Sig Enthusiasts...need your advice.

General Firearms Handguns - Semi Auto
1

I’m in the market for a new handgun and I still don’t have a Sig so I need some help.

First, I don’t really have the option of going down to the range and test firing some Sigs…I live 2 hours away from the nearest range that I can demo and just don’t have the time.

I’ve only shot one Sig and that was a couple years ago. I can’t recall which model it was, but at the time I was looking for a new 9mm, so I’m going to guess it was the 226.

A little about what handguns I own and my likes and dislikes for each…in not such great detail. Hopefully this will help in any recommendations one might have for my new purchase.

HK USPc 9mm V3
I really love this handgun because it was my first. It’s comfortable to hold and grip. The balance is nice. It’s a little snappy in recoil for me and the trigger in my opinion is a little long in reset. I don’t shoot this all that accurately, I don’t know why, I never have. But, this being my first handgun, I’ll always keep it.

HK P7 PSP
This is by far the nicest 9mm I’ve shot. It points extremely well, is very comfortable and balanced and is very very accurate. I love the trigger on this gun.

Dan Wesson Valor
Dan Wesson VBOB
I group these guys together because they are the only 1911’s I’ve shot and own. What can I say about these handguns? Way more accurate then I could ever be. The triggers are both excellent, but the VBOB trigger is surreal. I prefer the balance and weight of the shorter barreled VBOB. They both point so well.

Smith & Wesson M&P 45
I own the midsize 4" barrel and really like this handgun. I’ve only got about 500 rounds through it so the trigger is still a bit gritty and from what I understand, it will work itself out more. It’s much better than it was when it was new. I’ll most likely get the Apex Sear trigger done in the future. It’s probably the most comfortable gun I own in my hands. It just fits like a glove. It’s accurate and reliable…nothing real fancy, but just a solid HD gun that shoots very nice.

Of all the guns mentioned, I love my VBOB. It has the best trigger, obviously and i’m very very accurate with it. The balance is perfect for me. Second would be my P7. I just love shooting this gun. It just seems like an extension of my hand and it probably points the best of all my guns. It’s the least snappiest 9mm I’ve ever shot.

FYI, I prefer 45 acp and 9mm. I’ve never really cared for the .40 S&W. and don’t really need an in between caliber for a handgun. Ammo is already too expensive. I hope I’ve provided enough info to spur some conversation.

Thanks in advance everyone.

2

I have a 229 in .40 & a 220. I really prefer the feel of the 220, but that’s just my opinion.

3

Is this for collecting or shooting? If the former, then a P7 is a great choice. If the latter, then not so much unless you get two of them. They get too hot to shoot pretty quickly.

4

Sorry dookie, I think maybe you misread my post or perhaps I didn’t articulate it very well.

I own all the guns in bold print and have explained my likes and dislikes for each one in hopes that someone with experience with these guns and Sigs can give me an idea of which Sig I would feel most comfortable with.

I’m looking to add a Sig to my collection but don’t have the time and resources to drive 2 hours and demo at the range. So, unfortunately I’ll be buying without being able to shoot. I know most people would suggest otherwise and I would agree most of the time, but I’m comfortable in the fact that if I absolutely dislike my purchase, I can always sell and move on.

The Sig will most likely just be a shooter as I’m not looking for a safe queen.

I did have the chance to shoot a Sig a couple years ago, as I stated above, I think it was the 226. The only thing that I remember was I really liked the trigger.

FWIW, I’ll be buying used and will be looking for a German made Sig. I’ve heard and read enough about Sig’s QC recently that I’d rather not risk the hassle…I hear good and bad things about Sigs current production. I hear nothing but good about older German made Sigs…that’s enough for me to buy used.

Sorry for any confusion.

5

I never really cared for Sig’s until I tried a friends Bruce Gray worked over P225. Now I’m on the prowl for a mint 225 or P6 and will send it down to Spray Oregon for some Grayguns goodness.

6

I’m a huge fan of the P22X pistols. I feel that my P226s are perfect, for me. It sounds like you’re leaning towards the 9mm (not 100% clear from your post) then the P226 is a great choice. It balances really well in my hand and is extremely reliable and accurate. I’ve carried a P226 everyday for the last 12 years, 90% of the time concealed.

Of course if you’re looking at .45 ACP, there’s the P220, same frame, similar feel (heavier), same reliability and accuracy, bigger boom.

I know you said that your closest shop is 2 hours away, but you really do owe it to yourself to check these out in person. What works for me may not work for you. What’s 5 hours of your time when you’re going to spend $900 or more on a handgun? Especially if it may save your life.

7

I have a Sig p226 SCT that I have owned for a little over two years now. I had a rocky start to my ownership of the pistol that required being sent back to Sig after the first range trip for having the wrong slide catch installed from the factory. I will say that Sig’s customer service was second to none and I had no issues with getting the pistol repaired. After putting a few thousand rounds downrange I would now trust my life with it if need be. I like the trigger a lot, there is a fair amount of takeup but the SA break is very crisp. It balances very nicely in the hands too. My other pistols are Springfield XD’s so having an aluminum frame pistol feels just slightly heavier but way more robust. One thing I dislike about the Sig are the two-piece grips that will shift ever so slightly inside of your hands. The SCT model comes with a TFO fiber optic/tritium front sight, but I may change it out to a traditional tritium sight since I have concerns of the fiber optic rod falling out.

