My SIG-Sauer P226 AL SO (alot of pics)

[5-SHOTS]

Hello folks of THR, I would like to share some pics of my made in Germany P226 AL SO that I bought new in March 2014.
Incredible but true, I had never photographed this pistol of mine. The photos I posted here and there on THR were taken from the official Italian importer's website. As I went to the range yesterday afternoon to fire some shots, I finally decided to take some pictures.
Some news about this pistol: as I have already said, it is a model made in Germany; German codes AL and SO should refer to the Picatinny rail (AL) and to the stainless steel slide without the black Ilaflon finish (SO). The pistol is factory chambered for the 9x21 IMI cartridge because, before the start of 2022, the 9x19 Parabellum pistols were not legally available in Italy to civilians. Since 2014 I have shot exactly 2900 factory rounds with this pistol. The accuracy is excellent and the shot reactions very low. Ergonomics are perfect for me. The SA trigger is pretty good. The only thing I don't like is the trigger return spring which is very lazy, very weak. I don't know if it is a characteristic of the pistol or a problem with my specimen. I'm thinking of ordering a new factory one or better yet replacing it with an extra power one, if it exists: any suggestions? The only thing I did on this pistol is to replace the recoil spring with an original SIG-Sauer braided 16 lbs spring to replace the stock 14 lbs wire coil spring. Meanwhile, I now publish some photos. I will update the thread with more photos of the details and internal parts.
Hope you enjoy.

 

[5-SHOTS]

Some more pics:

 

[The Glockodile]

The pistol is factory chambered for the 9x21 IMI cartridge...

Nice.

What's this round like?

More oomph?

 

[5-SHOTS]

Nice.

What's this round like?

More oomph?

The case is 2mm longer than the 9x19 case but the Over All Lenght of the two cartridge is the same. Bullets are the same, powder quantity is the same, maximum pressure is the same, overall performance is the same. I don't have a 9x19 Parabellum cartridge to compare but in the 9x21 IMI the bullet looks (and is) deeper in the case. Someone says that with lighter bullets you can obtain more energy with the 9x21 IMI using all the OAL admitted for the caliber, thing you can't do with the 9x19 because then you don't have a firm crimp. Being 2mm longer you can instead have a firm crimp with the 9x21 IMI. But, since I don't reload, I can't confirm that. In addition, pressure must be taken into account. It is useless to be able to exploit all the OAL and thus the slightly greater internal volume of the 21mm case if the pressure can go beyond the safety limit.
These images explain it all:


More informations here: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/9×21mm

 

[5-SHOTS]

This is very clear:

 

[The Glockodile]

I get it.

It's like an AR Pistol Brace of sorts

Just noticed that you're based in Italy...

The above is likewise a sneegy underhanded maneuver on our part to circumvent government regulations on Short - Barreled Rifles here in the U.S.

 

[5-SHOTS]

I get it.

It's like an AR Pistol Brace of sorts

Just noticed that you're based in Italy...

The above is likewise a sneegy underhanded maneuver on our part to circumvent government regulations on Short - Barreled Rifles here in the U.S.

The 9x21 IMI is a cartridge created to circumvent the Italian ban on civilians buying 9x19 Parabellum pistols. For many years in Italy not only the 9x19 Parabellum was banned but also all the so-called military calibers used by Italian law enforcement and NATO. For these reasons, for a very long time, the .380ACP (aka 9 Corto) was prohibited because it was used by the Italian Army and various national police forces. Only at the end of the 1980s the .380ACP was liberalized. Due to the long ban on the .380ACP, the most popular cartridge for blowback pistols has been and still is the .32ACP (aka 7.65 Browning). 9x18 Ultra (aka 9 Police) caliber pistols have also rarely been seen.
Another caliber that was banned until the late nineties/early 2000s was the .45ACP, replaced in Italy by the less common .45HP, the same as the .45ACP but with a slightly shorter case.
Prior to the 9x21 IMI, the most popular high pressure cartridge in Italy was the .30 Luger (aka 7.65 Parabellum) and marginally also the 9x23 Steyr.
Finally, at the beginning of this year, the 9x19 Parabellum caliber pistols were liberalized in Italy (the cartridge had already been liberalized for some time now for revolvers and carabines). The funny thing about IMI 9x21 caliber pistols is that they can safely fire the 9x19 Parabellum for only an extractor stress and a slight loss of accuracy.

 

[The Glockodile]

The funny thing about IMI 9x21 caliber pistols is that they can safely fire the 9x19 Parabellum for only an extractor stress and a slight loss of accuracy.

Yes.

It'll be like the 10mm Glocks firing .40 S&W by letting the round headspace on the extractor.

