SIG P250 vs P320

[jpruitt]

My recent search for a new high(er)-capacity 9mm has led me to these two guns. They appear to be pretty much identical except one is hammer-fired and one is striker-fired. Does anyone have experience with both who can compare them to each other? From what I've been able to gather the P320 might have a "nicer" trigger than the P250. Are there any other notable differences?

More specifically, I can get the 250 for about $100 less than the 320. Is the 320 worth $100 more?

(FYI, I am interested in the compact models of both)

 

[zaitcev]

From what I've been able to gather the P320 might have a "nicer" trigger than the P250.

"Nice" is not very descriptive. The problem with trigger on P250 is that its travel is extremely long even for a hammer-fired pistol. For a comparison, have a taste of one of larger Kahr pistols (which are not hammer fired, but have long trigger travel), Boberg, or HK USP with LEM. In my personal opinion, P250 is a poor implementation. SiG could've done better. Note that it's more difficult to pull long triggers on a pistol because of a different shape of a grip from a revolver (they vary, of course, but...).

I could live with a P250, but I would not enjoy it. And honestly, I would prefer them to improve P250 (like Walther did with TFX/Creed), but they chose to replace it wholesale with P320.

Is the difference worth $100? IMHO, it's not, purely because of ammo prices. $100 is something like 300 rounds worth - visit the range 2 times and you're even between the P250 and P320. If one were $900 and another were $300, I could've gone with P250. It's useable, safe, and reliable gun that will work.

 

[pblanc]

Well, I own two P320s and one P250. The P250 is a subcompact 9mm. One P320 is a 9mm compact and the other is a full-size .45 ACP.

Although the two pistols share grip modules and magazines, they are very different animals. Now they will feel about the same in hand, point the same, and handle recoil the same, but the trigger action makes them feel very different indeed.

The P250 has a spurless hammer. Like most all hammer-fired double action only (DAO) pistols, the trigger press needs to be quite long to swing the hammer through its full arc and release it. The trigger has a little bit of takeup and then a long but relatively smooth press with just a bit of stacking. By the time the sear has released the hammer, the trigger will be very nearly back to the frame at the back end of the trigger guard. The reset is likewise quite long, nearly as long as the first trigger press.

The P320 is a striker-action pistol with a much shorter trigger press. It feels quite a bit lighter than the P250 trigger press but the difference is probably less than you would guess. The P250 has second-strike capability. The P320 does not.

Most shooters have an easier time mastering the trigger of a striker-action pistol. Without good trigger control, it is relatively difficult to keep the sights aligned and on-target during the long DAO trigger press. The long reset also makes it more difficult to shoot rapid strings. Still, many feel that the DAO trigger offers an element of safety against accidental discharges since it requires such a long and deliberate pull. The hammer of the DAO pistol can also be ridden with the thumb while reholstering, offering additional insurance against an accidental discharge resulting from a foreign object entering the trigger guard.

The P250 has a good trigger as hammer-fired DAO pistols go and the P320 has a good trigger as striker-action pistols go. But the difference between the two is quite fundamental.

 

[Old Dog]

Is the difference worth $100? IMHO, it's not, purely because of ammo prices. $100 is something like 300 rounds worth - visit the range 2 times and you're even between the P250 and P320.

So you're saying that the difference is NOT worth the extra $100, go with the P-250 and buy more ammo because the 250 is "adequate?"

I firmly disagree with that. At some point, one simply has to go with better tools. Especially if one wants his tools to last and work well, all the time. Professionals don't buy their tools from Harbor Freight, and citizens shouldn't buy firearms because they're merely adequate. Yes, certainly, having more ammo (and hence presumably more ammo to train with) is quite important. But being able to buy an extra four hundred rounds of 9mm ball shouldn't be the sole reason to buy an inferior or lesser pistol.

The P-320 is proving to be an accurate (and mostly reliable -- there were some earlier issues reported, but SIG seems to have resolved them), splendidly ergonomic, light, versatile (due to its modular system) platform with arguably (read subjectively) one of the two best triggers of all the striker-fired pistols out there. Still, I believe, in the running for the military's new sidearm, and already adopted by a myriad of law enforcement agencies. The P-250 is fine for someone who's not a dedicated shooter, but frankly, meh, not one of SIG's top-of-the-line offerings.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I would not buy a P250 but I did buy a P320. The trigger is important to me and the upper is nicer looking on the P320 IMO. I like the gun...

 

[jpruitt]

So you're saying that the difference is NOT worth the extra $100, go with the P-250 and buy more ammo because the 250 is "adequate?"

I think he was saying the opposite, that once you go to the range a couple of times with the 250 you have spent as much as you would have on the 320 so you may as well get the 320.

