Greetings all. I posted this review of the Sphinx SDP Subcompact over at SigTalk, and thought some of you might be interested in some first impressions of it. I just purchased it and had a chance to shoot it over the weekend. I also wanted to give my impressions of the trigger, since I didn't cover that in the review really.
The DA pull is a bit on the heavy side, but it is really smoooooooth. It breaks cleanly without stacking whatsoever. Now the good part?the SA pull. It is about as good as any I have ever fired. Out-of-the-box, it really is like a match-grade trigger; pretty unheard of out of a non-customized pistol. It was very short and clean. Some have called it like a glass rod breaking, which is about the best I can conform and articulate as well. Just a magnificent feel to it, and allows effortless follow-up shots. I've never seen anything like it in a $900+ pistol without work on it. So, there's that. I hope anyone looking to purchase the Sphinx Compact or Subcompact can use some of this; it really is a special pistol. Cheers!
From the SigTalk review:
I just wanted to express how much I thoroughly enjoy some of the finer things in life (as do we all, duh). I don't have many, since I'm not independently wealthy; nor do I foresee myself becoming so in the near-future. But last Thursday?after reading about all of the hype for the past few months?I got to purchase one of the finer pistols available on the market and out-of-the-box: The Sphinx SDP Subcompact Alpha. I finally got to take it out today, and let me tell you this is the finest non-custom pistol I've ever shot; and though I don't have many customs nor experience with many, the Sphinx really reminds me of one in almost every way?hand-fitted, non-MIM parts (that I could detect) and just oozes quality and craftsmanship. I was about to find out just how much so.
I took it to a quarry/rock pit nearby that was once owned by my father-in-law's best friend. It's a great place to shoot in the summer. So, this mother is so tight, I had a scare right off the bat. After inserting the first magazine, I fired the first shot...then nothing. The slide was locked back about an inch and the cartridge would stick in-battery. I ejected it and fired the next shot?again, same thing. I had to just barely pull back the slide, maybe a half-inch so the cartridge would feed properly into battery. This happened through two magazines in exactly this same fashion. I knew the tolerances were tight, but I've never had any firearm do this. Either that, or I was beginning to think this was a lemon; or maybe it was the ammo (Freedom Munitions 115gr. FMJ?but I love this ammo, and so does every one of my pistols!).
Round 2: Inserted the third magazine (they hold 13 rounds, BTW), drew and fired. By luck or coincidence, I focused my eye on the slide quick and all was fine...ready to pull in SA mode. I fired again...same. After 150 rounds?flawless; it never did it again. This thing is a machine. A really fine-tuned precision piece. I fired most from 7 yards, about four mags from 10 yards, then at an estimated 60 feet (it seemed about as far from a pitching rubber to home plate distance-wise). After composing myself from the possibility of having a pistol with issues, then concentrating as usual, this baby just wore ragged holes in the same 2-3 inch spot at 7 and 10 yards, save for a couple of flyers that drifted off the mark, but still stayed in the circle. Not really all that certain how I was doing that.
At the longest distance, I was hitting the same type groups but around 3 inches; however, the pattern went from lower right bullseye region across and left. I have to say all-in-all I was pretty happy from that distance, since I'm not exactly a sharpshooter. I may have to adjust the rear sight a bit for windage, but just a hair. I felt I was starting off a hair right of center and had to consciously adjust left and fire. Also, I felt my hold at first needed some getting used to with this pistol. While the ergonomics are nearly without competition, I had to remember this is a so-called subcompact and get comfortable with my grip. After a few magazines I was able to figure it out.
After all of that, I must say that this might just very well be my finest pistol. I simply cannot get over the quality of gun you get for around $900 and some change. I am confident that there is not a pistol on the market out-of-the-box that can touch this, even for a few hundred more. I have read online and on other forums how some folks just bash the price of a 'CZ clone'. Until one actually sees it in person, feels it and shoots this thing, it occurred to me very quickly that these people didn't know what they were pontificating about. It may share some CZ qualities, which is a good thing; but I tell you from inside-and-out and fit 'n finish?they couldn't be any different. I keep hearing Swiss precision and so on. The thing is it's all true. IMO, I honestly am shocked Sphinx (or Kriss, the importer) doesn't charge more. I purchased my first M11-A1 for close to the same price (and let's face it, there are lots of others out there in this ballpark), and while it has been my declarative favorite pistol, it isn't really all that close to this kind of fitment, quality parts and attention to detail. The Sphinx is ridiculous.
The Compact and Subcompact models have been quite talked about lately; it's what pushed me over the edge to buy one. If anyone is thinking about it or is on the fence?get off, go out and get it. You simply will not be disappointed. All hail the Sphinx!
