Every firearms manufacturer has their signature handgun. For Ruger it’s the Mk. III. For H&K it’s the USP. For Glock it’s the 19. And for SIG SAUER it’s their P226. Whenever I think of these companies an image of these firearms pops into my mind. But for me, the P226 is the greatest of them all.
The SIG P226 was the first handgun I ever bought. I had just turned 21, was already issued a concealed handgun license by the great state of Pennsylvania, and had some money to burn. Not too much money, though — starving college students have that problem. So I picked up a police trade-in P226, and at first glance it looked rough. The bluing was completely worn away on some parts, others had dents or dings in them. But despite the wear, the thing still ran like a champ. And there’s a reason for that.
In the 1980s, the U.S. military was looking for a replacement for the M1911A1 handguns that had been in service since World War One. The platform was still useful and deadly, but NATO was standardizing around the 9mm cartridge and the powers that be decided that 8 rounds wasn’t enough for their soldiers. They wanted a new gun.
SIG SAUER saw the opportunity to get in on some of the sweet government contract money that the U.S. was being thrown around and redesigned their existing service handgun that they had designed for the German military (the P220) as a double stacked 9mm and submitted it to the trials. Thus, the 226 was born.
When the dust cleared, only the P226 and Beretta’s 92FS remained standing over the corpses of FN, H&K, Colt and S&W’s entries. The 92FS was eventually chosen, it’s said, due to a lower cost of ownership, but the Navy SEALs and police departments nationwide dismissed the results and purchased P226es anyway.
The biggest difference between the P226 and the 92FS is plain to see — there’s no safety on the P226. There are only three controls: the slide stop, the magazine release and the decocker. The gun is meant to be carried with a round in the chamber and the hammer decocked. That converts the relatively light single action trigger to heavier double action that’s much less likely to be accidentally pulled.
The lack of a safety means that the P226 can be quickly drawn and employed if deadly force is required. The shooter doesn’t have to worry about flipping a mechanical safety on or off. As soon as it’s out of the holster it’s good to go.
Another nice safety feature on the gun is the fact that the hammer, when decocked, is nowhere near the firing pin.
On a gun like the 1911, the natural state for the hammer to be is flush against the firing pin. If the hammer is back, it’s under pressure from the spring to snap forward. With the P226, the natural state for the hammer is decocked and sitting just behind the firing pin (a few millimeters away, in fact) – not touching it. The spring isn’t under tension, and the hammer has no way of impacting the firing pin. When the hammer moves to strike the firing pin when the trigger is pulled, the hammer actually slingshots forward across the gap between the resting position and the firing pin, strikes the pin and snaps backwards again.
A secondary safety feature is actually built into the slide itself. The firing pin is held back and away from the primer of the cartridge by a spring, and locked in place using a locking bar built into the slide. When the trigger is pulled, a small lever rises up out of the frame to disengage the locking bar and allow the firing pin to move forwards. Without this safety disengaged, the firing pin wouldn’t move even if struck by the hammer.
This gap between the hammer and firing pin combined with the firing pin block safety means that not only is the gun drop safe from reasonable distances, but it actually requires enough force to bend some serious metal before the gun could possibly go off. More force than you’d expect when being dropped onto concrete from standing height, at least.
SIG tops off the battery of safety features by fashioning a hood on the back of the gun that protects the firing pin from anything coming in the sides.
Besides safety, the other area where this gun shines is how it fits my hand. I have gigantic manly hands, and not many handguns can properly fit these paws. This gun fills them perfectly, almost as if the handgun was designed to fill them.
The real test of a handgun, though, isn’t how pretty it looks or how well it fits your hand — it’s how well it fills the role you need it to. And for me, that role is competition shooting.
For the last three years I’ve been using my P226 in every 3-gun and USPSA competition, and in general it runs amazingly well. It does, however, have one or two rough spots.
