Sig Sauer P-220 vs. P-220 Equinox

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stinger 327

stinger 327

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Anyone on here have one of these two or both? Comments? Are you happy with the P-220 of both models above?
 
I have never shot the Equinox but I have shot a 220. If it were me I'd stick with a box stock 220 add some night sights and be on my way. Though the 220 models haven't seemed to have been affected by Sig's bout of issues with QC, I'd look for a used 220 maybe 4-5 years old. Snatch one up for a song replace springs, add night sights and be on my way.
 
jp0319 said:
I have never shot the Equinox but I have shot a 220. If it were me I'd stick with a box stock 220 add some night sights and be on my way. Though the 220 models haven't seemed to have been affected by Sig's bout of issues with QC, I'd look for a used 220 maybe 4-5 years old. Snatch one up for a song replace springs, add night sights and be on my way.
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I had heard something of a rumor about Sig quality control not being up to par now as in the past. The older Sigs were made in Germany. Are those the ones you are referring to or are preferrable?
 
Owned both German Sauer and Exeter, NH made pistols. I am familiar with the rumor, but only saw it on the Internet. Not from fellow owners or instructors, not from my experience with both. The Equinox has a sharp-edged polished metal finish, upscale grips, and a factory fiber optic front sight. It is more handsome and will fill your bill as a sports shooter. For holster carry (which might include competition as well) and any kind of duty, the plain business P220 should be better for $200 less.
 
When looking for a SIG 220 with the least possible issues, you should look for 1) a folded slide and internal extractor or 2) one with a stainless slide and an external extractor.

The difference between the 220R and an Equinox is mostly cosmetic. You might prefer the with controls and the brushed flats on the slide, while I might not. The wood grips are fatter than many folks care for and the front sight body floating above the top of the slide has always bothered me...but you might like them
 
YZ said:
Owned both German Sauer and Exeter, NH made pistols. I am familiar with the rumor, but only saw it on the Internet. Not from fellow owners or instructors, not from my experience with both. The Equinox has a sharp-edged polished metal finish, upscale grips, and a factory fiber optic front sight. It is more handsome and will fill your bill as a sports shooter. For holster carry (which might include competition as well) and any kind of duty, the plain business P220 should be better for $200 less.
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Yes you are right on the money there. It's about a $200 difference.
 
9mmepiphany said:
When looking for a SIG 220 with the least possible issues, you should look for 1) a folded slide and internal extractor or 2) one with a stainless slide and an external extractor.

The difference between the 220R and an Equinox is mostly cosmetic. You might prefer the with controls and the brushed flats on the slide, while I might not. The wood grips are fatter than many folks care for and the front sight body floating above the top of the slide has always bothered me...but you might like them
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Floating front sight? What is that? Whatever I get it will be NIB from Sig. I don't know if it comes with a folded slide and internal extractor or 2) one with a stainless slide and an external extractor.
 
These are age old micro arguments. The f/o front is dovetailed like any other, but it has a long overhang (for-aft) to allow light gathering. Which kind of extractor on a NIB SIG you get is no longer relevant.
 
stinger 327 said:
Floating front sight? What is that?
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This is from the factory site. Notice how the body of the front sight blade, behind the dovetail attachment in the slide, doesn't touch the top surface of the slide. Some folks might call it cantilevered, but it isn't...it is floating

220_Equinox_R-Detail.jpg


It is notoriously hard to get sights to fit flush with the top of SIG pistols as the top of their slide is domed. A longer than standard rear sight is even more difficult to fit without having part of the body float or form a wedge. Most folks don't want to recess it...like this:

DSC_0126.jpg
 
stinger 327 said:
Are you happy with the P-220 of both models above?
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I own three P220s and still have the first one I bought more than 20 years ago. I consider the P220 to be one of the best pistols ever made. I've owned as many as five at one time and will certainly keep the three I now have which include my first P220 with the folded slide, a Combat and a Carry.
 
That thar shore is one purdy Sig Pistola. Them Equinoxers is extra nice. :)
 
9mmepiphany said:
This is from the factory site. Notice how the body of the front sight blade, behind the dovetail attachment in the slide, doesn't touch the top surface of the slide. Some folks might call it cantilevered, but it isn't...it is floating

220_Equinox_R-Detail.jpg


It is notoriously hard to get sights to fit flush with the top of SIG pistols as the top of their slide is domed. A longer than standard rear sight is even more difficult to fit without having part of the body float or form a wedge. Most folks don't want to recess it...like this:

View attachment 676986
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When did the Equinox model come out? Also is it limited production and will o nly be made for a short run or will it be produced right along with the regular P-220?
 
