Advice on SIG P220 Elite Stainless.

[9mmepiphany]

How is a P220 st?

I prefer the ST to the Elite.

I find it cleaner looking and don't think mine give up anything to the more expensive model...but I am a little bias

 

[boricua9mm]

I know about 5 years ago, the former CEO of Wilson took over at Sig. Engineering changes were made to designs of tried and true models. Additionally, some parts were outsourced to be manufacturered in other countries. As such, this well known instructor was seeing issues with newer Sigs that just didn't happen with older Sigs. A number of senior quality and engineering long time employees at Sig left because of this. The instructor who told me this was not one to disparage equipment folks used.

Sigs are my favorite pistols and I have probably close to 20,000 rounds through mine. Mine are about. 8 or 9 years old and out of 20,000 rounds I can only think of 1 or 2 malfunctions that weren't user induced. If I were on the market for a new sig, I would look to get one that was made shortly after they put a light rail on it.

What you are describing actually occurred 11 years ago, hence my reference to being partial to pre-2004 SIGs. It was Ron Cohen and he came from Kimber.

The appearance of the rail on standard SIGs ushered in the dark years for SIGArms, who would then change their name to SIG Sauer, which further muddied the waters. At that same time, SIG decided that all models were going to be placed at the same price point, which of course, was a boost in the price tags. That standard P220/226/228/229 went from a $600 gun to an $800 gun overnight. Guns like the P239, which had been cheaper, went from a $450 gun to a $800 gun in an instant. None of this had anything to do with inflation. In retrospect, it was a tactic to first raise the bar on pricing, then strategically lower the production costs by cutting corners. The end result? Higher profits, period.

At that time, I was working with a local FFL and we had lots of problematic SIGArms guns coming back. The problems were varied, with everything from rough milled frame rails to guns coming from the factory with the incorrect trigger installed.

Some people think it is as simple as German = Good and US = Bad. It has been my experience that the US made guns prior to 2004 were every bit as good as their German brethren, with the appearance of the rail acting as a hallmark of the cheapening which was to come.

For me, it has been a long road to re-instill trust in the brand, and I spent thousands giving them a chance before giving up on them. Now that I gave them another chance, I dare say that they are doing a really good job with these Elites here in 2015.

 

[GhostyDan]

Now that I gave them another chance, I dare say that they are doing a really good job with these Elites here in 2015

That's good to hear.

 

[Rinspeed]

None of this had anything to do with inflation. In retrospect, it was a tactic to first raise the bar on pricing, then strategically lower the production costs by cutting corners. The end result? Higher profits, period.

You make some good points but to be fair Sig Sauer spent millions of dollars on state of the art CNC machining centers. So it's not like they didn't have a lot of ground to make up. Sure they made some very bad decisions on outsourcing of parts but you have to put it into perspective. As I said before Sig still makes a quality product they just let more dogs get out the door.

On a much smaller scale take a look at Wilson Combat. They made the decision to make a huge investment into tooling and their prices went up just as rapidly. My $2400 Sig will embarrass the hell of any $3K Wilson, in regards to accuracy, reliability, etc., any day of week.

 

[GhostyDan]

Anything else?

 

[AKElroy]

I am interested in getting a SIG P220 elite stainless and would like some advice and suggestions. Is there quality control issues with this pistol? Where would be the best place to buy one? How much should I pay? What is your opinion on this pistol? If there is anything interesting/helpful you can add about the SIG P220 Elite stainless, please do.
Thanks

Buy this. I prefer the dark to the stainless. Besides, the slide is still stainless, the frame is still aluminum.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=785835&p=9987859#post9987859