Firearm: Wilson Combat WCP320 (MSRP: $1,195)
It was only a matter of time. SIG Sauer’s striker-fired P320, introduced in 2014 and winner of the Army’s Modular Handgun System contract three years later, has received the Wilson Combat upgrade treatment. It's natural: Wilson Combat has been improving 1911s for decades, and the Beretta 92 that underwent Wilson’s upgrades won our 2016 Golden Bullseye award for Handgun of the Year. It stands to reason that Wilson Combat would offer an improved version of the handgun upon which our latest military pistol is based.
The WCP320 starts life not as a standard P320 or M17, though. Wilson Combat chose the P320XFull size for the project, with an upgraded trigger, extended beavertail and undercut trigger guard. The SIG X-series improved, flat-face trigger, slide stop and mag release are all maintained in the WCP320, but Wilson Combat improves on this already-excellent version with an X-Tac 320 slide. The slide has machined bevels for easier holstering, as well as the X-Tac pattern that adorns both front and rear cocking serrations and the top of the slide. Add in Wilson Combat’s Battlesight rear sight, which allows for single-handed racking of the slide, and a fiber-optic front sight, which fosters rapid target acquisition, for an impressive list of upgrades.
On the grip frame, though, the Wilson Combat enhancements are even more striking. Wilson’s signature Starburst grip stippling, sculpted thumb grooves left and right and a flared, beveled magazine well all contributed not only to anchoring the WCP320 in the hand, but also having it sit exactly where you want it. It’s really hard to adequately describe how well this pistol sits in the hand - it’s something you absolutely should experience.
In the end, it’s about $400 worth of upgrades over the SIG P320X. I think it’s well-worth the money, because the fit is truly amazing. If you’re already considering the P320X series, you’re already thinking about an improved pistol; why not opt for the Wilson Combat? Not only do you get useful, well-executed upgrades that really do make a difference, but also, for a few hundred bucks extra, you get a Wilson Combat. That should seal the deal right there.
Holster: Dark Star Gear Orion (MSRP: $80)
We’ve featured this same Dark Star Gear Orion holster here on “I Carry,” and it’s making a comeback this week to show how the Wilson Combat WCP320 will fit gear designed for the SIG Sauer P320. Obviously, one of the design criteria of the WCP320 was to retain sufficient elements of the P320 to use its gear, and time spent with the Dark Star Gear Orion certainly proves this. Despite the differences in frame and slide construction, the Wilson Combat WCP320 is right at home in the P320’s Orion.
Naturally, the same features that make the Orion great for a P320 are still in play. Dark Star Gear’s proprietary Dark Wing attachment helps keep the Orion properly positioned for appendix carry while the pull-the-dot loops secure it on the belt. The Orion can also be ordered with a Kydex clip for even greater ease of attachment and it is available in a wide variety of colors and fits for numerous pistols.
Belt: Galco SB18 (MSRP: $65)
Belts designed for concealed carry can often fall in the love/hate category. While you obviously love the heavier construction that helps distribute a pistol and holster combination’s weight more evenly and keep it anchored in place, you hate how the belt is rigid and difficult to thread through certain belt loops. Oh, and it just screams tactical - no dress belt is a quarter of an inch thick.
Galco designed the SB18 to bridge this gap. Construction is sturdy bridle leather, with a solid brass buckle in “gunmetal” finish. The “SB” stands for “straight belt” - this means it does not come pre-curved like the contoured belt (CB) series. Designed to work best with inside-the-waistband holsters, the SB18 is stylish, with plenty of support for your carry rig, but flexible enough for all-day comfort. It is currently available in four sizes, with a single-color offering at present time.
