One of the biggest changes in the pistol market over the last couple of decades is the switch to polymer frames. Aside from most 1911s and similarly styled niche offerings, the vast majority of defensive/carry pistols have frames made from this Space Age material. However, that is not always the case, as the Sig Sauer P320 AXG Classic demonstrates.
The Sig Sauer P320 AXG Classic
Polymer frames offer a few advantages, including flex for some recoil absorption, lower cost, and, in some cases, lighter weight. However, they don’t match the more organic feel of metal frames, and they lack a certain aesthetic appeal as well.
The folks at Sig Sauer recently recognized this fact of life and decided to capitalize on the success of their P320 platform by offering up metal-framed variants through their Custom Works shop. This idea saw its genesis with the P320 AXG Scorpion. However, Sig’s P320 AXG Classic really caught my eye and was the catalyst for this review.
Instant Classic
I’m just old enough to have owned several of Sig Sauer’s classic line of pistols. These include the P226, P220, P225, and P229. The standard models were usually offered with black grips over a black finish. But I often opted for a variant that was a little more visually appealing.
For me, that was usually a model with wood grips. Call me old-fashioned, but there’s something about wood grips on a pistol that just strikes a chord with me.
For the uninitiated, one of the P320 platform’s key selling points is the fire control unit (FCU). The FCU can be swapped from one grip module to the next, regardless of each module’s size. It is what’s considered the “firearm,” and this is the component that gets the serial number, which is recorded at the time of sale.
Anyone who owns a serialized FCU can purchase a multitude of slides, barrels, and grip modules to use with it. And you won’t have to go through an FFL again.
One day, the end-user might put the FCU in a compact grip module for concealed carry, and the next day they could put it in a full-sized grip module for use at home or the range. This design makes the P320 a very versatile system. Especially in jurisdictions where people are only allowed to possess or carry pistols that are registered with a city/state.
Sometimes, those jurisdictions will limit that number. Being able to swap the FCU among grip modules and matching barrels/slides allows the owner to stretch the P320’s utility to fit a variety of situations.
Flexibility Brings Variety
This flexibility is what also allows Sig Sauer to introduce a variety of models in the P320 series. This includes both metal and polymer frames without having to come up with a brand-new design for each pistol.
In the case of the P320 AXG Classic, it comes with classic walnut grips that fit on a Carry AXG grip module, which natively hosts Sig’s double-stack, 17-round magazines. In fact, the kit comes with three 17-round magazines as well as a challenge coin. If you’re into that sort of thing.
The frontstrap of the grip module is checkered to facilitate a positive grip. And there’s a little more classic visual appeal with a walnut insert for the backstrap. Additionally, while flat-faced triggers are all the rage these days, the FCU for the AXG Classic sports a curved, Short Reset Trigger (SRT) in keeping with the classic concept.
Modern Aspects of the P320 AXG Classic
Despite its moniker, the P320 AXG Classic is a thoroughly modern pistol. Specifically, beginning with its striker-fired operating system, allowing a consistent 4.75-pound pull (sample average) of the trigger before the break.
The aluminum grip module features a hard-anodized finish and includes an ambidextrous slide stop and reversible magazine release for left-handed shooters. And like most modern fighting pistols, it also integrates a Picatinny rail to mount accessories such as a weapon light.
Up top, the stainless-steel slide features a Nitron finish as well as fore and aft cocking serrations for easy slide manipulation. Among my favorite features of recent Sig pistols are the X-Ray3 Day/Night sights. They offer great visibility and are fast to acquire on the draw.
But the most modern, cutting-edge feature of the AXG Classic is the optics-ready slide. The pistol ships with a cover plate installed, but the slide is drilled and tapped with two sets of holes. These work with Sig’s Romeo1Pro, the Leupold DeltaPoint Pro, and an RMR/SRO—and this is where I hit a snag.
Adding an Optic to the P320 AXG Classic
I had a Trijicon SRO on hand that I wanted to mount. But the standard screws did not work in the slide’s RMR/SRO holes. Sig offers no documentation in the manual on threading or screw sizes. However, after some research, I found a couple of solutions that provide a stable mount for the Trijicon RMR/SRO.
First, I discovered that Sig threads the slide holes with a different pattern from what typical Trijicon screws have. You have to buy Sig’s Sealing Plate Kit for an RMR/SRO to have the correct screws to use with the slide. This set includes two screws and a thin plate to keep moisture out from beneath an RMR.
Instead of leaving it as a mystery/surprise, it would be nice if Sig offered some documentation in the manual or even on the AXG Classic’s web page indicating that special screws are needed and how to get them.
It would be a disappointing experience for a new buyer to have an RMR/SRO ready to go when they bought the AXG Classic but have to wait an additional week or more to get the correct screws.
Heck, just chuck the challenge coin and include the Sealing Plate Kit (or at least the two screws) instead.
Finding the Perfect Optic Fit
Another thing to keep in mind is that the slide is cut to natively fit Sig’s own Romeo1Pro red-dot sight. If you use an RMR/SRO, there’s going to be a bit of a gap between the red-dot housing and the front slide cut.
Since an RMR/SRO doesn’t fit snugly, and since there are no recoil posts available, the only things working to retain zero and to keep the RMR/SRO from flying off the slide are the two screws.
A Sig rep I spoke with said the special screws were designed for this purpose. However, I still wasn’t very comfortable with this somewhat kludgy setup.
So, I did a little more research on the interwebs and found a better solution at C&H Precision Weapons website. This company specializes in milling slides for red-dot optics. And it sells a wide variety of adapter plates for different pistols.
