SIG P320 X Carry vs HK VP9

In this post, we’re going to compare the SIG P320 X Carry vs HK VP9. We’re going to dive deep into all the individual features of the guns so you can decide which set of features is the best fit for your lifestyle.

Size

SIG P320 X Carry vs HK VP9 Concealed Carry

Both of these guns are what many would consider a full-sized gun with similar-length barrels, full-sized grips, and 17-round magazines. Originally, the HK VP9 shipped with a 15-round magazine, but there are currently 17-round flush-fit magazines available for it. These guns are large enough to use for duty use, yet small enough to concealed carry.

If you plan to concealed carry these guns, realize they are large and can print. That is if you don’t have an appropriate setup holster as well as appropriate clothing. They do have very long grips that can definitely affect printing at the appendix position.

These are double-stack firearms. This means that if you’re carrying at four to five o’clock, then the thickness of the firearm may cause printing as well. The SIG P320 X Carry weighs around an ounce more than the HK VP9. But when you look at the overall size of that gun, that’s not a huge percentage difference. I don’t think you can dock the SIG P320 for increased weight. 

Concealment

One area you can dock the SIG P320 at is the height of the gun from the bottom of the magazine baseplate to the top of the slide. The SIG P320 is one-sixteenth of an inch taller than the HK VP9. That doesn’t sound like much until you consider carry location.

At the three to five o’clock position, it won’t be as important. But if you’re carrying a gun that is already at the edge of what you can carry, size wise, then the HK VP9 is going to be just a little bit easier concealed than the SIG P320 with weight factored in.

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If you can conceal both guns fine with your build then it won’t make as much of a difference, but it can be a major deal for some people. When you’re carrying at the three to five o’clock position, the HK VP9 is going to have a clear advantage.

Despite its slightly wider grip, the shape of the grip itself is going to do more to conceal the gun than the squared-off P320 X Carry.

Ergonomics 

When comparing the SIG P320 X Carry vs HK VP9 ergonomics are important as they are very different.

Frame

The heart of the SIG P320 X Carry is going to be the frame, but it uses a chassis so you can easily switch those frames out. There is no modularity within them or the grip modules themselves, but you have a variety of frame offerings from SIG that can typically be purchased for under $50. It’s easy and affordable to switch out the frame on your P320. 

The HK VP9, on the other hand, is extremely modular. It has removable back- and side straps. If you’re the type of person who really likes the entire grip to fill your hand vs. just getting contact on the front and backstrap of the gun, then the HK VP9 is going to be the gun for you. The ability to change out these side straps is not a big deal for most people, but I do think there are some customers who will appreciate it. 

Now, when we talk about how the grips feel, these guns have completely different ergonomics. The SIG P320 X Carry is shaped similarly to a Glock in the way it feels (blockier and square), but the upside is that it really allows you to get good recoil control on the pistol.

The VP9 seems to fill the hand nicer. 

SIG P320 X Carry vs HK VP9 Feel In The Hand

It’s a little more ergonomic than the Carry. But it doesn’t give you quite as secure a feeling because the distance from the back of the backstrap to the front of the front strap is a little bit shorter. I find that extra length really allows people with medium to larger hands to get a little more grip on the gun.

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As for the grip lengths themselves, these guns are actually very similar. The SIG P320 seems a little bit short for most people — for example, my hand completely fits on a Glock 19, while it almost fills up the entire grip on the P320 X Carry. Despite having a 17-round mag, you don’t gain a lot of distance in the grip. 

You gain just slightly more with the HK VP9, but you have to take into account that the HK VP9 has finger grooves while the P320 does not. Those finger grooves extend to the bottom of the grip itself, and if you have very large hands that are going to extend out at that point, it’s going to be very uncomfortable for your pinky.

If you have hands that are larger than the gun, I would definitely suggest going with the SIG P320 X Carry, as it’s just going to be more comfortable for you to shoot than the HK VP9.