Rough spot number one is the trigger. SIG has since fixed this issue, but the standard P226 trigger has a ton of overtravel and a very long reset. In other words, it’s slower to fire than other modern handguns. There’s now a trigger called the “Short Reset Trigger” or SRT that SIG has started installing on their guns (and will happily upgrade your existing P226 for a price), and it fixes every complaint I have about my trigger.
The other issue I have is with the slide stop. On a 1911 the slide stop is positioned far out of the way of the shooter, but with the P226 it’s right under your right thumb. This design feature, while making it easy to release the slide, has led to some interesting moments on the range when I’ve gone to TAP/RACK the gun only to find the chamber and magazine empty. My meaty thumb seems to be drawn to the slide stop and thoroughly enjoys resting on it, defeating its entire purpose for being.
The final flaw with the P226 is the reason I like it: its size. I carried this gun (concealed, IWB) for well over a year, and it was massively uncomfortable. It was like having a boat anchor in my pants, dragging them down. I actually had to buy my pants a size or two larger just to fit the thing inside. It’s one of the reasons I eventually switched to OWB carry, and I haven’t looked back.
This is not my original P226. That gun has been passed (well, sold) to a TTAG reader in Virginia. This P226 has much more sentimental value than the other one ever could have. It was made the year I was made, it was built in a country that no longer exists, it was imported down the street from where I took my first job in the real world and sold to me by a firefighter at my station back in Virginia. The gun is 24+ years old, but when I got it, it had only been fired a handful of times. It’s the perfect version of the perfect handgun.
Despite the small flaws, the P226 is a masterpiece of firearms engineering. It’s a beautiful firearm that fits my large hands well and performs perfectly in competition. If you’re looking for a DA/SA handgun with double stacked magazines this is your man.
SIG SAUER P226
Specifications
Caliber: 9mm Parabellum
Barrel: 4.4″
Overall: 7.7″
Weight: 34.0 oz. empty
Capacity: 15 (factory) / 18 (flush aftermarket) / 30 (lolwut)
MSRP: $900
Ratings (Out of Five Stars)
All ratings are relative to other similar guns, and the final score IS NOT calculated from the constituent scores.
Accuracy: * * * * *
I regularly get one ragged hole in my target at the range.
Ergonomics (Handling): * * * *
For me, it’s perfect. If you have small hands it may be a little less perfect. The only reason I knocked a star off was the damned slide stop.
Ergonomics (Firing): * * * * *
Besides the trigger issue I mentioned there’s nothing wrong with this gun. Nothing at all.
Reliability: * * * * *
SIG has a habit of making extremely reliable handguns. My first P226 was made in the 1980s but ran thousands of rounds a year without a single issue.
Customization: * * *
You can swap the trigger, the sights and the grip, but that’s about it.
Overall Rating: * * * *
My ideal handgun. Except when it comes to concealed carry.
There is some controversy related to the Army service pistol trials to replace the 1911. It has been suggested that the Italians won due to an under the table agreement about being able to stage missles in their country. Personally, I don’t know. It was before my time. What I do know is that I would have preferred carrying a P226 over the M9. Not that the M9 was a bad pistol, the 226 is just better. Nice write up on a classic pistol that deserves a spot in everyone’s safe.
There was a DOA investigation and report on the whole thing. (Don’t know if I still have the link.) The final decision came to price: maintenance and parts cost was higher on the Sig compared to the Beretta, so Beretta got the nod because of the cost for the next 30+ years.
Occam’s Razor is more convincing than conspiracy rumors about Italy threatening to close all their US bases if they didn’t win.
Size does, indeed, matter. My paws are on the bigger end of average, and most double-stack SIGs feel like 2x4s in my hands. The P250 is an exception, but it has almost nothing mechanical in common with its older siblings. Except its extreme accuracy and monotonous reliability.
