P220 Sig question re: accuracy of the .45ACP round

[socalbeachbum]

I have had the chance to 'test' numerous pistols at my local indoor range which has a pretty nice range of handguns to rent. The P220 I used was very accurate for me, at 25 yards it was more accurate than my 92A1 and P226 and I'm wondering why.

Some years ago, I used to read that gun writers would always refer to the 'inherent accuracy of 45 acp' but I haven't seen anyone say that in recent years. Is there something to that old nugget or is the P220 more accurate for other reasons? or was this just a fluke, just more accurate in my hands? I've almost always used 9mm and friends who had Gold Cups always beat me easily in any informal competition.

 

[Robbins290]

I have the 220 compact and recently sold my full size. they are both track drivers.

 

[Corpral_Agarn]

It is more likely that you shot the pistol itself better.

There is a lot that goes into accuracy and it could be the trigger, you trigger finger placement, the grip, etc.

The single stack grip on the 220 alone could help you shoot it better.

At 25yrds the rounds are plenty accurate.

 

[ATLDave]

I firmly believe the "inherently accurate" claims around pistol cartridges were always reflective of differences around either commonly-accepted manufacturing variance in gun dimensions (such as the widely-varying throat diameters of .45 LC revolvers, or customary twist rates of other cartridges) or of headspacing methods (.38 super headspacing on the rim/extractor wasn't quite as good as other cartridges headspacing on the mouth). There is no fundamental reason that a gun manufactured to equally-tight tolerances and held equally steady during firing and fed ammo of equal consistency should shoot more or less accurately than the same gun in a different caliber.

I think it gets a little more complicated in bottlenecked rifle rounds, but for pistols? Nah.

 

[socalbeachbum]

so at 25 yards from a fixed test barrel you would not see much difference .45acp vs say 9mm para or .40 s&w? I don't really hear anyone saying a P226 is a tack driver, yet I hear it about the P220

 

[Corpral_Agarn]

so at 25 yards from a fixed test barrel you would not see much difference .45acp vs say 9mm para or .40 s&w? I don't really hear anyone saying a P226 is a tack driver, yet I hear it about the P220

You would see no difference at 25yds from a test barrel.

P226 is also a tack driver... In the right hands.

My P226 has been tested accurate (minute of frying pan) in my hands at 240yrds.

The guns will do their jobs, if we can do ours.

 

[ATLDave]

I would not expect to see any difference other than the bullet diameter.

Two cartridges that are often said to be "inherently accurate" are .38 special and 45ACP. One is short and fat, the other fairly long and thin. One headspaces on the case mouth, one on the rim (though only on a rigid cylinder, not a flexible extractor, like the old 38 supers that did have accuracy limitations). One uses a large primer, one a small. They're pretty different cartridges. The geometry of a pistol cartridge doesn't seem to have much magic.

As to whether a randomly-chosen P220 is likely to be more accurate than a randomly-chosen P226, I have no opinion at all.

 

[Panzerschwein]

I have had the chance to 'test' numerous pistols at my local indoor range which has a pretty nice range of handguns to rent. The P220 I used was very accurate for me, at 25 yards it was more accurate than my 92A1 and P226 and I'm wondering why.

Some years ago, I used to read that gun writers would always refer to the 'inherent accuracy of 45 acp' but I haven't seen anyone say that in recent years. Is there something to that old nugget or is the P220 more accurate for other reasons? or was this just a fluke, just more accurate in my hands? I've almost always used 9mm and friends who had Gold Cups always beat me easily in any informal competition.

I've had the EXACT same thing happen to me, too.

I found I shoot my Sig P220 police trade in better than my Beretta 92A1. My Sig will just bounce the little rubber target ball from Wal-Mart clear as far as I can see it. It really is an extremely accurate pistol. This is despite some snap, it does have a bit of a sharp recoil impulse to me but is overall enjoyable and reliable to own and shoot:

 

[JR24]

Sig 220s are tack drivers.

Personally I shoot .45 more accurately at 25 yards over 9mm, not sure why.

 

[Steve C]

From a handgun sub-sonic cartridges like the .22 LR standard velocity, .38 special, .45 acp etc. are generally more accurate as their bullets are not subject to the turbulence caused by crossing the sound barrier.

 

[4v50 Gary]

In a recent class I outshoot everyone with my Sig P220. Factory barrel from 1987.

 

[bluecollar]

This is what I did with this one at 35 yards off hand dao. And it was mostly the gun. I'm not this good.

 

[Water-Man]

My 220 was very accurate.

I'm more accurate with 45s than I am with 9mm.

 

[JeeperCreeper]

45 holes are bigger than 9mm holes... My 45 groups always look so much better since they rip up the center of a target faster

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Sig 220s are tack drivers.

Personally I shoot .45 more accurately at 25 yards over 9mm, not sure why.

Both of my German P220s- a '98 .45 and an '81 9mm are more accurate than I am. The 9 has a more radical palmswell curve which takes some grip adjustment when switching between the two, but I wouldn't say either is more inherently accurate. The .45 does have a little less creep and a crisper break.
My '96 P226 (also German) is perhaps a little less accurate, but it could be that its a little wide for my hand- can't ever seem to get it settled in. Sorry, the cam on my phone sucks, Top to bottom are .45 P220, 9mm P220 and P226.

 

[mongoslow]

I read an article somewhere years ago on the P220 and it's mechanical accuracy, there were several guns tested together and out of that test the P220 won as the most accurate production 45..... memory is zero on where I read it though.

 

[1-12 INF (M)]

+1 on the P-220. After working up many handloads for accuracy, it's more accurate than any 1911 I have, but none of those are super duper match guns. For a new shooter that wants a .45, I usually recommend a 220.

 

[Kookla]

Massaad Ayoob thought regarded the p220 as a very accurate pistol in his Sig book.

 

[doubleh]

I shoot two guns in 45 and two in 9mm. All are 1911s. I've done a lot of load development for each caliber and I always get better groups with 45 than 9mm. Don't have any clue as to why but I'll keep experimenting. It's fun. I don't have any experience with Sig but I doubt that one would out shoot my Gold Cup.

 

[MoreIsLess]

Sig 220s are tack drivers.

Personally I shoot .45 more accurately at 25 yards over 9mm, not sure why.

I also shoot 45acp more accurately than 9mm. I had a Sig 226 9mm and sold it to get a Sig 320 FS 45acp and I shoot the 320 much better than I ever did the 226

 

[vba]

The only gun (9mm or .45 ACP) that is more accurate than my Sig P220 (German) is my Les Baer PII. I own HK's, Sigs, Colt 1911's and Glocks in both calibers.

 

[Panzerschwein]

I'm getting a holster and mag pouch for my 220 soon. Am also going to send it to SIG for the SSP refurb program as its an ex-police law enforcement trade in pistol but my god is it ever a DANDY.

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

I witnessed a "shooter" shoot his 220 into a ragged hole. Distance was 15 yds. as I recall.

 

[KeyboardCommando]

Single shot accuracy is moderate, follow up is low. Too much recoil.

 

[bannockburn]

Had a Browning BDA .45 (a.k.a. as the SIG P220), that had no trouble keeping up with a Colt Gold Cup using the same match ammo.