New to this forum, this is my first post. I just bought a 9mm P320 tacops carry caliber exchange (using the FCU from my subcompact) which should arrive this week. I'm looking for feedback on compensators.

First issue: it seems like most comps aren't offered in the 13.5x1 LH thread but I can use a thread adapter to make them fit. Unless someone knows of a good comp in metric sizes?

Second: any recommendations on compensators? The goal is reduced muzzle flip with little to no blowback, without making the gun look stupid.

Range 18 makes one that matches the gun's profile but ebay photos look very clearly like they're used on full size frames with a compact slide. But they say it will fit. My favorites are HB Tactical or TriDelta.

Welcome to the SIG Forum!

Sorry to rain on your parade, but in my opinion you are wasting your time and money.

First, for a compensator to work effectively, the compensator exit hole must be sized to as close to the bullet diameter as possible.
Using a thread adapter will cause problems with a very good possibility of a bullet strike on the compensator baffles.
It's very important that the compensator be concentric with the bore. Opening the exit hole to avoid bullet strikes will reduce compensator effectiveness.

Second, store bought 9mm ammo just doesn't have enough gas to work a compensator effectively.
IPSC/USPSA Open Division race guns usually use handloads with a slow burning pistol powder = gas generation for the compensator. Most Open Division handloads are running on the ragged edge of over pressure.

My Infinity uses Lapua brass exclusively and Vihtavuori 3N38 powder. With Winchester small RIFLE primers. The load for Major Power is several grains over published maximum. It's tough on brass and pistol components.

If you want a compensator for your pistol it will only be a "toy" or "gadget".
The ammunition and the compensator are a "system" and must work together for effective results.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/152677773@N05/pJ271C

Until you are able to max your splits and the limfac is the gun, I think they are a waste.

Spend the money you will be wasting on a compensator for ammo and training instead!

I have a factory SIG compensator that I can take on and off of my P220ST .45 along with the required 5" barrel.
I could never tell any difference with the comp on or off.

quote:

Originally posted by RHINOWSO:
Until you are able to max your splits and the limfac is the gun, I think they are a waste.

In IPSC or IDPA, it isn't even splits that are the first thing to work on. Work on course management and moving smoothly and quickly from place to place while being ready to shoot the instant you get there.

But, yes, compensators won't help that much. You need to be driving a gun hard to see any benefit.

Welcome to the forum!

Other than what has been said already, I don't think it will provide a difference you can appreciate at 9mm pressures in a handgun.
If you were shooting 10mm or 357Sig, a compensator may have a slight advantage. Once you get to the 44 Magnum, it works great. With 50AE, it is almost magical.

It may provide more of a stabilizing effect by providing static weight on the front of the gun as opposed to dynamic pressure stabilization. May or may not make your P320 cycle faster with utilizing the slide from the compact. I don't think my shooting skills would take noticeable advantage of this. The sight radius is not improved with it either, giving the advantage back to the full size slide.

Disregarding technical numbers and whatnot, if the added plus of having your P320 not look like every other P320 at the range, I would consider one of these. It would be kinda cool if they could (CNC/3D print) make a grip module with a long dust cover to reach the end of the comp. Oh, and not have a rail on it.

Let us know how it turns out.

Two weeks ago I had a guy in my squad (USPSA) shooting a Glock with a comp on it. Not an "Open gun", no dot, no magwell, no nothing.. just a regular Glock with a comp. So he was shooing in Open, but it wasn't an Open gun. I don't know if it was 9mm or 40S&W, but whatever it was, it wasn't doing squat.

No, I take that back, it was making it loud (and forcing him to shoot in a division he didn't stand a chance in). Other than that, it wasn't doing squat.

Hmm. The goal is to minimize muzzle flip and reduce recoil, the ostensible sole purpose of a compensator. I can't imagine that the technology is mythical, but before I had the chance to read your replies, I went ahead and bought one from HB Tactical whose web page has an amazing video of an AR shooting with virtually no upward barrel movement.

So it looks like I might get to be the test case. I'll report back with my thoughts once it all arrives and I can get it to the range. Hopefully I won't be a poster child on comp failures.

quote:

Originally posted by dberman:
I went ahead and bought one from HB Tactical whose web page has an amazing video of an AR shooting with virtually no upward barrel movement.

Comparing apples to oranges here... got a pistol round that maxes out right around 1100 fps vs. an AR round at around 3100 fps. Try to cancel your order, or get ready for that photo op.

Yeah - AR comps can work very well. I've shot a few that greatly reduced muzzle rise. (At the cost of some wicked muzzle blast directed to the sides - those things make the gun loud.)

But a pistol, and a low pressure round like 9mm especially, is a very different thing. Comps work well on .38 Super and other higher pressure rounds, but not as much for regular old 9mm.

quote:

Originally posted by dberman:
Hmm. The goal is to minimize muzzle flip and reduce recoil, the ostensible sole purpose of a compensator. I can't imagine that the technology is mythical, but before I had the chance to read your replies, I went ahead and bought one from HB Tactical whose web page has an amazing video of an AR shooting with virtually no upward barrel movement.

In that case, we're really glad you came by and asked.

As has been noted, an AR vs a 9mm handgun is about as far as you can get from apples to apples.

It ain't rocket science.

Oh wait, yes it is.


You need large volumes of gas, the higher pressure, higher escape velocity the better to make them work well. As stated, factory 9mm just doesn't have it. That's why in compensated "race guns" they'll load them much faster/hotter than they really need them to be, because the extra gas makes the comp work better. The hotter loads will have much less muzzle rise than light loads.

quote:

Originally posted by jhe888:

quote:

Originally posted by RHINOWSO:
Until you are able to max your splits and the limfac is the gun, I think they are a waste.

In IPSC or IDPA, it isn't even splits that are the first thing to work on. Work on course management and moving smoothly and quickly from place to place while being ready to shoot the instant you get there.

But, yes, compensators won't help that much. You need to be driving a gun hard to see any benefit.

So much truth in this thread. I really don't see the need in a comp on a carry pistol, or a competition gun unless you are shooting open.

As to gun games, JHE is right. I can out "split" most competitors, and most everyone shooting a comp'd carry pistol. Stuff like the 5x5 qualifier in IDPA, which requires no movement, and only raw technical marksmanship, I eat other competitors alive and they can't come close to hanging with me. I shoot very high master level times. (I think I shot is mid 13 seconds the last go round). But, you throw in the other aspects of the game, and I struggle to stay on top for the reasons listed above. Stage planning and movement is where your time is made, not how fast you can bang out splits.

Faster is always better, but the guys that do this professionally rarely shoot faster than .25 splits. The shoot things at a pace that they guarantee their work. One top level shooter has even admitted to shooting closer targets slower to ensure that he is not taking easy points for granted in hosing a stage.

But how else are you going to play John Wick dress up without a comp?

Finally had the chance to run the compensator today. I'll start a new thread in the topic and let you know what I found.