SIG Sauer

P320    •    TALO    •    AXG Classic

TALO Is Still Bringing Out The Best Of Gunmakers in 2021... SIG Sauer P320 AXG Classic

This is the first and only handgun chambered for the 9mm Luger I've ever owned. The cartridge was developed by Austrian firearm designer Georg Luger in 1901.

sig sauer case
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sig sauer in holster
Today I'm blogging about my newest handgun ...

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And boy is it different from any I've owned and written about in the past. First a little background... Schweizerische Industrie-Gesellschaft (SIG, German for "Swiss Industrial Company") obtained a government contract to produce rifles in 1864. The SIG P210 pistol was developed in 1947 and adopted by the Swiss military in 1949. Swiss law limits the ability of Swiss companies to export firearms. Swiss companies which wish to do this have to do so by using a foreign partner. So in the 1970s SIG purchased both Hämmerli and J. P. Sauer and Sohn, which resulted in the formation of SIG Sauer.

In 2017, the U.S. Army selected the SIG Sauer P320 to replace the Beretta M9 Service Pistol

There are no military-style guns in my collection, other than the Flint River Armory .45 Carbine. TALO chose to not make this limited edition gun about commemorating the U.S. Army selection. TALO was established in 1965 by fishing and hunting wholesalers and is an acronym for .... Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana and Oklahoma.

author with SIG Sauer P320 TALO

It is highly unlikely that I would have ever purchased a regular P320. In fact, it only came on my radar because I was searching for the term "TALO" on the gun auction website. When I saw it and read about it, I did not hesitate to click the "Buy It Now" link. Expect to pay about $1,300 with taxes, shipping and fees.

TALO commissions limited editions of firearms from gun manufacturers and distributes them to stocking sporting goods dealers across the U.S. Now I have a gun from each decade of the 21st Century and 2 are TALOs; that S&W made Walther TALO from the 00's, the Remington RM380 from the 10's and now this SIG Sauer TALO from the 20's.

Back in 2014 I bought a new Tacoma truck and had the dealer install a Supercharger on it before I drove it off the lot. I've never driven a Tacoma that doesn't have a Supercharger, so I can't compare the two. The same goes for this gun. I can't compare it to the P320 the Army uses, because the two guns are so different.

The complete package.... This gun came with two additional 17-round magazines, the exclusive Negrini Custom Works case, a challenge coin and the exquisite Hogue grips and insert panel.

exclusive Negrini Custom Works case

Negrini teamed-up with the engineers at SIG SAUER to create the ultimate case for their pistols. The high-grade cases are the result of intense study by Negrini and SIG SAUER. Designed and manufactured by Negrini specifically to secure SIG SAUER P320. Each case is 100% MADE IN ITALY.

After years of being accustomed to the flimsy pathetic boxes with styrofoam or brown paper packaging from Colt or S&W, this case is no less than amazing.

The SIG SAUER Custom Shop Professional Series Cases are hand-formed of patented double-wall composite construction and secured with steel hinges and special German combination locks. Each case is then hand finished and upholstered with the finest fabric, cushioning and leather available. As a result, the SIG SAUER Professional Series Cases are ultra-strong, light in weight, and handsome in appearance, unlike typical pistol cases. The internal compartments of each case can be adjusted for the barrel length and will accommodate the Sig Romeo reflex sight and extra magazines.

This is one of the finest travel handgun cases I've ever owned. A quick internet search reveals that the Negrini line of gun cases can be purchased for just about any handgun. The highest quality cases are in the $200 to $300 range. I'm already considering one for my 1911's.

The question of whether Sig Sauer is the "best" firearm manufacturer in America is subjective ...

and depends on various factors, including personal preferences, specific needs, and criteria for what makes a manufacturer "the best." Here are some points to consider:

Up is Down, and Down is Up

FN Herstal, a Belgian company, has also come to our shores. The FN Manufacturing LLC plant in Columbia, South Carolina, is part of the military division of FN. It is primarily responsible for the production of U.S. military weapons, such as M16 rifles, M249 light machine guns, M240 machine guns, and M2 machine guns.

Summary
In my opinion, this gun is well worth the $1,300 price tag!

I don't own any plastic guns, which this one is not. I don't own any plastic holsters. Heck, I only own three guns that are made from stainless steel. The frame is made of stainless steel and the finish is hard coat anodized. The slide is also made of stainless steel and the slide finish is Nitron. The barrel is made from carbon steel. The grips are made from Walnut.

SIG Sauer P320 TALO AXG Classic - DOM 05/11/2021
SIG Sauer P320 TALO AXG Classic - DOM 05/11/2021

The balance and feel of the gun in my hand exceeded my expectations. Prior to this, my only experience with a double-stack high-capacity handgun was the Browning BDA .380 years ago. Although the BDA .380 held only 13+1 rounds of the shorter .380, it felt bulkier to me (I'm speaking from memory and that's been a long time ago).

One trip to the range with this one and I wanted to run out and buy one for Chris, Alec and Zack.

This is the only striker-fired handgun in my arsenal. Not only do most of my guns have exposed hammers, many have the firing pin on the hammer. So this one is very different for me, however sometimes different is good.

The dimensions of the AXG Classic are; height: 5.5 inches, length: 7.4 inches and width: 1.3 inches. The barrel length is 3.9 inches. The unloaded weight of this gun is 31.3 ounces and when I fully loaded it with 18 rounds of Winchester 9mm Luger 115 Grain ammo, I added about 9 ounces to the weight. Update: My gun is very accurate and I'm so in love with it, that I'm buying a second one, just to add the Sig Romeo reflex sight to.

I'm not jumping the gun...

The phrase 'jump the gun' means to act prematurely or too soon. It originates from track and field races where a gun or pistol is used to signal the start of the race. If a runner starts before the gun is fired, they are said to jump the gun. So in addition to not jumping the gun, I'm not doing a 180 either, however I may have had a change of heart. Here's my opinion on the P320 being chosen to replace the Beretta M9 as the United States Armed Forces' main service pistol.

author
Greg

My MOS when I served in the United States Army was 76Y. For you non-military readers, the Military Occupational Specialty of 76 Yankee means that I was a Unit Armorer. While on REFORGER 85, I trained with German Paratroopers and qualified as "Expert" with the German G-3 rifle, the Israeli Uzi 9mm sub-machinegun and the 9mm handgun.

Finally! A book that covers Sig handguns in exhaustive detail! ... Gun Digest Book of SIG-Sauer