Relating to semi-autos for bear safety, the Glock G20 has been the king of the hill for fairly a spell. Many shooters, together with me, gravitated to the G20 when trying to find an alternative choice to carrying an enormous bore revolver. Whereas a revolver remains to be a tremendous alternative for a bear gun, semi-autos have many benefits, notably in mild of among the higher bullets which have been launched of late.
Gun makers abhor a vacuum, and it wasn’t lengthy earlier than different corporations sought to chip away at Glock’s dominance. Sig Sauer launched the P320 X-Ten Comp in late 2023, which we’ve discovered to be the softest-shooting 10mm we’ve ever examined.
Sig P320 X-Ten Comp vs. Glock G20
So, naturally, the query arises: How does Sig’s newcomer examine to Glock’s long-established G20 on the subject of bear safety?
Within the Sig P320 X-Ten Comp vs. Glock G20 debate it is very important observe some important variations between the 2 pistols. Foremost, is that the Gen4 G20 I’ve been carrying doesn’t have the characteristic set the inventory Sig P320 X-Ten Comp brings to the desk — although the newer Glock G20 Gen 5 is optic-ready. The Sig’s compensator, optic-ready slide, ambidextrous controls, metallic (somewhat than polymer) magazines, and extra ergonomic body give it a determined benefit over the Gen4 G20.
That is mirrored within the value of the 2 pistols as effectively. The Sig is a number of hundred {dollars} greater than my Gen4 G20.
In different respects, nevertheless, they’re fairly related. Each have a 15+1 journal capability, polymer frames, use a striker-fired motion, and weigh almost the identical.
Leveling the Enjoying Discipline Between the Sig and Glock
Once I bought my G20 just a few years in the past, I knew I didn’t wish to run it as-is out of the field. As you may know there’s a massive cottage trade consisting of corporations and gunsmiths that target upgrading Glocks for a wide range of purposes, whether or not enhancing them for private safety, tuning them up for competitors, or making them able to tackle a bear within the backcountry.
I turned to ATEI, which relies in Michigan, and does glorious work with Glock upgrades. They took my inventory Gen4 G20 and reworked it right into a superlative bear protection gun.
ATEI Glock G20 Mods
These are the modifications that ATEI carried out on my Gen4 G20.
· Machined cocking serrations on the entrance and prime of slide
· Modified grip to have 360-degree stippling
· Created stippled contact pads for support-hand thumb
· Thinned set off guard to permit for higher grip
· Minimize slide for a red-dot optic
· Added a shim rear sight as a backup in case red-dot fails
· Changed barrel with KKM Precision drop-in
These upgrades improved the Gen4 G20 dramatically. It was extra snug and safe in hand. It pointed higher and I used to be in a position to handle its recoil extra simply. The optics minimize within the slide allowed me so as to add an Aimpoint ACRO, which is a closed-emitter red-dot. The cocking serrations on the entrance of the slide made the pistol simpler to function. And the shim rear sight, which is a straightforward contact, supplies an additional layer of safety within the unlikely occasion the red-dot ought to fail.
All instructed, these modifications considerably shut the hole between the Glock and the inventory Sig P320 X-Ten Comp.
Glock G20 vs. Sig P320 X-Ten Comp on the Vary
Each pistols are nice to shoot and, by the requirements of 10mms, not tough to regulate. However they obtain their good dealing with in numerous methods.
What the Glock G20 Grip Will get Proper
The grip on the G20 is bigger in circumference and supplies extra floor contact between the pistol and my hand. The stippling on it has a “just-right” high quality offering a safe buy on the gun. The finger grooves within the Gen4 inventory, a supply of a lot debate, have been smoothed out a bit on my gun and match my hand very well. And the stippled support-thumb contact pads on both facet of the body increase the gun’s dealing with too.
The Glock additionally positions the hand nearer to the axis of the bore than the Sig. And, lastly, the thinned out set off guard makes the gun extra snug.