 

[Nuclear]

A really good trigger is easily worth $100, and the 320 has a really good trigger, while the 250 is merely adequate. The other thing to consider is support and aftermarket. The 320 is new and replaces the 250, so there will be more support by Sig and more aftermarket options, like holsters.

 

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

The P250 has a really nice double action trigger and the P320 has a really nice striker fire trigger. The issue with the P250 is that it's long trigger is very easy to short stroke. The P320 is very easily worth the extra money. The P250 was never really well received yet many people have been switching from Glocks to the P320.

 

[grumpy]

My recent search for a new high(er)-capacity 9mm has led me to these two guns. They appear to be pretty much identical except one is hammer-fired and one is striker-fired. Does anyone have experience with both who can compare them to each other? From what I've been able to gather the P320 might have a "nicer" trigger than the P250. Are there any other notable differences?

More specifically, I can get the 250 for about $100 less than the 320. Is the 320 worth $100 more?

(FYI, I am interested in the compact models of both)

I have both and for me, it's like a choice between a light saber and a blaster.
It took a bit of practice but my 250 (for me) is just so smooth and accurate it is what I carry in 357 Sig.
The 320 is faster, along the lines of a 226/229 and I like the trigger better than the glock I am required to use.
Although as previously mentioned short stroking is a concern with the 250. Your mileage may vary. Depends on what your using it for. Both shoot very easy and comfortably in 9mm.

 

[gc70]

The P250 is a DAO hammer-fired gun with a long trigger pull/reset and restrike capability.
The P320 is a pre-tensioned striker-fired gun with a short trigger pull/reset without restrike capability.
Both models have the same trigger pull weight.

The P250's multi-caliber versions are interchangeable between .22LR, .380ACP, 9mm, .40S&W, and .357SIG.
The P320's multi-caliber versions are interchangeable between 9mm, .40S&W, and .357SIG.
Both models are available in .45ACP versions with caliber-specific grip modules to accommodate the larger magazines.
The P320 has a caliber-specific Fire Control Unit for .45ACP.

Both models have very "nice" -but fundamentally different- triggers for their respective types.
The P250 trigger is long and light and feels very much like a very high-quality DA revolver trigger.
The P320 trigger is short and crisp and comparable to the best available triggers on striker-fired guns.

Is the P320 worth $100 more than the P250?
Yes, if you want a shorter, faster trigger for easier use, particularly for a variety of guns games.
No, if you want a reliable self defense gun with a longer trigger pull for an extra margin of safety.

I like both, so I chose to not choose between them.

 

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

The P250 is a DAO hammer-fired gun with a long trigger pull/reset and restrike capability.

Both models are available in .45ACP versions with caliber-specific Fire Control Units and grip modules.


View attachment 225414

The P250 can switch from a 9mm to a .45acp.

 

[gc70]

The P250 can switch from a 9mm to a .45acp.

Thanks for catching that; that was very careless of me, even at midnight.

Both models are available in .45ACP versions with caliber-specific grip modules to accommodate the larger magazines. The P320 has a caliber-specific Fire Control Unit for .45ACP.

 

[SlowFuse]

I have both and will be the oddball here and say I prefer the 250. It could be because I had about 4 years/5K rounds to warm up to it. It has a great smooth dao trigger, but I can appreciate the 320 trigger also.

If you're used to most striker fired firearms you won't like the dao trigger of the P250. That IMO is why this pistol gets a bad reputation. It takes some getting used to.

 

[481]

Went with the 320 after comparing both merely for the shorter/crisper trigger. Otherwise, both are excellent guns.

 

[JR24]

Owned a 250, only tried the 320 in the store.

I liked the 250 well enough, even with the long trigger pull. The thing that irritated me was the long reset, which led me to short stroke the trigger when shooting rapidly. Probably something that I could have gotten over, but I ended up getting a screaming deal in trade for my 250 (which I got for a screaming deal to start with).

The 320 has a really nice trigger, IMO, and I like everything else about the fit and feel of the gun. If I hadn't already spent money on holsters and mags for my carry Glocks I would seriously look at the 320 as an excellent all around platform. Might still if I find some spare money laying around, but life circumstances dictate that'll be years down the road.

 

[jjones45]

If you follow the rules of handling firearms and practice with your firearm then the 320 is the better trigger system by a long shot. I mean it's not even close. If you are an amateur or not competent in trigger finger discipline and need the added safety of a longer dao trigger pull and reset then the 250 is your ticket. Or if you're a revolver guy or just prefer a dao trigger then the 250 will be more appealing. No matter what others say, the 320 will be easier to shoot accurately with and faster with. It's just the nature of the trigger. Not saying you can't shoot the 250 accurately, it's just gonna take more concentration. I'm to the point where I like guns that are EASY to shoot with. If I have to work too hard or pay too close attention to shooting fundamentals to shoot accurately with a handgun it goes bye bye. As a matter of fact when I want to challenge myself I get my revolvers out and shoot them in da