2024 Editor’s Choice Award Winning Wilson Combat SFX9 Compensated

Wilson Combat SFX9 Compensated

Arguably the best double-stack carry 1911, now flatter shooting

Wilson Combat’s EDC X9 is one of the most popular custom pistols on the market today. Taking the market by storm upon its release, the SFX9, with its integral aluminum grip, is equally as popular. High capacity, precision accuracy, and comfortable shooting make it perfect for concealed carry. Wilson’s legendary reliability and attention to detail make it even better and a pistol you can count on when you need it.

Compensated 9mm pistols are growing in popularity; properly designed, they turn your pistol into a soft shooting machine with next to zero muzzle rise, increasing any pistol’s effectiveness as a self-defense tool. Having used one of Wilson Combat’s early Carry Comp’s nearly 20 years ago, they were amongst the most accurate and soft shooting 1911 carry pistols available. Compensators were small flame and debris throwers at the time, just as likely to set your clothing on fire as anything else. Wilson’s was not that way; it actually did what it was supposed to do and enhanced the controllability of the 45 ACP. With years of compensating carry pistols, their latest versions are even better. Designed specifically to mitigate recoil and muzzle rise without all the typical drawbacks, they are ideally suited for carry use. This SFX9 is a perfect example with a 4-inch compensated barrel, stainless slide, and fiber optic front sight.

Wilson Combat offers the compensator as an upgrade when ordering any 4-inch or 3.25-inch barreled EDC X9 or SFX9 pistol, or, if you already have the pistol, as a complete slide and barrel assembly. Unlike screw-on comps, this one is actually part of the barrel. The signature tri-cut slide is serrated along its length to cut sight-picture glare. Both barrel and chamber are fluted.

The compensator adds a tad under an inch to the length and is part of the barrel, not screwed on. Holsters for 5” railed 1911’s work just fine. Wilson Combat pistols are all custom, so you could add their True Zero Optic System or any other personal touch you would like. Already have an SFX9 or EDC X9 but want a compensator? A complete compensated slide assembly will set you back $1750.00.

The SFX frame is fully modernized with an accessory rail and ambidextrous safety. Capacity of the standard proprietary magazine is 15 rounds, with an 18 round version also available.

The SFX9 ships with two flush-fit 15-round magazines, made especially for Wilson Combat by Mec-Gar. They run flawlessly, are comparatively affordable compared to other double-stack 1911 magazines, and if you need even more payload, an 18-round version is also available.

Range Time

For most of my career, compensators on fairly low-recoiling 9mm pistols seemed odd to me. Having used them on highly modified 38 Super pistols, they work, but I just did not see the point on a 9mm, especially one you carry. Early on, the downsides far outweighed the benefits, but that is certainly not the case these days. Modern compensator designs turn your 9mm into a flat-shooting machine, and while recoil is minimal, it really deals with muzzle rise — especially with hot ammunition. Staying on target is never a bad thing, and Wilson Combat’s well-designed comp does just that.

A Wilson Combat Concealment Proof Hammer, medium-length curved trigger, Bullet Proof Thumb Safety (ambi as an option), Bullet Proof Magazine Release, and Countersunk Slide Stop make up the operating controls.

While testing the Comped SFX9, recoil was negligible, and using some 115-grain practice ammunition, it felt like it was downright missing altogether. More importantly, it actually ran the bulk Federal and Winchester 115 grain without issue — not something all comped 9mm’s will do. Load up some 124-grain +P, and you really notice the difference, and it does its job without any debris in my face or flash to distract my sight picture. Working around my truck, the pistol was well balanced and not any louder than anything else; testing was completed while I was working at Gunsite along with three other 9mm pistols, and the report was no sharper than any of those.

The SFX9 Comp easily met its 1.5″ at 25-yard accuracy guarantee using Wilson Combat’s own 115-grain +P Barnes Tac-XP load, printing this approximately one-inch five-shot group.

Accuracy was excellent; tagging six-inch steel at 25 and 50 yards was pretty easy once I remembered how to use an iron-sighted pistol. Offhand at 25 yards, it put all shots inside a fist diameter with Wilson Combat 115 grain +P Barnes Tac-XP. Using a rest and a bag, my best group with the same ammo was around an inch, maybe less. In short, it’s as accurate as it gets, which is typical of Wilson Combat firearms.

Wilson Combat claims a 30-percent reduction in felt recoil and muzzle rise with the three-port compensator on the 4-inch pistol, and we believe that number to be very accurate. Having tested nearly all of Wilson’s double-stack line, the SFX9 Comp has a noticeably quicker shot-recovery time.

Final Thoughts

This SFX9 was smooth, accurate, soft shooting, and capable of some stellar doubles, triples, or more. Everything about it makes it easier to stay on target at pretty much any range and do so as fast as you can pull the trigger. Truthfully, I have been a Wilson Combat fan for decades, but this was impressive enough that I sent in my personal EDC X9 for a new slide with this compensator. If you already own an EDC X9 or SFX9, give this some serious thought; if not, consider one from the start, and you will not be disappointed. See the new comped double-stack pistols at your nearest dealer, or for more information, contact Wilson Combat; Tel.: (870) 545-3310; Web: www.wilsoncombat.com — Dave Bahde


Specifications:

Caliber:                                  9mm

Barrel Length:                        4 Inches

Slide:                                      Stainless Steel

Frame:                                   Aluminum

OAL:                                       7.4 inches

Weight:                                  29.3 Ounces

Capacity:                               15+1

MSRP:                                   $3,404.95 ($1,750 complete slide assembly)