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Texture: Buyer’s Preference

When comparing the SIG P320 X Carry vs the HK VP9, the texture is not going to be a deciding factor for most people. The textures on both of these guns are quite good but noticeably different. The texture on the SIG P320 reminds me of light-grit sandpaper and it’s very effective while not being too aggressive.

The HK VP9 uses a completely different strategy with a bunch of little banana-looking shapes molded into the grip itself. Despite looking like bananas, the texturing is actually very aggressive, though that doesn’t feel like the case when you’re just rubbing it lightly. 

Both of these grips do a good job of providing traction when you lock your hand on the grip, but when you’re carrying the gun, they’re not going to rub your skin raw if you’re carrying concealed right up against your body.

Slide SIG P320 X Carry vs HK VP9

The slide features on these guns are pretty much identical with both forward and backward serrations. However, those serrations themselves are going to be just a little bit different for each gun. 

In my opinion, the forward serrations on the SIG P320 X Carry are a little easier to use because there’s more consistent real estate with them. The serrations on the HK VP9 had a line cut through them on the forefront and it makes it a little harder to get a grip. There’s not a huge difference here, but it’s enough that it’s worth noting. The rear serrations on the HK VP9 are also a little less aggressive comparatively. 

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I’m going to have to give the edge to the SIG P320 X Carry when it comes to aggression, but the HK VP9 has polymer wings that will help you manipulate the slide.

This is a pretty good feature if you have a weaker hand and need to get a little more leverage on the gun. The wings can also be easily removed by removing the rear sight, so they’re a good feature to keep in your back pocket if need be.

It’s really going to come down to what set of features you’re looking for.

I think overall that the SIG P320 is going to be easier for most people to manipulate, but the wings on the HK are a major advantage for weaker hands.

Sights

Everyone has their own preferences when it comes to sights. For some it’s very important and others just don’t care. Your options are quite different on the SIG P320 X Carry vs HK VP9 so you’ll want to read if it’s something that matters to you.

Stock

Sights on the HK VP9 are offered in three configurations. If you get one of the normal VP9s, you can get them with either three-dot luminescent or three-dot night sights. The sight pictures on these are essentially identical with the only difference being that the tritium night sights obviously glow in the dark while the luminescent sights have to be charged with light.

Overall, they don’t have a great picture, seem somewhat dated, and aren’t that great considering the price point of the HK VP9. If you get the 2020 (optics-ready) VP9 variant, it will have a luminescent front sight and a blacked-out rear. The luminescent front sight has a huge white dot and is quite wide. It’s honestly a pretty decent set of iron sights, but I would rather see a blackout front sight or fiber optic. 

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The SIG P320 X Carry, on the other hand, has the Siglite night sights. Those sights have a green tritium front that stands out decently in the daylight but could stand to be just a little bit brighter. The rear sight is actually mounted to an optics cover plate. Unfortunately, there are no aftermarket options at this time to replace the rear sight, so you’re stuck with that design.

It’s a three-dot night sight set-up with a brighter front sight, which is nice for daylight shooting. If you’re comparing the sights on the SIG P320 X Carry to the HK VP9 in terms of stock configuration, I think there’s no competition: the SIG P320 X Carry has a better set of stock sights.

Aftermarket

Aftermarket sights for the HK VP9 are not plentiful. There are a couple of brands making them, and you’ll likely be able to find a set of sights that you can live with, but you may not be able to find your favorite sight set-up after the fact. The SIG P320, on the other hand, has every front sight option you could imagine. The problem comes with rear sight availability. Unfortunately, being mounted to that optics plate, you’re going to be stuck with the factory rear sight if you want to run irons.

Red Dot Optics

The SIG P320 X Carry comes cut for a red dot out of the box, so it’s very simple to install.

A downside is that you are not going to have the ability to run a rear sight on the gun simultaneously.

The SIG ROMEO optic series, which is what most people are mounting on these guns, do have rear sights built into them, but it’s not as effective as a traditional rear sight and has a very shallow notch.

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There are companies making aftermarket mounting plates that have a rear sight milled into them if you want to add a dot like a Trijicon RMR. The guns from the factory come set up for Leupold DeltaPoint Pro and SIG ROMEO series dots.