Interesting to read your comments about the slide release this morning. I’ve shot my P226 E2 in USPSA for a couple years. Rarely go to slide lock. Yesterday I shot an IDPA match where slide lock is much more common. About a third of the time it didn’t lock back. I’m heading to the range today to try to determine if it’s me riding the lever or weak/old magazine springs.
Same problem for me (no lockback on last round fired, but locks back when i cycle the slide manually w/ empty mag)_actually had a gunsmith replace with a slightly lighter spring- helped some. Just checked my sig- no way my finger(s) can get on the slide release while shooting- way to high and back to hit w/o trying. I have big hands too.
Love the gun
nutnfancy has some good vids about it
I have one (in 40S&W) and love it.
Having said that – you left out one small complaint that I have with the weapon: its high bore axis. Compared to other modern pistols – especially those that you mentioned in the first sentences as “signature” handguns – the higher axis of the p226 increases muzzle flip and perceived recoil. I have a much harder time bringing my P226 back on target for follow-on shots than I do with a USP 45 or a Glock 19. However, this could also be the .40 round.
One thing about this weapon: the fit and finish are perfect. When you hold one or disassemble and check for machining marks, you can tell that this is first rate craftsmanship.
True dat. Our slo-mo video of 9mm muzzle flip really shows the difference between a 226, a Glock, and a Steyr M9; it’s dramatic.
Nice write-up. It’s easy to neglect the guns that everyone already knows are great.
I’m surprised you didn’t like the stock trigger. I love my p239′s trigger, and was under the impression that the general consensus was that SIG makes the best (non-1911) stock triggers out there.
226 was my first handgun purchase too
I have an Astra A-100 which mimics the Sig 226. Same controls and even same trigger issue but I am used to the trigger and don’t mind it. It’s not as good a gun as the Sig but it’s served me well and shoots good.
Excellent review. You echo here some of my own impressions of double-stack SIGs. I love their fit and finish, reliability, even their utilitarian appearance. However, my hands just aren’t big enough to comfortably operate the controls. The single-stack .45s are looking pretty good to me, though.
Great article! Love every bit….except…..I think the Glock flag ship is the Glock 17. I’ve owned 2 P226′s, 2 Glock 17′s and 1 Glock 19, never had a failure, never had a jam.
The finish on that gun has held up really well. Looks brand new, and you clearly do shoot it. Nice shooting too.
I have pretty much average sized hands and with the aluminum grips, my P226 fits in them perfectly. And yep, this thing just runs and runs and runs.
Music to my ears! I’ve had a P226 for several years, and despite its lack of glamour and a number of noticeable nicks resulting from its being my trail gun, I can’t bear the thought of ever selling it. Even talked myself out of swapping the basic Heine sights for some TruGlos. It’s dead-on accurate consistently, and shames some other top names when it comes to reliability. My love for the P226 has led to a number of other Sig purchases. Love the SRT on the P220 Carry, which has less recoil than a Browning Hi Power. But as to the 226, like you said, it’s a masterpiece.
You should replace the slide catch lever with the X-Five lever. This moves the lever forward and away from your thumb without getting in the way of the decocking lever. It’s a real easy fix!
For years I carried a 1911 at work. When I finally switched to the Sig P220 two years ago, I fell hard. Now I have the P220 + the P220 Carry and will buy a P229 this year. Don’t know why I waited so long to try the Sig, but overall there is no finer handgun made.
If your slide is not locking back on the last round replace you magazine. I had 2 that would do this replacing magazine solved the issue.
Your thinking in the ‘Overall Rating’ category is flawed. The Sig P226 is what it is, …a pistol that is larger and heavier than most of us want to use for extended concealed carry purposes. Sig makes other models that are more appropriate for concealed carry, like the P239, or their polymer framed pistols. You might try a P239 with a Crimson Trace laser grip. The 239 doesn’t hold as many rounds, but how many do you need when you can put the first round where you want it to go via the laser dot?
I assume your current P226 is the much lusted triple serial number yada yada West German Sig P226?
