Sig P220: The Gun I Love To Hate

[Confederate]

I have a Sig P220 .45 ACP which belonged to my father. It appears to have never been fired. Although it's a highly rated pistol, I just don't like it. I'm not going to sell it, but will keep it because I have a lot of .45 ammo. To me it feels klunky, and when I drop the hammer, the gun pinches my thumb. The double action trigger is el sucko and I don't know if the gun will handle +P+ ammo or not. I much prefer my S&W 645 by...well, a lot!

Does anyone else have a P220? If so, what do you think?

All the reviews in magazines and by shooters seem to give it a two thumbs up. Yeeesh!

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[ShadowForce]

I don't own a P220 but rented one at the range a couple of weeks ago and loved it. I had previously shot a 1911 and enjoyed the SIG just as much if not more. I was pretty accurate with it considering my experience.

It's certainly a pistol on my "want" list in the future.

 

[wgsigs]

To each their own. Any gun is not going to appeal to everyone, and the P220 is that gun for you. Why I've heard that there are actually people who do not like Glocks.

Unlike you I actively sought out my P220. My DA pull is very good, and the SA is great. The gun handles nicely to me, and is a very accurate shooter. But then I'm probably prejudiced as you can probably tell from my screen name.

However, you are the first person I have heard of who experienced pinching using the decocker ...you are using the decocker to lower the hammer, aren't you?

I'm not sure if the P220 will handle +P+, but then I have never had a desire or seen a need to shoot it. I've never handled a 645 so I can't compare it, but the P220 is a little wider than the 1911, but not "klunky" by any means to me. YMMV, obviously.

 

[Telekinesis]

I don't have a 220 but I do have a 228 and I will say that there is a bit of a break in process in regards to the trigger and decocker. After a few hundred rounds, the trigger really slicked up and is probably my favorite trigger on a DA/SA gun. The decocker was the same story. At first, the lever would be stiff and want to snap back up after fully decocking, but after a while, it started to get smoother and became lighter to the point that I could ride the lever on the way back up and let the hammer go down slowly. I'd recommend giving it a bit of love at the range and seeing if it gets better.

For what its worth, my friends with 220s all seem to like them and love the accuracy.

 

[BADUNAME37]

I prefer .224, myself.

 

[Inebriated]

In my top 5 handguns of all time. It's next on my short list. DA is good enough, SA is good, and it's supremely accurate and reliable. And I'm used to Glock 21's and such, so I like the larger frame.

 

[sigarms228]

I love my P220 but i would never use +P+ in it.

Also it is not recommended to use +P in earlier P220s that have the more pointed hammer indicating that they did not have the frame upgrade done some time in the early nineties. Maybe someone else can give the serial number that the change was done but I don't recall it right now.

 

[GlockFan]

I have also limited experience with one. I shot one years back when a local store had a demo day with gun reps...and shot it better than my Glock. This was the first time ever holding a Sig mind you...I have not forgot that range trip.

 

[Doubting Thomas]

My agency allowed them some years back. During that time I took the SIG armorer's course--still have the course materials, notes, etc. A few years after I retired I sprung for one. Had SIG work on the DA pull plus did a little work on it myself, to include making a "short trigger" before SIG did. I never could shoot it well with the DA pull. I thought it might work out better as a DAO so swapped in the parts for it; but that didn't help either. I also have a smallish hand and the grip was always just a bit large for me. The SIG is also a bear to detail strip. In a lot of ways the SIG DA/SA pistols were designed to make police agencies think they had a "safe" pistol for the troops and CYA for administrators.

I have had better luck with two other .45s--a P97 Ruger that shot well for me but was unreliable; and a Kahr CW 45 that has an excellent DAO trigger and shoots extremely well. However I have been shooting the 1911 for 50 (!) years now and it is the answer to any need I have for a .45 ACP. For those that like the SIGs and shoot them well--and a very good friend of mine is one of those--they're just fine.

 

[shootniron]

I agree with you OP, I have no use for one either...it just ain't for me. To each, his own...

 

[Bobson]

In my top 5 handguns of all time. It's next on my short list. DA is good enough, SA is good, and it's supremely accurate and reliable. And I'm used to Glock 21's and such, so I like the larger frame.

I don't understand this. I find the Glock 21 (even the 21SF) to be uncomfortably large, but the P220 is extremely comfortable to me. Maybe it's the ergonomics that make all the difference? I'd think so, but I find the Glock 19/23 to be the most comfortable handgun I've handled, without exception. Weird.

Anyway, I love the P220. When I'm in the market for a handgun in .45ACP, I'm pretty sure the SIG P220 will be the gun I buy.

 

[M1key]

Dumped the 1911 platform for the much more comfortable, DA Sig P220. Did not like cocked and locked...

Oh, and I also like the Glock 21 and Glock 30 (not for comfort, but serviceability).

M

 

[shiftyer1]

I had a p220 for several years, I can't remember shooting it more than a couple times but I never liked it. I can't say it malfuntioned, the triggerpull double or sa was fine. But to me it just felt large and clunky, didn't suit me. Loaned it out several times and never heard a complaint.

