SIG P320 – M17 9mm Combat Semi-Auto Pistol

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Best Full-Size 9mm For Warrior Minded People

As most of us know, the United States Military is moving from the 9mm Berretta 92 or M9 sidearm to the SIG Sauer 9mm P320 or M17 and M18. To date SIG has shipped over 100,000 M17/M18 sidearms to the U.S. Military. Wow! This is a lot of SIG pistols. When I was in Iraq as an International Police Advisor, I witnessed the USA gave the Iraqi military and police 144,000 Glocks…made in Austria. Why not the U.S. made Glocks is unknown to me.

The M18 is the shorter version (3.9-inch barrel) than the M17 with the 4.7-inch barrel. For my review I will be testing the SIG P320 –M17 semi-auto 9mm pistol or sidearm. SIG P320 – M17, at this writing, is the closest to the Military M17 I could obtain from SIG.

In addition, I will be reviewing the SIG P320–M17 semi-auto pistol fitted with the SIG MODX-9 suppressor. In fact, the MODX-9 suppressor will fit nine different SIG semi-auto pistols. I know I have the P938 SAS, 1^st Gen, and threaded barrel which will fit the MODX-9.

Full disclosure, I am a huge SIG fan. My every day carry is a SIG “We The People” all stainless five inch 1911. If I decide to run and get a haircut or to the grocery store wearing pants with no beltloops, I carry the SIG P938 in a fanny-pack. I have been carrying a SIG into harms’ way for over 38 years. However, I do not cut slack for my beloved SIG.

For me, I go big or go small. Either way, for backup I also carry a North American Arms Ranger II in .22 mag fitted with the 2.5-inch barrel. Overkill you say? Then I say you have never been in the situations I have. We learn from our experiences, so I carry two handguns.

For the purposes of testing the SIG P320–M17, I called upon a newly minted Marine, Tyler, to assist me. Tyler will be trained to use and shoot an issued M17 later this year. I met Tyler when he was in the 7^th grade. He joined my “Small Group” youth ministries at Life Church in Oklahoma City. In talking to each young man, I asked what they wanted to become once they graduated high school. Most said they wanted to join the military. Tyler said he was going to become a Marine. In 2021 he achieved that goal.

As I had to do with the P320 Compact (https://warriorsandsheepdogs.com/rescue-expert-sig-p320-9mm-compact/) I field stripped the P320-M17 and greased, not oiled, the three metal contact points on the frame. I normally test a new pistol by removing it from the box and shooting a hundred rounds. It is my experience with the P320 you must grease or lube the four contact points prior to taking it to the range.

Once the lube job was completed, I instructed the Devil-Dog on range safety and how the P320 operates.

A side note: Tyler qualified Expert with his M4 at 500 meters. Tyler is a crack shot with rifle and handgun.

Tyler fired fifty rounds of Winchester 147 gr. ball ammo through this pistol. There were no malfunctions. This SIG comes with three mags, one 17 round and two 21 round mags. We tested each one.

As I had previously installed the threaded barrel, I attached the SIG MODX-9 suppressor. I handed the P320-M17 back to Tyler wherein he loaded a fresh mag. Three rounds into shooting this pistol with the suppressor attached, the pistol failed to complete chambering the subsonic Winchester round. In testing the Winchester subsonic ammo, we experience no ammo failure. Out of ten rounds fired through the SIG MODX-9, we had an average of four incidents of the pistol failing to complete chambering the rounds. The slide came within a quarter of an inch to complete the chambering.

Firing the Hornady subsonic ammo, we had the same experience. In addition, Tyler and I both felt some object coming from the SIG P320-M17 as it cycled the next round, striking us in our face on the left cheek. This occurred with the Winchester and Hornady subsonic ammo. There was no sting or injury. I checked the suppressor and found it to be as it should.

One other item must be reported. Going into the testing of the SIG P320-M17 I knew once added the SIG MODX-9 suppressor would block the use of the factory sights. Nevertheless, at 15 feet we could still hit the center mass of the man-size silhouette target.

