Sig Sauer M18/17 vs. P320x Full Size/Compact

YankeeIronSights · June 28, 2023, 04:40 PM

Hi Everyone,

If you could only keep one set of these two Sig Sauer models, which ones would you choose?

M17/18

Or

P320x full size/compact

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Moloch · June 28, 2023, 05:50 PM

M17/M18.

I own a P320 myself and while I really like it I'm still not super confident in the the P320 design without a manual safety. If I ever decided to carry it or use it for self defense I'd absolutely take the model with the manual safety.

MTT TL · June 28, 2023, 07:01 PM

The P320 can also come equipped with a safety.

Essentially you can change your P320/ P320C into any variant of the 320/ 320c line, including the M17/18s. The "gun" part of the gun is the easily removable internals. The M17/18 is merely a version with cut down lower, optics ready slide and a couple of other features.

It takes no special skill to make these changes; but it does take money. So really you need to decide if the military version is closer to what you want than the some other standard version.

highpower3006 · June 29, 2023, 09:03 AM

M17/M18.

MarkCO · June 29, 2023, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moloch

M17/M18.

I own a P320 myself and while I really like it I'm still not super confident in the the P320 design without a manual safety. If I ever decided to carry it or use it for self defense I'd absolutely take the model with the manual safety.

Ditto

L-2 · June 29, 2023, 11:16 AM

I also hesitate to get involved with the P320 series, as I don't trust its safety due to the many unresolved stories of accidental discharges, and changes SIG has made without disclosing its reasoning or identifying if the changes were due to problems. I know it's been talked about already around the internet and I know most folks are doing fine with their P320/M17/M18 variants.

I like the M18 size, along with its manual safety, I just would want one black-colored.

Otherwise, I've got no reason to augment or switch from Glock to SIG at this point. I do like my P226R, P229R, and P225, but will more likely choose one of my many Glocks to carry instead.

jmr40 · June 30, 2023, 12:18 PM

I chose the M17/18 specifically because I wanted the safety. If I didn't want a safety, I prefer Glock. And I have a few Glocks as well. But there are situations where I want a safety.

Polinese · July 1, 2023, 05:29 PM

Don't the m17/18 also have more mass to the slides? Nothing significant but for shooting 9mm nato vs the standard stuff. Seem to recall the actual M17's they sold even came with 2 different recoil springs for that reason.

Moloch · July 5, 2023, 02:34 PM

That would be weird as other 9mm service handguns are fine with NATO spec 9mm AND most commercial 9x19. Why would the pretty straight forward design of the P320 require different recoil springs / not function with most reasonable 9mm loads?

MTT TL · July 5, 2023, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Nothing significant but for shooting 9mm nato vs the standard stuff.

The short answer is no. You don't need to change recoil springs to shoot different ammunition of the same caliber pistol that the gun is set up for properly. So any kind of 9mm should work unless it is some crazy type.

The long answer is that different slides may or may not have different masses. This may or may not require a different recoil spring. Changing calibers will almost certainly require a different recoil spring. Possibly swapping out the slides as well.

The 320C uses a completely different type of recoil spring so compact versions are not compatible with the full versions. This is one of the largest differences between compact and full size models.

Until you play around with one it is tough to explain how simple and modular the system is. The only part of the gun that is serialized are the internals. You can easily pull them out and make a completely different gun with it in literally a thousand different variation of caliber, barrel length, grip size, color, etc. This takes less than five minutes.

So if you are at the range shooting 9mm with a M17. You might decide you want to change it and start shooting a 45ACP with a 6" barrel and a different grip angle; five minutes later you can be, with the same "gun".

shep854 · July 15, 2023, 05:49 PM

I've shot both Winchester 124gr NATO ball and regular 115gr in my P320/M18 with non-braided recoil spring without issue.
Besides the safety, I like the loaded-chamber indicator.
ALSO, I have seen a black P320/M18; it did not look like an after-market coating.