Nice pistol - I assume you can buy a regular 9x19mm Parabellum drop - in barrel to fire regular Luger rounds without any worry?

 

[5-SHOTS]

Yes.

It'll be like the 10mm Glocks firing .40 S&W by letting the round headspace on the extractor.

Nice pistol - I assume you can buy a regular 9x19mm Parabellum drop - in barrel to fire regular Luger rounds without any worry?

The problem with a pistol like this P226 is that I don't think there are 9x19 drop-in barrels for it. Unfortunately each barrel is factory fitted and can be seen, for example, by the machining on the upper surface of the chamber. I could probably find a 9x19 drop-in barrel for my 9x21 Walther P99 AS or my 9x21 Pardini GT9-1 but ultimately I think it would be easier to buy a complete 9x19 pistol like a Glock. Surely those in Italy who have bought a 9x21 Glock, Beretta, CZ and Tanfoglio pistol over the years, will be able more easily than me to find a 9x19 drop-in barrel for it.

 

[The Glockodile]

SIG sells drop - in conversion and replacement barrels for the P226 here in the U.S.

Between the 9x21mm and tne 9x19mm barrels, I imagine the locking lugs are identical.

You can probably buy a regular 9x19mm P226 barrel for it.

Some hand - fitting may be required, usually very minor at the most, and I’ve done quite a few myself.

Not that hard at all, all that is required is some patience.

Different matter for the “match” models, which have much tighter handfitting, and some have different - sized "bull barrels" which will not fit in "regular" P226s.

Your P226 doesn’t look like it needs extensive fitting.

 

[5-SHOTS]

SIG sells drop - in conversion barrels for the P226 here in the U.S.

Between the 9x21mm and tne 9x19mm barrels, I imagine the locking lugs are identical.

You can probably buy a regular P226 barrel for it.

Some hand - fitting may be required, usually minor, and I’ve done a few myself.

Not that hard.

Different matter for the “match” models, which have much tighter handfitting...

Your SIG doesn’t look like it needs extensive fitting.

I found it. The price is very high but it might be worth it. It exists both for the P226 Mk.25 version and generally for the P226. But I believe my P226 is a Mk.25 generation, I should ask the importer for more detailed information.
https://www.bignami.it/it/per-pistola_D106_088_AT2/16442-sig-sauer-canna-9x19-p226-chrome

https://www.bignami.it/it/per-pistola_D106_088_AT2/16434-sig-sauer-canna-9x19-p226

I also found the 9x19 barrel for the Walther P99 which, while even more expensive, is definitely drop-in.
https://www.bignami.it/it/per-pistola_D106_088_AT2/17788-walther-canna-9-luger-p99

 

[Heir Kommt Die Sonne]

Unfortunately each barrel is factory fitted and can be seen, for example, by the machining on the upper surface of the chamber.

Benefit of which is your pistol will be more finely fitted than most of ours.
It's funny that in Italy you guys can't buy the military/police guns, but then those have been surplused and sent over here for us to enjoy.

The funny thing about IMI 9x21 caliber pistols is that they can safely fire the 9x19 Parabellum for only an extractor stress and a slight loss of accuracy.

I feel like maybe I should get a 9x21 and try this out for myself


beautiful pics.

 

[5-SHOTS]

Benefit of which is your pistol will be more finely fitted than most of ours.
It's funny that in Italy you guys can't buy the military/police guns, but then those have been surplused and sent over here for us to enjoy.

Luckly, starting from January 2022, even we Italian civilians can finally legally buy 9x19 pistols and barrels.

 

[Heir Kommt Die Sonne]

Luckly, starting from January 2022, even we Italian civilians can finally legally buy 9x19 pistols and barrels.

Yes, may i suggest the Berretta m1951. Also I like the later variant, the 92S which is just a heel release version of the 92SF.

The Carcano rifles suck, stay away from those

 

[5-SHOTS]

Yes, may i suggest the Berretta m1951. Also I like the later variant, the 92S which is just a heel release version of the 92SF.

The Carcano rifles suck, stay away from those

Yes, surplus 9x19 92S and 92SF are being sold here since January. Nice pistols. I like the 92 series.
The problem is that here in Italy we also have a legislative limitation on the number and type of pistols and revolvers we can own in total. The number is 3 pistols/revolvers classified as "defense" plus another 12 pistols/revolvers classified as "sport". I currently have all three places reserved for defense pistols/revolvers occupied (Walther P99 AS, SIG-Sauer P226 and Taurus G3). Unfortunately the Beretta 92S and 92SF is classified as a "defense" pistol so before buying it I would have to sell one of the three pistols I mentioned above.
Fortunately as far as barrels are concerned, there is no limitation in the number that you can possess (I could have an infinite number of them) but obviously you have to report the possession to the local police command, like all the other weapons you own. We also have a limitation on the number of ammunition that can be held in the home, no more than 200 in total. I assure you that the Italian gun laws are absolutely bizarre.