I have owned three. An old West German model with stamped slide and internal extractor, a 2009 model with black Nitron Finish, and a 2012 model that was stainless with matching alloy frame. The stainless was by far the prettiest, but I wish the barrel was stainless as well. It showed the rub marks on the barrel hood, lug, or whatever its called fairly easily. They all perform well. I'm going to get hammered on this but here I go......I would not buy an older West German model unless you can nab one for 400 bucks or so. The slide cannot possibly be as strong as the ones made in Exeter, it turns an ugly brown patina color over time, and the internal extractor is not as good as the external extractor on this paticular gun. With all of that being said they all performed flawlessly for me. I eventually sold them all to fund my 1911 addiction, in which I prefer the internal extractor. The grips are too beefy for my medium sized hands on the P220 and I shoot better with 1911. Why stop with stainless or black, now Sig makes every model in a billion different colors or configurations.

To be honest the standard Black Nitron Finish is the cheapest and they will all function the same. My old West German model was never any better than the new production models. I fired at least a 1,000 rounds through all three I owned with no malfunctions or parts breakages.
 
KYamateur said:
I have owned three. An old West German model with stamped slide and internal extractor, a 2009 model with black Nitron Finish, and a 2012 model that was stainless with matching alloy frame. The stainless was by far the prettiest, but I wish the barrel was stainless as well. It showed the rub marks on the barrel hood, lug, or whatever its called fairly easily. They all perform well. I'm going to get hammered on this but here I go......I would not buy an older West German model unless you can nab one for 400 bucks or so. The slide cannot possibly be as strong as the ones made in Exeter, it turns an ugly brown patina color over time, and the internal extractor is not as good as the external extractor on this paticular gun. With all of that being said they all performed flawlessly for me. I eventually sold them all to fund my 1911 addiction, in which I prefer the internal extractor. The grips are too beefy for my medium sized hands on the P220 and I shoot better with 1911. Why stop with stainless or black, now Sig makes every model in a billion different colors or configurations.

To be honest the standard Black Nitron Finish is the cheapest and they will all function the same. My old West German model was never any better than the new production models. I fired at least a 1,000 rounds through all three I owned with no malfunctions or parts breakages.
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At a gunshop I saw an old P-220 made in Germany or West Germany can't remember but they wanted $700 for that. They had the combat version also of the p220 USED for $1,000. Forget t hat whatever I get will be brand new NIB.
Why is the 1911 so popular and even preferred over the Sig P-220 now that you mentioned you shoot better with a 1911 than the P-220?
 
stinger 327 said:
I had heard something of a rumor about Sig quality control not being up to par now as in the past. The older Sigs were made in Germany. Are those the ones you are referring to or are preferrable?
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yes the German ones for sure but the American ones were ok until the management / ownership change at Sig. As I understand it this affected more of the newly designed guns than the old standards like the 220 and 228/9. As for the Equinox I just really think your paying out the nose for looks, an older used 220 with some night sights and springs will work as well and you'll save a lot.
 
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stinger 327 said:
At a gunshop I saw an old P-220 made in Germany or West Germany can't remember but they wanted $700 for that. They had the combat version also of the p220 USED for $1,000. Forget t hat whatever I get will be brand new NIB.
Why is the 1911 so popular and even preferred over the Sig P-220 now that you mentioned you shoot better with a 1911 than the P-220?
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Single action in the 1911 vs double action in the 220? Lower bore axis of he 1911 vs the higher axis of the 220? Better ergonomics of the 1911? Some of the popularity may be nostalgia, or people wanting to know what the fuss is about when they see 1911s of every type and flavor plastered all over the gun mags, then the endless stream of articles and forum posts extolling the mythical awesomeness of the 1911! Been there, done that. The 1911 was great in its time, it is great now when properly built and maintained. But it's like a Ferrari, when it is running well theirs nothing else like it. But if it breaks down there is never a Ferrari dealership close, and it's going to cost an arm and a leg to repair. I'll take a Glock, or better yet an H&K USP that will run and run and run no matter what the conditions, no matter what ammo you use, weather it's dirty or clean. They may not be as exhilarating to shoot at the range, or tell your friends about as your $3000 1911 but when something goes bump in the night and you reach in your night stand you won't have to think about weather or not you cleaned and oiled it. And if it breaks you don't have to have to be a gunsmith to fix it. End Rant :)
 
