• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Guns Holsters And Gear

honest reviews and news on firearms

  • Home
  • 2020 SHOT Show
  • Reviews
    • Ammo
    • Books
    • Flashlights
    • Guns
    • Hearing Protection
    • Holsters
    • Knives
    • Survival Gear
  • Resources
  • About
    • Privacy Policy
    • Review Policy
    • Site Index
  • NRA Lifetime Membership
You are here: Home / Ammunition Reviews and Information / SIG SAUER Ammunition Review: The New Kid in Town

SIG SAUER Ammunition Review: The New Kid in Town

SIG SAUER ammunition review

Page Navigation

  • V-Crown
    • 124 grain V-Crown
    • 147 grain V-Crown
  • FMJ
    • 115 grain FMJ
  • Final Thoughts
    • Disclosure

I’ve had to fight for my life…too many times. Once it was in a grocery store parking lot where a fugitive tried to stab me with a knife. Another time it was in a tight hallway when I was trying to arrest a man for kidnapping and beating his ex-girlfriend. A third time was in a dusty lot in the middle of a trailer park where I was attempting to control a suspect who had threatened his mother with a gun.

Unfortunately, I could go on with many more incidents. Fortunately, I won every time.

Each time, the outcome was dependent on my training, decisions and equipment. That’s one of the reasons why I tend to have a fairly harsh view on training and gear that is marketed for self-defense or law enforcement use.

Without sounding too coarse, I simply won’t recommend a self-defense product or training class to you that I think is a waste of time or money.

SIG SAUER introduced a comprehensive line of ammunition several years ago. I suspiciously eye any new ammo that comes onto the market, and I have decided to only carry products that have a positive track record on the street.

When the new SIG Elite Performance V-Crown self-defense ammo made it to the store shelves, I did not recommend the ammo to anyone. Although it looked good on paper, it simply had no track record.

So, what’s my opinion now? Well, SIG was good enough to ship me some of their 9mm loads: a pair of hollow points and one of the ball load. I took them to the range, and this review details my findings including why I am cautiously optimistic about the rounds.

Quick Takeaways

  • good accuracy – even from short barrel pistols
  • completely reliable with a variety of handguns
  • modest to average recoil
  • hollow point loads largely unproven

V-Crown

In 9mm, SIG offers three different 9mm hollow point rounds. All are standard pressure rounds and use the Sierra Bullets V-Crown projectile. Since late 2015, Sierra sells a limited number of these bullets for handloaders but does not offer the breadth of caliber and weight combinations that SIG loads in their ammo.

Sierra is widely regarded as being a top-notch bullet manufacturer. Some of the company’s offerings, such as the .308 168 grain Match King, have set the standard for performance in various categories. Sierra states the design  delivers “…optimal weight retention and expansion at all effective distances…”

I had the chance to test both the 124 grain and 147 grain loads through a variety of pistols. All of the rounds functioned perfectly and showed good accuracy.

I recorded velocities as shown in the tables below. The data should give you a general idea of what you can expect from these rounds in your own pistols.

124 grain V-Crown

 

Velocity

Energy

Bersa BP9CC

1,004 fps

278 ft-lbs

CZ P-07 Duty

1,062 fps

311 ft-lbs

Diamondback AM2

1,033 fps

294 ft-lbs

Glock 19 Gen2

1,063 fps

311 ft-lbs

Glock 19 Gen4

1,057 fps

308 ft-lbs

Glock 43

982 fps

266 ft-lbs

Kahr CM9

957 fps

252 ft-lbs

SCCY CPX-2

973 fps

261 ft-lbs

SIG SAUER Ultra Compact 1911

1,001 fps

319 ft-lbs

Smith & Wesson M&P Shield

989 fps

269 ft-lbs

Performance measured with a Competition Electronics ProChrono Digital Chronograph at an approximate distance of 15' from the muzzle of the pistol. All measurements are an average of five shots.

Accuracy was very good with this load. Some of the best groups with this ammo came from the SIG 1911 Traditional Ultra Compact that I was also reviewing. This pairing turned in a best 5-shot group of 1.148″ at seven yards with an unsupported two-hand grip. At 15 yards, the group opened up to about double that: 2.210″.

SIG V-Crown 124 gr review

I shot a total of 100 rounds, and reliability in all guns was 100%. Additionally, this load was fairly mild, both in terms of recoil and velocity measurements. Recoil felt like a practice load.

