SIG P225 / P6: the weirdest-looking, prettiest SIG pistol IMO

1KPerDay

1KPerDay

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I used to mail requests to gun companies and distributors for free catalogs back in the 80s for me to study and drool over. One of these was a SIG catalog (it was yellow IIRC) and it had a P225 on the cover. I was fascinated by the looks of this strange, european pistol. It looked like nothing I'd ever seen before. I was mostly used to revolvers, lever guns, and maybe a 1911 or two, but the black and purposeful looks of the P225, and most particularly, the shape of the large, squared-off trigger guard and thick, stamped trigger looked so purposeful and industrial and un-USA like that I was instantly in love.

It took me about 35 years to finally get one, and TBH it was a little bit a question of "never meet your heroes"... I couldn't shoot it well despite it being in nearly new condition and by then I had about 20,000 rounds on my P226 and P220, so I was familiar with the overall platform. It was so much less accurate than my P226 that I ordered another locking block to see if it made a difference. Overall, I'm not sure if it was that or if I just got used to it, or lowered my expectations a little, but I can shoot it ok now. The sights are worn-out/dim Siglite 3-dot night sights, which I don't prefer (I like the original bar-dot/Von Stavenhagen sights, which I have on my P226 and P220), so that may have something to do with it also. Regardless, It's a joy ergonomically and aesthetically and I've grown to love it as much as I thought I would 35 years ago.

I think as far as "if I had to choose one" I'd keep my German P226, which is my favorite pistol overall, but the P225 is a classic and I can't see myself ever parting with it.

I shot a video for any interested, or feel free to ignore

 
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1KPerDay said:
I used to mail requests to gun companies and distributors for free catalogs back in the 80s for me to study and drool over. One of these was a SIG catalog (it was yellow IIRC) and it had a P225 on the cover. I was fascinated by the looks of this strange, european pistol. It looked like nothing I'd ever seen before. I was mostly used to revolvers, lever guns, and maybe a 1911 or two, but the black and purposeful looks of the P225, and most particularly, the shape of the large, squared-off trigger guard and thick, stamped trigger looked so purposeful and industrial and un-USA like that I was instantly in love.

It took me about 35 years to finally get one, and TBH it was a little bit a question of "never meet your heroes"... I couldn't shoot it well despite it being in nearly new condition and by then I had about 20,000 rounds on my P226 and P220, so I was familiar with the overall platform. It was so much less accurate than my P226 that I ordered another locking block to see if it made a difference. Overall, I'm not sure if it was that or if I just got used to it, or lowered my expectations a little, but I can shoot it ok now. The sights are worn-out/dim Siglite 3-dot night sights, which I don't prefer (I like the original bar-dot/Von Stavenhagen sights, which I have on my P226 and P220), so that may have something to do with it also. Regardless, It's a joy ergonomically and aesthetically and I've grown to love it as much as I thought I would 35 years ago.

I think as far as "if I had to choose one" I'd keep my German P226, which is my favorite pistol overall, but the P225 is a classic and I can't see myself ever parting with it.

I shot a video for any interested, or feel free to ignore

Click to expand...

Im drooling over that stack of magazines......:D
 
I had a West German P225 for a while, one of the few guns I should have never sold.
The LGS had boxes of police trade in 225's, 228's and 220's for $500 so I picked up a 220 and the 225, still have the 220.

During the milsurp days they were practically giving P6's away, should have bought a pallet of them.
 
powermad said:
I had a West German P225 for a while, one of the few guns I should have never sold.
The LGS had boxes of police trade in 225's, 228's and 220's for $500 so I picked up a 220 and the 225, still have the 220.

During the milsurp days they were practically giving P6's away, should have bought a pallet of them.
Click to expand...
Feel your pain there.
 
The P6 was an interesting pistol as it was adopted my more German LE agencies than either the P5 or P7...and yet it wasn't the easiest pistol to shoot well. I got two when they came into the States as LE trade-ins...I sold one and still have the other.

Interestingly the 225 was very easy to shoot, at least partly due to a grip the same size as the 228/229 (the panels are thicker on the single stack). Our department was issuing the 226 and 229 to most officers and the 225 for detectives and officers with smaller hands. We also used the 225 as the issue gun in our academy. I got chance to shoot several while helping new recruits qualify. The 225 had a much lighter and smoother trigger than the P6 and every one exhibited outstanding accuracy. The geometry of the action of the 225 is closer to the 220 than to the 226 and will feel a bit different.