Accept no substitutes.
Especially when the seller only wanted $400.
When I went shopping I saw I bought and I wed
P226 /40 cal two tone
This is what I have as well…I paid ~$640 from Bud’s, although now they’re going for ~$660 NIB.
You probably won’t find a better deal.
I have a new p250 compact and glad I bought it love everything about it including the DOA trigger that non of my friends or family like definitely going to be buying more of the sig family with the bottom line of there handguns running flawless and accurately cant wait to see what the others can do
I have a new p250 compact and glad I bought it love everything about it including the DAO trigger that non of my friends or family like definitely going to be buying more of the sig family with the bottom line of there handguns running flawless and accurately cant wait to see what the others can do
I bought my P226 in 1989 shortly after an on duty shooting. At the time of the on duty shooting I was armed with a Smith& Wesson Model 66, I was shot by a murder suspect that was barricaded inside a residence and shot through a door with a Mac 11 machine pistol my injuries were minor. Shortly after that incident I, bought my P226. I will tell anyone looking for a quality weapon buy a Sig P226
Nice review! I have never had the opertunity to shoot or even handle a SIG, but am now going to investigate this more. I’m sorta in the market for a 9mm to conceal carry. I have a 1st generation Glock 17, but that might be going to the Mrs. for her to carry.
Poaching your post but with news you can use-everyone I know owns a 226 or sold theirs and regrets it. Get yourself a 226. It is a big boy, so not the best for CCW, but like a 10/22 you gotta have one.
What about a p228 or p229, the carry models of the 226. Carrying a fullsize concealed is kind of retarded.
It was my first purchase also circa 1986.
It came in a gorgeous Yellow Box and had a Test Target in German from the Factory proof firing. It was the most accurate out of the box pistol I ever had.
Foolishly sold it when I decided 9mm wasn’t hot enough and bought a P239 in 357 Sig.
Wish I still had it
It’s interesting to me that so many years later, the Army is fielding a compact version, the P228, as the M11 pistol. FM 3-23.35 (the Army’s pistol marksmanship field manual) from back in 2003 has this alongside the Beretta-made M9, and even our Nasty Guard unit is seeing the M11 (although we just traded in our muskets for M-16A2s). This was one of the reasons I ended up picking the P229 for my carry weapon; the controls are exactly the same as our service weapon. It’s a very nice pistol.
I admire SIG’s . They seem well built and reliable. I just don’t like them. I hate the DA/SA system. The triggers never felt right to me. Too long, too heavy. And they cost drastically too much money new. A CZ-75 is a drastically better shooter, for half as much.
ahh no.
i like CZs and adore the 85 combat, but the CZ trigger is horrid out of the box, while the p226 is nice and crisp in both actions……..i can constantly put rounds through one hole in the bullseye easily with the 226 and double taps are childs play…..the CZ (at least for me) takes much longer to be as shootable for me and is in fact heavier than the p226…………also i dont have much of a problem concealing it comfortably either (ive tried any number of galco IWBs with the gun and there was no issue with comfort)
They are both fine pistols. I find the CZ-P01 and the SP-01 to be a tad more accurate at distance and very easy to keep on target. The CZs also cycle through each and every time.
My P-226 is a nicely refurbed German police model that I have found is prone to an occasional stovepipe or other cycling issue after around each 50 rounds through the chamber. It seems the tolerances are too close to allow for powder residue. Still an excellent shooter. I just make allowances for the cycling limitations and may go to a smoother cased ammo like Fiochi XTP HP to see if that helps.
The 226 (and the P-229) also look very handsome in Rosewood grips.
The SRT fixes the reset, what did you do to address the overtravel?
also taken care of by the SRT
No. And I say this as someone who has several SIGs, both with and without the SRT. If anything, the SRT tends to have more overtravel.
