Any SIG P220 owners here?

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papajohn

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I've been sniffing around for a full-size 45ACP gun to complement my Bersa UC45, and I've fallen in lust with the P220, the new 5-inch version that is Single-action only. (The Target Model.) Mas Ayoob wrote it up in the 2009 GUNS "Special Edition" annual, and he seems quite taken with it. Several people achieved 1" groups with it using assorted off-the-shelf factory loads, and I don't mind the steep price tag, I want what I want, and am willing to pay the fare.

I had a 1911 years ago that blew a case head with a factory load, and I've been leery of unsupported chambers ever since. Nothing like getting your face peppered with hot brass fragments and your crotch hammered by the remaining rounds in the mag to alter your opinion of Jeff Cooper's favorite handgun. I sold it the next day, and never looked back, but I've always wanted another full-size 45.

Reading various fora, I see that SIG had issues with their internal extractor in some of the older P220's. This new gun has the external extractor, so it's not an issue, but I'm curious as to how various folks feel about the current-production P220's. This will be a house gun, carried seldom, and mostly used to punish paper and bowling pins, but I need something totally reliable with hollow-points, my favorite load in all calibers is the Speer Gold Dot, in its various iterations. Every Gold Dot load I've ever tested has been reliable, consistent, and more accurate than most others loads in a given caliber.

So what say you all? Some folks didn't like the DA/SA models they had, but this one is strictly SA, so it's a tad different. How are the triggers? The ergonomics look good, I'll know more about how my hand likes them later this week.

Any opinions?

PJ
 
If you like condition 1 carry and the light weight of an alloy frame, the pistol you are talking about is nearly perfect. With the improved external extractor you should be good to go. I've got an early P220R with the folded German Slide and railed frame. It has been very reliable. Saying that however, compared to my 5" 1911, it has more muzzle flip and is slightly larger in the hand.

If the 220 fits you, I think it is one of the best out of the box .45's you can buy.
 
I've got a 1986 W. German P220 I bought new in early 1987 with American mag release and internal extractor. So far so good. :)

Shoots anything I stuff into it, never had a jam (honest) and I use it as my "nightstand" pistol.

Totally reliable.

That said, it's not as accurate as my Kimber Custom CDP II - not even close.

If I needed a close up CCW weapon, it would be the Sig P 220. If I could get a CCW - all but impossible here in California - I'd carry either the Kimber or the Sig with the nod going to the Kimber.
 
Stainless DA/SA model here, and it's a fine piece of work.

I found the grip to be a bit thick and the reach to the double action trigger a little long, so I replaced the grips with Sig's "thin" grips for the 220 and I'm now a happy camper.
 
I have a P220 I bought in 1996, the only problem I have had with it was when a loose primer pocket allowed a fired primer to get in the action and pop the mainspring loose. It is the most accurate semi auto I own. tho the M&P .45 is close.
 
Looks like a good gun, although none have penetrated to my backwater to even fondle. What Sig-Sauer should have made to start with instead of jumping on the 1911 clone bandwagon.

Note that there are two versions of the single action gun; the Match and the Super Match. If you think you might try IDPA, get the Match, the Super Match is too long to fit The Box.
 
Like Snapping Twig, my Sig P220 is also from 1986-87. I've never replaced the extractor but have replaced the night sites twice. I think it's about time for a third change.
 
I had one for for a few years - great gun, but I traded it for 3/4 payment on an AR15. I also prefer Glocks, mostly for the magazine capacity, but I'll probably get another Sig down the road for the collection.

It was very accurate, reliable, etc. Very good choice. Can't go wrong with a 220 or Sig, for that matter.
 
I have the P-220 stainless Elite. Mine is a current production gun with external extractor and SRT trigger. Great shooting gun but might be a bit large for some. I have some pretty big meat hooks so it fits me fine.
Here is a target with 8 rounds at 15 yards unsupported using 185 grain Golden sabers. This was the guns first time out of the box.
SigP-22015yardtarget.gif
P-220Elitepic1.gif
 
Can't go wrong..

...

I've had the pleasure of owning, since NIB, a P220R (full size) for the last year with some 1550 flawless rounds of whatever I load..