I regret not picking up a 225 when I had the chance...since I already had the P6...but I mostly shot and carried my 226 and 220 at that time. My favorite SIG P-Classic will always be the 228
 
Never did get a P225/P6 as I didn't really need or want a 9mm. with a single stack mag design. Had an early production P226 and ended up trading it for something else that caught my eye. I was impressed with the overall quality of the P226 and liked the ergos on it but couldn't reach the trigger consistently in DA mode. Used my brother's P228 which I really liked a lot (the gun was reliable and fed everything I could fit into the mag, with nary a problem). Eventually he wanted his gun back and I went looking for it's replacement. Found a LNIB P229 at a great price (thanks to an old high school classmate who worked behind the counter at the LGS).
5e8wqLX.jpg
 
It's interesting. The original P-225/P6 at first glance is nothing special. It may take years for this pistol to grow on you. But then one day, you pull it out of the safe and realize it's simply a cool pistol.

Frankly, my more modern production P-series pistols (M11, 225A1. 226 Legions, 229 Legion and my two-tone 220, 229 and 226, all non-railed) have much better triggers and sights than my West German SIGs.

But doggone if I don't enjoy the old West German pistols more than the modern ones, even if the M11 and 229 Legion are regular carry pistols.

Good luck finding a clean (West German) 225 these days. And if you find one, be prepared to pay stupid money for a pistol that only a decade ago was going for $300-400 at your local gun shows.
NIGHTLORD40K said:
Im drooling over that stack of magazines......
Click to expand...
No kidding. They're like gold these days. I have only four and consider myself blessed.
 
Reading the OP post certainly resonated with me. I’ve owned both a Sig P225 and, much later, a P6.

Only owned both of them for a few months. Euro-iconic and great in concept, I just couldn’t find a niche for them in reality. It doesn’t do anything that a number of other common pistols don’t do better. Not light and compact enough for my kind of concealed carry. Not ergonomic and hi-cap enough for the nightstand. Not a .357 magnum for the woods. Not historic enough to be interesting in that respect.

If I found another at a decent price I’d buy it in a heartbeat.
 
My commercial “Made in W. Germany” “P 225”(stamped on the slide) is one of only two centerfire handguns I still own.

Its stock DA trigger is lighter than the stock DA trigger on the Police version-the P6. This ‘true’ 225 would be difficult to replace- and has the Green factory box, target plus ‘Anleitung ‘ instruction booklet.

My other centerfire handguns also were among the very highest quality.

They were sold only to help finance my Fever for Battle Rifles (.308).
 
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commygun said:
Not historic enough to be interesting in that respect.
Click to expand...
It's place in history is based on the German LE change from the 9 x 17mm to the 9 x 19mm cartridge following the Munich Massacre during the 1972 Olympics. The collection would be the P5 (Walther), P6 (SIG), and P7 (H&K)

The 225 was the third SIG introduced to the American market, following the P210 and the P220
 
The P6 was developed from the P75/P220.
Since the Pflichtenheft had a dimensional box, they had to shorten the barrel/slide, set the grip at a steeper angle, and round the butt.
The bore is .02mm smaller to build pressure and squirt the bullet out at the specified velocity/energy from the shorter barrel.

The surplus P6s have pretty tough DA trigger pulls; I figure partly to whack military primers, partly due to that grip angle change; even a P225 commercial has a heavier DA than a typical P220. There are a couple of gunsmiths who will bring the P6 more into line with other Sigs.
 
Jim Watson said:
The P6 was developed from the P75/P220.
Since the Pflichtenheft had a dimensional box, they had to shorten the barrel/slide, set the grip at a steeper angle, and round the butt.
The bore is .02mm smaller to build pressure and squirt the bullet out at the specified velocity/energy from the shorter barrel.

The surplus P6s have pretty tough DA trigger pulls; I figure partly to whack military primers, partly due to that grip angle change; even a P225 commercial has a heavier DA than a typical P220. There are a couple of gunsmiths who will bring the P6 more into line with other Sigs.
Click to expand...
Interesting! Never heard that about the tight bore before. Would be cool to see some comparative chrono results vs a P220. :)

Maybe because it was one of my first SIGs, but I never really noticed the trigger being objectionable. Never had an issue with reset either. Guess I just figured they were all like that.....:confused:;)
 
NIGHTLORD40K said:
Interesting! Never heard that about the tight bore before. Would be cool to see some comparative chrono results vs a P220. :)

Maybe because it was one of my first SIGs, but I never really noticed the trigger being objectionable. Never had an issue with reset either. Guess I just figured they were all like that.....:confused:;)
Click to expand...

Same. Recently got the 225 back but I’ve been dry firing HK DA triggers, so any Sig trigger feels feather light to me.
 
Being a lefty, I really like my duty-worn "Montage Suisse" P225 with the heel-release. Despite having an "early" barrel, I have not succeeded in getting it to jam on anything yet- including Hornady Custom 147 gr XTPs.

Based on the above experience, there is a minty late 80's P225 in the safe with six new mags waiting on my 17 year old. Perhaps finishing his Eagle Scout or HS honors graduation would be a good opportunity for a nice gift.
 
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