Make sure to do your research on the specific gun you have, as SIG has made a lot of variations when it comes to their red dot cut. Some guns accept both the old SIG ROMEO pattern, while others only accept the brand new Leupold. It’s a mess.

SIG has made a bunch of rolling changes, and it’s impossible to tell which your gun will be set up for unless you check the serial number and call SIG directly so they can verify what optic will go with your gun. 

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When looking at the HK VP9, we’ll be focusing on the 2020 red dot optic model. With this particular gun, you’re going to have to buy adapter plates to mount a red dot. They come cut from the factory to accept a red dot but don’t have the mounting plates.

From HK’s standpoint, this saves a bit on the cost of the gun, but it adds a little bit after the fact on the customer side. I should also note that the VP9 2020 iron sights may or may not co-witness depending on the red dot you mount, which could add even further expense.

Controls

While the classification of these two guns is the same their controls are not. We take an in-depth look at all the controlls.

Trigger: Buyer’s Preference

The triggers on these guns are quite different. The SIG P320 X Carry has a flat trigger with light take-up before the wall, and then you’re going to start to feel creep before you get somewhat of a rolling break. It’s a decent striker-fired trigger, but it’s not great and doesn’t feel that clean. Considering the SIG P320 X Series is SIG’s performance line, you’d expect the trigger to be a little bit cleaner. There are a lot of aftermarket options you can get to improve the trigger if you end up going with this one.

The trigger on the HK VP9 also has light take-up before the wall, but you get a clean and heavier break after that. Honestly, it’s a very clean-feeling trigger, but I actually prefer the SIG to this one. It doesn’t feel as good or clean in dry fire, but it performs very well and I’m a big fan of a rolling break. Again, this is going to be up to personal preference and it just depends on what you’re looking for.

Slide Lock

The slide locks on both of these guns stem from mediocre designs in my opinion. The HK VP9 is excellent if you’re specifically looking for a recessed slide lock, but that recess makes it harder to access and I really don’t think that’s necessary.

HK could have pushed the slide lock out just a bit and it would have been a lot more accessible while not adding bulk to the gun. If you’re an ambi user, both guns can work for you. The X Carry slide lock is a little bit sharper and less comfortable to use than the HK VP9, but that’s not a deal-breaker.

Magazine Release SIG P320 X Carry vs HK VP9

The companies took completely different approaches here when it came to the magazine release. Now, HK does offer an HK VP9 variant called the “B model” with a standard magazine release, but I don’t have one of those to compare today.

The SIG P320 has a standard push-button-style release that can be reversed for both right- or left-handed users. It’s easy to reach, and I can reach it without having to break my grip. People with smaller hands will likely have to break their grip, though. Simply put, it works well for what it is. 

The HK VP9, on the other hand, has a paddle-style release that is truly a work of art. You’re going to have to break your grip when releasing the magazine on this gun, but it’s almost worth it, in my opinion. It doesn’t slow things down in the long run. The paddle-style release can be activated with your thumb, trigger finger, or middle finger, so there are a lot of options for how you want to manipulate the firearm with a really classy design. 

If you like to be a little bit eccentric with your firearm features, you’re probably going to like the HK VP9 vs. the SIG P320 X Carry which is well-executed but somewhat boring.

Magazine Well

There is no comparison on the magazine well of these guns. That’s because only one of them has any type of bevel. The SIG P320 X Carry has a slight bevel on the bottom of the magazine well which does its job. While the HK VP9 has nothing of the sort. The SIG P320 X Carry is only bested by the Gen5 Glocks in this category. 

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The SIG Sauer P320 has the second-best polymer magazine well on the market. If you’re shooting a sport like USPSA and carry optics or production where you can’t have an aftermarket magazine well, this is a big advantage for the SIG P320 X Carry. For the average person buying this gun for home defense or concealed carry, it’s not going to be as big of an issue (if one at all).