Prior to going to the range, I examined the data collected by Lucky Gunner on the SIG SAUER ammunition and read they had a five shot average of 1,072 fps from a 3.5″ barrel Smith & Wesson M&Pc. Based on that, I expected to see the load pass 1,100 fps from longer barreled guns like the Glock 19. Especially considering the factory specification states this load is running 1,165 fps at the muzzle.

Instead, I saw lower velocities across the board – even from longer barreled guns. According to Lucky Gunner, their chronograph was set up at 10′ and mine was at 9′. A negligible difference, but if anything, should have given a slight velocity increase to my own testing.

After returning from the range, I took a look at a video from TNOutdoors9 on YouTube where he tested the same SIG SAUER ammo. He reported a five-shot velocity average of 1,138 fps from a Glock 19 Gen4. That is significantly faster than the 1,057 I recorded from the same model handgun.

An elevation and barometric pressure difference may be playing a role here. I’m shooting at sea level, and I know both Lucky Gunner and TNOutdoors9 are a little higher up in the atmosphere. Should anyone wish to compare their results to mine, the barometric pressure was 30.1 inHg when I was shooting.

147 grain V-Crown

 

Velocity

Energy

Bersa BP9CC

895 fps

262 ft-lbs

CZ P-07 Duty

934 fps

285 ft-lbs

Diamondback AM2

978 fps

312 ft-lbs

Glock 19 Gen2

930 fps

282 ft-lbs

Glock 19 Gen4

926 fps

280 ft-lbs

Glock 43

865 fps

244 ft-lbs

Kahr CM9

844 fps

233 ft-lbs

SCCY CPX-2

854 fps

238 ft-lbs

SIG SAUER Ultra Compact 1911

864 fps

244 ft-lbs

Smith & Wesson M&P Shield

863 fps

243 ft-lbs

Performance measured with a Competition Electronics ProChrono Digital Chronograph at an approximate distance of 15' from the muzzle of the pistol. All measurements are an average of five shots.

Of the three loads I tested, the 147 grain V-Crown turned in the tightest groups. The best 7 yard group I shot – again 5-rounds, free standing – was only 0.7375″ across. At longer distances, the groups grew in size, but they remained smaller than the other loads tested.

SIG Elite Performance 147 gr JHP review

As with the lighter load above, this was a mild shooting round. Reliability was perfect with 100 rounds fired.

The factory spec on this round is 985 fps. Out of the CZ P-07 and Glock 19 pistols, the velocity came in about 50 fps under that. All of the remaining guns have shorter barrels and lower velocities: 844 – 895 fps.

FMJ

SIG’s Elite Performance FMJ round is a good round for practice and informal target shooting. It is available with a 115 grain bullet only, so it is not a perfect analog for the V-Crown rounds I test above. However, at 3-15 yards, I did not observe any obvious change in point of impact as compared to them.

115 grain FMJ

 velocityenergy
Bersa BP9CC1,062 fps288 ft-lbs
CZ P-07 Duty1,115 fps318 ft-lbs
Glock 19 Gen21,108 fps314 ft-lbs
Glock 431,050 fps282 ft-lbs
Kahr CM91,012 fps262 ft-lbs
SCCY CPX-21018 fps265 ft-lbs
SIG SAUER Ultra Compact 19111,052 fps283 ft-lbs
Smith & Wesson M&P Shield1,050 fps282 ft-lbs

Performance measured with a Competition Electronics ProChrono Digital Chronograph at an approximate distance of 15' from the muzzle of the pistol. All measurements are an average of five shots.

This load proved to be both reliable and accurate across eight different pistols. I encountered no malfunctions of any kind with 150 rounds of the 115 gr FMJ load.

SIG SAUER Elite Performance ammo

For a practice load, this was a fairly accurate round as well. I managed a best of 1.4625″ at 7 yards: hand held, five shot group.  At 15 yards, my best group was slightly larger at 2.219″.

Final Thoughts

The SIG SAUER Elite Performance ammunition has only been on the market a few years now. That makes the ammo a relative newcomer to the industry. As such, there is little data available on it from ‘real world’ shootings. That is where the rubber meets the road – so to speak.

In November of 2015, SIG announced that the Hawaii Department of Public Safety updated their service pistols to the SIG P320 and chose V-Crown ammunition to run them. The SIG SAUER representative I spoke with was not aware of any shootings involving the V-Crown in Hawaii or elsewhere. SIG declined to share any information on which public safety agencies were issuing its ammunition.

At the end of the day, this ammunition is quality built and may be a very good defensive round. My only serious reservation with the ammunition is the lack of real world examples of performance.

