Top 3 New Guns At SIG NEXT 2025 (w/ James Reeves of TFBTV)

Intro at SIG Next 2025 and Top 3 Format

The video opens at SIG Next 2025 in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, with Kyle from Classic Firearms joined by Phil Strader from SIG Sauer and James Reeves from TFBTV. After some light banter, they explain that many new SIG firearms and suppressors were unveiled at the event, and each of them has chosen a personal top three. They emphasize that these are individual picks based on shooting impressions rather than a full product rundown. With their lists in hand, they begin counting down from number three, focusing on how each gun actually performed on the range in terms of recoil, handling, and overall shooting experience.

First Picks: SIG 516 Mohawk and P365 Lux

Kyle’s number three pick is the SIG 516 Mohawk in 5.56. He describes it as the softest recoiling 5.56 rifle he has ever felt from SIG, comparing it favorably even to heavily modified ARs. The rifle he shot was suppressed, and he notes that SIG unveiled several new suppressors at the event, but he still credits the 516 Mohawk’s balance, side charging handle, and traditional charging handle for its controllability. Phil’s number three is the P365 Lux, an all-metal P365 with an X-series style grip that takes a 12-round flush-fit magazine. It uses a standard Picatinny rail, is chambered in .380 Auto, and features an integrated slide compensator. Phil highlights how unusually flat and soft the gun shoots, saying it makes him want to carry .380 again.

Recoil, .380 Auto Performance, and 516 Mohawk Details

James agrees with Kyle on the 516 Mohawk, calling it a very soft-recoiling, piston-operated 5.56 rifle. He compares the design shift to the difference between B&T’s APC and SPC, noting that the 516 uses a buffer tube and buffer spring rather than an MCX-style recoil system in the stock. He appreciates that SIG borrowed MCX DNA by adding replaceable wear points inside the receiver, such as the feed ramps and cam path, along with the side charging handle. Kyle’s number two pick is the P365 Lux in .380, despite not traditionally liking .380. He recalls carrying a Ruger LCP .380 with a heavy trigger and poor shooting characteristics, then contrasts it with the Lux, which he says recoils like a .22. He references ballistic gel tests and improved defensive .380 ammunition, arguing that modern .380 Auto offers respectable terminal performance, especially for recoil-sensitive shooters.

Modernizing the P226X and Production Use

Phil’s number two choice is the SIG 516 Mohawk, which he initially expected to perform similarly to the original 516. After shooting it, he found it exceeded those expectations, with the added side charging handle and other updates making it a standout rifle at the event. James selects the P226X as his number two, describing himself as a P226 fan. He characterizes the P226X as a set of incremental but meaningful improvements to what he considers one of the best metal-frame, double-action/single-action handguns ever made. The updates include improved ergonomics, refined controls, optics readiness, night sights, and the ability to convert between single-action-only and DA/SA configurations. He appreciates that SIG did not “burn it down and start from scratch” but instead modernized a proven, reliable platform. Kyle notes that the P226X was his notional fourth pick and mentions using it for production division competition after being impressed by its performance on drills and its well-balanced feel and trigger.

Top Pick: SIG P211 Double-Stack 1911 Platform

For the number one spot, Kyle chooses the SIG P211, a double-stack 1911-style platform from SIG Sauer. The pistol uses SIG P320 magazines, including a 23-round option, and incorporates an integrated compensator with a new attachment system and specific gas venting design. Kyle points out that many 2011-style pistols rely on a grip safety and thumb safety but often lack an internal firing pin block; he notes that the P211 includes such safety features. He admits he expected the gun to be good but not at the level it ultimately delivered, saying it exceeded his expectations on the range. He plans to feature the P211 on Classic Firearms for comparisons and believes that, at an MSRP around $2,300, it could significantly influence the 2011 and double-stack 1911 market based on its performance and feature set.

Engineering Goals and Compensator Design on the P211

Phil also selects the P211 as his top pick and provides insight into its development. He explains that the engineers behind the project are deeply involved in shooting sports and already own and heavily modify Staccato pistols. Their goal with the P211 was to deliver a pistol that is competition-ready out of the box, repeatable, and reliable, using Series 80-style parts without degrading trigger quality. Phil emphasizes the attention paid to the compensator system, including how it attaches and how SIG ensured it will not come loose until intentionally removed. He notes that the team tried to anticipate every detail shooters would care about. Based on how the gun shot for a wide range of users at SIG Next 2025, he feels the P211 is exactly the type of double-stack 1911-style pistol many shooters have been asking for and is proud of how the project turned out.