Cousin Mike
Member
Recently I had been seriously considering selling my 1911 and/or Beretta for a new Sig. It seems like ever since I got my P220 nothing else quite makes the cut. I'm also going through a fascination with the .357 Sig round, having read so much about it in the last few months. A short while ago I saw a nice group of (very) gently used Sigs with the CTC Laser grips for an incredible price at my local gun store, and I wanted a 226 in .357. So yesterday, having finally saved up the money, I march into said gun store, ready to claim my much coveted prize, only to find that they're completely sold out of the CTC models. I look for a long time, trying to find something I like, and almost bought the Equinox - but they didn't have it in .357. The salesman shows me this SP2340 creature with its plastic frame and funky little 1911-style takedown lever/slide stop, and I think, "Interesting."
The more I hold it, the more I like it. It's got alternate grips, both of which I like. It's compact, but feels nice in my hands. It's a .357 It's polymer framed, with a metal slide, and has a nice weight to it. We do the paperwork, I buy some ammo, and take it home. All mine, NIB with night sights, three 12rd. magazines and an extra grip for $549. The takedown is similar to a 1911, but the pin on the other side of the lever is tiny. The slide has to be held at an exact point on the frame to be released - 1/8 of an inch to the right or left, and it wont budge. Although it was difficult to master at first, once I figured it out, field stripping is almost as fast and effortless as with the P-series models. I oil her up, load the magazines, and go to sleep.
This morning I wake up early, ready for my local range to open. My girlfriend is as excited as I am. As fascinated as I am with the .357 Sig round, I almost forgot I've never fired one before today! I figure all the hype about "massive recoil" and "excessive flash" and "deafening sound" is all gunwriter crap: myth at best. We arrive at the range, order ammo and targets, and find our lane. We load up magazines, and select a distance of 25' to start. I load the pistol, listening to the 9mm's and .45's going off around me, mixed with the occasional .22, and wonder what this thing will sound like. I rack my slide, take aim, and
BOOOM!!!!
The sound is tremendous... The recoil is incredible - this thing kicks with authority! The flash is almost rifle-like, flaring out in almost every direction. The other lanes go quiet. I fire again. I can't even tell whether or not I'm hitting the target. I'm sweating already. No one else is shooting anymore. I'm getting dirty looks from almost all of the other people there. I keep firing until my slide locks, and pull my target back. Not a single shot in the 10-ring of a man sized target! This is unacceptable. I give the gun to my girlfriend, who has become quite a good shot in these past few months. She puts all 12 right where she wants them, although the recoil and flash shook her up quite a bit. I think the sights are off - she's left handed, and she's doing well. I'm right handed, and all my shots are about 2-3 inches high and to the left. Something is wrong.
This goes on for 150 rounds or so. I'm getting frustrated. Theres an older guy next to me punching holes in a 3" target at 50' with a 1911, judging by the sound I'm guessing he's using a .22 conversion kit. I ask him for his opinion of my new firearm and it's accuracy. He compliments my taste in weapons, and proceeds to punch one ragged 5-shot hole in one of his targets at about 40' or so. We talk, and I realize that the problem is ME. I'm anticipating the recoil, I'm flinching, my hand hurts, the noise itself is enough to fatigue a person, and I'm frustrated. All of the bad shooting habits. I take a break. I concentrate.
He gives me one of his targets. I set it out to 25', take careful aim, and fire off my magazine, and pulled back the target posted below. Not that great, but not that bad. Afterwards, the guy I talked to let me shoot his 1911 - a nice little Kimber racegun with a 3.5lb. trigger. To my amazement, that quiet little "pop" sound next to me was a full size 1911 in .45ACP! The recoil was so smooth it was rediculous... almost like a .22, or so it seemed after firing the Sig. The accuracy was amazing. The sound was so much more tolerable. I'm DEFINITELY selling my 1911 now - and buying a REAL 1911! I'm thinking a Kimber or Les Baer, unless of course I can find a true Colt 1911 But that's another thread.
