sphinx / subcompact?
- Thread starter iverj
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I too am very interested in the Sphinx sc but through lots of research I've held off. This gun seems to have series problems. It appears the the tight tolerances have made ftf all kinds of ammo and recurring problem with the sc. Seems a bit of a crap shoot to get one the is working properly. It appears to be an issue with just the sc. Personally I waiting for about a year of error free issues with this gun. Problem is there are not a lot of people buying these so ultimately you'll just have to trust that Sphinx has corrected this issue.
WVsig
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I own one and had to send it back to Sphinx to get is running right. It is now 100% and is one of my carry guns. My customer service experience was excellent. Took about a 14 days door to door for the gun to come back to me. The issues seems to be with early production guns with tight chambers and slide stops.
If you are looking for one and have a good transfer dealer I have a source with excellent pricing.
On the positive side this gun is tight and is a tack driver. It has a DA pull of 8lbs 10oz and SA 4lbs 10oz. Super smooth and clean. When they run they are hard to beat.
If you are looking for one and have a good transfer dealer I have a source with excellent pricing.
On the positive side this gun is tight and is a tack driver. It has a DA pull of 8lbs 10oz and SA 4lbs 10oz. Super smooth and clean. When they run they are hard to beat.
gregshake2
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I too had a early # (000125) had problems sent it back now runs everything from Tula steel to Barnes sd no problem excellent cc
Pipe Smoker
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There's a very long Sphinx thread in the SIG Pistols section of SigForum. It reports quite a few issues with the SC.
WVsig
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On my Subcompact they replaced the barrel, slide stop, pivot and guide rod. They also replaced the rear sight which had a tool mark on it.
The issues have been with the subcompact only. My Compact ran 100% from day one and I have not heard about any function issues with the Compacts. The fullsized is still vaporware.
Some have complained about the point of aim vs point of impact but I cannot really speak to that. I am a part of that thread on the Sig forum and it has a lot of good info but has become a bit of a whinefest lately.
I have a direct contact at KRISS is who gets back to me quickly if people have specific questions about the pistols.
The issues have been with the subcompact only. My Compact ran 100% from day one and I have not heard about any function issues with the Compacts. The fullsized is still vaporware.
Some have complained about the point of aim vs point of impact but I cannot really speak to that. I am a part of that thread on the Sig forum and it has a lot of good info but has become a bit of a whinefest lately.
I have a direct contact at KRISS is who gets back to me quickly if people have specific questions about the pistols.
I have a SIG P229 in 9mm that I love and was thinking of adding another high-quality 9mm to my collection. This Sphinx came up in searching.
For about the same price, can anyone compare the quality and accuracy of a good SIG with the Sphinx SDP? I've never used a CZ75 so I can't compare...but how is it on field stripping and cleaning? That was one of the things that sold me on the P229 many years ago.
For about the same price, can anyone compare the quality and accuracy of a good SIG with the Sphinx SDP? I've never used a CZ75 so I can't compare...but how is it on field stripping and cleaning? That was one of the things that sold me on the P229 many years ago.
Walt Sherrill
Member
I have a stock Sphinx SDP, with a 17 lb. CZ compact hammer spring installed. (That takes about two minutes to do -- its easy.)
I picked up a Cajun Gun Works Spring Kit for the SDP, but I haven't bothered to install those springs, yet. I may, eventually. The lighter hammer spring sort of fixed things for me. The factory DA and SA triggers are heavy, but very, very smooth. A bit too heavy for me -- hence the CZ compact hammer spring.
I also have a low-mileage SIG P228r that has been worked over by Gray Guns, including the Gray Guns Reduced Reset Comprehensive Duty Package which now runs about $325 (or so) plus shipping there. (That work, plus Heinie Straight 8 Sights) was done before I bought it.) It's a very nice shooting gun.
Note: I've had several SIG P226s over the years (including a P-226 X-Five in .40), for some reason, they don't work for me. I like the P228 and P220 better.
In most respects, the Sphinx and tuned P228 are very similar. Both are a pleasure to shoot, and both are VERY accurate. Their triggers are similar, with the SIG (after GG magic) being a little lighter, but no smoother. A stock P228 (or M11a1) (or P226) would not be as nice as either of these guns. My SDP is stock, the P228 is far from it.
One advantage of the SIG over the Sphinx is after-market support, but with the Sphinx hammer spring change there may be little need for after-market support -- maybe different sights, down the road, or finding a holster that you like. There are holsters available for the SDP.
SIG mags by Mec-Gar are cheaper than Sphinx mags, but the Sphinx SDP can use Canik Stingray-C 9mm 15rd Magazine that are available for as little as $25 each. I got a couple for my SDP from J&G Sales. (You may have to trim a little plastic off the top of the mag's base plate for it to fit the grip properly, but there plenty of plastic and no risk of making the baseplate inoperable. These mags also work in the CZ P-07.)
I like both guns, and in terms of dollars, I think the Sphinx might be a little better deal if you can buy one without paying full, high-end of retail. If I had to give one of them up, tomorrow, I don't know which one it would be.
I picked up a Cajun Gun Works Spring Kit for the SDP, but I haven't bothered to install those springs, yet. I may, eventually. The lighter hammer spring sort of fixed things for me. The factory DA and SA triggers are heavy, but very, very smooth. A bit too heavy for me -- hence the CZ compact hammer spring.
I also have a low-mileage SIG P228r that has been worked over by Gray Guns, including the Gray Guns Reduced Reset Comprehensive Duty Package which now runs about $325 (or so) plus shipping there. (That work, plus Heinie Straight 8 Sights) was done before I bought it.) It's a very nice shooting gun.
Note: I've had several SIG P226s over the years (including a P-226 X-Five in .40), for some reason, they don't work for me. I like the P228 and P220 better.
