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Over the last few years, SIG has come out with a number of variations of their P320 line. The beauty of the P320 system is the removable fire control unit, so you can really design whatever kind of handgun you want in a given situation. Whether it’s a full-size range gun, compensated project gun or a small carry handgun, the P320 can be turned into any of those. SIG’s newest addition is the P320 AXG Scorpion. Let’s take a deeper dive into this newest addition of the P320 line.
Specs
SIG’s new AXG (Alloy XSeries Grip) Scorpion comes out Custom Works division of the company which is where most of the premium handguns come from. The real party piece of the AXG is its metal alloy frame that makes the gun feel like some of SIG’s original P-series handguns. SIG decided to take the best aspects of various models and combine them all into their newest addition, the AXG Scorpion. Every AXG will come with the skeletonized trigger out of the Legion series, the updated X-RAY3 night sights and optics plate from the RXP line, and finished off with their new alloy frame.
The new AXG frame comes with G10 grips from Hogue. SIG decided to make the AXG grip module in the Carry size, which means it will support a compact slide with a 3.9″ barrel, but will also accept 17 round magazines that fit flush or the extended 21 round magazines. This particular model is chambered in 9mm and came in an upgraded lockable hard case with three 17 round magazines. SIG has set the MSRP of the AXG at $999.99 but with the current climate, I have seen them going anywhere from $1,199.99 to 1,399.99. The price bump on the retail side puts it in contending with some of SIG’s Legion P-series handguns so let’s take a look at how it performed at the range.
Range Time
Shooting during an ammo shortage can be tricky, to say the least, but I still devoted 1,800 rounds of 9mm for this review. The biggest question I had when testing this AXG Scorpion is if the additional cost was worth it when it came to features and overall experience. Throughout my time with the AXG Scorpion, I shot static targets, put it through a number of transition drills where we changed shooting positions quickly and even took it into a shoot house course. During all of the range sessions, I kept thinking to myself how the AXG felt like a full-size gun when it came to shooting.
The Carry size frame made it feel similar to a Glock 45 but the added weight meant it was extremely controllable. I think it was a combination of the shorter compact slide and full-size grip but the recoil impulse was less than its polymer alternative. It kind of took me boy surprise just how easy it was to shoot accurately when I wanted to pick up the cadence speed. During the range sessions that I tested accuracy I consistently got a 1″ average size at 26 yards. Some days I had slightly smaller groups where other days I had just over 1″ but I was shooting with gloves and chalk it up to me not shooting well that day.
Best of Both Worlds
Probably one of my favorite things about the AXG is how easy it is to shoot like a full-size handgun. It’s incredibly easy to throw a weapon light and extended magazine on it and using it like a full-size duty gun. The AXG fits that compact but full-size role and can be a bit of a hybrid. The skeletonized Legion trigger has been tuned and perfected so it’s heavy enough to be in a duty gun but light enough to be a really nice trigger straight out of the box. It’s not super light like the Competition trigger from Gray Guns but as a factory trigger, it’s very very good.
Carrying The AXG Scorpion
I wasn’t exactly sure how the AXG would be as a compact carry handgun. Typically, my carry guns are either a Glock 19 or SIG P226 Elite, so having the extra weight on the AXG wasn’t a tough transition for me. The original XCompact is very comfortable to carry in the summer months and I was curious to see how it felt compared to its polymer framed relative.
For the last month or so, I decided to make the AXG my main carry gun. The overall goal was to see how the AXG Scorpion felt compared to other models. Honestly, I was surprised at how it didn’t feel cumbersome compared to something like a Legion 229 or its polymer framed brother. The FDE Cerakote finish held up well to wear and I don’t have any holster wear from carrying it daily.
Having an optics cut already on the slide is a nice option to have if I decide to throw a red dot on it down the road. For testing though, I decided to just use the X-Ray3 night sights. Some may not like the full-size frame for a carry option, but I found the AXG to be really enjoyable to conceal all day. If you don’t want the full-size frame, you can always switch to the compact or subcompact frame since it has a Fire Control Unit.
Overall Thoughts
I have tried a number of the new P320s from SIG over the last few years, and I can confidently say this is by far the most refined 320 available from SIG today. With the addition of a metal frame, Legion trigger, and the new optics plate separate from the rear sight, it’s a real winner. The main question I get asked about the AXG is whether or not it’s worth the price. That’s a tough question for me since I think it’s real subjective, but in my eyes, I think it’s definitely worth the price.
I carry the P229 Legion a ton during the summer months, and this is a better shooting gun in my opinion. It’s an incredibly flat shooting handgun and I feel more confident carrying the AXG than most pistols I own today. Even after I finished the carry section of this review, I found myself wanting to carry it more than my other handguns which speaks for itself. If you can find one at a local shop, I wouldn’t hesitate to pick it up and they aren’t the easiest to find so you won’t lose money on it in today’s market.
Let me know what you think about the SIG AXG Scorpion in the comments below. Is this a specialized item you would be interested in or does the metal frame turn you off from using it as a range/carry gun? Tell me what you think down below in the comment section. If you have questions feel free to shoot me a message on my Instagram @fridgeoperator. Stay safe out there.
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