I ended up swapping it for a para 1911 w/200 rounds thru it. Turns out the guy just didn't like it....didn't feel right.

Handle one before u buy one it's a good gun if you like the feel of it.

 

[Gladius]

The P220 is my favorite non-1911 pattern .45 auto. Very accurate, totally reliable. Fits my hand fine. DA trigger is not bad (for a DA trigger). It's my personal first choice in a full-size defensive handgun.

 

[Inebriated]

I don't understand this. I find the Glock 21 (even the 21SF) to be uncomfortably large, but the P220 is extremely comfortable to me. Maybe it's the ergonomics that make all the difference? I'd think so, but I find the Glock 19/23 to be the most comfortable handgun I've handled, without exception. Weird.

Anyway, I love the P220. When I'm in the market for a handgun in .45ACP, I'm pretty sure the SIG P220 will be the gun I buy.

The P220 always felt like a fat gun to me (with hogue grips, which I like), and the G21 is just kinda blocky. Two types of big, I guess.

 

[leadcounsel]

I used to hate Sigs. My tastes have changed. Love them now.

 

[el Godfather]

I have a P220 West German 1977 production. Its block and heavy. I have replace the grip on it with rosewoods, since the plastic ones broke.

I can say its the best thing there is, but it definately has collection value since there is no West Germany, and its build tough to last. I am not sure why your's is making noises when it never been used. I have used mine quite a bit and so far it has held up fine.

I am not very accurate with but it is for sure reliable piece of metal. I have 8 magazines for it, and I don't believe I will getting rid of this piece. I may retire it from active use to be just part of collection, but that's about it.

 

[ku4hx]

Had one with "had" being the operative word. I can't remember why I parted with it now, it's been over thirty years, but I do remember it was well made, had no problems and records show it digested everything I could load for it.

I like a gun that fills my hand, or hands as the case may be, and the P220 surely did that. Guns are like cars either new or new-to-you, you have to use them a bit before they even begin to feel natural. My medical doctor shooting buddy calls that "preferential muscle memory". I think he made that up but it's always been true for me. Well, not for his Smith Airweight 38 Special but that's a whole different story.

 

[JDGray]

I recently purchased a P220, and it took a good 200rds for accuracy to come around. Was either me getting used to the trigger or something else, but I can usually shoot any platform pretty well. The gun came with factory slim grips, and dont see the clunky part at all....Now my old 226 was clunky I have owned 3 other Sigs, and traded or sold them, this one I'm keeping!

 

[CDR_Glock]

It's a service pistol that is accurate and reliable. Its advantage is for the heavier trigger pull to prevent a negligent discharge. To me, it's as accurate/reliable as my Glock 30, 36. it Is not as accurate as my 1911s. However, it's a well made pistol. It doesn't compare to many high capacity pistols these days because it's only 8+1 and thicker/heavier than average for concealment.


iPad/Tapatalk

 

[mes228]

Sig

The P220, in my opinion, is the best Sig ever built. I like them and have had a few over the years. Reliable, accurate and very durable.

 

[zoom6zoom]

I carry one when I'm not carrying my 229. Love the DA/SA system. Sounds like yours just needs some lubrication and exercise. And I'm not sure where you're putting your thumb.

 

[Manson]

Confederate. I own several P220's. And I love them. I also own Glocks and H&K's but prefer the Sig's. The SAO's are my favorite. Well built, reliable, and yes chunky. As with all things the very feature that one person dislikes may be what appeals to others.

 

[WaywardSon]

I bought one of the police trade-ins a few months ago...gun and 3 mags for $450. I had never owned or shot a Sig before, but figured it had to be a lot of gun for the money. And it is. Feels good in my hand and has been reliable & accurate with anything I've run through it. Great gun IMO....

 

[MCMXI]

Does anyone else have a P220? If so, what do you think?

SIGs and 1911s for me!!

I shot my first P220 in early '93 and bought it on the spot. I traded in a Ruger P90 which was a POS both in terms of ergonomics and reliability. To this day no pistol feels as good in the hand as a P220 with Hogue grips. I had five P220s up until recently but gave one to the ex-wife and sold a railed model to a coworker since he really wanted it after he shot it. I'm now down to three models including my original all-German with the spur style hammer, a Combat and a Carry none of which are for sale. I'm considering buying a P220 Carry SAS Gen 2 and another P239 SAS Gen 2 chambered for the .40 S&W.

I admit that I have a thing for SIGs and have tried hard to like other makes/models e.g. GLOCK, Springfield, S&W etc but have never liked any of them enough to actually buy something other than a SIG product. I have a thing for 1911s too, but oddly enough I have no interest in a SIG 1911.

As for the reliability and accuracy of SIGs and the P220 in particular ... what can I say other than stellar!! The DA/SA trigger has NEVER been an issue for me. I've had runs in the high 2s using my Combat in steel matches so I don't consider the trigger to be an issue, in fact, I consider it to be the best defensive pistol trigger available.