What the Sig P320 X-Ten Comp Grip Will get Proper
The sandpaper texture on the Sig’s inventory is a flexible end that works effectively for hid carry (it isn’t too grabby) but in addition presents good grip underneath a wide range of situations. The grip has flatter sides than the G20, is much less cumbersome, and can usually work higher for shooters with smaller palms. The pistol has a way more pronounced beavertail than the Glock, which helps handle recoil. The set off attain is shorter on the Sig and the set off geometry (the Sig has a flatter set off face), is best than the Glock’s inventory set off. I additionally just like the reasonable flare across the Sig’s magwell, which presents help and leverage for the capturing hand.
Working the Glock G20 vs. Sig P320 X-Ten Comp
So each pistols have efficient, however completely different, grip designs. How do these variations, together with the opposite options of the pistols, play out when they’re spitting lead?
Recoil Administration: Benefit Sig P320 X-Ten Comp
The Sig P320 X-Ten Comp shoots barely flatter than the Glock due to its compensator. Not all comps on pistols are efficient, however the Sig’s actually is. For a compensator to be helpful the spherical being fired must generate ample strain, which the 10mm Auto does. In reality, the warmer the spherical, the higher the compensator will work by directing gasses upwards to counter-act the pistol’s pure muzzle flip.
On paper, the Glock must be the flatter-shooting pistol for 2 massive causes. One is that the Glock has an extended barrel – 4.6 inches versus 3.8 inches. All issues being equal, an extended barrel may have much less muzzle flip. Second, the Glock positions the hand nearer to the middle of the bore than the Sig does, which additionally mitigates muzzle flip. That the Sig has these two issues working in opposition to it and nonetheless shoots flatter than the Glock reveals how efficient the compensator is.
Accuracy: Draw.
Each pistols have good accuracy, particularly for an in depth encounter with a bear.
Journal Design: Benefit Sig P320 X-Ten Comp
The metallic building and extra gradual taper on the Sig’s magazines lets them seat extra easily into the body than the stubbier polymer magazines on the Glock. Additionally, the Sig’s magazine effectively has extra flare than Gen4 G20, which makes guiding the magazines into the pistol simpler.
Pointability: Benefit Sig P320 X-Ten Comp
The grip angle on Glocks is without doubt one of the perennial criticisms of the platform. In contrast with most different pistols, it’s shallower, usually inflicting shooters to goal barely excessive when driving the gun towards the goal. This may be overcome by apply and repetition, however when you change to a gun with a extra typical grip angle you’ll discover a hiccup in your presentation as your physique adjusts.
The angle on the Sig is extra vertical and factors extra naturally than the Glock, giving it the higher hand on this class.
Reliability: Benefit Glock G20
Glock has constructed its fame on its utter reliability and my G20 lives as much as that expectation. I’ve had no points with the Sig up to now, however I do know the Glock received’t ever let me down.
Slide Lock: Benefit Glock G20
At first blush you’d suppose the Sig would do higher right here, because it has ambidextrous slide lock tabs, in comparison with the Gen4 G20’s single tab on the left facet of the gun. However the slide locks on the Sig flare out considerably, and grind into the shooters hand underneath recoil. The slide lock on the Glock sits extra flush to the pistol, making it extra snug to shoot.
For those who prefer to drop the slide with the facet lock, the Sig is the higher alternative, as these tabs are straightforward to achieve and press down. However I’m extra old skool and prefer to drop the slide by racking it again with my hand, which is usually a tad slower however is a extra dependable solution to cost a pistol.
Be aware that Gen5 Glocks do have ambidextrous slide locks, giving shooters one of the best of each worlds.
Journal Launch: Draw
That is an fascinating class to price these pistols on. The Sig has a reversible magazine catch that sits pretty excessive above the grip. The Gen4 Glock’s magazine launch is left facet solely and doesn’t protrude as a lot.
I shoot pistols left-handed, however as a result of so many pistols are righty-only I’ve grown used to dropping the magazine with my set off finger. I can run a gun with a magazine launch on the correct facet, however I’ve come to favor manipulating the magazine launch with the index finger on my left hand.