MTT TL · July 15, 2023, 08:27 PM

You can get a grip module in about a dozen different colors and finishes straight from the factory. Some are as cheap as $49.

https://www.sigsauer.com/p320-p250-f...ule-45acp.html

https://www.sigsauer.com/parts/grip-...ce_high_to_low

June 28, 2023, 04:40 PM	#1
YankeeIronSights Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2012 Location: USA Posts: 261	Sig Sauer M18/17 vs. P320x Full Size/Compact Hi Everyone, If you could only keep one set of these two Sig Sauer models, which ones would you choose? M17/18 Or P320x full size/compact Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

June 28, 2023, 07:01 PM	#3
MTT TL Senior Member Join Date: October 21, 2009 Location: Quadling Country Posts: 2,780	The P320 can also come equipped with a safety. Essentially you can change your P320/ P320C into any variant of the 320/ 320c line, including the M17/18s. The "gun" part of the gun is the easily removable internals. The M17/18 is merely a version with cut down lower, optics ready slide and a couple of other features. It takes no special skill to make these changes; but it does take money. So really you need to decide if the military version is closer to what you want than the some other standard version. __________________ Thus a man should endeavor to reach this high place of courage with all his heart, and, so trying, never be backward in war.

June 29, 2023, 11:16 AM	#6
L-2 Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2004 Location: Nevada Posts: 522	I also hesitate to get involved with the P320 series, as I don't trust its safety due to the many unresolved stories of accidental discharges, and changes SIG has made without disclosing its reasoning or identifying if the changes were due to problems. I know it's been talked about already around the internet and I know most folks are doing fine with their P320/M17/M18 variants. I like the M18 size, along with its manual safety, I just would want one black-colored. Otherwise, I've got no reason to augment or switch from Glock to SIG at this point. I do like my P226R, P229R, and P225, but will more likely choose one of my many Glocks to carry instead. __________________ (former) Glock Armorer 1911 Armorer LEO (retired)

June 30, 2023, 12:18 PM	#7
jmr40 Senior Member Join Date: June 15, 2008 Location: Georgia Posts: 10,806	I chose the M17/18 specifically because I wanted the safety. If I didn't want a safety, I prefer Glock. And I have a few Glocks as well. But there are situations where I want a safety. __________________ "If you're still doing things the same way you were doing them 10 years ago, you're doing it wrong" Winston Churchill

July 15, 2023, 05:49 PM	#11
shep854 Senior Member Join Date: June 4, 2004 Location: Birmingham AL Posts: 632	I've shot both Winchester 124gr NATO ball and regular 115gr in my P320/M18 with non-braided recoil spring without issue. Besides the safety, I like the loaded-chamber indicator. ALSO, I have seen a black P320/M18; it did not look like an after-market coating. __________________ Powder smoke- The Smell of FREEDOM! I don't shoot to kill; I shoot to live. Registration? NEVER!!

June 28, 2023, 05:50 PM	#2
Moloch Senior Member Join Date: November 27, 2005 Posts: 1,419	M17/M18. I own a P320 myself and while I really like it I'm still not super confident in the the P320 design without a manual safety. If I ever decided to carry it or use it for self defense I'd absolutely take the model with the manual safety.

June 29, 2023, 09:03 AM	#4
highpower3006 Senior Member Join Date: July 30, 2011 Location: Savannah TN Posts: 1,220	M17/M18.

July 1, 2023, 05:29 PM	#8
Polinese Senior Member Join Date: September 27, 2010 Posts: 947	Don't the m17/18 also have more mass to the slides? Nothing significant but for shooting 9mm nato vs the standard stuff. Seem to recall the actual M17's they sold even came with 2 different recoil springs for that reason.

July 5, 2023, 02:34 PM	#9
Moloch Senior Member Join Date: November 27, 2005 Posts: 1,419	That would be weird as other 9mm service handguns are fine with NATO spec 9mm AND most commercial 9x19. Why would the pretty straight forward design of the P320 require different recoil springs / not function with most reasonable 9mm loads?

July 15, 2023, 08:27 PM	#12
MTT TL Senior Member Join Date: October 21, 2009 Location: Quadling Country Posts: 2,780	You can get a grip module in about a dozen different colors and finishes straight from the factory. Some are as cheap as $49. https://www.sigsauer.com/p320-p250-f...ule-45acp.html https://www.sigsauer.com/parts/grip-...ce_high_to_low __________________ Thus a man should endeavor to reach this high place of courage with all his heart, and, so trying, never be backward in war.