Sig Sauer X5 Legion 320X5-9-Legion-R2 9MM Luger

Virtually everyone in the Houston test group is — or was — a competitor in the United States Practical Shooting Association (USPSA) Production Division. Match officials utilize different divisions to place shooters in the group where they would be most likely to compete against others using similar gear. Production Division was — or at least used to be — created to allow the masses to shoot their carry or home defense Glocks, Smith & Wessons, SIGs, etc. When our readers recently asked us to take a look at the latest “Top Guns” in Production, we decided to check it out. The guns have changed dramatically in concept, design, and execution since we began shooting USPSA, and it’s worthwhile to see how we got here.

Part of the goal of the USPSA is to allow people to test their skills in a safe environment while competing against others who are using firearms with similar characteristics and capabilities. USPSA wants to make sure that people are not having to race their 1965 Plymouth Valiant against a modern Porsche. Back in our early days, if the shooter had a good single-stack 1911 in 45 ACP with an eight-round magazine, they were cutting edge. All of that changed with smaller, faster cartridges, compensators, and red dots. The guns that could compete got faster, heavier, and much more expensive.

One of USPSA’s earliest attempts to ensure members did not necessarily have to buy a $5000 pistol was to recognize a new category of pistols as Production Division. Wrapped around the new polymer-framed pistols becoming so popular for citizens and law enforcement alike, USPSA specifically limited what could be used to compete in that division to pistols ordinary folks would be much more likely to carry. Restrictions included a minimum caliber of 9mm along with a maximum size and weight. Magazine capacity was limited to 10 rounds in deference to those in more restrictive states. Magwells weren’t (and still aren’t) allowed, and holsters were restricted to those “suitable for everyday use.”  The result was a field day for Glock pistols and the Smith & Wesson M&P variants that followed.

Just as the military requires and rewards innovation in martial equipment, so does competition. Pistols initially qualifying for Production Division were light, easy to carry, and relatively inexpensive to purchase. Then things started to morph. As highly driven people are wont to do, competitors started pushing designs just as far as the rules would let them go. First, we changed sights and smoothed out triggers. Then barrels got a little longer — perhaps just increasing from 4.5 inches to 5 inches — but that still got a little more velocity from a lighter powder charge and lighter recoil. The extra length on the barrel also put more weight on the nose of the pistol, which decreased muzzle flip. None of this changed weight much. Specifications from Glock, for example, show the Glock 17 (one of the first models popular in USPSA) to weigh in at 24.9 ounces. The Glock 34, with the slightly longer barrel, actually removed some of the weight in the slide to remain close to the G17 at 25.9 ounces. We also have a Smith & Wesson M&P in hand that weighs 24.5 ounces empty, while our M&P 9L competition version hit the scales at 25.4 ounces.

Current theory seems to have changed. Once upon a time, light pistols that could be easily transitioned from target to target were thought to be best. After all, it takes more muscle to start and stop a swinging object. Today, the emphasis seems to be on recoil control, and our test pistols are testament to that in spades. The SIG in this test weighs in at more than 38 ounces, and the CZ tips the scales at more than 43 ounces.

In more detail, our first gun is the SIG Sauer P320 X5. But not just any X5. This is the Legion model. With a full-length bull barrel and metal grip frame, SIG has infused the polymer grips with tungsten to heavy up the X5 in their efforts to lower muzzle flip. They’ve also upgraded the sights and the trigger to make a great Production Division pistol straight out of the box.

Our second selection is the CZ Shadow 2, which may well be the SIG X5’s closest competitor in Production Division. As with its CZ75 progenitor, the Shadow 2’s slide runs on rails inside the frame instead of outside, as with most other pistols. It also runs a full-length slide and heavy dust cover to add recoil dampening weight out front. The big difference is in the trigger. The CZ Shadow uses a true double-action-to-single-action trigger that changes the way the pistol is used for competition or self-defense. 

But which one is the current top dog in USPSA and why? Let’s get into the intricacies of each one to find out.

SIG Sauer X5 Legion 320X5-9-Legion-R2 9mm Luger

$1000

Gun Tests grade: A

We would not hesitate to use this pistol for Production Division. The X5 Legion is ready to go out of the box and requires very little for it to be converted for the Carry Optics Division as well.

The SIG X5 Legion combines the features that won the modular pistol contract with the U.S. military along with a few specified by world-class competitors like Max Michel. The frame still consists of a polymer shell that encompasses a stainless-steel fire control unit. With the FCU so easily removed, different grip modules can be substituted, depending on hand size or intended purpose. The X5 Legion is intended to be fast and accurate, so the company changed the material from which it is made. The Legion grip module is infused with tungsten. That leaves some of the flexibility and give provided by a standard polymer grip. It also adds considerable weight in an effort to control muzzle flip which, in turn, allows for quicker follow-up shots. We weighed a standard X5 that we had on hand at 29 ounces. The X5 Legion weighed in at 39.8 ounces. The frame alone weighed 20.36 ounces. 

