SIG Sauer's Race-Ready Single-Action XFIVE 9mm Pistol

Max Michel, captain of SIG’s pro shooting team, called the P226 XFive “the fastest gun on the planet...” He was referring to the original German-made XFive that he rode to a number of world and national shooting titles, so he should know. Now the same pistol is made right here in the U.S.A., and if you’re serious about competition or just want to own a well-built single-action-only pistol, this could well be your next gun. The P226 is a full-size duty pistol that got its start as SIG Sauer’s entry into the U.S. military competition for a new service handgun to replace the 1911. Beretta’s 92 and SIG’s P226 were the last two pistols standing, and while the contract was ultimately awarded to Beretta, U.S. Navy SEALs decided to adopt the P226 as their sidearm. There are several versions of the P226 out there, and the single-action-only XFive is the target model of the bunch. It comes from SIG’s Custom Works shop, and as such it boasts a number of custom, competition-ready features.

I think one of the coolest is the three-position trigger. It easily adjusts not just for pull weight and overtravel but also reach length. I think the ability to move the trigger is a game changer, enabling shooters to truly customize the gun to fit them. In my case, because the XFive grip is fairly beefy at about 5.75 inches in circumference just below the trigger guard undercut, I moved the trigger back as far as it would go to provide the correct trigger-finger placement. On the left side of the trigger shoe you’ll find a 2.5mm hex-head screw. Loosening that screw allows you to slide it back and forth on the trigger base rail. It’s also possible to remove the trigger shoe entirely. The XFive comes with a curved, skeletonized trigger, but SIG also sells a solid curved trigger for the XFive on its website. The trigger pull weight adjustment screw is located in the front of the trigger guard; adjustment range is 2.5 to four pounds. You couldn’t ask for a more convenient way to adjust a trigger since you don’t even have to field-strip the gun. However, since the trigger on my sample tripped at 2.25 pounds, I left it alone. Overtravel can also be adjusted courtesy of a screw located behind the trigger shoe. Again, I was happy with the trigger as-is, so I didn’t adjust that either. In events where speed is a big factor, being able to keep the muzzle down during recoil is key. One feature on the XFive that is a significant help in this regard is the sport takedown lever. If you’re into competition pistols, you’ve probably heard of the Gas Pedal. This device allows the support-hand thumb to apply forward camming pressure on the gun to counteract muzzle-rise forces, and the SIG sport takedown lever accomplishes the same task. The lever is an inch long, half an inch wide and a third of an inch tall. It’s sculpted with an angled, serrated shelf that makes for a perfect landing spot for your support-hand thumb—again, so you can apply forward force to reduce muzzle flip.

The other characteristic that really helps speedy shooting is gun weight, and the XFive has it in spades. Thanks to its all-stainless steel construction and the four-slot Picatinny rail, the XFive weighs in at 46.2 ounces in the version with the G10 grips I tested. By comparison, my Walther Q5 Steel Frame—another competition-specific gun—weighs 42.3 ounces. Not familiar with that one? Your basic all-steel 1911 tips the scales at roughly 40 ounces. The XFive’s match-oriented features don’t stop there. The serrated magazine release is extended and reversible for southpaws. I can’t quite hit the release without twisting the gun slightly because of the size of the grip, but it’s close, and a lot of people will be able to. The ambidextrous thumb safety isn’t significantly extended, but it is nice and wide for easy, fast operation. Up top you’ll find a fully adjustable Dawson rear sight set in a slide cover plate. The sight is steel with a serrated face, with adjustment screws on the top and right side. The cover plate is removed by first partially disassembling the pistol—which I’ll describe in a minute—and then removing the T10 Torx screws on the underside of the slide. The slide cut provides a direct-mount fit for SIG’s Romeo 1 Pro, Romeo 2 or any sight with the Pro footprint. The rear sight is paired with a front sight consisting of a thin steel blade that houses a green fiber-optic rod. The front sight is set in a dovetail. As mentioned, the version I tested came with G10 grips, custom Black Piranha jobs from Hogue. They feature two different checkering patterns, including two sections on each side that form an “X,” befitting the XFive designation. There’s also a Classic version of the XFive with cocobolo wood grips. Control is further aided by the finely checkered frontstrap. The grips are secured by bright stainless T10 screws. Removing these and pulling the panels allows you to install or remove the magazine well funnel that comes on the gun. The funnel is an easy slip-fit and a process that permits shooters to switch back and forth between competition divisions. Takedown is simple, but there is one trick to it. Underneath and at the rear of the sport takedown lever there’s a trigger pin you have to push in so you can rotate the takedown lever. This needs to be done with the slide in battery and the thumb safety in the up/Safe position.

