Help me with my Duty weapon selection, Sig 226 or XD40, Please Vote

Unless you spend an extra $150.00 and get Springfield's, 'custom combat trigger' I cannot understand how anyone can say that the XD has a better trigger than a Glock? That certainly hasn't been my experience.

As far as better grip angle or balance on an XD goes, well, maybe it's me; but, the XD is easily the most top heavy pistol I've ever used; and, my scores usually go all to Hell whenever I put down my low bore axis G-21, and try to do the same kind of fast and accurate shooting with an XD. My aim is always off and that trigger reset isn't bad - It's horrible!

'Rugged' has got me, kind 'a, puzzled too? I don't regard plastic slide rails as rugged; and, there are just so many moving parts on an XD. I want a pistol I'm able to easily keep in service; not one that forces me to marry the factory the moment I buy their product.

But, hey, if an XD is your pistol then it's your pistol. It's just not mine; and, I certainly wouldn't want to have to fight for my life while standing behind one, either!

Personally I would go with a glock .

...I am not interest in other alternatives so please do not suggest any other weapons. (No XDM, Glock, SW M&P etc).

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Stupid people :banghead: couldn't ever follow instructions probably.

I vote the XD, and here's why:

Pros-

1. Fits great in my hand, good overall balance,
2. I like the “blockiness “of the slide
3. Good grip angle and I like the relation of bore to the tang.

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Numbers 1 & 3 have everything to do with pointablity and thus accurate shootability. It would seem to me, as a non LEO but highly experienced uspsa shooter/competitor, that in a stressful situation you would run the risk of reverting to what is most natural...grip angle would be a major consideration in this. In competition shooting I only shoot guns with the same grip angle: STI Edge for Limited, 1911 single stack, and XD or M&P for Production class. The striker action trigger of the XD is also, IMHO, an excellent trigger that gets nicer with use or can be worked on and made unbelievably nice...I don't know what the professional limitations are for your firearm so this may not be an option. The Sig DAK has a 6.5lb trigger...not good for a competitor but doesn't strike me as good for anyone and it has a long trigger pull. In its favor it has double/multiple strike capability but it seems to me that if you pull the trigger and nothing happens you better not waste time and just rack the slide and get either a functioning round, or just a round, in there asap. As far as reliability I know there are a bunch of guys in uspsa shooting them and shooting them well...that would never happen if there were reliability issues. I shot an XD in Production class and have never had a failure...this with a stock gun with a trigger job, no after market parts. I've never seen an XD malfunction. The blocky slide...that weight on top helps bring the muzzle down for follow up shots. All in all, it seems to me the XD would be an excellent choice.

A SigSauer P22x is definitely a better duty gun!
I'd buy the XD as a range/fun gun, but I'll never trust my life on it.

I would go with the SIG just because of the DAK trigger system

I own a Sig P229R in 9mm that is unbelievably smooth and easy to shoot well, and has been 100% so far thru about 900rds. I would trust my life to it.

That said, I also have a SA XD45 Tactical that has been everything I've ever wanted in a large bore, high cap, poly frame handgun. I have well over 2500rds thru it with out any malfunction whatsoever, it shoots to point of aim, and has a trigger that just keeps getting better as I shoot it.

I would have no qualms carrying either on duty, buy which ever one fits your hands best and shoot the snot out of it.

I voted for the Sig just because I currently am going a big rubbery one over the P229 Elite. If you make your decision based on that, may whatever god you worship take mercy on your soul.

You already own a 226 in 9mm

phantomak47 ,

I would say go with the SIG. You already own a SIG 226 in 9mm as you stated, so you will be familiar for you.

Dave

Has anyone shot a .40 226 and a .40 XD, does the sig handle the recoil better? I would gladly do this but in the last few weeks, I have had a tree land on my house and my wisdom teeth cut out.

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From my perspective, the P226 in .40 recoils more comfortably. Most striker fired pistols have a lower bore axis which reduces muzzle flip, but recoil does not just disappear. Instead, that recoil is directed into the joints of your arm and shoulder. Try firing a Steyr M357 for a long time and you'll feel it. This is why higher recoiling calibers like the .357sig and .40S&W feel much better to the shooter when fired from a pistol with a little more weight and a slightly higher bore axis like classic Sigs. From the perspective of officer safety, I would not even consider the XD for a duty pistol due to the limitations of its grip safety.

Once again, if you want a Sig in .40S&W I STRONGLY recommend you get it in the P229 and not the P226. It is a much better designed .40S&W pistol and will serve you better in law enforcement. I'm only guessing why you would want the P226 over the P229:
1) Better accuracy: This is not true. Only the last 1" or so of barrel determines accuracy. This is why some shooters can shoot playing cards at 100yrds with a snub nose .38spl. Accuracy is more of a determination of ammunition, and shooter control. When qualifications and training comes around I always beat out my fellow officers with their full sized P220s and P226s. Heck, I even do better than most of them with my little P239 9mm as I put a lot into a stable shooting grip and trigger control.
2) Longer sight radius: This does give you a little more precision at longer ranges, but it also takes "slightly" more time to aquire your front sight. It's a two-edged sword.
3) More powerful: Once again, not true. Most 9mm and .40S&W loads are optimized around the 4" barrel, so when it comes to terminal effects there is no measurable difference when the bullet hits a substance and what kind of damage it does. An extra 20-40fps in velocity above the 4" barrel standard isn't going to give you any measurable improvements.

Drawing a compact pistol(P229) from your holster is faster, and easier if you are in a confined space than a full sized pistol(P226). What little advantages you might gain in a full sized pistol are negated by the speed and handling characteristics of a compact pistol. Most encounters are up close and personal and the P229 is going to give you more advantages in every likely scenario aspect. There's are reason why the P229 .40 is more widely used by major LE agencies than the P226 in any caliber.

Sig all the way...

The one you shoot best. Nothing else matters.

Same as what most people are going to tell you. Pick the one you shoot best. Like the XD, do not like the DAK trigger.