So I went to a rental range today to compare my P225 against a few pistols I've been eyeing. Really wanted to try the Ruger LC9s but it was gone for repair (something about a broken spring assembly). None of the other polymer compacts felt right in the hand, or had off putting features. The thumb safety and unease with cocked and locked disqualifies the 1911's for me. I ended up trying a 9mm P239 and a full size .45 P220, both had milled slides and 8 round mags.
The P239 weighs about 3/4 oz more than the P225 but is just a little smaller in all dimensions. Those differences make it feel much more compact but still durable, like you can run it hard without fear of breaking it. Recoil was about the same as the P225. I thought the grip would be too short, but it actually works very well and pointed naturally (I don't have big meaty hands). Mag was easy to load and ran 100%. I think this will make a great carry gun.
I have limited experience in .45's, but that P220 shoots like a dream, and the recoil really is more of a heavy push than a snap. Grip was a little longer front to back but no trouble reaching the trigger. Only issue I had was the last two rounds were extremely hard to load in the 8 round mag. Also ran 100%. This would make a great bedside gun for the house.
I think what is happening in the polymer framed guns is they make the sides of the grips very flat, so even though the front and back strap is rounded it still has a boxy feel, like a 1x2 with the edges rounded. Even the double stack Sigs have an overly thick squarish feel, like I can't get my fingers far enough around the gun. All three of these slim single stack Sigs have curved panels that make an oval shaped circumference around the grip, which to me feels more natural in the hand. I'm convinced that the weight, grip shape, and shootability of these metal framed Sigs outweigh their 8+1 capacity. I'm sold, now to start saving my pennies!
The P239 weighs about 3/4 oz more than the P225 but is just a little smaller in all dimensions. Those differences make it feel much more compact but still durable, like you can run it hard without fear of breaking it. Recoil was about the same as the P225. I thought the grip would be too short, but it actually works very well and pointed naturally (I don't have big meaty hands). Mag was easy to load and ran 100%. I think this will make a great carry gun.
I have limited experience in .45's, but that P220 shoots like a dream, and the recoil really is more of a heavy push than a snap. Grip was a little longer front to back but no trouble reaching the trigger. Only issue I had was the last two rounds were extremely hard to load in the 8 round mag. Also ran 100%. This would make a great bedside gun for the house.
I think what is happening in the polymer framed guns is they make the sides of the grips very flat, so even though the front and back strap is rounded it still has a boxy feel, like a 1x2 with the edges rounded. Even the double stack Sigs have an overly thick squarish feel, like I can't get my fingers far enough around the gun. All three of these slim single stack Sigs have curved panels that make an oval shaped circumference around the grip, which to me feels more natural in the hand. I'm convinced that the weight, grip shape, and shootability of these metal framed Sigs outweigh their 8+1 capacity. I'm sold, now to start saving my pennies!
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