One of the special plates they offer is a filler plate specifically cut to fit Sig Sauer P320 pistols like the X-Series or the AXG Scorpion/Classic that have their slides milled to fit the Romeo1Pro optic and that include additional holes for an RMR or Holosun.
The C&H Precision Filler Plate
The C&H Precision filler plate looks like a standard sealing plate. But it has a flange up front to fit snugly in the AXG Classic’s slide cut. The plate includes recoil posts that you can mount your RMR/SRO to buffer against recoil and to help retain zero. Likewise, the kit also comes with two sets of screws of different lengths and some Loctite.
You simply slide the filler plate into the cut so that the flange tucks under the lip of the slide cut. Then, you set the RMR/SRO on top of that and mount the whole affair with the supplied screws. This results in what feels like a rock-solid optics mounting solution for this particular type of Sig.
The whole journey was a bit of a process. But I finally got the AXG Classic’s optics setup where I wanted it, and I was definitely one happy camper.
Adding the Streamlight TLR-8 A G Light
The only other thing that I felt it needed was a quality weapon light. One of my favorites right now is the Streamlight TLR-8 A G. With that model, you get a green laser that is easy to track during daylight. And you get 500 lumens of output from the LED lamp.
With a reasonable street price of only around $250, you get a quality tool that is shockproof, has an IPX4 water-resistance rating, and comes with a lifetime warranty.
Additionally, the TLR-8 A G offers three modes of operation. It also includes both a high switch and a low switch to match the user’s preference and presentation style. A quality weapon light like this unit is an essential piece of kit, both for identifying and disorienting your target.
When your life or the lives of those you love are on the line, you want every advantage available.
Range Impressions
Before I wrote this article, a couple of my shooting buddies and I had already fired the AXG Classic at the range quite a few times. I’ll just say right up front that the shooting experience with it is just fantastic.
I really, really liked the solid feel of the metal frame during recoil. And the undercut behind the triggerguard makes all the difference. The grip frame felt substantial—more robust than a polymer frame. Likewise, the extra bit of weight helped to soften the recoil even more than usual.
I know I’m not alone, either. I’ve been surprised by the number of people I’ve seen at the range lately with their own AXG Classics. It’s quite the hit in these parts. And I’ve never seen so many people with a new-to-market pistol in such a short period of time.
One of the reasons for this pistol’s popularity is its stellar accuracy. I’ve heard reports and seen photos from local shooters who extol the Classic’s shootability and how tight the groups are. They’re not wrong, either—at least not after I found the loads that this particular pistol likes.
Starting off, the AXG Classic was averaging 1.25 to 1.47 inches at 15 yards with Sig’s 124-grain +P NATO load and their 147-grain Elite V-Crown round. The results were OK, but not great.
But when I shot the company’s 124-grain Elite V-Crown offering and Wilson Combat’s 115-grain XTP +P load, things tightened up quite a bit.
The Wilson Combat load won the gold medal with a single best group of 0.90 inch and an average group size of 1.09 inches. That was much better and just shows you have to experiment to find the round your particular pistol likes best.
The P320 AXG Classic Offers Reliable Performance
Thankfully, the AXG Classic’s reliability wasn’t quite that picky. And with everything I’ve shot through it during ten range sessions, there hasn’t been a single malfunction of any kind. It just hums right along, doing its thing.
And like the pistol’s reliability, the controls were just about utter perfection. Sig included its Short Reset Trigger (SRT), which offered a fairly crisp break and minimal travel for the reset.
The magazine release was also built for easy access and operation and just a tad oversized, for a solid feel during engagement. All in all, the P320 AXG Classic is exactly what I wanted and expected when I first heard about it.
A Fantastic Experience with the P320 AXG Classic
Apart from the speed bump with mounting the SRO properly, my experience with the Sig Sauer P320 AXG has been fantastic. Even with the hiccup, it was still worth the extra time and patience that I invested.
It ticks all the boxes for me by being visually appealing, very reliable, and exceedingly accurate with its preferred ammunition. On top of that, despite its “classic” styling, it has all the latest features you’d want in a fighting pistol. And it feels absolutely superb in the hand during firing.
The Sig Sauer P320 AXG Classic might not be your first choice as a concealed-carry pistol, but you could still pull it off with the right holster/belt rig and proper clothing.
However, with its 17-round magazines and the ability to mount quality accessories to give you that extra fighting edge, the Classic is an ideal platform for use at your business or at home, where you’re defending what matters most.
At an MSRP of around $1,330, the AXG Classic isn’t cheap. But it’s definitely a pistol you’ll be proud to own and love to shoot for the rest of your life.
For more information, please visit SigSauer.com.
Specifications: SIG SAUER P320 AXG CLASSIC
Caliber: 9mm
Barrel: 3.9 inches
Overall Length: 7.4 inches
Weight: 31.3 ounces (empty)
Grips: Walnut
Sights: X-Ray3 Day/Night
Action: Striker-fired
Finish: Nitron/anodized
Capacity: 17+1
MSRP: $1,330
Performance
| LOAD | VELOCITY | ACCURACY |
| Sig Sauer 124 Elite V-Crown | 1,095 | 0.96 |
| Sig Sauer 147 Elite V-Crown | 888 | 1.06 |
| Sig Sauer M17 124 +P | 1,121 | 1.25 |
| Wilson Combat 115 XTP +P | 1,172 | 1.09 |
Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in feet per second (fps) and accuracy in inches for best 5-shot groups from 15 yards.
This article was originally published in the Personal Defense World October/November 2021 issue. Subscription is available in print and digital editions at OutdoorGroupStore.com. Or call 1-800-284-5668, or email subscriptions@athlonmediagroup.com.
