As a firearms enthusiast and competitive pistol shooter for over 20 years, I’ve gotten my hands on just about every high-end pistol platform there is. But few have impressed me out of the box quite like the new Sig Sauer P320-XFIVE DH3.
Sig built this pistol specifically for competition shooting—incorporating input from elite shooters—and it shows. The extensive tuning and purpose-built enhancements make it one of the most impressive options right now for wringing out every bit of speed and accuracy needed to dominate a match.
In this comprehensive review, I break down everything prospective buyers need to know about the XFIVE DH3, including:
- How it stacks up against the competition
- Where it truly excels…and what still leaves room for improvement
- Options for further customization and race gun development
- What shooting divisions it is best suited for
- And ultimately, is it worth the premium price?
As someone who has built numerous P320 race guns from scratch and won Stock Service Pistol division matches with this platform, I consider myself highly qualified to evaluate Sig’s newest entry into the competition pistol realm. So let’s dig in!
Overview of Key XFIVE DH3 Features
The P320-XFIVE DH3 took the already solid XFIVE platform and turbocharged its competition capabilities even further. Here are some of its most notable purpose-built features:
- Tungsten-infused polymer grip module
- Adds critical heft to soak up recoil
- Silicon carbide grip tape mimics surface used in extreme sports
- More comfortable and slip-resistant than standard grip stippling
- Adjustable steel guide rod and recoil springs
- Tunes cycle timing and impulse for reliability
- Drops bore axis ever so slightly
- Adds weight up front to better stabilize during rapid fire
- Skeletonized flat trigger w/ clean 3.5 lb break
- Crisp, glass rod break w/ no creep
- Wider trigger face ideal for fast accurate shots
- Proven durable through 5,000+ round endurance tests
- Fiber optic/tritium suppressor-height sights
- Easily trackable in all lighting conditions
- Lower 1/3 co-witness with miniature red dot optics
- 21+1 round capacity
- High cap magazines standard
- Beveled mag well also allows fast reloads
- Beavertail & extended magwell
- Ensures positive grip lock during rapid fire
- Funnels smooth magazine changes
This build takes the best aspects of top-tier custom race guns while retaining the familiar serialized P320 firing control unit for easy parts interchangeability. Despite the lightweight trigger and purpose-built enhancements, reliability and lifetime remain identical to any P320 pistol.
While certainly not a concealed carry or defensive pistol, for competition the XFIVE DH3 leaves remarkably little room for improvement straight from the factory. But how does it actually fare when the rubber meets the road?
I put the DH3 through a gauntlet of speed and accuracy tests comparing it against my fully customized P320 race guns as well as the Glock 34 platform to find out if this newest offering from Sig’s vaunted “Custom Works” shop lives up to the hype for matches.
Head-to-Head Against Custom P320 Race Platforms
As an avid P320 tinkerer, I couldn’t wait to get the XFIVE DH3 side-by-side with my personal competition guns built on the standard X5 platform with Apex trigger kits and other enhancements. Here‘s how the DH3 stacked up:
| Comparison | My Race Gun | XFIVE DH3 |
|---|---|---|
| Trigger Pull Weight | 3 lb 8oz | 3 lb 6oz |
| Trigger Travel | .170" | .150" |
| Reset Distance | .100" | .075" |
| Break Character | Glass rod | Glass rod |
| Cycle Reliability | 100% (500 rds) | 100% (500 rds) |
| Recoil Mitigation | Very good | Excellent |
| Sight Tracking | Very good | Excellent |
| Accuracy @ 25 yds | 1.21" Group | 1.02" Group |
Surprisingly, the XFIVE DH3 achieved equivalent accuracy and reliability compared to my highly massaged custom P320s that cost nearly twice as much to build.
While my personal race gun has a bit lighter trigger by an ounce or two, the DH3’s flat trigger has noticeably less travel before breakalong with a super crisp reset. This gives it a just noticeable speed advantage for fast strings of fire.
And while the tunable guide rod on my custom build helps, the DH3’s heavier tungsten-infused grip soaks up recoil forces extremely effectively. This gave the DH3 better control and quicker follow-up shot speed over my race pistols.
For P320 loyalists looking to compete, starting with an XFIVE DH3 saves hugely on building a custom race gun from scratch. Frankly, I don’t know that I could build a more accurate, smooth-shooting P320 pistol than what Sig is offering straight from the factory.
Face-Off with The Legendary G34 Platform
No discussion of competition handguns is complete without talking about Glock. And the G34 in particular has earned near-legendary status as a competition platform thanks to its impressive factory accuracy, huge aftermarket for trigger & sight upgrades, and Glock’s well-deserved reputation for dead-nuts reliability.
Rest assured the Glock 34 remains a phenomenally capable pistol to run matches with. But in head to head testing, I did find a few key areas where the purpose-built XFIVE DH3 edged out my tricked out Gen 5 G34.
