Everyone who has spent time in the gun community knows that Sig Sauer makes innovative, cool and reliable firearms. As a radically self-defense-minded guy who cares most about guns going “bang” when they need to, that reliability matters. It explains why I own too many Sigs.
But I still appreciate sexiness and beauty when they’re the icing on the cake. The P320 AXG Equinox delivered both the moment I opened its Sig Custom Works case. I made the sort of noises normally reserved for a rare-plus elk steak. It felt like John Travolta opening the glowing briefcase in Pulp Fiction.
Then there is the two-tone slide, its polished stainless steel narrowing aggressively from back to front. If a future mission ever brings the Mars Rover home, this is the pistol I expect to find mounted under its dashboard—something cut from space metal unknown to us.
Looks were only the start. I ran 250 rounds through the Equinox, shot steel at 15 yards, fired offhand at 50 and put it through the timed James Jarrett Expert Qualification Course to see whether all that sexiness could do real work.
- You want showpiece looks without giving up performance
- You value a great trigger and confident handling
- It is heavier than a polymer-framed P320
- SIG now lists it as a past model
SIG P320 AXG Equinox Design and Controls
Speaking of metal, the Sig Sauer P320 AXG Equinox is a steel-frame version of the traditional polymer-frame gun that won the coveted U.S. Army contract. Only a tough gun wins that contract, but this steel frame makes the P320 AXG Equinox that much tougher. Importantly, the added weight reduces the effects of recoil, allowing the front sight to return faster to the target for follow-up shots. If you like to go up against friends on the plate rack at the local range, they might argue that Equinox gives you an unfair advantage.
The large, checkered push-button-style magazine release makes speed reloads almost flub-proof. There is no chance the steel magazines will do anything but vacate the magazine well in a hurry at the command input of the primary hand thumb. Even my medium-sized hands are able to easily access the release with only the slightest outward rotation of the pistol. The little things matter to me, and there is a lot to love about this magazine release. By the way, this and all other controls are nickel-plated for a classy touch.
For another take on this metal-grip P320 formula, our SIG P320 AXG Scorpion review covers another limited-edition Custom Works version of the platform.
SIG P320 AXG Equinox Trigger: A Custom Feel
The XSeries trigger is flat-faced and skeletonized with a single cutout to enhance the custom look. A great trigger is subjective to be sure, but I would argue that this particular trigger from Sig is the best of the striker-fired pistols on the market. The initial take-up is exceptionally short up to a well-defined stopping point. The break is smooth and consistent. Reset is short and efficient. It is impossible to praise it enough. It made me more excited than usual to get to the range.
The black-anodized AXG Carry grip module with stainless-steel screws round out the appearance of the package perfectly. Importantly, the texture on the module along with the aggressive checkering on the front strap take the “oh-it-was-slipping-around-in-my-sweaty-hands” excuse away from the owner whose recoil anticipation problems allow a few shots to go astray on the range. This only enhances the experience provided by one of the few pistol frames that feels as if it was custom-designed for my hands. At this moment, only one other comes to mind.
For a more performance-focused version of the metal-grip P320, see our SIG P320 AXG Legion review.
SIG P320 AXG Equinox Sights and Optics
The pistol immediately felt right the first time I took hold of it. After verifying its unloaded condition, as we do whenever we pick up any gun, I hastily pointed it at the nose of a deer mount in my FFL’s office. The X-Ray3 Day/Night Sights with the U-notch rear were perfectly on target without even the slightest movement of my hands. The bold, green front dot absolutely drew my eyes to it. I want a front sight that screams at me, and this one does. As their name would suggest, the sights have tritium inserts for effective use in low-light conditions.
Of course, this is of less consequence to an owner who chooses to mount an optic in the space atop the slide designed for it. Sig has done a good job with its simple optics mounting system. Sig’s own ROMEO1PRO and ROMEO2 are compatible optics along with the DeltaPoint Pro from Leupold and the RMR from Trijicon. An owner can’t go wrong with any of these options.
SIG P320 AXG Equinox Slide Lock and Takedown Lever
Two of the virtually unrecognized, or at least underappreciated, components of many Sig guns are the slide lock and takedown levers. The slide-lock lever is exceptionally easy to manipulate. I am old-school and use it only to administratively hold the slide open or practice Class-3 malfunction clearances. For those who use it to complete reloads, this beefy, but out-of-the-way lever, is a game changer. Unlike this move using a number of other pistols considered P320 competition, it cannot be botched with this gun.
Moving on to the takedown lever, righthanded shooters are able to position the left-hand thumb on the sizeable ledge it offers. This allows the shooter to place downward pressure with the thumb to help control muzzle flip. Of course, this facilitates faster, more accurate follow-up shots. Too many guns simply do not allow any purchase for this thumb, and it ends up along for the ride with nothing good to do.
SIG P320 AXG Equinox Range Test and Results
Shooting this pistol was pure pleasure. After having fun with some steel at 15 yards, I shot my favorite James Jarrett Expert Qualification Course from my college days at Arizona State. The times from draw are a high-pressure stress test, and a premium is placed on accuracy using the Jarrett target.
Shooting better than 95 percent is a true accomplishment, and this gun gave me a 98 percent. It is one of the best showings I’ve had in 30 years. I then shot a full 17-round magazine off-hand at a 12-inch steel plate at 50 yards with only four misses that were on me. A total of 250 rounds were fired before returning the pistol to its quality combination-lock travel case. For filing in the “no surprises” department, there were zero malfunctions. It’s a Sig.
Is the SIG P320 AXG Equinox Worth It?
Sig Sauer clearly does not mean for this limited edition version of the P320 to go to every one of its millions of customers. It is intended to go to the dedicated fan or discerning collector. It gives true meaning to the term “functional art.” However, its sexiness cannot be allowed to detract from its exceptionally great performance as a pistol meant for real work on the range or as a personal defense tool.
Sig Sauer P320 AXG Equinox Review: Final Verdict and Score
- 250 rounds fired with zero malfunctions
- Scored 98% on the Jarrett qualification course
- Two-tone slide and nickel-plated controls
- Flat XSeries trigger has a short, defined reset
- Takedown lever ledge helps control muzzle flip
- Steel frame settles recoil noticeably
- Limited edition aimed at collectors, not everyone
- 30.3 ounces is heavy for a 3.9-inch barrel
- Product Origin
- Manufacturer sample (supplied by SIG Custom Works)
- Test Type
- Range (steel at 15 yards; Jarrett Expert Qualification Course from the draw; steel plate at 50 yards)
- Rounds Fired
- 250
- Magazines
- 17-round steel
- Accessories
- None (factory X-Ray3 sights; no optic mounted)
- Tested By
- Darren Lee
- Action
- Recoil-operated, striker-fired, semi-automatic
- Chambering
- 9mm Luger
- Slide
- Stainless steel, Equinox polished two-tone, front and rear cocking serrations
- Frame
- Stainless steel
- Barrel Type
- Carbon steel, 1:10 twist
- Barrel Length
- 3.9 inches
- Magazine
- Steel with orange follower, 17-round standard, 10-round where restricted
- Sights
- X-Ray3 day/night tritium with U-notch rear
- Trigger
- XSeries flat, nickel-coated, 5 lb
- Width
- 1.3 inches
- Overall Length
- 7.4 inches
- Height
- 5.5 inches
- Weight
- 30.3 ounces with unloaded magazine
- Accessories
- Rail; XSeries red dot cut for ROMEO1PRO, ROMEO2, DeltaPoint Pro, RMR
- MSRP
- $1,199.99
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