SIG P385 Review: Can You Suppress It?
David Higginbotham
Will SIG’s new P385 have a threaded barrel? Short answer: no, not out of the box, on any variant except the MACH3D, and even that one’s threading lives under an add-on compensator. More on the workaround below.
The models:
| Model | Grip & Barrel | Comp |
|---|---|---|
| P385-Compact | Compact grip, 4″ barrel | No comp |
| P385-Carry | Larger grip, 4″ barrel | No comp |
| P385-Full | Larger grip, 4.7″ barrel | No comp |
| P385-Comp | Larger grip, 4″ barrel | Integrated comp |
| P385-MACH3D | Larger grip, 4″ barrel | Add-on comp |
SIG Sauer announced a new line of handguns last week: the P385. These 9mms come in several variations, all of which use the same Fire Control Unit (FCU) and polymer grip modules. At the Compact end, the P385 is ideal for concealed carry. At the more technically complex MACH3D end, the gun crosses into the high-speed competition space.
At the diminutive end, the P385 still has a 4-inch barrel, so this isn’t a tiny micro-compact. At the longer end, it stays under 5 inches. And they all run off the time-tested P320 magazines, so there’s no end to the capacity or mag availability.
I attended SIG Next, the launch event for this and other new SIG guns and optics. I’ve had some good trigger time with each variation of the P385, and my first impressions are entirely positive.
The P385 is a new chapter for SIG.
How the P385 Compares
The SIG P385 vs P365
I’ll expose some biases. I consider the P226 to be an almost perfect incarnation of the duty pistol. I shoot better with my old P226 than I do with any of my other 9mms. I’ll always own one. But I don’t carry it much anymore, because I carry a P365 MACRO.
I’m also a fan of the P365 platform. I’ve carried each of the relative P365 sizes and have settled on the MACRO as my preferred EDC gun. While it is on the smaller end of what I’d consider a viable duty gun, I do carry my MACRO OWB in a Safariland 6360RDSO.
A P385 feels just slightly larger than a P365, but you’d need calipers to nail it down.
The SIG P385 vs P320
I went to the P320 launch event, too, way back when. That gun never felt comfortable in my hand, though I’ve since run the P320 X-5 Legion, which I like.
These P385s feel noticeably smaller in the hand. The bore axis is lower, and the width of the grip is reduced, but they are still running on the P320 mags. We’ll come back to this relative size question frequently, as I think it is both key to understanding the gun and the most confusing part for anyone who has yet to hold one in the hand.
At the larger end sit the P211s. Fans of the P211 haven’t shut up about the guns, and I get it. The P211 is sublime, but I consider these single-actions to be in a completely different class of guns (and the price tags support my classifications).
The P385, though, is going to make SIG fans very happy. This is the most SIGnificant handgun launch in quite a while.
What Makes the P385 Stand Out?
Let’s break it down:
SIG P385 Trigger Block
There are two elements of the P385 family that seem like reversals of the norm. We’ll start with the trigger. A P385’s trigger shoe feels flat. The surface is wide. There’s a safety bar in there, though, that sits flush with the trigger. If you press the trigger from the side, without adding pressure to the middle of the trigger shoe, the blade of the safety will emerge as the rest of the shoe travels rearward.
SIG's new ReActive Grip Texture
The grip texture requires some explanation. Almost all grip textures build onto the surface. This takes material away. The geometric shapes have a thin connection that, if you rub across it gently, makes the surface feel almost smooth. But when you grab the gun and crank down your grip, your skin fills in the voids.
As grip textures go, it works well. This grip does feel distinctly different. Side-by-side with a Macro, for example, the P385’s grip feels less aggressive. After a few magazines, the distinctions seem to disappear.
SIG Recoil Dampening System (SRDS)
Recoil exists. Shorter barrels and smaller grips will bring out the worst effects of recoil and muzzle flip. SIG’s SRDS is built into the grip itself. This is architecture. Many grip modules just hold the FCU. In this design, as I understand it, the module is designed to disperse the force of recoil as it enters the complete system.
Full disclosure: with no real way to A/B test this, and a tangential understanding of how it works, I’m not going to postulate on its efficacy. Someone much smarter than me will explain it to me soon, and I’ll update this.
SIG P385 Magstrap Grip System
While the idea of a grip module is not new, the Magstrap system essentially attaches the mag well to the backstrap, allowing users to lengthen the grip or change up the flare on the mag well without having to buy an entirely new grip module.
SIG P385 Magazine Capacity
On the compact side, free states will have 15-round flush-fit mags. It goes up from there. As this is based on the P320 mag, you will have innumerable options.
SIG P385 Optics Ready / SIG-LOC PRO
SIG-LOCÂ PRO is a dedicated SIG optic platform pattern that indexes directly to the slide. You can mount RMR pattern optics, too, without adapters. These are early days, so there are likely additional patterns as well as adapter plates that will follow. This is SIG, after all, so there won’t be a single optic pattern that won’t be accommodated as aftermarket support ramps up.
SIG P385 Bore Axis
Compared to previous SIG platforms, especially the P226 and P320 lines, the P385’s bore axis is notably lower. While lower, it doesn’t reflect any of the extremes you’ll see in more radical bougie designs, but you can grip high on the gun and get strong support higher under the trigger guard.
Where Does the P385 Fit in SIG's Line-Up of Handguns?
The answer isn’t as easy as you’d think. There’s some chatter online about where the “385” comes from, the playful theory being P365 + P320 = P385. SIG hasn’t confirmed that’s actually how the name was chosen, so take it as fan math rather than official word, but it’s a fun enough coincidence that it’s worth a mention.
