilson Combat sent over some of their premium defensive loads and I also had some good stuff from Hornady (115-grain Critical Defense) and Federal Premium (124-grain +P HST) as well.
The Numbers
From the bench, the single best group of the day measured just .44 inches at 15 yards if that tells you anything about the accuracy of the SFX9. With a lot of help from the red dot, I was able to coax four of the five Hornady rounds into just one hole. This wouldn’t have been possible for me with regular irons. That load shot consistently well with a group average of .82 inches.
The second best group average was with Wilson’s own ammunition, particularly the 124-grain XTP +P load. That three-group average measured just .92 inches. I’ve tried that load in a few pistols and I’m really starting to like it. On any given day, it’s as accurate as the Hornady load and with its extra heft and velocity, it’s got a little more ass behind it as well.
But as you can see in the accompanying table, the SFX9 shot extremely good groups with all the loads we tried, and I have no doubt that the pistol lives up to its 25-yard guarantee. So, it’s pretty much dealer’s choice as to what you can churn through this fine specimen.
As far as reliability goes, I’ve reviewed three SFX9s and I’ve never encountered the slightest hiccup with any of them, and the same goes for this one as well. Whether its standard range loads, typical hollowpoints, or even hollowpoints with polymer-filled cavities, the SFX9 (and its siblings) just doesn’t quit. It’s pretty clear to me that all of the design choices and the attention to detail have definitely paid off in a big way for the folks at Wilson Combat.
As Good as it Gets
Every time I say a Wilson Combat pistol is as good as it gets, they turn around and prove me wrong. They always seem to come up with something new that’s even better than the last time, and that’s what makes this such an interesting market and such a fun job.
With a starting MSRP of $2,895, a pistol like the 4-inch SFX9 is the holy grail for most gun buyers. But it’s not just because of the price; it’s also because of its form and function. With custom-made components and a carefully considered blueprint, the build quality of the SFX9 puts it at the top of its class. And when you consider the performance results of the final product for a single-action, high-capacity 9mm pistol, the SFX9 is still as good as it gets, only just a little bit better. For more information, visit wilsoncombat.com.
SPECIFICATIONS: Wilson Combat SFX9
- Caliber: 9mm
- Barrel: 4 inches
- OA Length: 7.4 inches
- Height: 5.25 inches
- Width: 1.4 inches
- Weight: 29.3 ounces (unloaded)
- Grips: Integral, machined
- Sights: Fiber-optic front, rear battlesight
- Action: Single-action only
- FINISH: DLC
- Capacity: 15
- MSRP: $2,895
PERFORMANCE: Wilson Combat SFX9
| Load | Velocity | Accuracy |
| Federal Premium 124-grain +P HST | 1,159 | 0.94 |
| Hornady 115-grain Critical Defense | 1,084 | 0.44 |
| Wilson Combat 124-grain XTP +P | 1,117 | 0.78 |
| Wilson Combat 147-grain XTP Sub-Sonic | 951 | 0.82 |
| Wilson Combat 115-grain Tac-XP +P | 1,107 | 1.26 |
This article originally appeared in the April-May 2022 issue of Ballistic Magazine. Get your copy or digital subscription at OutdoorGroupStore.com.