As a result of the Sig’s magazine launch sits so excessive, I typically find yourself dropping the journal whereas capturing the gun. When squeezing the gun tight with my help hand (which you’re presupposed to do) it presses the center finger of my set off hand into the journal launch and dumping the magazine. Evidently that may be sub-optimal whereas making an attempt to take care of a bear.
Whereas the Glock’s magazine launch isn’t as elegant, it’s safer, which to me is extra essential than the Sig’s slick operation. In a backcountry encounter, reliability trumps quick reloads.
I think that different shooters may favor the Sig right here, in order that’s why I price this a draw.
Set off: Draw
Neither of those pistols has a tuned-up competitors set off, nor ought to they. For backcountry carry you don’t need a mild set off. You need a set off with an affordable pull weight that you just received’t by accident fireplace when it’s chilly and moist or if you’re carrying gloves.
The inventory triggers on each pistols are affordable. My Sig has a median set off pull weight of 5 kilos, 13 ounces, whereas my G20 averages 6 kilos, 13 ounces. The Sig has a shorter set off attain than the Glock, however its set off is mushier in comparison with the G20, which has a crisper break. There are additionally aftermarket upgrades accessible for each fashions.
Rail: Benefit Sig P320 X-Ten Comp
The Sig has a three-slot Picatinny rail up entrance in comparison with the Glock’s single slot, which makes the Sig extra versatile on the subject of mounting lights or lasers.
Optics: Benefit Glock G20
The Sig is optics appropriate out of the field, the place my Gen4 wasn’t. However the modification that ATEI made to the Glock’s slide elevated it above the Sig.
The rationale why is that the minimize within the G20’s slide is deeper than that on the Sig. This lets the ACRO sit a lot decrease on the Glock, in comparison with the Leupold Delta Level I’ve on the Sig.
As a result of it’s so low I can see the Glock’s entrance sight by means of the ACRO. With the addition of the shim rear sight that ATEI placed on the Glock I’ve a backup sighting system, which the Sig doesn’t.
Portability: Draw
The Glock is barely lighter than the Sig — by about 2.5 ounces — whereas the Sig is a contact extra compact. Neither outshines the opposite on this respect.
Glock G20 Gen4 vs Gen5
I get that evaluating the Sig to the Glock G20 Gen4 isn’t the fairest comparability because the G20 Gen5 MOS has a characteristic set that’s nearer to the P320 X-Ten Comp.
The Gen5 has a reversible journal catch, ambidextrous slide lock lever, interchangeable backstraps to tune the in-hand match, and is optics-ready due to Glock’s MOS system.
However the Gen4 is what I’ve, and with the mods from ATEI holds its personal in opposition to the newer Sig.
Remaining Ideas on the Sig P320 X-Ten Comp vs Glock G20 Gen4
I’ve been very proud of my modified Glock G20 Gen4. It’s a workhorse gun with the correct upgrades to make it a dependable backcountry companion.
I’m an enormous fan of the enclosed emitter ACRO it wears, as that provides extra safety in opposition to the mud, snow, and particles I’m more likely to encounter within the mountains throughout looking season.
The Sig P320 X-Ten Comp is minimize for a Leupold Delta Level which, as I discussed, is mounted on mine. That’s a tremendous red-dot, with a large window that makes choosing up the dot a snap, and it’s quicker than the ACRO. However because it isn’t enclosed, it’s extra weak to the weather.
I’ve grown used to the Glock through the years, however the flatter-shooting Sig has numerous attraction. With a pair tweaks, I feel it could be an improve over my G20.
Learn Subsequent: Finest Bear Protection Handguns
If I might get the slide lock tabs to sit down tighter in opposition to the body and enhance the Sig’s mushy set off pull with one thing like KGM’s Sig P320 improve, I feel the Sig is a stronger alternative out of the field. That mentioned, an upgraded Gen4 G20, or a inventory Gen5 G20 will proceed to be a strong choice for backcountry carry too.
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