SIG’s P385 is, in its own way, a nod to the big-bigger-biggest model that dominated guns at the end of the last century. Glock, Beretta, even SIG with the P226, P227, P229… Each ran off the same type of magazine, just different lengths. Any true variance in the guns came from changes in the length of the grip and the slide.
Then gun makers hit the stagger-stacked mag era and launched a pantheon of dedicated concealed carry guns that were ideal to conceal, but not so fun on the range.
SIG’s spin on this was the P365, which evolved into the X, XL, Macro, and Fuse variants, with each adding capacity or length to the barrel and slide, as well as options for compensators that strip some of the pain from muzzle flip.
The P385 is larger than the P365 family, if only marginally. It feels smaller than the P320 family, even though it runs on the same magazine as the P320.
But SIG is clearly working on a full family. The Compact and Carry are sized for EDC. With its integrated comp, the P385-Comp is your crossover. With its add-on comp, the P385-MACH3D will appeal more to those who rack up high round-count range days. It has the most significant recoil reduction and is the flattest-shooting of all models available at launch.
How to Suppress the P385
Despite the recent explosion in suppressor sales, the P385 is launching, as most guns do, without a threaded barrel. Aftermarket support will ramp up quickly. But SIG has plans to drop them, too. That will likely be a 2027 addition to the line.
If you’re paying close attention, though, you may remember that the P385-MACH3D has an add-on compensator. This is a two-piece design. One piece threads on, then another keys into this, aligning the comp with the grip module, and then is pinned in place.
So there’s a threaded barrel under there. It is threaded ½ x 28. The end of the comp sits flush with the end of the grip module.
Could you mix and match? I didn’t get the chance to test this at SIG Next. Showing up as an invited guest and then getting creative with the star-of-the-show… well. Bad form. But I believe that the easiest way to suppress a P385 now would be to combine the barrel of the MACH3D version with the grip module of either the P385-Compact or Carry.
The real question would be clearing the guide rod. Until some of these guns start showing up in the wild, we’ll just have to wait. (In the meantime, check out our practical guide to suppressing a 9mm handgun if you want to get up to speed on the process generally, or browse threaded barrel options for guns that already ship ready to go.)
With So Many Suppressible Pistols Available, Why Would You Want a P385?
So many reasons. First, I’ll give SIG credit for building in some more aggressive ergonomic extras. The take-down lever gas pedals are incredibly useful. These grips are more curved. Controls are accessible. Bore axis is low. If I didn’t own a 9mm pistol, this would be high on my short list.
I’m a fan of this size of gun, too. SIG’s P385 family is large enough for duty. It is also small enough to carry IWB. It is large enough to shoot, which is important. I know way too many people who have bought micro-compacts but hate shooting them because of punishing recoil. SIG’s guns hit the mid-tier of the price spectrum, too.
What’s the price of a P385? It starts at $599, but your out-the-door cost will vary based on the extras. The Compact will be the least expensive, but this price is only part of the equation with a gun like this.
If history is any indicator, there will be Legion and X versions to follow. There’s no timing available on those yet. As these images suggest, there’s a Cerakoted version, and we’ll likely see more finish variants.
Optics, iron sights, slide stops and mag drops, mag wells… despite the serviceable nature of these guns at launch, you may want to do some fine-tuning. And then there will be all of the aftermarket frame support, threaded barrels, and even slides.
Like its predecessors, you could strip this down to the fire control unit and build a customized gun from that point.Â
Shooting the P385
With just two days of intermittent range time, and no real opportunity to run drills, I’m withholding some judgment. I can say it shoots well, is easy to hold down, and is both fast and responsive.
I only had one issue. The slide stop has a small ledge on the grip module that is designed to keep your thumb down. Twice during my range time, I rode that lever down and dropped the slide on an empty magazine. My thumb was simply too high on the grip, and I caught the edge of the slide stop and dropped the slide down.
Otherwise, there were no other noticeable issues from the event. The guns took a steady stream of abuse. Thousands of rounds. I didn’t see any failures, in the true sense. As we’re just a couple of days into this launch, I’d say that’s a solid place to start.
SIG P385 FAQ
Is the SIG P385 replacing the P320?
No. Not even. SIG is still supporting, making, selling, and innovating in the P320 family.
What magazines does the SIG P385 use?
Any of the P320 mags will work. The new magazines that will ship with the P385s have new floor-plates and may look different, but they are P320 mags.
Does the SIG P385 have a threaded barrel?
Well, yes. Sort of. The P385-MACH3D has a threaded barrel, but this barrel is recessed into the longer grip module.Â
What’s the difference between the SIG P385 and P320?
They both have fire control units, though they are different FCUs. They both use P320 mags. That’s about where I’d say the similarities end. Every other notable feature, from the optics mount to the controls and the trigger… all distinctly new.
How much does the SIG P385 cost?
I’d bank on the P385-Compact selling for under, or right at, $600. While it isn’t published yet, MSRP will likely be $599. At the other end, the MACH3D is $719.99.Â
When will the SIG P385 Compact/Full/MACH3D be available?
These guns are being produced in volume now. Guns should be shipping soon, but I was not able to get a concrete date. I expect them to be readily available by the end of October.
What’s the difference between the P385-COMP and the MACH3D?
The P385-MACH3D has an add-on comp and a shorter slide, which gives it even better recoil reduction than the P385-COMP, which has compensatory cut integrated into its slide.
Can you put a MACH3D barrel in a Compact grip module?
Yes. All of the P385’s parts are interchangeable, within reason — you wouldn’t, for example, want a P385-Compact’s barrel inside a P385-Full’s slide.
David Higginbotham