Accuracy, right there from the get-go..

Best: After I bought some wood grips for her, I found the grip a tad to wide and, being one of my working guns, I replaced them with some Hogue full-fingered grips, and it came home, so close to the feel of a 1911, with one big exception, no break in, and "easy" to disassemble, inspect, clean, and reassemble, just adds to the full enjoyable package..

You'll see..

Picture280.jpg


Ls

Ps.. mine also has the internal extractor and NO problems
 
Never had a problem with mine or any of my Sigs! My 220st is the most accurate out of them all. This is only a small sample.

DCAO0083.jpg
 
my department switched to the Sig P220 DA/SA about 3 years ago (from S/W 5906) and i can say that overall we have had only 1 officer whose P220 had a problem and that was about a year ago, and as I recall it had to do with a spring (but not sure). I do know that it was an easy fix. I also switched the stock grips to the new factory slim grips, which I really glad I did (better grip both reducing the width and more textured so it doesn't feel as "slippery"). Mine has been flawless including through movement drills, shooting weak handed, from behind barricades and laying prone and on my side (from under barricades). IMHO great weapons.
 
I just got a new Sig 220ST. It's the most accurate gun I've ever shot (even better than my 226ST .40). I waited for the external extractors. It seems (from sigforum.com) that the new ones with external extractors bring back the old 220 reliability. Here are some pics:

2878455356_89cd944099.jpg
2878454552_e6f413ca65.jpg
 
If you aren't anti-polymer you might consider the HK45, USP 45 and the FNP45 as well. All are offered in models that can be cocked and locked. The HK45 can be found for $850, the USP 45 for $750 and the FNP45 for $550. The USP holds 12 rounds, the HK45 10 and the FNP 14. If it matters to you the HK's use polygonal rifling so they aren't lead friendly but the FNP uses standard grooves.
 
The 220 is at the top of the heap for DA .45s. The only problem I've had with the two I own is a broken trigger return spring.
 
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I love mine. It's an older internal extractor version, and I haven't had any complaints about it yet. The mags needed new springs. After that got fixed, no problems at all.
 
I've got 6 P220s (I like Sigs :D ) - three old W.German stamped slide, and three newer milled slide with the internal extractors.

IMG_3553.gif

I've never had a problem with any of them, old or new ones.

The P220 Carry DAK with the Crimson Trace grips is my HD gun. I've added a Surefire X300. This gun has well over 1000 rounds of different ammo through it, both FMJ range ammo and a bunch of Federal Hydra-shok and Speer Gold Dot premium carry ammo without one single problem straight out of the box.

The problems with the internal extractors that you've read about are real, but I believe the percentage of affected guns is low. Sig went to an external extractor design on the new P220s to rectify the situation.

While I don't own a P220 SAO (yet), I have shot one and I can tell you it is a very nice shooting .45

I'm almost certain one will be P220 #7 ;)
 
P220 is a great gun. My P220ST is a little heavy for carry but did I mention its a great gun.
 
Wasnt a big fan although I had no problems with the one I had (220 Combat).


I liked my USP and the Springfield Loaded 1911 better.
 
Have a new P220 Combat TB. It's by no means a carry gun, but It's digested the 1,000+ rounds I've put through it in the month I've owned it with zero failures. I like how easy the 220's are to take apart. Swing the lever and you're ready to oil it up.

Accuracy was excellent, right out of the box. I was shooting 1.5" groups at 25 feet my last time out. The factory night sights are easy to see and work for me -- no need to replace them.

I liked that it had a real M1913 rail on it. The laser/light combo I added works really well. It's a great "late at night" gun now.

I also liked the threaded barrel. I just got my paperwork on my suppressor back from the sheriff this afternoon, actually, and I can't wait to send if off to the feds. I didn't like that I had to buy a thread protector, however. For what the gun cost, it should have come with one.
 
Dadgumfrig, BlindRef! WOOT! What a nice group! :what: I only have one P220, a compact. I'm as envious as a guy can be. My P220 makes me a much better shooter than I really am.
 
I am a soon to be Sig P220 Carry owner; having just bought one of the SAO contract over-runs with three mags and nite sights. :)
 

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