The X5 Legion’s magwell has been flared and a detachable steel magazine well is included to allow for even faster magazine changes, though magwells are not legal in Production Division. All important parts of the grip are nicely stippled. The squared-off trigger guard is undercut to allow for the highest possible hand placement, which also helps mitigate muzzle flip. The magazine release is reversible, and the slide release is ambidextrous. SIG added in a five-slot Picatinny rail on the dust cover and a good beavertail to protect the hand. 

Then there is the trigger. Production Division rules state that the first pull of the trigger must be a full double-action type or what has become known as a Safe Action — think Glock trigger. They don’t mandate what follow-up pulls are. A few, such as the CZ Shadow, use a true DA/SA trigger, while most use a trigger designed to have a consistent stroke for every shot. The SIG Sauer P320 group falls in the latter category, but we admit there are triggers, and then there are triggers. The X5 Legion sports one of the best we’ve found on a non-custom pistol. The unit is flat faced, which many think allows better and more consistent leverage on the trigger. Take up is short, as is the actual trigger stroke. The sear breaks with the trigger at virtually the 90-degree position, further enhancing consistency. Required compression on our sample was 3.3 pounds with very little overtravel. You’ll find few 1911s coming from the factory with triggers this light and crisp.

The top end has also been modified from the stock full-sized P320. The barrel has been lengthened from 4.7 inches to 5.0 inches with a correspondingly longer slide. This, once again, puts more weight out front to counteract muzzle flip. Just like Glock did with the Models 34 and 35, SIG recognized that you might change where the weight in a firearm sits, but, sometimes, it is better not to change the weight — especially with the slide. With the X5 Legion, the slide has been milled out. This lessens the rearward moving mass and reduces movement of the firearm in recoil. Grasping grooves are provided front and rear. We were a little surprised by the recoil system, which used a single, long, and relatively light recoil spring supported by a full-length metal guide rod. SIG even provides a spare spring. We guess they figure their X5s are going to be shot a lot.

SIG Sauer was prescient enough to set the X5 Legion up for the Production or Carry Optics Division, the main difference being the Carry Optics-legal gun can use a slide-mounted red-dot sight. Accordingly, this X5 has a great rear sight made by Dawson Precision (DawsonPrecision.com), supplier of many popular aftermarket sights. Adjustable for windage and elevation, the serrated rear blade is black only. We confess to not liking color on rear sights, especially the same color as on the front sight. That can be way too confusing under stress. The rear sight is actually mounted on a plate that can easily be removed for the mounting of a red dot. The SIG Romeo Pro 1 seems to be the most popular choice for a red dot on this pistol. The front sight is a highly visible green fiber optic mounted in a transverse dovetail. 

Disassembly of the P320 series is simple. Check to make sure the pistol is unloaded. Make sure the ammo is in another room, and then check again to make sure it is unloaded. Lock the slide to the rear and rotate the takedown latch 90 degrees clockwise. Slide the top end forward and you’re done. This is actually part of the safety system for this pistol, in requiring that the slide be locked open before disassembly.

Our Team Said: The SIG X5 Legion ate every type of ammo we fed it, every time. Cycling was smooth but a little slow, until we switched to the heavier recoil spring included in the kit. Accuracy was very good with three different loads averaging 1.85 inches for five-shot groups at 15 yards. Our shooting results showed the SIG X5 to be a hair faster than the CZ. We’re talking about 0.01 seconds for five shots, but faster it was. Subjectively, we felt we did not have quite as good recoil control with the SIG as with the CZ. 

We compared our test guns at American Shooting Centers (AMShootCenters.com) in west Houston. We tested using three different types of ammunition. We started off with Hornady 115-grain Critical Defense loads, Armscore 124-grain full metal jackets, as well as Fiocchi 147-grain Range Dynamics FMJs. For accuracy, we fired five-shot groups at 15 yards from a well-sandbagged Caldwell Pistolero Shooting Rest (MidwayUSA.com 517357, $28) assisted by a Mini DRC Fortune Cookie from Wiebad.com (MINIFC, $75). Velocities were obtained via the new Garmin Xero C1 Pro (Amazon, $600).

Process: Fire one shot from low ready at 3-by-5-inch label placed at 7 yards. Times in seconds are averages for ten repetitions. 

Process: Fire three shots from low ready at a 3-by-5-inch label placed at 7 yards. Times in seconds are averages for three repetitions.

Process: Fire five shots from low ready at a 3-by-5-inch label placed at 7 yards. Times in seconds are averages for three repetitions.

We use speed tests not to show how fast a firearm can be fired, but to use the same drill on multiple guns tested by the same person to look for differences in the handguns’ capabilities. These two were incredibly close. We used 115-grain SIG Sauer FMJ ammo for these drills.

Written and photographed by Joe Woolley, using evaluations from Gun Tests Team members. GT