Until I see street performance results that suggest it is as good or better than what I carry now, I have to stick with the proven Federal HST and Speer Gold Dot rounds. As data comes in on the SIG rounds, I will happily include the rounds as a recommended load if the information is positive.

Keep in mind that the ammunition has several things going in its favor including flawless reliability in my test firearms and the bullet being designed by Sierra – one of the top bullet manufacturers. I am cautiously optimistic that these rounds will deliver if relied on.

Disclosure

You deserve to know about any potential influences or biases that affect my reviews. Hence, I offer complete transparency.

SIG SAUER provided most of the ammunition I used in this review. All of the ammo was shipped to me free of charge for the specific purpose of being used in gun reviews and in a review on the ammunition itself.

No request was made by SIG, nor did I offer any promise, to provide a positive review of the ammunition. SIG did not pay me any money or offer any other consideration for me to write a review on their product. The company did not ask for, nor did I promise, any links to their site(s).

SIG is not an advertiser, nor are we in any talks for them to be one. I have no financial interest in SIG SAUER or any other firearms manufacturer.

After I wrote the article, I elected to send a draft copy to SIG for them to review for inaccuracies. The company representatives did not advise of any technical errors nor suggest I unfairly portrayed their product. No changes were made to the draft that was submitted to the company.

My goal is to serve you, the reader, with the best possible information. I do not charge any reader any money for this information, nor do I pepper you with popup ads, auto-playing videos or any other obnoxious ad system.

GunsHolstersAndGear.com is a for-profit website. I do not charge readers a dime to access the information I provide.

Some of the links on this page and site are affiliate links to companies like Amazon and Palmetto State Armory. These links take you to the products mentioned in the article. Should you decide to purchase something from one of those companies, I make a small commission.

The links do not change your purchase price. I do not get to see what any individual purchases.

I hope that covers all of the bases. If not, please leave a comment below.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Launce Moore says

    November 4, 2018 at 9:06 am

    I need the Ballistic Coefficient for the 120 grain bullet that is loaded in the Sig Sauer 6.5 creedmoor elite performance HT solid copper. Can you please send this info to me it is needed for my scope MOA calculations, thanks.

    Reply
  2. Richard Johnson says

    November 4, 2018 at 9:17 am

    Hi Launce,

    Thanks for taking the time to read and comment. However, I am not affiliated with SIG SAUER. I’d recommend contacting them directly for this information: https://www.sigsauer.com/support/customer-support/

    Best,

    Richard

    Reply
  3. Richard Hyman says

    November 20, 2018 at 4:22 pm

    Good read and it comes across very objectively. I would be very interested to read if you do a revisit of this in 3 or 6 months time and have been able to get any data on the V-Crown rounds. Thank you for taking the time to run these tests and publish your results. Would also be interested on your take on the G2 Research RIP ammo. Gimmick or sound idea….

    Reply
    • Richard Johnson says

      November 20, 2018 at 7:40 pm

      Thanks for reading!

      I still have no real world data on these rounds. I believe there are several police departments that are now issuing the ammunition, but law enforcement shootings are relatively rare. SIG SAUER has declined to share any information (likely due to contractual agreements with the departments and legal concerns), so I am relying on readers and other sources to drop me a line when they hear about any uses of the ammo.

      Regarding the G2 RIP ammunition – I have no hands on experience with it. While there are some interesting aspects to the design, it seems overly marketing driven to me. I know that rounds like the Gold Dot and HST work well in labs and on the street, so I feel more comfortable staying with them than with a round with a very limited track record. At some point, I would like to test the G2 ammo, but it is not high on the priority list at the moment.

      Thanks again for reading!

      -Richard

      Reply
  4. Jorge says

    April 19, 2019 at 3:43 pm

    I know this is a late reply but thanks, Richard, for this honest review. In a few days, I will be picking up my new gun (Springfield XD) and I have been looking at this ammo for my gun. What has caught my attention is the brand SIG which has come to represent quality.

    After your review, I will believe I will shoot a few rounds at the range and hopefully settle on this ammo. We will see how it goes.

    Again, thank you for the review.

    Reply
  5. Philip Ralph Christmas says

    June 4, 2019 at 8:08 pm

    Nice informative review and thank you sir for you public service!
    I am wondering how the rounds feed on the ramp & into the breach with the wide V-Crown bullet opening?
    How did you find the propellant’s flash? The ammo is promoted to be optimized, low flash.
    How do you rate the recoil of this round vs. a +P round?
    Thx for your attention to my inquires.

