Sig vs. Others

[rideandcarry]

Awhile back I watched a show that highlighted the operations of the Secret Service. In it they mentioned that the issue pistol was a Sig P229. Just now I was reading the current American Rifleman and Sig had an ad in there saying the P229 was the pistol of choice for law enforcement, or something to that effect.

My question is this, is Sig designed and made to higher standards and tolerances? Is Sig regarded by many in the industry as one of the better handgun manufacturers, say vs. the M&P line, the XD line, or the Glock line of handguns used for similar type of service?

rnc

 

[HunterBear71]

The Secret Service is apparently better funded than some agencies.

 

[Tennessee Ned]

I bought a 229 40 about a year ago and I'm impressed with it.

 

[hso]

Some will say that they are better made and others will say they aren't. The criteria for "better" is different for different people.

I have a Argentine FM Hi Power that you can see the machine marks on parts of the frame that don't contact the slide. The gun is accurate and eats a variety of defensive ammunition without any problems. Since it is accurate and goes BANG every time with a variety of ammunition is a Sig "better made" than it? Same for a Glock or M&P or CZ. I know my HP can't have as good a trigger as others (just part of the design), but it's more than sufficient for a defensive handgun. Would it be better if it had a better trigger? Sure, but is it part of my standard for what it needs? If a better made handgun only has to work reliably with a variety of defensive ammo and do so accurately, then the Sig isn't better made than those others.

If you include fit and finish you can find plenty of people to argue that the Sig is better on those criteria.

 

[apollo18]

I've always liked the quality and feel of the Sig's I've had the opportunity to handle, but I can't stand the ergonomics of them. They feel smooth, they feel like they are quality, but when it comes to shooting them, for some reason I hunch up, roll my shoulders forward, cock my head back and suffer from a strange grip.

 

[MemphisJim1]

I have six Sigs (P220, P225/P6, P228, P229 (.40), two Mosquitos) and a Glock 19. I prefer the Sigs for a variety of reasons, ergonomics top among them. I also like they're DA/SA, have decockers and work every time. Are they better made than other brands? I'll leave that assessment to others. All I know is I love mine and plan to stick with the brand.

 

[Ala Dan]

I carried an old West German SIG-SAUER [not too be confused with
SIGARMS, the American company] .45 caliber P220A for many year's
as a LEO. It has been (and still is) 100% reliable, and would be my
weapon of choice for a home defense scenario. Also, I have a West
German SIG-SAUER P228 [probably the best balanced handgun of
all the semi-auto's] 9m/m. The P228 was first introduced in 1989;
mine is of 1990 manufactuer, as per the date code. And, I too like
the DA first shot option~!

 

[Supertac45]

It's one great pistol that will not let you down.

 

[gmh1013]

I drink Sig Kool aide and IMHO they are worth the price. In the past Ive shot Glocks and and to me they are way too light and i cant hit the side of a barn with them...the glock .40 being the worst.
The only other auto Ive owned that has never failed was a Beretta 92fs...which i should have never sold.
The only Sig I have not been to impressed with was the small 380 auto .... like a Browning BDA better.
If you want a perfect balanced auto that will shoot every kind of ammo you can buy and
is perfect right out of the box then a SIG is for you but its going to cost.

 

[ttheel]

SIG has earned their reputation through years of use within the US government and many, many law enforcement agencies all accross America. I purchased a P228 back in the 90's and I will not part with it. It is just one dadgum workhorse of a gun. You cant go wrong with a SIG and some folks will go on and on about how they are a couple of hundred dollars more than some other brand but it is kind of funny that folks will moan and groan about paying a bit more for a fine firearm but keep shelling hundreds out on ammo. If you shoot much the cost of a gun in relation to the cost of ammo is insignificant. There are lots of quality firearms out there and one of the best in my honest opinion is SIG.

 

[ravenor]

SIGs are fine guns. DO a thread search on this site or over that the 1911forum and you'll find plenty to SIg kool-aid drinkers and haters. IMHO I think the older Sigs are better pistols than the more recent productions. They seem to have gone for variety over quality but with that said SIG is still a fine choice for CCW or personal defense.

 

[RETG]

SIGs are great weapons. Secret Service is not the only Federal agency that uses them. However, I do like my Berettas and my Stoeger too, and believe they are as good, but not better.

 

[Jed Carter]

The SIG is worth the price difference over most other manufacturers. The only problem with SIGs is that most of them are butt ugly, but form follows function. I own 5, whoops 6 now, just picked up the P238. I started my SIG collection in 2000 and have yet to have a single malfunction out of any of their pistols. I cannot say that about my CZ, Glock, S&W or Springfield, though there has only been a few out of the whole bunch. If you do get a SIG I would get one with the night sights, again worth the extra cost. But this just my experience, some would say opinion.

 

[Wolvee]

I don't think it gets better than sig.

 

[RobMoore]

rideandcarry, I wouldn't consider the decision of the Secret Service to carry the P229 as a positive remark of the pistol when compared to others.

It merely means that the couple of people responsible for writing the requirements for their pistol, the one that goes to manufacturers saying "show us what you have" for bidding on the contract, wrote it to favor the SIG. They will put certain things in there like "must have external hammer" or "cannot require trigger press for dissassembly" specifically to eliminate pistols they don't want in the competition....pistols that are just as good as the one they actually want but can't outright buy without "fair bidding".

Its not like to took the top 10 combat pistols and gave them all a fair shot, with the SIG coming out on top.

 

[ttheel]

SIG has a Long history in law enforcement in this country, not just within the U.S. Government. Most LEO's(and many that I know personally) that have carried one at some point say nothing but good things about them. That is actually one of the big reasons I purchased my P228 years ago.

 

[speaksoftly]

The first time I spend a range trip shooting Sigs was the turning point at which I started selling off all other pistols and buying as many Sigs as I could get my hands on. They're fantastic, accurate, and dang near indestructible firearms that have earned their reputation one bulls-eye at a time. My answer to the question? Go with Sig and 99.9% of the time you won't regret it.

As for the other side of the opinion. In my experience, most of the anti-Sig movement is made up of people who seem to be very hateful towards the brand. You'll hear the "Sig's not that it used to be" line and all kinds of blah blah blah. Every company has lemons but Sig lemons seem to get put on the forefront and paraded for some reason. I say leave the haters to their hating and I'll keep shooting my Sigs (box after box after box of non failured ammo).

 

[RobMoore]

I'm glad your handful of SIGs are working for you, speaksoftly.

I say they aren't what they used to be because I see two dozen new ones every few weeks, and I've seen the trend of "rarely has an issue" turn into "not surprised when they do have issues".

 

[speaksoftly]

I'm glad your handful of SIGs are working for you, speaksoftly.

I say they aren't what they used to be because I see two dozen new ones every few weeks, and I've seen the trend of "rarely has an issue" turn into "not surprised when they do have issues".

That's good but don't think I was addressing you personally. When I responded I hadn't even read your particular post. True they may not "be what they used to be" but very little is. The Sigs of today may pale in comparison to the Sigs of yesteryear and that's all well and good. However, I DO know that the Sigs I've shot and now own are FAR straighter shooting, more durable, and more comfortable firearms than the Berettas, M&P's, 1911's, Glocks, and many others that I've owned or shot. To me, one can talk all he wants about which he prefers and how great or bad a company is but the proof is in the pudding. I love Sigs because I've shot hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of rounds through them as well as the competition and preference gained through experienced is not one to be shaken lightly. Again, wasn't referring to your post but I have very good reasons to be shooting what I shoot as I'm sure you have just as many rounds through your firearm of preference.