By: Greg Chabot

Photos by Sasha Steadman

I have always liked weapons in 10mm and as a teen in the ‘80s, I watched its rapid rise as the official round of the FBI. And then its fall, due to weak-gripped agents who couldn’t handle the recoil of the loadings of the time. With limited weapon choices and not much for ammo choices the 10mm didn’t become a commercial success in the ‘80s and it became more of a niche round. During that time there were not many choices besides the Colt Delta Elite and Glock 20, with outdoorsmen keeping it alive as its offspring .40 S&W (short and weak) surpassed it in law enforcement and civilian sales. In recent years the 10mm has bounced back with a vengeance and today there are many more weapon choices for the shooting public.

The P320 series has proven to be a winner for Sig Sauer. With its modularity allowing end users multiple ways to configure their weapon, and becoming the official sidearm of multiple militaries worldwide, the shooting public and aftermarket have embraced the 320 series. Sales numbers don’t lie: the P320 was number two in handgun sales for 2023. One thing missing from the lineup was an offering in 10mm Auto, until 2022 when the P320 X-Ten was released to the public. As a 10mm shooter my main complaint is grip size on anything besides a 1911 or P220. I own a Glock 20C Gen 3 and though I shoot it well, it is a handful. I was looking forward to trying the X-Ten and pounced when one came into my local shop.

The X-Ten comes in a plastic case with two 15-round magazines, a lock, and a manual. The slide is stainless steel with a Nitron finish. The optic footprint is the Delta Point Pro and it comes with Sig’s excellent X-Ray 3 iron sights. There were no machine marks or defects on the slide or in the finish upon initial disassembly. The barrel is made of carbon steel and is five inches long. OAL is 8.5” with a sight radius of 6.8”.  The X-Ten comes with the X-Series straight trigger that broke at 5 pounds on my sample. Trigger had a smooth take-up with a clean break.

The grip module comes with a 1913 rail with an overall width of 1.3”.  Unlike the Glock 20 I could get a firm grip around the module. The stippling is even and aggressive enough to control the X-Ten during slow and rapid fire during my bloody hand simulation test using mineral oil. I admit, I’m one of those freaks who likes cheese graters on my handguns for the utmost control under stress. For most shooters the stock stippling will suffice.

The X-Ten weighs in at a hefty 33 ounces due to its beefy slide. It is front heavy, but it balances well loaded. During range testing I did not notice a change in balance as rounds were fired as one needs a firm grip while shooting 10mm.

Holster Compatibility

The X-Ten is bigger than the 9mm P320s so you will have to buy a holster made for it. I don’t care what some flat range warrior says on social media about modifying an existing holster. That is a recipe for disaster. If you can afford a new handgun, you can afford a holster that properly fits your gun. For testing I used a paddle holster from Vedder Holsters. Vedder makes high-quality holsters for a fair price. Similar to 2A Holster, my go-to for years that was recently sold and hasn’t started back up for some odd reason?

Parts and Mag Compatibility

The FCU (Fire Control Unit) is not interchangeable between 9mm and 10mm. The 10mm mags will not go in the 9mm and the 9mm mags will go in the 10mm but rattle around. So don’t waste your time with a Dremel trying to make parts and mags work.

Range Time

The X-Ten was cleaned then lubed with Gun Butter. It was not cleaned until range testing was completed. 10mm is a flat shooting round with a reputation for accuracy. Loadings for 10mm vary across the spectrum and I did my best to test a variety through the X-Ten. I did my usual mixed ammo test for reliability and procured some “Real” 10mm to push the X-Ten. I can’t praise the grip module ergonomics enough. The grip design allowed me to get a firm grip for control and recoil mitigation making it a pleasure to shoot for long sessions. Though I prefer curved triggers, the flat trigger broke clean and made accurate shots a breeze. The short reset with the front-heavy slide made for fast follow-up shots during Mozambique drills with minimal muzzle flip depending on load.

No complaints about the sights, they are easy to pick up in daylight and in low-light conditions. Accuracy was excellent if I did my part, all misses were on me. Chamber support is better than my Glock or Delta Elite, I had no case bulging with the X-Ten. End users should be fine shooting the higher end of the 10mm spectrum.

Reliability was 100% with all ammo, I tried to induce malfunctions without success. The X-Ten was dropped in snow, water and mud and kept chugging along making it an excellent choice for outdoorsmen. In total, 700 rounds were fired in a 4-month period with no unusual wear or frame damage found after cleaning.

Concealability

I carried the X-Ten while snowshoeing and doing other outdoor activities. Being winter in NH, I had no problems concealing the duty-sized X-Ten under a jacket or loose hoody. SIG has recently come out with the X-Ten Comp, a more compact version of the X-Ten for concealed carry, which might be a better option for end users. I plan to carry the X-Ten IWB when the weather warms up as I prefer duty-sized guns and I dress to carry accordingly.

Pros/Cons

Pros:

  1. Excellent ergonomics for all hand sizes.
  2. Great trigger, pull weight is just right in my opinion.
  3. Reliable with all ammo types. Ran no matter the weather or how dirty it got.
  4. Excellent sights and optic ready.

Cons:

  1. Not much for aftermarket support yet. I have not seen much offered for grip modules or magazines yet. The one thing I would like is for Wilson Combat to offer their grip module.
  2. Extra magazines are expensive.
  3. Some end users might not like the weight or front heaviness. I had no issues with balance in my hand, but to each their own.
  4. Holster companies are catching up. If you have a favorite brand, they might not make an X-Ten holster yet. With time that should not be a problem.

Overall, I am happy with my purchase of the P320 X-Ten. As someone with smaller hands it is nice to find a 15-round weapon that doesn’t feel like I am grasping a 2×4, which makes controlling it easier under stress and translates to better accuracy. The gun ran flawlessly and ate whatever it was fed so I have no issue with trusting my life to it on the street or in the woods. If you are looking for a reliable, ergonomic polymer-framed 10mm, check out the P320 X-Ten.

Big thanks to Modern Woodworks Studio Jacksonville, NC, appreciate the cool patch!