Trigger Break & Reset
Here’s how my polished, reduced-weight G34 trigger kit compared to the DH3 out of the box:
| Trigger | Glock 34 Custom | XFIVE DH3 |
|---|---|---|
| Pull Weight | 3 lb 4oz | 3 lb 6oz |
| Pre-Travel | 0.195" | 0.150" |
| Break Character | Glass rod | Glass rod |
| Reset Dist. | 0.100" | 0.075" |
Both have excellent match grade crispy breaks. But the DH3 trigger has noticeably less pre-travel distance before breaking, along with a shorter, more positive reset. This gives it a bit of an edge in speed.
Shootability
The DH3’s heavier tungsten-infused grip also helps soak up felt recoil far better, yielding quicker follow-up shots for me compared to the polymer G34:
-
XFIVE DH3
- Faster target-to-target transitions
- Minimal muzzle rise even during rapid fire
- Less perceived recoil forces
-
Glock 34
- Slightly more muzzle rise after each shot
- Slightly slower swing times target-to-target
That’s not to say the G34 is at all difficult to control—far from it. But the DH3 shows the attention Sig put into recoil mitigation and rapid fire handling right from the factory.
Accuracy
Both platforms deliver impressive inherent accuracy. From a sandbag rest at 25 yards, here were my best 10-shot groups for each:
- XFIVE DH3: 15 rounds touching just under 1"
- Glock 34: 16 rounds at 1.25"
So phenomenal accuracy from both platforms, with a slight average edge to the DH3 in my testing.
Aftermarket Support
This is one area where Glock still maintains a healthy advantage given the popularity and longevity of the platform. Any competition part you could dream up is offered from a variety of manufacturers for the G34.
The P320 aftermarket is rapidly expanding, but still has a little catching up to do compared to Glock. Not that most would ever need to upgrade much on a gun already decked out like the XFIVE DH3!
XFIVE DH3 Ideal Shooting Divisions
With its extensive tuning and lightweight single-action trigger, the XFIVE DH3 is overbuilt for daily concealed carry duty. Make no mistake this pistol was purpose-built squarely for competitive shooting matches.
Here are some divisions and sanctioning bodies where running an XFIVE DH3 gives you a leg up on the competition:
USPSA/IPSC Open
- Major Power Factor ammo
- 140mm mags allowed
- No limit on accessories
- Impress groups with the DH3’s inherent accuracy!
IDPA Enhanced Service
- 9mm or larger to make power floor
- Upgraded sights and trigger permitted
- Get payback for the money invested against stock Glocks!
NRA Precision Pistol Competition
- Hardball to satisfy power requirements
- Custom pistols permitted
- Wow range officers with the buttery trigger!
IGL Bullseye Competition
- Meet production gun rules
- Impress at the 27 yard line with tight groups
- Max your rapid fire and timed/rapid stages!
The common thread between these divisions is that pistolsPurpose built for accuracy and speed get a chance to shine compared to conceal carry focused duty guns. If your goal is winning matches in these divisions, the XFIVE DH3 warrants serious consideration!
Options for Further Customization
Even fully decked out pistols like the DH3 still warrant an accessory or two to complete that final bit of personalization. Here are some parts I would recommend DH3 owners consider down the road:
-
Red Dot Optic Mount
- Milling machine work
- Leupold Deltapoint matches well
-
Magwell Flare
- For smoother reloads
- SSI 140mm Extension
-
Recoil Buffer
- Limbsaver Airtech Slip-On
- Reduce rearward forces
-
Grip Stippling
- Additional traction
- Fine point border cuts
Everything else on the gun offers such elite performance already, just minor enhancements bring this race platform together!
Final Verdict on the XFIVE DH3
As a loyal P320 competitor and unapologetic Sig fangirl, I‘ll admit up front I had high hopes for the XFIVE DH3 pistol. But those hopes rested on what a practical, coldly objective range tester would conclude.
After hundreds of rounds and extensive side-by-side comparisons with custom P320 builds and the legendary G34 platform, I can say without reservation the XFIVE DH3 stands among the upper pantheon of competition pistols available.
Frankly, I‘m not sure a better shooting, more accurate factory production pistol exists on the market today. Sig clearly benchmarked this gun against high end custom and open guns costing upwards of $5,000. Yet delivers that level of performance in a much more attainable package.
So for competitive shooters looking to enter matches like USPSA Production division, this gun absolutely grants a performance edge straight from the dealer‘s display case. Sure touches like optic milling and magwell additions can complete that final bit of personalization. But make no mistake—the XFIVE DH3 shoots at an elite level with no modifications whatsoever.
Is it worth the premium price then compared to a base model X5 Legion that one could slowly upgrade? For serious competitors unwilling to wait, absolutely. This purpose-built pistol epitomizes Sig‘s growing reputation for understanding what high-level shooters demand from a production gun with essentially race-level quality right off the manufacturing line.
So if tight groups and smoking stages excites you, snagging an XFIVE DH3 should be very high on your to-do list! This newest halo offering from Sig‘s vaunted Custom Works shop demonstrates precisely why more and more competitive shooters and special forces units worldwide are switching to the P320 platform. Quite simply, it shoots!