Thanks for the review. One thing that got me when I bought my first Sig were the Night Sights. At the time I don’t think any other major manufacturers were offering tritium sights. I turned into a Sig guy, I guess the way other guys became Glock guys or stayed 1911 guys. Sigs just shoot well and the new triggers are a big improvement.
I am 22 years old and I’m a sig owner. I own a 2011 Sig p229. I love it. I also have my heart set on finding a good condition 1990 p226. I intend on it being sent in to be re-blued (if necessary) and a SRT trigger installed. But back to the post. I absoultely love this and think that it’s pretty much on the dot with how I feel about it (aside from the magazine release button issue). I carry my Sig everyday and I trust it with my life. I have friends with Walthers, Smith & Wessons, and even Glocks who don’t trust their gun like I do. I don’t mind S&W or Glocks, and I admit to their reliability too, but I don’t think I could feel anymore safe than with my Sig. H&K and Kimbers are nice, but I will forever live with a Sig
I got my first SIG, an SP2022 in 9mm a month and a half ago. It is hands-down the finest pistol I have ever shot. Tight groups, great ergonomics, and it only cost me $425 after tax. And it looks and feels VERY much like the 226, but with a polymer frame. Some see the frame as a disadvantage, but not me. It cuts down on the “boat anchor” feeling that Nick described. My next SIG will hopefully be a 226 Elite.
Great review. Now get on the SP2022 review!!! I have one you can use, if you feel like coming to KY.
On a gun like the 1911, the natural state for the hammer to be is flush against the firing pin. If the hammer is back, it’s under pressure from the spring to snap forward. With the P226, the natural state for the hammer is decocked and sitting just behind the firing pin (a few millimeters away, in fact) – not touching it.
Which is why as much as I like a 1911, I am not wild about carrying one.
The natural state for a 1911 hammer is “cocked and locked”, NOT resting on the firing pin! The thumb safety prevents the hammer from falling, but should it fall (force, incorrect tolerances, poor gunsmithing, etc), it will land on the half-notch.
Great article. I own 2 P226s and love them both. Because of the size I prefer to carry my P228.
love my p226 enhanced elite, its my most favorite pistol that i have.
My first firearm was my Sig P226 purchased ~15 years ago. I had just gotten divorced (ex-wife who was vehemently anti-gun) and practically ran to the local range/gun shop where I had been shooting to purchase it. Still a great gun and I’m thrilled to have it – shoots very well, is incredibly easy to take down and clean, and it very, very reliable.
Great review.
The 226 was the first auto I ever shot as a kid; it was my father’s who used it, and loved it as his carry gun for his protection while working his job as an urban pastor in the late 80s. I still remember him taking me to the range, showing me how to be safe, and properly shoot it. When he passed away from a cardiac arrest, my mother sold it… pre-ban 15 round mags and all. I didn’t have any say in it being only in 5th grade at the time.
Now that I’m “grown up”, I’ve borrowed and shot the 226 plenty of times, and it’s always lived up to the warm memories I had of it as a kid. I love my mother (bless her heart for raising me), but *damn*… I wish she hadn’t sold my Dad’s 226. =(
Wow, I wrote this over a year ago?
What a difference a year makes… I’m happy to report that I was able to track down my Dad’s P226. Turns out it was a West German-made P226, purchased used from a police officer. Still runs like a dream, and even better, I’m glad it’s back in the family. =)
Great review, thanks. I’ve been considering one of these or a Beretta 92. I’d like to have extended time with each, but I don’t think that will be possible, so I’m leaning toward the Sig based on some experience with a borrowed 220.
Although the model shown in the pictures above does not have it, the current Sig P226 does come with an accessory rail similar to other pistols in this category (see http://www.sigsauer.com/CatalogProductList/pistols-p226.aspx). That might be worth an extra star on customization. On the negative side, many Sig pistols do tend to weigh more than other competitors in its class. Despite the weight and a slight premium in cost, I really like the platform.
