We all know that SIG Sauer has the 365 and 320—many of us even remember the 226—but some might have forgotten about SIG’s 1911s. More than 20 years ago, the company known for its 226 variants released its first 1911, the GSR. The Granite Series Rail was awarded the 2004 Handgun of the Year Award by the Shooting Industry Academy of Excellence. The GSR was entirely made in the U.S. and chambered in . 45 ACP. Over the last 20 years, there have been many different 1911 models released by SIG Sauer, and the company currently has six offerings listed on its website.
The SIG Sauer 1911-XFULL represents a blend of classic design and modern innovation. Known for its heritage and performance, the 1911 platform has been revered by shooters for more than a century. The 1911-XFULL enhances this tradition with state-of-the-art features, making it an excellent choice for both enthusiasts and professional shooters. One of the standout aspects of this model is its pairing with the ROMEO-X optic, which provides enhanced accuracy and quick target acquisition.
The 1911-XFULL is chambered in .45 Auto and comes with two eight-round steel magazines. Overall length is 8.7 inches, overall width is 1.4 inches and the height is 6½ inches. In addition, the barrel length is five inches and the weight is 42 ounces with a magazine inserted.
These dimensions make the 1911-XFULL a full-sized pistol, offering a substantial presence and stability, which enhances shooting accuracy and control. It has been a while since I have been to the range firing a .45 ACP 1911. Twenty-five years ago that is what I started down my path of competition shooting with, and it was nice to have a 1911 chabered in .45 ACP back at the range.
The frame and slide are stainless steel, with front and rear cocking serrations that are deep and wide for easy use. Both the slide and frame are finished in Nitron and the barrel in black DLC. There are two other models available now, shipped without the Romeo-X optic; one is available in the Coyote PVD. These models are also optics-ready with a low-profile cut in the Shield RMC-c footprint.
From the box, the 1911-XFULL comes with the features one should expect on a 1911. The pistol features custom G10 grips from LOK Grips with aggressive texturing for a secure hold. The undercut trigger guard and extended beavertail further enhance handling, making it comfortable for prolonged use. Additionally, the checkered front strap and mainspring add to the grip security, ensuring the pistol stays firmly in hand, even during rapid fire.
The trigger is an adjustable flatblade, and from the box broke at three pounds, 9.8 ounces, with acceptable pretravel and a crisp break with a decent reset. The magazine release is serrated and extended; the gun has ambidextrous safeties, with the right side being a little wider than left but more of the tactical width than the wide target style. The slide release is also extended in both length and width. The gun ships with a nice flared magazine well installed and mated to the beveled magazine opening on the grip.
The barrel is a standard five-inch with bushing and standard length guide rod (GI Style). I was able to field strip the gun without tools and get it put back together without help; not bad, since it has been a few years since I have done this. The slide-to-frame fit is nice, and what you should expect from a factory 1911. The gun sports an external extractor and series 80 style safety. One of the highlights of the 1911-XFULL is its optic-ready slide with a compact optic-cut footprint. The factory-installed XRAY3 day/night sights offer exceptional visibility in different lighting conditions, ensuring quick and accurate target acquisition.
The ROMEO-X optic, included with the 1911-XFULL, is a compact red-dot sight from SIG Sauer’s Electro-Optics division. Designed to enhance shooting performance, the ROMEO-X combines durability, clarity and advanced features that cater to both tactical and daily carry users. The ROMEO-X is constructed from 7075 aircraft-grade aluminum alloy. The optic features machined anti-reflection grooves on shooter-facing surfaces to minimize glare and enhance sight clarity. The aspheric glass is distortion-free, offering a clear and precise sight picture.
The ROMEO-X uses a high-efficiency point source red LED emitter with a two-MOA dot surrounded by a 32-MOA circle reticle. This configuration allows for quick target acquisition and precise aiming. The optic has 15 brightness settings, including options for night vision, making it versatile for various lighting conditions. Plus, the side-mounted CR1632 battery compartment allows for easy battery changes without removing the optic from the pistol.
The ROMEO-X incorporates a patent-pending beryllium copper flexure-arm adjustment system, ensuring precise and reliable adjustments. The optic also features MOTAC (Motion Activated Illumination), which powers up the sight when it senses motion and powers down when idle, conserving battery life. MAGNETAC (Magnetic Activation) and D.A.R.C (Dark Adaptive Reticles and Coatings) technologies further enhance the optic’s performance.
SIG supplied 250 rounds of its .45 ACP 230-grain Elite Ball full metal jacket ammunition with the pistol, and the 1911-XFULL with the ROMEO-X optic delivered a flawless range trip. The gun with optic was easy to shoot and tracking the compact dot during rapid two-round target engagements was not a chore. It was fun shooting a .45 ACP 1911 aagain, and the 1911-XFULL with the ROMEO-X would make for a great defense, carry and even a nice competition gun with the extended controls and enhanced features.
The user-friendly features of the SIG Sauer 1911-XFULL and ROMEO-X optic make them accessible to shooters of all experience levels. The optic’s motion-activated illumination and easy brightness adjustments enhance its usability in different scenarios. The pistol’s ambidextrous controls and comfortable grip make it suitable for a wide range of users.
The SIG Sauer 1911-XFULL, paired with the ROMEO-X optic, represents the trend in optics-ready firearms while maintaining the classic design beloved by 1911 enthusiasts. The combination of high-quality materials and user-friendly features ensure the 1911-XFULL will meet the needs of shooters looking for performance and reliability in a full-sized pistol.
Whether for professional use, competitive shooting or personal defense, the 1911-XFULL and ROMEO-X optic deliver exceptional performance and value. According to the SIG website, there are additional models coming this summer in 4¼-inch carry models. Go to sigsauer.com.
Article from the July/August 2024 issue of USPSA’s magazine. All photos by Jake Martens unless otherwise noted.