    Reply
    • Richard Johnson says

      June 5, 2019 at 6:19 am

      I’ve had no issues with these rounds feeding in any rifle or pistol I’ve shot. Regarding the muzzle flash, it’s not anything I’ve noticed. Some loads – even in daytime – produce a noticeable flash, but these do not. Recoil seems about the same as other standard pressure ammunition. The one exception is the 124 gr 9mm load – this feels a bit stouter and the velocity numbers suggest it may be hotter than the other loads. I’d put it on par with other 124 gr +P loads like the HST and Gold Dot in terms of felt recoil.

      I hope this helps.

      -Richard

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Join or Die Flag NRA

NRA Life Membership – Best Deal [Limited Time]

Gun owners need to sign up immediately for a lifetime membership to the NRA. Why? Let me tell you. As of January 7, the anti-gun team of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have officially won the White House. The US Congress is also in anti-gun hands. The bottom line: more gun control legislation is coming […]

Most Read Articles

  • What is the best optic for my Glock 43x MOS
    What is the best optic for my Glock 43x MOS
  • Springfield Hellcat Apex Trigger Review: An Upgrade Worth Considering
    Springfield Hellcat Apex Trigger Review: An Upgrade Worth Considering
  • What Optics Will Fit the Springfield Armory Hellcat?
    What Optics Will Fit the Springfield Armory Hellcat?
  • Wilson Combat WCP320 Carry Review
    Wilson Combat WCP320 Carry Review
  • Girsan MC1911 CT Review
    Girsan MC1911 CT Review
  • Springfield Armory XD 9mm Subcompact Pistol Review
    Springfield Armory XD 9mm Subcompact Pistol Review
  • Cheap Riot Guns
    Cheap Riot Guns
  • Wowtac A1S Flashlight Review - The Budget Torch that Couldn't
    Wowtac A1S Flashlight Review - The Budget Torch that Couldn't
  • Fenix LD15R Review - Handy Flashlight for Utility Use
    Fenix LD15R Review - Handy Flashlight for Utility Use
  • Wowtac A4 V2 Review - Bright Light at a Price
    Wowtac A4 V2 Review - Bright Light at a Price
Installation of Apex Trigger

Springfield Hellcat Apex Trigger Review: An Upgrade Worth Considering

Got a Springfield Hellcat you want to squeeze every bit of performance possible out of? I recommend taking a look at the Action Enhancement Trigger from Apex Tactical Specialties. This user-installable kit promises to retain all of the safety of the stock trigger while improving the break, pull and reset. In this Apex trigger review, […]

Springfield Armory Red Dot Optics

What Optics Will Fit the Springfield Armory Hellcat?

So, you recently purchased a Springfield Armory Hellcat and now you want to add a red dot sight (RDS). The question is “what optics are compatible for a Springfield Hellcat OSP?” Don’t worry – I’ve got you covered.

Best Price on the Wilson Combat WCP320

Wilson Combat WCP320 Carry Review

The Wilson Combat WCP320 Carry is one of the best 9mm pistols I’ve reviewed. From its announcement as the new standard sidearm for the United States military, the popularity of the SIG SAUER P320 pistol seemingly exploded. Original SIG pistols are in high demand and aftermarket accessories are plentiful. You can even build your own […]

profile shot of the Girsan 1911 pistol

Girsan MC1911 CT Review

In today’s review of the Girsan MC1911 CT, I take a look at a classically designed .45 ACP pistol with modern updates including a red dot sight. What might draw a lot of people in is the low price tag: only $661 at full retail. With the standard features, the gun seems like a great […]

Testing the SA XD SC

Springfield Armory XD 9mm Subcompact Pistol Review

While single-stack 9mm pistols seem to be all the rage in modern concealed carry, subcompact pistols that hold a bit more ammunition shouldn’t be dismissed by anyone interested in personal protection. In this Springfield Armory XD Subcompact pistol review, I take a look at the smallest gun in the company’s Defend Your Legacy Series of […]

Atlanta Police Red Dog Deployed to Protest

Cheap Riot Guns

Riots are raging across the United States – and have been for days. Consequently, I’ve had a number of emails come in from readers who are looking for the best self-defense pistol on a budget. Let’s not forget that the government lockdowns from the health crisis have left many people in a tough financial situation. […]

Copyright © 2021 GunsHolstersAndGear.com
GunsHolstersAndGear.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com