Carry options for Sig P226

[Atticus the Finch]

I have seen posts that have come close to but haven't really answered my question.

I will be getting my brand new P226 in a few days and I have one question. I know the common way to carry a sig is condition 2. However, is it safe to carry it condition 1 (cocked with a round in the chamber)?

I'm sure most of you will say no and to just get used to the DA/SA trigger pulls. I'm fine with training and getting used to this, but leaving the gun in SA is faster and more accurate and I was just curious to find out.

Thanks a lot in advance and I look forward to actively participating on this forum.

 

[earlthegoat2]

I think carrying a pistol in condition 1 without a manual safety is very unsafe indeed.

Condition 1 is a term primarily coined for single action semi automatic pistols with manual safeties. Though you could loosely say carrying a DA/SA pistol cocked on a live chamber is condition one I think the proper meaning of the term condition 1 is that the hammer is cocked on a loaded chamber and the safety is engaged. What you are describing is sometimes called condition zero. As in there is zero barriers between the trigger and a few pounds of pressure to set it off.

I hope this answers your question in plain black and white.

 

[Atticus the Finch]

You're right it is condition 0, sorry for showing my lack of knowledge there.

I should have been more detailed or clear in what I meant. Sigs have an automatic firing pin lock which means the gun will only go off if the trigger is pulled. You answered my question about whether or not carrying condition 0 is unsafe. But what I am more interested in knowing is whether or not I would be safe from an accidental discharge if the hammer was inadvertently bumped or hit while it is cocked. It's not supposed to I know, but do you (or any body) have any experience with something like that? Or is it only considered unsafe because of lack of trigger control and other human error?

 

[harmon rabb]

226 is designed to be carried in condition 2. Carry a gun how it's designed to be carried, and if you don't like that, buy a gun designed to be carried how you prefer. Just my $.02.

 

[9mmepiphany]

First I must concur that you should carry a gun the way it was designed to be carried or choose a different gun to carry in your preferred manner...they do make a SAO 226...however I must take exception to the often perpetuated myth that a first shot is faster and more accurate when using a SA rather than DA trigger stroke.

From the holster, there is no difference between the speed of a SA or DA first shot as either trigger can be prepped before than hands reach extension, so that the first round is fired as the sights come onto target. there is no difference, except in the training involved to manage the trigger...they proved this back in the 70s

 

[Atticus the Finch]

I'm not a fan of external safeties even though they're all I've used so far. As I said in my first post, I have no problem with the DA/SA and having to train to get used to it. And I should have more accurately stated that firing in SA is faster and more accurate for me. I just wanted some input and opinions from people that have more experience than I do. Thank you. I'll just have to train with the DA and become a dry firing freak for a while until I get used to it.

 

[HOOfan_1]

First I must concur that you should carry a gun the way it was designed to be carried or choose a different gun to carry in your preferred manner...they do make a SAO 226...however I must take exception to the often perpetuated myth that a first shot is faster and more accurate when using a SA rather than DA trigger stroke.

From the holster, there is no difference between the speed of a SA or DA first shot as either trigger can be prepped before than hands reach extension, so that the first round is fired as the sights come onto target. there is no difference, except in the training involved to manage the trigger...they proved this back in the 70s

can't you just as quickly manually cock the hammer as you are bringing the gun on target?

 

[xanderzuk]

Wholly agree with what others have said. SEALs carry the 226 also, and they carry it condition 2. Secondly, you have picked what is in my opinion the nicest DA trigger pull gun of any DA/SA gun that I have tried. Training is something you should be doing lots of anyway.

Not really sure what it is that you're looking for other than this answer. You know the way it's supposed to be, do it.

 

[9mmepiphany]

can't you just as quickly manually cock the hammer as you are bringing the gun on target?

Not without compromising your grip on the gun, but why...it isn't faster or more accurate to get off the first shot. My first shot breaks as I extend my arms out toward the target...usually just as they reach the end of their travel, sometimes a hair before

 

[earlthegoat2]

I cannot imagine that manually cocking the hammer is faster than a DA pull on the trigger.

 

[RatDrall]

I was carrying a Sig for a while and went through the same process you are, disliking the DA first shot.

I sold the Sig and got a Glock for a more consistent trigger pull, in a smaller gun with higher capacity.

 

[earlthegoat2]

There is always the DAK option on Sigs for one kind of trigger pull all the time.

 

[Atticus the Finch]

Thanks for all the comments. This is exactly what I expected. I'm not a fan of external safeties because it's just one extra thing that I would have to worry about in a high stress situation. No matter how much you train, you still might forgot to disengage the safety so, naturally, I went to either a Glock or a SIG. I have handled 1911's since I was 12 and holding the Glock just seemed weird, I didn't like the grip angle at all. The SIG was just beautiful. Ergos were great and it seemed to just fit perfectly for me. I knew That I would have to get used to the trigger pull in DA and as I said in two posts earlier, I don't mind having to train for it. I just wanted some opinions on condition 0. Thanks for all of the responses.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

However, is it safe to carry it condition 1 (cocked with a round in the chamber)?

I suppose you could carry it in Condition Zero, but it is not recommended.