I bought a Mosquito… liked it. So I bought a P226… loved it. I’ve owned guns from every major manufacture (Glock, H&K, S&W, Berretta, Colt, Ruger, etc, etc, etc….) I don’t own any of them now. Since my first P226 I bought a P239, P229, another P226, Sig1911, another P239, P238, SP2022, and a SIG516. I’ve only sold 2 of them, and only as a favor to family members in need… I didn’t want them to have to compromise and buy something inferior. For me, no other gun even come close to a Sig for egonomics, accuracy, and reliabilty. SIG FOREVER!!!!!!
My first SIG was the P220, shortly thereafter, the P226. It fits perfect in the hand. You know what they say? SIGs are like potato chips. You can’t just have one. Not that this is a problem.
Ergonomics are in the eye (hand) of the beholder (fondler?).
I really like the SIG DA/SA layout, but in between the thick grip and long trigger pull I cannot realistically use this gun in DA mode. I have small hands. (My EDC is an S&W 9c with small backstrap… a whole lot less chunky than the SIG.)
Giving something a glowing review for ergos because it fits your above-average sized anatomy (ahem) is just a wee bit less than objective. That’d be like me giving it a 0/5 because I can’t reach the trigger without shifting my grip.
I should note here that SIG offers a “short trigger” (basically a skinny trigger) as a retrofit. Having never been able to try one I don’t know if it would do the trick for me, but it’s out there.
Don´t forget the E2 grip replacement, if you have small hands… Haven´t found a person yet that CAN`T operate the DA trigger on a fullsize P226 / P228 / P229 with the E2 installed… Sometimes even without the “short trigger” installed…
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I LOVE my Sig’s!! I bought my first(a P228) in 2002. Since then I have purchased several more, P220, P226, P225(for my girlfirend), P230, P6, P238 and an waiting on my new 556R to be delivered to me. Other than my Sig’s I have 1 Kimber and 1 Kel-Tec. I have had friends that were looking for a pistol, once they shot one of my Sig’s that is what they ended up purchasing.
Way too expensive.
You’re on crack.
Not to the fact that it’s expensive (for a handgun, it is fairly expensive) but it is worth every penny.
If you think it’s too expensive, have fun with your hi points. You pay for what you get. It’s not a high end product with tons of buyers because it looks cool, it’s because it performs better than the rest.
nice troll.
just because he doesn’t want to pay for a bmw m3 doesn’t mean he’s forced to buy a kia rio. false dichotomies like that just make your argument look idiotic.
sigs are overpriced for what you get. there are many reasonably priced alternatives to the sig that aren’t hi points.
First, you misused troll. But good try.
2ndly I realize that the comment I left doesn’t mean if he doesnt get a sig hes getting a Kia rio of guns. You are right, there are other cheaper guns that are good. Great even. But it is to say that it’s too expensive is not like buying a car in the price difference. A Kia and a Benz is a $50,000+ difference when a handgun is usually in the 200-$300 difference at most. The effort and craftsmanship in a sig is what you get. I personally wouldn’t buy a Mercedes Benz because a Chevy works fine by me, but it does go to say that the Benz has had more engineering, innovating, and effort put into it to make sure it’s more reliable. To say that Chevy doesn’t put effort would be an obvious lie, but it’s with respect to say that Mercedes Benz puts in a ton of time on a single product. Which I have nothing but respect and admiration for, and if possible I would opt for the Benz if I could ever afford it haha
Your benz would spend most of the time in the shop getting expensive repairs, like everyone else’s benz.
there’s a saying in the auto repair industry. german overengineering means using 2x as many parts as are actually needed.
Effort and craftsmanship might be synonymous with bling and pimp status but don’t always equal reliability or performance.
the extremely poor slide stop design alone should be enough to give someone pause about a p226 purchase.
or the stratospherically tall bore axis.
firearms design and engineering has moved on considerably in the almost 30 years since the p226 was released. there are much better choices today than there were in 1984.
you want overpriced? try any HK handgun.
