SAR USA P8L Shooting Impressions

Published on July 21, 2021
Duration: 21:20

This review of the SAR USA P8L provides shooting impressions and technical observations. The firearm is noted for its all-steel construction, ported barrel, and DA/SA trigger. The review covers performance with various ammunition types, accuracy testing, and subjective handling characteristics, highlighting its controllability and potential for improvement with sight modifications.

Quick Summary

The SAR USA P8L is an all-steel 9mm handgun featuring a stainless steel frame, slide, and guide rod, along with a ported barrel for recoil management. It operates in DA/SA mode and is noted for its comfortable grip and controllable shooting characteristics, though its weight makes it less suitable for concealed carry. The firearm's trigger smooths out with use, and it performed reliably with a variety of ammunition types.

Chapters

  1. 00:08Introduction to SAR USA P8L
  2. 00:11Initial Impressions: All Steel Construction
  3. 00:19First Shots: Cold Start & Ammo
  4. 00:28P8L Operation: DA/SA, No Decocker
  5. 00:38Handling and Safety Engagement
  6. 00:53Recoil and Trigger Feel
  7. 01:13Overall Shooting Experience
  8. 01:25Perceived Flatness of Shooting
  9. 01:37Grip and Feel Assessment
  10. 02:01Safety Lever Reach
  11. 02:14Weight and Handling
  12. 02:20On Target and Flat Shooting
  13. 02:39Positive Overall Impression
  14. 02:41Aesthetics and Grip
  15. 02:57Reviewer's Satisfaction
  16. 03:00Reviewer's Test Battery Explained
  17. 03:13Magazine Capacity and Compatibility
  18. 03:38Magazine Loading Challenges
  19. 03:48Full Mag Plus One Test Setup
  20. 04:00Rapid Fire Test
  21. 04:23Rapid Fire Performance
  22. 04:34Controllability at Speed
  23. 04:42Sight Acquisition Impact
  24. 05:17What's for Dinner? Ammunition Testing Begins
  25. 05:52Norma 65 Grain Fragile Round
  26. 06:34Heavy Shot 100 Grain Frangible
  27. 07:07Norma MHP 108 Grain Hollow Point
  28. 07:31Shooting Left: Adjustable Sight Noted
  29. 07:39Blazer 115 Grain Aluminum Case
  30. 08:12Wolf Steel Case Ammunition
  31. 08:49ZQI 124 Grain Ammunition
  32. 09:20Norma Hexagon 124 Grain
  33. 09:46Front Sight Dot Observation
  34. 09:59Speer Gold 124 Grain
  35. 10:35Browning BXP 147 Grain
  36. 11:00Confidence from Gun Weight
  37. 11:08Potential Sight Modification
  38. 11:19Ruag 154 Grain Subsonic
  39. 11:41Pleasant Shooting Experience with Ruag
  40. 12:02Trigger Smoothing Out
  41. 12:13Spinner Test Preparation
  42. 12:21Spinner Test Setup
  43. 12:30Spinner Test Mechanics
  44. 13:06P8L Advantages for Spinner Test
  45. 13:27Spinner Test Execution
  46. 13:52Spinner Test Performance Feedback
  47. 14:07Front Sight Utility in Spinner Test
  48. 14:10Distance Verification
  49. 14:25Trigger Predictability vs. Shooting Style
  50. 14:31Source of Shot Delay
  51. 14:56Trigger Predictability Confirmation
  52. 15:04Tia's Turn: Spinner Test
  53. 15:29Tia's Spinner Test Results
  54. 15:45Comfort and Relaxation During Shooting
  55. 15:59Left-Handed/Left-Eyed Shooting Style
  56. 16:13Trigger Predictability and Energy Delivery
  57. 16:23Trigger Break Characteristics
  58. 16:27Left-Handed Shooting Demonstration
  59. 16:45Transition to Accuracy Testing
  60. 16:52Accuracy Test Setup
  61. 17:30Reviewer's Accuracy Test
  62. 17:34Port Marks Observation
  63. 18:06Sight Acquisition During Accuracy Test
  64. 18:23Front Sight Dot Size Impact
  65. 18:38Overall Enjoyment of Shooting
  66. 18:45Grip Stabilization and Recoil Mitigation
  67. 18:53Aesthetics of Fluting
  68. 19:00Performance Improvement Over Time
  69. 19:06Trigger and Manageability Improvement
  70. 19:21Near Flinch Incident
  71. 19:30Trigger Sponginess as a Benefit
  72. 19:36Agreement on Positive Experience
  73. 19:44Break-in Period Discussion
  74. 19:51Gun 'Breaking In' Analogy
  75. 20:01Long-Term Wear Expectation
  76. 20:17Sight Picture Challenges
  77. 20:31Impulse Purchase and Refreshing Experience
  78. 20:49Role of the P8L
  79. 20:56No Rail Limitation
  80. 20:59Carry Gun Suitability
  81. 21:05Fun and Enjoyable to Shoot
  82. 21:07Recommendation to Check Out
  83. 21:11Conclusion

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the key construction features of the SAR USA P8L?

The SAR USA P8L is primarily constructed from stainless steel, featuring a stainless steel frame, slide, and guide rod. It also includes a ported barrel designed to help manage recoil and keep the firearm flatter during firing.

How does the SAR USA P8L handle recoil and what is the trigger like?

Despite its all-steel construction contributing to its weight, the P8L is described as a soft shooter. Shooters noted feeling some shock through the trigger but found the firearm very controllable and shooting relatively flat. The trigger is a DA/SA type and is noted to smooth out with use.

What ammunition was tested with the SAR USA P8L and how did it perform?

The review tested various ammunition, including CCI Speer 115-grain bulk, Norma MHP 108-grain, Blazer 115-grain aluminum-cased, Wolf steel-cased, ZQI 124-grain, Norma Hexagon 124-grain, Speer Gold 124-grain, Browning BXP 147-grain, and Ruag 154-grain subsonic. Most cycled reliably, with some noting slight differences in recoil and muzzle flip.

What are the pros and cons of the SAR USA P8L's sights?

The P8L has a long sight radius, which is beneficial. However, the front sight dot is noted as being larger than usual and high on the post, which can be distracting and make precise sight picture acquisition challenging for some shooters.

Is the SAR USA P8L suitable for concealed carry or home defense?

Due to its all-steel construction and resulting heaviness (around 2.5 lbs unloaded), the SAR USA P8L is likely not ideal for concealed carry. The lack of a rail also limits accessory options like lights or lasers, making its role more of a fun range gun than a dedicated tactical tool.

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