Am considering a purchase of a 320, probably a RX and am curious if there is any advantage of a full size over a compact? I do not carry and use pistols for target shooting and just overall shooting enjoyment. Seems as though the full size is a heavier pistol. Overall any advantage for a full size?
Thanks in advance

The full size has an easy mod to use 1911 springs. A few vendors (Gray Guns and Springer Precision I know for sure) make a conversion guide rod and you can tune the weight of the spring to find what works best for the loads you shoot to keep the pistol from nose-diving on close, or recoiling too much to lose the target in the red dot window.

Thanks "Rustpot" for the update on the availability of the mod for the full size. Any other advantage such as accuracy etc., etc?

Heavier guns will produce less felt recoil, but that’s somewhat offset by possibly greater muzzle flip from a longer barrel.
Longer barrels and their longer sight radiuses may permit greater practical accuracy because they reduce the effects of sight alignment errors. That, however, is not a factor if using an optical sight.

P320 Compact or Carry?

I have a P320 Compact 9mm and a FS .40 conversion. Shoot well with both.

The only advantage on the range for the FS (for my hand anyway), is the FS grip is less prone to bad inputs. If I pay attention 100%, the Compact is just fine. But not if I get a little sloppy. The Carry would give you the same FS grip as the FS.

The FS, on the other hand, will provide good consistency under nearly any circumstances.

Also, if you get a 9mm, the FS can be fitted with the Gray Guns guide rod/recoil spring combo. Less muzzle dip. Can also use standard 1911 RS for additional fine tuning, if desired.

https://grayguns.com/product/c...per-black-guide-rod/

Overall, if not used for carry, I'd opt for the FS.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Nipper,

I haven't owned the RX guns but I currently have a 320F and have previously owned the compact and for range only use I'll take the Fullsize all day, everyday.

I shot the fullsize better and there was less felt recoil.

I own both of those guns, both 9mm RX's. I bought the full size first, and shot it very well. So figured the compact was a no brainer for my EDC. And it has been my EDC for about a year now.

I shoot the compact well also, but as Nipper says, you have to be more "on your game" to shoot it as good as the longer, heavier FS. It's just easier to shoot better groups with the FS, at least in my experience. For a non-carry gun, I'd for sure recommend the FS.

I can not tell much difference in the two. The "longer sight radius" is mainly a fallacy as it comes to practical marksmanship. The recoil impulse with 147 grain ammo is negligible.

I'd say pick one you like, buy a good holster, magazines, ammo, and shoot.
"

quote:

Originally posted by HODY905:
Am considering a purchase of a 320, probably a RX and am curious if there is any advantage of a full size over a compact? I do not carry and use pistols for target shooting and just overall shooting enjoyment. Seems as though the full size is a heavier pistol. Overall any advantage for a full size?
Thanks in advance

I prefer the balance of shorter slides, and find the front sights more quickly, as well. With the compact, you have the option of adding the Carry grip which 17 round mags will fit flush in, and as others have noted, will aid in controllability. OTOH, if you play with different loads, the full-size will allow you to tailor springs to your loads.

Or, do what I do and get both!

I owned both a Full Size and a Compact.

I sold the Full Size, and just use a Carry grip module for the Compact when I want the extra capacity.

I see no point in going with the Full Size. The Compact/Carry does everything the Full Size does, and more.

quote:

The Compact/Carry does everything the Full Size does, and more.

+1 -- The Carry is the best of both worlds, IMO: Compact slide and Full capacity.

From your initial description... I'd vote for the p320 carry.... shorter slide but standard grip... that will give you the standard magazines.

But I really don't like the way the extended magazines look on the full size grips.

The nice thing about the factory installed red dot on these is you can still condition yourself to use the iron sights to initially acquired the target and then use the dot to refine the sight picture.