If you own a P320 or P250 then you should get the LIMA5. Since the P320 and P250 both have fire control units as the registered firearm component, the grip modules are interchangeable. You can get a LIMA5 to upgrade your P320 or P250 to have an integral visible laser built right into the grip module.

Upgrade Your P320 With A LIMA5

The LIMA5 aka LIMA320 is a compact grip module that is “Not compatible with the .45ACP or Manual Safety variation of the P320“, according to SIG Sauer. I have an M17 and it has a manual safety. I looked at the factory M17 grip module and noticed that the LIMA5 grip module could easily accommodate the same slots for the ambidextrous manual safety. I mocked up similar slots using a silver sharpie.

I used a cordless drill and drill bit that has a diameter similar to the factory M17 safety slots. I then drilled a hole into the side of the LIMA5 grip module near the bottom of the slot. I drilled one side at a time. Then I used a set of side cutters to cut the rest of the plastic above the drilled holes to complete the manual safety slot.

I overestimated the length of the slot so the right side is a little bit longer than the left side. But this is not a cause for concern. It is fully functional. While there is a tiny gap just below the right-hand safety lever, there are bigger gaps like between the slide and frame. The gap is blocked by the actual fire control unit so even if dirt gets in that gap, it will not affect the function of the P320 M17.

LIMA5, A Laser Designed Around The P320

The LIMA5 is an integrated laser grip module. The laser emitter is situated directly below the recoil spring so it is as close to the muzzle as possible. There are recoil guide rod lasers but activation on those are not as easy as the LIMA5.

The beauty of the LIMA5 is that it was designed from the ground up rather than merely attaching a laser to a gun. As mentioned above, the laser emitter is built into the dust cover of the grip module. The activation button is built into the middle of the grip so you squeeze it with your middle finger.

The LIMA5 is powered by a single 3V CR-1/3N battery which is installed into the butt of the pistol grip.

Why A Laser And Not A Light, Why Not Both?

I typically advocate shooters who use a pistol for home defense or CCW to have a weapon light. Identifying your target is critical. However, after taking two low light courses, with OP Tempo Training and GCS Training Group, I have learned that you might not always be able to deploy your weapon light simply due to the fact you might not be able to operate your handgun with two hands.

According to Matt Harden of OP Tempo training, who is a firearm instructor and member of SWAT for his Police Department, Officer Involved Shootings (OIS) that happen in low light situations typically have an object in the officer’s hand and said officer needs to immediately deploy a handgun. Often the object in their support hand is a handheld flashlight. They use flashlights all the time for administrative purposes. Ever get pulled over at night? Officers approach the vehicle with a flashlight.

There is a study about an instinctive response regarding grasping an object already in our hands while falling. When our brain perceives danger often we grip our hands very tightly. Especially when we fall. It is not the falling that causes us to grip tighter but the awareness that our body is in danger. This same effect happens when our body alarm response kicks in. So when you have a light in your hand, your body will grasp it tighter and you will be so focused on getting your handgun out to fight the immediate threat to you or someone else that you will forget to let go of the light and just take the shot.

So both the OP Tempo and GCS low light courses stressed on shooting and manipulating a handgun with a flashlight in your support hand. It is good practice to shoot an awkward shooting style like these classes. So where does the laser come into play? Speed. I am much faster getting my “sights” on target than using the iron sights or even a slide mounted red dot.

Since the classes stressed on utilizing a handheld light for illumination, I decided to use the LIMA5 to practice using a laser one-handed. The LIMA5 was extremely useful when it came time to shoot a course of fire involving barricades and awkward shooting positions.

As long as your laser is zeroed properly, all you need to do is squeeze the activation button, in this case, grip the pistol tighter and the laser turns on. Then point the laser where you want the bullet to go and press the trigger. Someone said, “Lasers project your sights downrange”. The best part about this feature? You do not need to be behind the gun or even look down your sights on the pistol.

In the beginning half of the GCS Training low light class, I ran an STI Staccato XC with a dual powered RMR mounted on it. While I have plenty of trigger time with a slide mounted red dot, I do not practice one-handed manipulation with them. So I found finding my dot slow and awkward. Not the case with my M17 LIMA5. Squeeze, point, press the trigger.

Above is the instructor @10_zero_concepts showing how to shoot the second position on this barricade. Here is a perfect opportunity to cheat with a laser.

I would like to thank all the USPSA matches I have shot to give me the experience to do this. LOL. For this particular barricade, we had to shoot one target above the cardboard sticking out the side. Then shoot a second target below the cardboard. See #1 and #2 positioned indicated on the cardboard.

In order to shoot the #2 position, some people went urban prone and laid down sideways. Some of the students were more flexible than others and were able to perform an Asian/Slav squat to see and shoot under the cardboard.

I cheated and looked through the hole in the barricade. Stuck my handheld light around the left edge for a clear sight picture. Then stuck my M17 LIMA5 around the right side to aim the laser and take the shot.

 

Final Thoughts

I am sure some of you are thinking “why not just get a weapon light with a laser built into it?”. While that is a good option, think about how you would activate the light and laser with only one hand? Light discipline and laser discipline are things you should take into consideration. You don’t want to leave your light or laser on all the time. In the context of these classes where you have to use a handheld flashlight to illuminate the targets then an integrated laser is like cheating and who needs to fight fair in a gunfight?

When the LIMA5 first came out there were rumors of a dedicated light that could mount under the laser. Just below the laser is a removable plate.

Here is the plate removed. Since the LIMA5 has been out, SIG has not made a light for it. I think they should make a simple accessory railed plate to replace this cover plate. That way you can attach any aftermarket weapon light onto the LIMA5. Even though I spent this article telling you that you might not use a weapon light, it does not hurt to have one. Said replacement plate is not a difficult part to make and should be included with the LIMA5.

The LIMA5 laser grip module is a compact frame. So the grip is shorter and the dust cover is shorter. Not a big issue since my M17 magazines work in it. But you can tell SIG Sauer intended the LIMA5 for CCW use.

The LIMA5 has an MSRP of $329.99 for the red laser version or $389.99 for the green laser version. They are both 5mW visible lasers and are eye-safe. I would prefer a version molded in tan and to have factory slots for the manual safety. If you EDC (Every Day Carry) a handheld light and CCW a P320 then the LIMA5 might be something to look into. Get one and practice using it, it can be very helpful getting your sights on target faster and give you more options when shooting from awkward positions and cover.

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