After dropping the mag and ensuring the gun is unloaded, rotate the takedown lever slightly counterclockwise. Then push in the trigger pin until it’s flush with the slide, then lock back the slide and rotate the takedown lever to the down position. Pull the slide back until it disengages from the slide stop and then, with the slide under control, pull it forward off the frame. With that done you’ll be able to remove the recoil guide, buffer cup and spring, followed by the barrel. It’s a carbon-steel bull barrel with a 0.6-inch diameter and a recessed crown, finished in black. Reassemble in reverse order. You’ll need to rotate the takedown lever slightly and push on the trigger pin from the right side to reset it to the proper position. The entire process is well described and illustrated in the owner’s manual. The gun ships with either three 20-round magazines or three 10-rounders, which is what I received. They’re made by Mec-Gar, and the 10s have plastic extensions. The 10-round magazines fit flush without the mag-well funnel, and if the funnel is installed you’ll find they’re recessed except at the very front of the funnel, making them difficult or slow to seat. In other words, if you live in a restricted state and are stuck with the 10-rounders, you’re probably going to want to yank the funnel for most matches. If you’re shooting USPSA’s Production or Carry Optics divisions, that’s fine because these don’t allow funnels in the first place. And if you’re shooting Open division, reloads still won’t be a big deal even without the funnel because the magazine well itself is beveled; mags will slide right in. Of course, none of these hurdles will exist if you are able to shoot the 20-rounders. One last note on magazines. If you read the review of the Smith & Wesson M&P Competitor in the previous issue, you saw I expounded some on the magazine capacity issue as it relates to competition. I won’t go into it again here, but the 10-round capacity might put you at a disadvantage in some divisions, depending on where you live.

For accuracy testing I removed the optics plate and installed a SIG Romeo 2 red dot. As you can see in the accompanying chart, the P226 XFive is one accurate pistol, as you would expect. With bench testing completed, I reinstalled the rear sight plate and accuracy-tested the gun with iron sights and the Hornady HAP reloads I planned to shoot in an upcoming match. One of my local clubs holds what it calls Defensive Pistol matches. They’re basically of the USPSA type but much more informal. Still, they require drawing, shooting multiple steel and paper targets, shooting on the move, working around barricades and the like. I’ve found these to be not only a lot of fun and great practice but also a perfect setting for working with test pistols. The P226 XFive was fantastic, although there was somewhat of a learning curve for me. At the bench, the sights were terrific. The 0.12-inch rear sight notch and the 0.09-inch front sight created a sight picture that was easy to shoot for accuracy, with a lot of room around the narrow front sight. At the match, though, I found that roomy sight picture sometimes slow for me to shoot because my brain was trying to make me be more precise than I needed to be. Yes, I could’ve used the Romeo 2 red dot, but when I can I like to wring out the irons because that’s what comes on the gun. With practice (and frequent pre-match visualization, which is a competition practice technique I don’t do nearly enough), I expect this sight setup would be very fast to use. I loved the sport takedown lever, when I remembered to use it properly. Gas Pedal inventor GoGuns stresses that the key to making its device—or the sport takedown lever in this case—work as it should is to press forward on it and not down. Since I didn’t have any experience with such a feature, I didn’t always do this, and sometimes I forgot to put additional pressure on it altogether. But, man, when I used it properly, I was amazed by how quickly the gun came back on target. In competitions like these, if a pistol has a manual safety, you must use it. Outside of 1911s, few of my handguns have manual safeties, and it’s always a bit of a re-familiarization process. Thankfully, the P226 XFive’s safety works great. My thumb found it quickly as I punched out toward the target, and it was easy to deactivate—as well as place back on Safe prior to holstering at the end of a stage.

Since I live in a restricted state and am limited to SIG’s 10-round magazines, I left the mag-well funnel at home. Reloads were still fast and fumble free, thanks both to the beveled magazine well and the extended mag release. The G10 grips and checkered frontstrap kept the gun from shifting in my hands, and the undercut behind the trigger guard provided a nice, high grip. Throw in the gun weight and the generous beavertail, and the XFive truly did seem to make me faster than I normally am. The trigger is fantastic. Not only is the pull excellent, the super-short reset is audible and tactile, all things I appreciate. Like I said, it came from the Custom Works shop set really light, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t get a surprise break during a couple target transitions. Once again, it’s a matter of training and being familiar with your gear. I will never, ever be as fast as Max Michel. Hell, even if I could press reset and start my shooting life over I know I would never be that fast. But some of you out there are fast, very fast, and a gun like the P226 XFive could make a difference. It might boost your USPSA hit factor or lower your Steel Challenge times enough to put you in the winner’s circle. Only you can decide if the XFive’s price tag is worth it. SIG doesn’t give out suggested retail prices, and its website points to guns.com and GunBroker.com for pricing. The latter showed a relatively wide range of prices, but the guns.com site listed $2,312 for the 20-round version and $2,414 for the 10-rounder. That’s a lot of scratch, no doubt. But SIG’s Custom Works shop turns out premium quality firearms, and the P226 XFive is certainly that. It’s got the bones and the important extras competitors want, and I think it will also appeal to SIG’s diehard fans as well as to anyone looking for a high-end, single-action-only semiauto.

SIG Sauer P226 XFIVE Specs

• Type: Single-action-only semiauto centerfire
• Caliber: 9mm Luger
• Capacity: 10+1 rds. (tested), 20+1 rds. 
• Barrel: 5 in. bull
• OAL/HEIGHT/WIDTH: 8.6/5.9/1.7 in. 
• Weight: 46.2 oz. 
• Construction: Stainless steel slide and frame
• Grips: Hogue Black Piranha G10 (tested); removable magwell funnel
• Sights: Dawson rear sight plate, green fiber-optic front; SIG Pro optics cut
• Safety: ambi thumb
• Price: $2,414 (street, tested)
• Manufacturer: SIG Sauer

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