All that being said, I wouldn’t buy another current production Sig. There is something about buying a new pistol then having to send it back for repair right away, you lose a little bit of faith in the weapon. Since the repair and subsequent break in, it has been flawless.

8

I have a P226 and a P6. If you are only going to have one SIG and don’t plan on making it a primary CCW, go with the 226.

If you plan on CCW, I’d get a P225 or a P228.

The 226 can be carried concealed, it’s just kind of big.

9

Yeah I’m a complete tard. Sorry about that.

10

I own a few Sigs, last count was 13. I enjoy each and every one. Based on you criteria, I’d recommend for concealed carry, in order, P220, P228 or P225.

The P220 and P225 are single stack pistols, both are easy to conceal. The P228 is one sweet pistol to carry, from my experience it is one of the best designed pistols I’ve shot and carried. It has an almost perfect balance facilitating a wickedly fast target acquisition.

Either way, I don’t think you can go wrong with any of the “classic” P-series Sigs. Good luck in your search.

11

I’ve been a dedicated user of Sigs for the last 15yrs in Federal service. I’m also an armorer, and have worked on hundreds of Sigs of all ages.

My advice for a “shooting” Sig, is to buy a West German P226 or P228 9mm. You can find them in decent condition at guns shows, and on the internet. Simply put, new US made Sigs are not as good as their West German counterparts. A West German P220 .45 would be my 3rd choice. The .45s require more maintenance and TLC to keep them running well. The older 9mm Sigs were masterpieces of engineering.

12

For concealed carry I like the 225 (because it is 9mm. I like the 220 just fine, and had one for a good while, but I shoot only 9mm now). To me the p226 is the quintessential p-series pistol (in 9mm) and I love it. It is a bit bulky for concealed carry, but can be done with the right set-up. I am not going to get into the US-made vs German-made controversy as I don’t own a US-made SIG, but my old German-made SIG is like the proverbial Timex…it just keeps ticking.

13

I have an older West German P220 from the mid 90’s and it’s my best performing handgun. With that said, I cannot recommend a current P220.
While at the range, a shooter next to me was shooting his P220 and after a few rounds, I heard a distinct crack that didn’t sound right. I looked over and asked if he was ok. He showed me his Sig and the take down had broken. He also told me that the gun has less than 500 rounds down the pipe.

My 15+ year old P220 is still a tack driver after all these years, though.

14

If you can, get a West German Sig. I much rather take one of those than the ones made today

15

Unfortunatley, this is a very common story of newer US made Sigs. The engineering genius, quality controls, and materials just isn’t in the same league as West German guns. Sig Sauer used to be a name that you equated with Heckler and Koch. The guns were expensive, but they were perfected combat handguns. With the W. German guns, you got a quality pistol right out of the box that was practically guarenteed to function perfectly as long as you followed the recommended service intervals every 5000rds. With the post 2005 US Sigs you are getting a pandora’s box that may run okay, or may end up being a project gun that requires significant modification to keep it reliable and durable.

16

whats your price limit?

Sig X-5 and P226SL would be the cream of the crop.

I have a W German P226 and a newer P228R, neither have ever failed me, the P226 has literally gone 6k without a single stoppage. I ordered a P226SL for a longterm range gun since i wanted to replicate the controls and size of my P226 for training purposes.

17

Thanks for all the responces everyone. I appreciate all the advice and recommendations. I agree with Sig’s current production…hit or miss, no pun intended! That being said, I feel more comfortable purchasing a German made Sig and I no doubt believe that people have had positive experiences with their current production, but I don’t feel like rolling the dice…there’s no money in it! :wink:

I’m going to keep my budget under $600…I feel like I can get a nice used German Sig in excellent condition with all original accessories for that and probably less, whether I go P226 or P220. Those were already high on my list and based on everyone’s suggestions, I’ll keep my eyes peeled. I wouldn’t mind the P228 but I don’t intend to carry this gun, just a shooter…unless I can find a really great deal. The P228 seems to command a higher price.

Thanks again for everyone’s input.

18

I think there has been some great advice given on buying the west german made sigs etc. That being said, I bought a P229 .40 about 4 years ago and it has worked and ran flawlessly for thousands of rounds. I love the feel and accuracy of the gun, and carry mine almost daily. I’ve heard that Sig’s quality has gone down, but both the newer Sigs I have have been nothing but perfect. I personally like the feel and size of the P229.

19

I personally prefer the P226 over the P220, I have sold all of my P220s in favor of the 9mm flavors. There are also much more options for mags

20

The P228s are more expensive because they are less common on US soil. When SigArms of USA introduced the P229, they stopped importing the P228 into the US in large numbers and just standardized on the P229 production line in three calibers. It’s a shame, because the P228 was lighter, and more balanced than the P229 9mm. Most of the P228s that you’ll find at gun shows and the internet are police trade-ins…but in relatively good condition. I bought a P228 at a gun show about a year ago that had rusted sights and lots of wear for $400. I cleaned off the rust, changed out the springs, and it ran flawlessly with tight groupings. One of the best Sigs I’ve ever had. Both the W. German P226 and P228 are great guns, but I like the versatility of the P228.

The W. German P220 .45 is also a great gun, if you don’t mind servicing it every 5k rounds. That means replacing the springs and roll pins, and the magazine springs. The P220 is more finicky if you don’t keep up on the service schedule.