Quality

Quality-wise, the SIG P320 X Carry seems a little bit cheap when you compare it to the HK VP9. The quality of the slide, the machining, and the finish seem better on the HK. The polymer frame seems worlds above the standard P320 frame. Excluding the aftermarket aluminum and tungsten frames, the frames on the SIG P320 just seem cheap. Really only about a step above Taurus. They’re modular, replaceable, and they seem somewhat disposable. 

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I’m not trying to bash SIG here, but it’s just how it is. You’re going to get a shiny finish on your P320 frame with any regular use. The VP9 is going to maintain the shape of the gun much easier. Sure, you’re going to get some shine on the bottom of the trigger guard if you holster thanks to retention.

But overall, the frame itself seems to take wear much better on the VP9. It should be noted that you can’t replace an HK VP9 frame like you can a SIG P320 X Carry Fame. If you’re looking to mix and match, that could be an option for you.

Aftermarket

The aftermarket for the HK VP9 is fairly slim. There’s enough to make you happy but not enough to set up the gun completely. The only thing this gun really needs is a better set of sights, and there are companies that offer that. 

The SIG P320s, on the other hand, is also set up very well from the factory. There are a ton of aftermarket parts for them. There are more frames than you can imagine from both SIG Sauer and aftermarket manufacturers. You can find other decent parts as well. The SIG P320 at this point is only bested by Glocks when it comes to the aftermarket.

Aesthetics SIG P320 X Carry vs HK VP9

Aesthetically, it’s really going to come down to opinion here. The outline of the SIG P320 X Carry looks better to me. But lot of the details on the HK VP9 look much better than those on the P320. That’s my opinion and personal preferencee. Just because of that, I’m going to have to give these guns a tie for aesthetic appeal. Neither are drop-dead gorgeous, but they’re both attractive guns that you’ll be happy with.

Shooting

Both of these guns shoot extremely well. They’re both very soft-shooting despite having a lot of muzzle flip. That muzzle flip actually gives the gun time to send a lot of the vibrations from the slide up into the air. Which in most cases would be the back end of your hand. Because of that, I really can’t give a major advantage to one gun over the other here. 

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I think a lot of it is going to come down to the individual shooter and how their hands work with their chosen gun. If you have smaller hands, I think going with the HK VP9 is going to be a smart move. The grip is just a little bit smaller than the SIG P320 X Carry in terms of circumference. 

This means you’re going to be able to get better control over the gun than you would with the P320. That being said, the HK VP9 has a great grip if you have larger hands as well. I think HK did an excellent job designing a gun that will work for almost anybody. Whereas the SIG P320 is going to be better for people with medium to large hands.

Price/Value

The SIG P320 X Carry is no longer in production, but you can find similar SIGs for around $650. Which is the same price as an HK VP9. You miss out on the ability to add an optic that way. If you want to add an optic, the SIG P320 X Carry is a better value. At the end of the day, these guns have different sets of features. Choosing based on your most necessary features will determine what is the best value for you.

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Related Articles

• HK VP9 vs Sig P320
• Sig P320 X Carry Review
• Sig P320 vs Glock 19
• Sig P320 X Compact vs X Carry
• Sig P320 X Compact Review

SIG P320 X Carry vs HK VP9 Pros/Cons

HK VP9 Pros

• Size for carrying
• Finger grooves
• Quality

HK VP9 Cons

• Price
• Sight Options

SIG P320 X Carry Pros

• No finger grooves
• Aftermarket
• Grip modules
• Price

SIG P320 X Carry Cons

• Size for carrying
• Rear Sight Options

This is an opinion piece, but I always aim to eliminate bias. Look, we’ve all read them before. Gun reviews that claim to be helpful, but they’re really thinly veiled hit pieces trying to get you to buy something before you’ve even started your research. Or, even worse, a review put together by a content writer who has never even held a gun.

I’ve trained with some of the best in the business to learn various shooting styles and ideologies to better serve our customers. I’ve purchased guns of all price points, calibers, and action types to build the best products for the market. I want you to walk away knowing you have the information you need to make a sound purchasing decision.