I have had my P226 marked Made in West Germany Since 1988. And she shoots as fine as the day I bought it from the Rod and Gun at McNair Barracks!
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Was my first handgun purchase at the age of 21, as well. Mine was also a former police handgun complete with holster wear and a few nicks and scratches.
I still have mine, though.
I love my P226 TACOPS. I found a small custom holster maker in Ohio who makes holsters for these firearms and you would never know you were carrying a fully steel loaded with 20rnds firearm. I think they should be mentioned. Hidden Hybrid Holsters. The fit and finish is perfect and the price is very reasonable. Under $100.00.
They also allow for certain lasers, lights or laser/lights.
Point being, I love Sigs!
I’m checking them out, thanks for sharing. I just ordered a TacOps myself so it’s time to start shopping for leather. I like that their IWBs can also be used OWB.
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My first was a 226 .357 sig ,then a 220,then a springfield loaded(up the road) then a bunch of others including a GI springfield some 22s only thing I can afford to shoot now. The 220 amd 226 feel better ergonomicaly then the 1911 and the glock, got a 21, But the glock will eat crap and spit bullets and points perfectly. Once you grow up you get a sig 1911, in my humble opinion. When I pick up a 220 or a 226 nothing fits my hand better and they are well made guns. That’s why they make ford and chevy and toyota and mercedes and……. you get the point.
I appreciate the detail you put into describing the hammer/firing pin function. I love the short reset on my dad’s P226 Platinum Elite… not to mention, it’s a good looking gun.
I just purchased my second Sig, a P226 9mm tactical along with a 22L conversion kit. It is fantastic! My carry piece is a P239. Shooting the P226 is smooth and just plain fun! It really fits my hand and because it is a full size, it absorbs most of the recoil. I highly recommend the Sig P226. My son carries a Sig 1911 C3.
The first handgun I bought was a P226. It ran great until I had an incident with an overpressure reload(stupid gun show reloads). Something broke inside, and my local shop sent it back to SIG. After it came back it wouldn’t reliably detonate CCI primers, so I sold it at a gun show.
The P239 I had was flawless, but too heavy for me. Now my carry gun is a Kahr P9, but I will own another SIG in the future, I’m certain.
My SIG 226 was my first handgun, purchased when I was 21. I’ve put over 5000 rounds through the thing with no issues whatsoever. I also have gigantic manly hands and it fits perfectly. I agree with you though, the thing is a tank and makes for insanely uncomfortable concealed carry. I eventually switched to a Glock 23 for concealed carry but my SIG still sees a lot of action at the range here in Northern Virginia.
The more guns you own, the more pros and cons you see. A lot of the ergonomics depends on your stance. Glock points best using the squared off, knees bent, arms straight, ‘tactical’ (sorry) agressive stance. Glock I think has the best power to physical weight ratio. If you’re a stand up weaver stance guy, the M&P, Sig, 1911-ish grip angle is more comfortable. Hammer fired guns have a higher bore axis than striker fired guns, period – need room for that thing to swing. Springfield XD’s have a pretty nice trigger, but overall feel physically heavy, didn’t read the specs, but I bet they are heavier than comparable models. I love them all. Right now I have a Sig 226 e2 IWB appendix. Love the Beretta 96, carry it once in a while, but trigger is kind of heavy (for me) to be consistent with. Love messing with my M&P 40′s, but the one I have the sights finally tuned in (~maybe 6K rounds) is starting to choke on my reloads. Maybe just a bad mag or recoil spring…M&P’s just feel good in the hand. Love my glocks…just did a chop and stipple job on a gen 3 model 35. Like them all. We are all individuals – you might as well say that rocky road is the best ice cream, anybody that likes anything else is an idiot…it’s all about personal choice. If it is a reliable platform and you like it, enjoy it. Any quality piece shoots better than we do. I would suggest spend the extra money for good night sights, get it tuned in for you, so you can hit with it, and carry a gun big enough to hold onto. You can carry a pretty big ‘un IWB appendix and go unnoticed… (Clint Smith: supposed to comforting, not comfortable). So play nice, work together and let’s get some common sence back in Washington.