Setting aside the finicky-ness of the SIG P320-M17 and MODX-9 combo, we collected sound levels of the P320-M17 be fired with and without the suppressor. The samples were taken at three feet distance. The resulting statistics are an average of five shots:

Winchester Super Suppressed 147 gr 9mm

Without Suppressor: 116 db
With Suppressor: 109 db

Hornady Subsonic 147 gr 9mm XTP HP

Without Suppressor: 117 db
With Suppressor: 110 db

At the end of the sound dampening ability test of the SIG MODX-9, I tested the outside temperature of the suppressor and found it to be 179 degrees. This is hot enough to cause serious burns to your hands. So, use a leather glove or heavy rag to remove the suppressor. It took about six minutes for the suppressor to cool down before we could handle it without hand protection.

Overall, The SIG P320-M17 shot very well once grease or lube was applied. When we married up the pistol and the MODX-9 things did not go so well. Since both Winchester and Hornady ammo responded with the suppressor in the same way, I would say the ammo was not part of the problem.

The Devil Dog and I liked the way this pistol shot. Very accurate and very dependable. The two 21 round mags are a sweet addition. I wish I had had the P320-M17 when I went to Iraq as an International Police Advisor. I did not like the Berretta we were issued by the DOD contractor.

For better understanding on how the P320-M17 shot and how it functioned with the MODX-9 SIG Suppressor, watch the YouTube video attached herein.

Be Blessed and be safe.

SIG Sauer P320-M17

Caliber: 9mm Luger
Magazine: (1) 17rd / (2) 21rd Steel Mags
Sights: SIGLITE Front / Night Sight Rear Plate
Pistol Size: Full-Size
Overall Length: 8.0 inches
Overall Width: 1.6 inches
Overall Height: 5.5 inches
Barrel Length: 4.7 inches
Weight: 29.6 ounces
Sight Radius: 6.6 inches
Accessory Rail: M1913
Trigger Action: Striker
Trigger Shape: Standard Curved
GRIP MODULE: Carry Polymer Medium
Grip Color: Coyote Tan
Barrel Material: Carbon Steel
Frame Finish: Stainless Steel
Frame Material: Stainless Steel
Slide Finish: Coyote PVD
Slide Material: Stainless Steel

SIG MODX-9 Specifications

Caliber: 9mm Luger
Diameter: 1.35 inches
Overall Length: 7.5 inches
Threads: 1/2 inches – 28 tpi & M13.5 x 1 mm LH
Weight: 8 ounces
Material: Titanium / Stainless Steel
Attachment Type: Direct Thread

MODX-9 SIG Sauer Details

The newest pistol suppressor line from SIG SAUER features completely modular and configurable titanium baffles for the ultimate, light-weight performance that allows the user to personalize their suppressor for overall length, weight, and sound. The MODX-9 provides class-leading sound performance and can be easily disassembled and reconfigured with fewer baffles when your priority is size over sound. The MODX suppressors feature 21 points of impact adjustment and come with a fixed barrel spacer for carbine use. Each MODX suppressor includes the most popular metric and metric piston for its given caliber.

User Configurable Modular Baffle Design
Titanium Construction
Includes 1/2×28 and M13.5x1LH Pistons
Includes Fixed Barrel Spacer For Use With Carbines
21 Points of Impact Adjustment
Unique Exterior Design Doubles as Wrench Flats

The MODX-9 Suppressor is compatible with the following

Most 9mm firearms with a threaded barrel in the following thread pitches (1/2×28 RH, M13.5×1 LH)
SIG MPX (w/threaded barrel)
P365 (w/threaded barrel)
P365XL (w/threaded barrel)
P226 (9mm w/threaded barrel)
P229 (9mm w/threaded barrel)
P320 (9mm w/threaded barrel)
M17 (9mm w/threaded barrel)
M18 (9mm w/threaded barrel)
P938 (9mm w/threaded barrel)
SP2022 (9mm w/threaded barrel)