All and all, this little Sig Pro is amazing. I LOVE IT! Sure the kick and the noise is massive, and the muzzle flash is truly something spcial, I love this gun! And the .357Sig is one round I can honestly say I underestimated. I don't know what I expected, but it wasn't what I got.This gun will definitely be a challenge to master, but I am looking forward to it. As for the new Sig Pro, it definitely gets my recommendation to anyone who is considering it. It's a little something new with the same reliablity and performance us Sig owners/lovers have come to take completely for granted. The price is unbeatable.
What a day. A new toy I love, a new shooting buddy, and a complete renewal of my love for the 1911.
The more I hold it, the more I like it. It's got alternate grips, both of which I like. It's compact, but feels nice in my hands. It's a .357 It's polymer framed, with a metal slide, and has a nice weight to it. We do the paperwork, I buy some ammo, and take it home. All mine, NIB with night sights, three 12rd. magazines and an extra grip for $549. The takedown is similar to a 1911, but the pin on the other side of the lever is tiny. The slide has to be held at an exact point on the frame to be released - 1/8 of an inch to the right or left, and it wont budge. Although it was difficult to master at first, once I figured it out, field stripping is almost as fast and effortless as with the P-series models. I oil her up, load the magazines, and go to sleep.
This morning I wake up early, ready for my local range to open. My girlfriend is as excited as I am. As fascinated as I am with the .357 Sig round, I almost forgot I've never fired one before today! I figure all the hype about "massive recoil" and "excessive flash" and "deafening sound" is all gunwriter crap: myth at best. We arrive at the range, order ammo and targets, and find our lane. We load up magazines, and select a distance of 25' to start. I load the pistol, listening to the 9mm's and .45's going off around me, mixed with the occasional .22, and wonder what this thing will sound like. I rack my slide, take aim, and
BOOOM!!!!
The sound is tremendous... The recoil is incredible - this thing kicks with authority! The flash is almost rifle-like, flaring out in almost every direction. The other lanes go quiet. I fire again. I can't even tell whether or not I'm hitting the target. I'm sweating already. No one else is shooting anymore. I'm getting dirty looks from almost all of the other people there. I keep firing until my slide locks, and pull my target back. Not a single shot in the 10-ring of a man sized target! This is unacceptable. I give the gun to my girlfriend, who has become quite a good shot in these past few months. She puts all 12 right where she wants them, although the recoil and flash shook her up quite a bit. I think the sights are off - she's left handed, and she's doing well. I'm right handed, and all my shots are about 2-3 inches high and to the left. Something is wrong.
This goes on for 150 rounds or so. I'm getting frustrated. Theres an older guy next to me punching holes in a 3" target at 50' with a 1911, judging by the sound I'm guessing he's using a .22 conversion kit. I ask him for his opinion of my new firearm and it's accuracy. He compliments my taste in weapons, and proceeds to punch one ragged 5-shot hole in one of his targets at about 40' or so. We talk, and I realize that the problem is ME. I'm anticipating the recoil, I'm flinching, my hand hurts, the noise itself is enough to fatigue a person, and I'm frustrated. All of the bad shooting habits. I take a break. I concentrate.
He gives me one of his targets. I set it out to 25', take careful aim, and fire off my magazine, and pulled back the target posted below. Not that great, but not that bad. Afterwards, the guy I talked to let me shoot his 1911 - a nice little Kimber racegun with a 3.5lb. trigger. To my amazement, that quiet little "pop" sound next to me was a full size 1911 in .45ACP! The recoil was so smooth it was rediculous... almost like a .22, or so it seemed after firing the Sig. The accuracy was amazing. The sound was so much more tolerable. I'm DEFINITELY selling my 1911 now - and buying a REAL 1911! I'm thinking a Kimber or Les Baer, unless of course I can find a true Colt 1911 But that's another thread.
All and all, this little Sig Pro is amazing. I LOVE IT! Sure the kick and the noise is massive, and the muzzle flash is truly something spcial, I love this gun! And the .357Sig is one round I can honestly say I underestimated. I don't know what I expected, but it wasn't what I got.This gun will definitely be a challenge to master, but I am looking forward to it. As for the new Sig Pro, it definitely gets my recommendation to anyone who is considering it. It's a little something new with the same reliablity and performance us Sig owners/lovers have come to take completely for granted. The price is unbeatable.
What a day. A new toy I love, a new shooting buddy, and a complete renewal of my love for the 1911.