Sig P 220 or P226 - Pros and cons

[stogiegila]

I'm thinking of purchasing a Sig and am not sure whether to go for the 220 .45 acp or the 226 in 9mm.

Any input on the pros and cons of each would be greatly appreciated. Does one have a better reliability record over the other?

Thanks

 

[Hoppy590]

the Sig 220 has a fantastic record and are held in high regard by Sig enthusiasts ( especially the early German made ones)

the 226 is also a very good gun with the benefit of cheap 9mm ammo.

really it comes down to budget, use and which caliber you want.

Sig offers alot of options for thier guns.

 

[expvideo]

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I'm thinking of purchasing a Sig and am not sure whether to go for the 220 .45 acp or the 226 in 9mm.

Any input on the pros and cons of each would be greatly appreciated. Does one have a better reliability record over the other?

Thanks

I've owned both. They both are extremely reliable. The 9mm is very accurate and handles very well. The .45 is (or at least used to be) advertised as the most accurate .45 pistol on the market. It handles beautifully, with no really significant increase in recoil over the 9mm.

The benefits of the P220 are a slimmer grip and more powerful round.

The benefits of the P226 are a higher capacity, cheaper round, and slight increase in accuracy.

So it is all preference. I personally chose the P226 over the P220, because of a violent incident I was involved in where the P226 would have been a better weapon, but I was stuck with the P220.

For MOST self defense situations, the P220 is probably better, but I've seen a situation personally where the P226 would have been preferable. And no, I don't want to talk about it right now.

 

[PO2Hammer]

I'm on my second P226, a railed Navy version (how could I pass it up, right?). very happy with it. Shoots really well for me out to 50 yards. In the four or five years I've owned it, it's been perfect in function.

My first was a non railed, milled slide (German frame). real slick gun. Must have seen a million rounds from the previous owner and it was smoooth. Let it go, regretted it later.

I like the capacity, accuracy and low recoil of the 9mm. I think shot placement is more important than caliber, and I can hit well with the P226. Capacity? Who knows if it will be important, but if you need it and don't have it...


Now I just need that slick new .22lr conversion.

 

[mm1ut1]

I had a Sig 220 stainless. Very accurate, heavy, eight round magazine. Didn't like my handloads, though, so I sold it.

 

[chris in va]

It handles beautifully, with no really significant increase in recoil over the 9mm.

I wouldn't go that far. The 45 pushes quite a bit more than the 9.

I like my older Sig 220 just for the sake it works every time and is a 45.

Otherwise, I don't like the ergos and the grip is on the thin side for my larger hands.

but I've seen a situation personally where the P226 would have been preferable

Sorry to hear that event happened to you. I couldn't imagine.

 

[franconialocal]

I carry a P-220 every day for work and I swear by it. I also own the P-220 .22 L/R conversion and I love it.

 

[9mmepiphany]

i have 2 Sig 226s, 1 stamped slide and 1 ST (stainless slide and frame) and 3 Sig 220s, 1 stamped slide and 2 STs. the stamped slide guns are better for carry (lighter weight), while the stainless ones are really more for competition.

i've carried both guns as duty weapons and have complete faith in either's reliability.

the 226 fills my hand better, while the 220 points better (more sense of orientation, du to thinner grip)

the 220 conceals better on the belt as the but is thinner and the grip angle feels different.

the 226 is easier for mag changes as it's mag tapers at the top and the magwell is larger, there were some mag issues with early 220 7 and 8 rounds mags.

both guns are extremely accurate, with shot transitions a bit faster with the 226 due to less muzzle flip

 

[stogiegila]

Thanks for the info guys. We carry in the hope that we will never need to draw our weapons. EXP, I'm sorry to hear that you were in something that sounds extremely bad, unpleasant and nasty. Thankfully you survived. I hope I never need to use my gun, but do want to know that it will work when called upon. My local guy has a 226 CPO for a decent price, so I will look this weekend. I'd like to compare both to see. I think I'm leaning toward the 220 and trading in my G30 to reduce the cost. My carry gun is a G26 and I truly love it. I try not to keep duplicate caliber guns as I find it a bit redundant, but I may just have to enlarge my inventory and calm the wife down later. Thanks again.