I'm not interested in rifles so I have no intention to buy a Carcano

 

[5-SHOTS]

Some more pics.
Conditions of the slide after 2900 rounds:

 

[Heir Kommt Die Sonne]

Some more pics.
Conditions of the slide after 2900 rounds:
View attachment 1105192 View attachment 1105193 View attachment 1105194 View attachment 1105195 View attachment 1105196 View attachment 1105197 View attachment 1105198 View attachment 1105199

Not bad, great condition for a slide after that many rounds. Like I said earlier, the pro of having your gun be individually fitted is that it's finer grade than most of our rack grade pistols.

 

[bannockburn]

5-SHOTS

Wow, that slide looks great after 2900 rounds! Clean as a whistle! Thanks for the "up close and personal" photos too!

 

[5-SHOTS]

Not bad, great condition for a slide after that many rounds. Like I said earlier, the pro of having your gun be individually fitted is that it's finer grade than most of our rack grade pistols.

5-SHOTS

Wow, that slide looks great after 2900 rounds! Clean as a whistle! Thanks for the "up close and personal" photos too!

Thank you guys. Yes, the slide is still in perfect conditions. You wouldn't say it fired 2900 rounds (all factory and all pretty spicy 123 and 124 gr. ammo). There are only minimal signs of friction and they are noticeable more than anything else because the finish of the slide is finely sandblasted and therefore where there is friction it shows signs of polishing. I must say that before every range trip I field strip the pistol to check that it is sufficiently lubricated (after months of inactivity some gun oils tend to evaporate or expand). The photos were taken after the last range trip and the internal parts have only been cleaned with cloths.

 

[The Glockodile]

I found it. The price is very high but it might be worth it. It exists both for the P226 Mk.25 version and generally for the P226. But I believe my P226 is a Mk.25 generation, I should ask the importer for more detailed information.

Most P226 pistols, the Mark 25 (supposedly the civilian version of the Navy S.E.A.L. P226) included, fall under the "regular" category - which means they share the same drop - in barrels (of the same caliber).

I suspect your pistol falls under the "regular" category as well, meaning it probably isn't hand - fitted, which is a good thing in this case. If your present barrel has the exact same locking surface geometry...



...as the drop - in replacement barrel (meaning you don't need to replace the locking block),...



...then it will probably drop in with minimal to no fitting at all.



The "special" P226 category includes the pistols (supposedly) hand - fitted in their Custom Shop in Germany (?) - this includes the X5 and X6 competition guns, and the various "match" models.



There's this YouTube Video from SIGTalk (I would recommend posting there - they really know the ins and outs of SIG pistols) which shows the difference in fit (note how "loose" and noisy the first SIG is).

I think they even have a guide on barrel fitting there.

 

[The Glockodile]

But I believe my P226 is a Mk.25 generation...

I think I understand what you meant by saying this...

The Mark 25 is still (and has always been) sold with the short extractor. Supposedly, "this is how the Navy S.E.A.L.s had theirs set up," in addition to the extra "marinizing" against corrosion.



Internal Extractor



External Long and Short Extractors

If you exchanged slides with internal / short / long (newest) extractors, they'll very likely work without any problems - they maintained the overall geometry and made no changes as far as the breech face and lockup were concerned.

 

[5-SHOTS]

According to what I once read, the upper surface of the chamber is factory fitted, which in fact shows machining marks and no blueing while the rest of the barrel is smooth and blued. Judging from the signs I see there have probably been some hand fitting interventions in the front part of the barrel and in the rear centering lug between the barrel and the breech face. In the locking lug under the chamber there are no signs of hand fitting. However I will post the photos in the next few days. Before getting to show the barrel I would like to continue the review by showing the internal conditions of the frame. What I can say is that the lockup between the barrel and the slide is rock solid: no play whatsoever. My P226 has no shake noise. The slide to frame fit is so tight that it tends to refuse the lubricant from the back of the frame.

 

[5-SHOTS]

The frame after 2900 rounds. The anodizing of the Ergal frame is really very resistant. The rails are always kept lubricated.

 

[5-SHOTS]

The barrel after 2900 rounds.
The two completely shiny marks above and below the muzzle were present from the first day I bought this pistol, new. They can be felt with the fingernail.


Note the upper surface of the chamber milled after blueing.


As already mentioned, the lockup of the muzzle and the chamber with the slide are solid as a rock.

 

[5-SHOTS]

Also note that in the upper front part of the chamber, the lockup zone with the slide has had a localized heat treatment to make the surface harder in an area subject to friction.