jp0319 said:
Single action in the 1911 vs double action in the 220? Lower bore axis of he 1911 vs the higher axis of the 220? Better ergonomics of the 1911? Some of the popularity may be nostalgia, or people wanting to know what the fuss is about when they see 1911s of every type and flavor plastered all over the gun mags, then the endless stream of articles and forum posts extolling the mythical awesomeness of the 1911! Been there, done that. The 1911 was great in its time, it is great now when properly built and maintained. But it's like a Ferrari, when it is running well theirs nothing else like it. But if it breaks down there is never a Ferrari dealership close, and it's going to cost an arm and a leg to repair. I'll take a Glock, or better yet an H&K USP that will run and run and run no matter what the conditions, no matter what ammo you use, weather it's dirty or clean. They may not be as exhilarating to shoot at the range, or tell your friends about as your $3000 1911 but when something goes bump in the night and you reach in your night stand you won't have to think about weather or not you cleaned and oiled it. And if it breaks you don't have to have to be a gunsmith to fix it. End Rant :)
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I do notice that the 1911 fits my hand the best out of all of them. I figure since this is a highly customized and modified pistol contributed to its popularity as well as its history of 100 years in US wars. It is a very expensive pistol unless you get a RIA 1911. I was just thinking of the carry mode of the 1911 with it cocked n locked not as safe like revolver or double action auto as far as accidental discharges go.
 
Let's not get derailed by introducing Glocks or 1911 discussions into this thread, except as used in comparison to the SIGs in question
 
I have the 220 Carry model with the internal (vs external)l extractor, milled s/s (vs stamped, carbon steel) slide and made in America (vs West Germany); the very example many recommend against. I can only reference my own experience with this particular 220 variant but can report that it has been an extremely accurate and reliable, well-made and finished pistol. The trigger re-set ideally should be a mite shorter, I suppose, but I've found the "classic" da set-up to work fine for me.
It's my favorite carry concealed pistol, being relatively light in weight and having a slim, single-stack profile with a da/de-cocker/no safety configuration. Mine gets carried comfortably and well-concealed in a Galco "King Tuk" iwb holster.
 
I have the P220R. It is the basic model with black finish and contrast sights. Super accurate and well-made. Sig has a lot of nice guns, but for me, I'm happy with the simple black finish, stainless steel finish, or duotone. Also, Sigs are super expensive if bought new. I have a Sig P226 and Sig P220 and I bought both of them with a few hundred rounds down the tube for $625 each. If bought new, they would be about $150-200 more a piece.
 
giggitygiggity said:
I have the P220R. It is the basic model with black finish and contrast sights. Super accurate and well-made. Sig has a lot of nice guns, but for me, I'm happy with the simple black finish, stainless steel finish, or duotone. Also, Sigs are super expensive if bought new. I have a Sig P226 and Sig P220 and I bought both of them with a few hundred rounds down the tube for $625 each. If bought new, they would be about $150-200 more a piece.
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Went down to gun shop today the Sig Equinox is $1,200. The standard P-220 is $1,050. A $150 difference (yes Sigs are expensive)but the grips, the sights alone on Equinox amount to more than $150 not including the different finish.
 
When did the Equinox model come out? Also is it limited production and will o nly be made for a short run or will it be produced right along with the regular P-220?
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I don't know when exactly, but it had to be at least a few years ago, if not more. Back when I was just "sorta" into firearms - I liked em but never bought any - I heard of this "SIG" company. Checked out their pistols online and found the Equinox. Idk which model gun it was. Might have been the 226, or the 220. Either way, I remember liking the Equinox and thinking I might get one someday. Now I prefer the regular models... if I was gonna get a SIG with different aesthetics, I'd lean toward the Scorpion or Elite Stainless models.

ETA:

Just tried to find out. Best I could do is find an article from January 2009 that talked about the P238 Equinox, so its been close to five years at least. Certainly doesn't seem to be a limited run.
 
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Bobson said:
I don't know when exactly, but it had to be at least a few years ago, if not more. Back when I was just "sorta" into firearms - I liked em but never bought any - I heard of this "SIG" company. Checked out their pistols online and found the Equinox. Idk which model gun it was. Might have been the 226, or the 220 either way, I remember liking the Equinox and thinking I might get one someday. Now I prefer the regular models... if I was gonna get a SIG with different aesthetics, I'd lean toward the Scorpion or Elite Stainless models.
Click to expand...

I haven't seen any stainless Sig P-220's. What is the price range of that gun?
 
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