In most respects, the Sphinx and tuned P228 are very similar. Both are a pleasure to shoot, and both are VERY accurate. Their triggers are similar, with the SIG (after GG magic) being a little lighter, but no smoother. A stock P228 (or M11a1) (or P226) would not be as nice as either of these guns. My SDP is stock, the P228 is far from it.
One advantage of the SIG over the Sphinx is after-market support, but with the Sphinx hammer spring change there may be little need for after-market support -- maybe different sights, down the road, or finding a holster that you like. There are holsters available for the SDP.
SIG mags by Mec-Gar are cheaper than Sphinx mags, but the Sphinx SDP can use Canik Stingray-C 9mm 15rd Magazine that are available for as little as $25 each. I got a couple for my SDP from J&G Sales. (You may have to trim a little plastic off the top of the mag's base plate for it to fit the grip properly, but there plenty of plastic and no risk of making the baseplate inoperable. These mags also work in the CZ P-07.)
I like both guns, and in terms of dollars, I think the Sphinx might be a little better deal if you can buy one without paying full, high-end of retail. If I had to give one of them up, tomorrow, I don't know which one it would be.
Walt Sherrill
Member
Pretty much the same. They're both decocker, DA/SA guns with steel slides, alloy frames (or in the case of the SDP, a two-part frame with alloy on top and polymer below.)
If you like CZ ergonomics, you'll like the Sphinx a little better, but most folks won't notice a difference. The SDP comes with three different grips -- pick the one you like.
You need to hold them and try the triggers -- remember that you'll probably want to swap out the hammer spring on the stock SDP and go to something lighter. (Wolff Springs has what you need.) The SDP trigger in stock form is heavier than a P-226 or P-228.
If you like CZ ergonomics, you'll like the Sphinx a little better, but most folks won't notice a difference. The SDP comes with three different grips -- pick the one you like.
You need to hold them and try the triggers -- remember that you'll probably want to swap out the hammer spring on the stock SDP and go to something lighter. (Wolff Springs has what you need.) The SDP trigger in stock form is heavier than a P-226 or P-228.
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Likewise, I've never seen one in any LGS in S.E. PA, including the one listed as a stocking dealer on the KRISS USA website. I was just there on Sunday, and they do not have any Sphinx pistols, and they don't plan on carrying Sphinx pistols. This LGS / LGR moved to a new facility 8 months ago, yet the website still shows the old address. Wouldn't it be nice if they had a Sphinx T&E gun to rent on the indoor range? Why yes it would be, but it ain't happening!
Then Sig introduces the Legion line of pistols, and my attention is now officially distracted
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Walt Sherrill
Member
You might try contacting KRISS, the importer, for the location of the nearest dealer. They're still in the process of getting a dealer network established.
You'll see the guns on GunBroker from time to time and you can watch for them, there. The prices are often quite reasonable.
You'll see the guns on GunBroker from time to time and you can watch for them, there. The prices are often quite reasonable.
I hear you and what you say makes common sense and is so noted. I see the adverts for these guns in the gun rags all the time. I'm not responsible for the accuracy of the company website. I don't get down to many of the stocking gun stores located where my PA License to Carry isn't valid, such as Delaware, Maryland or (God forbid) New Jersey, it costs a lot more to buy firearms out-of-state, but I might do a road trip one day.
But when one of the biggest firearms dealers in the country shows no interest in stocking these Sphinx pistols, what are you supposed to think? I have no doubt these are excellent, well made firearms, but I'm touchy-feely when it comes to firearms. KRISS USA needs to do a better job marketing what is apparently an excellent quality product!
Walt Sherrill
Member
JDR said:
Then, too, in addition to your travel costs, you've got to pay to have it shipped home, 'cause unless you're an FFL you're not going to take a handgun with you.
JDR said:
Some brands just don't get the coverage or the interest they ought to get. It was the same way with CZs when I got my first one back in the late 90's. It's no longer a problem with CZs, but its just been in the last 5-6 years that CZ handguns have started to really get the attention that some of us think they deserve. The Sphinx line has almost always flown under the radar -- originally because of their very high prices. They are far better known in Europe, but they were always semi-custom guns. The SDP line is a major revision of an older design, upgraded to allow for more cost-effective mass production. reducing the need for so much hand work. I don't really notice that much of a difference in fit, finish, or function. Then, too, I suspect that Kriss and Sphinx are still trying to get the pipeline filled, and Kriss is probably having growing pains, too.
Buds, one of the big gun dealers, has bunches of FNS and FNX models available, and they're only a little bit better known than Sphinx. But you don't find the FN guns a lot of other places. That said, I'd argue that one reason big dealers are big is that they don't waste time, staff, or inventory on guns they think won't move quickly. They're like car dealers -- they have to keep the merchandise moving. I'm not sure that Kriss/Sphinx is all that well known, or that the gunmaker really has all that much product available yet to push into the bigger dealers like Buds or Davidsons. I've had several Sphinx pistols over the years, but they were NEVER widely known or available. There are 4 or 5 Sphinx dealers here in NC, however.
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Walt, I was talking to the FNH USA Rep. at the Great American Outdoor Show in Harrisburg PA a few weeks ago, and I told him how much I liked their FNS and FNX polymer guns, and I suggested that the responsible company rep. should reach out to some of the indoor ranges in the region, and see if they can get some demo days scheduled, he though it was a great idea, & he gave me a free ball cap - LOL, let's see what happens...
I can tell you I get a little irritated when I go into the LGS that I've been going into for 20 years and I've spent several thousand dollars at, and they give me a song & a dance when I ask about bringing in a Sphinx T&E gun...not enough people are asking about them is the response I get!
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