Carried the M9 myself, and it did the job just fine. I have small to average hands and ironically I prefer a big honkin’ pistol. I had a 92FS , gave it to a buddy. I regret that. I’ll have to pick up another. That said, I like the 226 too! Both are very fine handguns. Can’t go wrong with either. However it doesn’t surprise me that the SIG ended up being more expensive in the long run. They are truly costly. Not sure they are ‘worth every penny’ as they have some pretty stiff competition from lot of companies that make excellent firearms(I once had a Ruger P89 that was faultless and cheap as hell), but they are fine guns. Great for the snobs out there. I don’t think the US military has suffered from choosing the Beretta over the SIG though. If it’s made well and goes bang it’s better than nothing.
It’s not about snob appeal, it’s not about something is better than nothing, it’s not about cost. There are people who MAY use their pistol in the course of their work… Police, Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps officers or soldiers… their “uniform/general issue” weapons are chosen by politicians.
Then, there are people who WILL use their pistol to fight during the course of their jobs, whose jobs may change the course of human destiny, or for whom cost is not the over riding criteria when lives are at stake… Special Forces, Secret Service, CIA… they are the ones using SIGs.
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Just picked up a new P226 from my transfer agent. It is a beautiful fistful and I can’t wait to get it on a range.
One beef. I about tore up my thumb loading the 15 round magazine and still only got thirteen rounds in it, even with a leather glove.
With high hold, thumbs forward grip, the thumbs are usually resting against the frame of the gun, or, with a 1911, the strong hand thumb is riding on top of the safety. With the SIG you should rest your strong hand thumb on the back of your weak hand thumb, preventing it from riding the slide stop.
Problem solved.
It is worth working around the problem, because a SIG can be reloaded and returned to action just as quickly from lock-back as it can be loaded by swapping mags with one still in the chamber.
The SIG’s ergos make for very natural and fast reloads from lock-back, but if you don’t adapt your grip to the slide stop position you can have problems with the slide not locking back on an empty mag.
I have a p226 with a 30 round clip
I picked-up the Sig p226 in 9mm today and what a sweet gun. I will be purchasing the .22lr conversion kit for some cheaper plinking and target practice. I have a question about what laser/light combos others are teaming up with their p226?
Let’s leave the conspiracy theories on the idiocy that the greatest army in the world has been using for twenty years Beretta guns as a favor to Italy and read this:
“The average reliability of all M9 pistols tested at Beretta U.S.A. is 17,500 rounds without a stoppage.
• During one test of twelve pistols fired at Beretta U.S.A. before Army supervision, Beretta-made M9 pistols shot 168,000 rounds without a single malfunction.
• The Beretta 9mm pistol was the most reliable of all pistols tested in the 1984 competition which resulted in the award of the M9 contract to Beretta.
• Two-thirds of all M9 pistols endurance tested at Beretta U.S.A. fired 5,000 rounds without a single mal function or, at most, with only one malfunction.
• The average durability of Beretta M9 slides is over 35,000 rounds, the point at which U.S. Army testing ceases.
• The average durability of M9 frames is over 30,000 rounds. The average durability of M9 locking blocks is 22,000 rounds.”
My SIG P226, Made in W. Germany, is a wonderful pistol, despite its size. I am a lefty, but find it easy enough to manipulate the controls with my left index finger.
Other than some rust appearing as the bluing on the slide wore away, I have had no problems with this pistol in over 24 yrs. Accurate, reliable, and feels great in the hand.
If my new SIG P239 approaches the performance of the P226, I will be very, very happy.
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