Pistol disassembly/reassembly has never been easier! Clean and maintain your SIG/Sauer P225. This Automatic Pistols Assembly/Disassembly download makes it simple, thanks to author J.B.
Wood’s expertise, step-by-step instructions and crisp photography. Detailed photos show field-stripping and disassembly steps in proper order clearly illustrating the parts involved and the simple tools used. Easy-to-understand text describes each step of disassembly and reassembly for the SIG/Sauer P225. Ideal for all skill levels—novice to expert Note: These instructions also apply to the Browning BDA 45, SIG/Sauer P220, SIG/Sauer P225, SIG/Sauer P226, SIG/Sauer P228.
The P226 is one of the most respected and recognized handguns in the world. Developed in 1984 for the US Army’s XM9 service pistol trials, it was one of only two guns to survive the rigorous torture test that was set forth in search of a replacement for the aging 1911 pattern pistols. Though it was ultimately not chosen, many special operations units, including the US Navy SEALS, saw the benefits of the P226 and adopted it. With the huge popularity of the P226, it’s no question why Sig chose it to be one of the first models to be adapted for the airgun market. Tested at the Sig Academy, the Sig Sauer P226 air pistol is a fantastic reproduction with realistic weight and controls, giving you the ability to practice your shooting skills without having to make a trip to the range. Sig Sauer Inc is currently one of the largest firearms entities in the world and also the fastest growing. At the 2015 Shot Show they announced they would be entering into the air gun world, and just 9 months later they are delivering with an impressive array of airguns developed and designed to have the same weight and feel as their popular firearms.
Keep in mind these aren't licensed reproductions of the Sig Sauer pistols (as has been previously offered by other suppliers) but rather Sig in-house manufactured guns. Meaning Sig's history of high quality control should be in place with the new airgun line.
One fault we did find with the trigger was that once the pistol has been fired and the slide has cycled putting the gun into single action firing mode the trigger still had to be released all the way out and then pulled all the way back in order to have the rotary magazine advance to the next pellet. This may be somewhat troublesome for shooters who are accustomed to releasing the trigger only to the reset point as doing so will not advance the magazine and you will find you are just shooting CO2 at that point. Even still, with some practice the P226 is capable of some fast shooting. Performance The reality is if you're buying a CO2 pistol, you shouldn't be that concerned with comparing velocities. The limited power of a CO2 cartridge in a pistol doesn't lend itself to humane hunting so why even figure ft-lb energy? But manufacturers can't resist claiming unrealistic velocities and exaggerating what a gun can do.
In this case, Sig Sauer claims the P226 can reach velocities of 510 fps. To make a long story short, the closest we could come to that claim was 458 fps using their extremely light Sig Sauer Crux Ballistic pellets (5.56 grains). So about 10% lower than claimed, and granted Airgun Depot is housed in the Rockies which lowers that a tad. Comparing the same pellets in the similarly constructed Beretta PX4 Storm, on average the Sig P226 was around 5% faster in velocities. That's not the point though, the point is that the informed airgun buyer sees FPS claims for what it is; pointless hyperbole, and Sig would have been better served to list a more realistic feet per second reading somewhere on the back of the packaging instead of highlighting exaggerated and pointless claims on the front.
Because as mentioned, we're buying a CO2 pistol, airgunners know what it is and what it isn't. Perhaps these efforts are simply aimed at the teenager staring at the gun at their local big box store.
Sigh, oh well. Accessories The first accessory you'll want to pick up for your Sig P226 air gun is extra magazines. Expect to get about 80 effective shots per CO2 cartridge before the gun won't cycle. That's exactly 5 clips worth. Only makes sense to use to buy 4 extra clips so you can reload at the same time you replace the CO2 cannister. Sig Sauer has released a great selection of. There are, of course, the classics like shooting galleries, spinners and auto-reset knockdown targets.
But our favorite is the, the idea is that as you shoot the targets, the target folds back, changing the balance and causing the target to spin in unpredictable ways. Randomness = fun in our books! The Picatinny rail under the barrel allows the obvious additions of lasers and lights. But many have also noticed that the P226 replicated by Sig Sauer was the MK-25 design with the threaded barrel.
The mind races wondering what a Sig P226 would look like utilizing these threads and picatinny rail properly? You might want to check back here at Airgun Depot in October to see what exclusive item develops (hint hint). Training Pistol Sig’s goal was to create an alternative for training. The P226 pellet pistol mimics the firearm to an incredibly high degree. The weight is the same, the blowback helps simulate the recoil of the firearm, the full metal housing is the same, the controls are almost the same (only the slide lock is missing). Compare the guns side by side below and notice the attention to detail put into the P226 air gun. Truly everyone from law enforcement, to military to gun owners can use the P226 air pistol to improve their accuracy, competency and increased trigger time.
I bought the Sig P226 FDE Pellet Pistol on 6/29/18. I'm disappointed in its performance. I haven't got to shoot it very much. But I've ONLY shot around 2 clips and and the first CO2 cart has already ran out and now the clip won't come out. Also the gun misfires quite a bit. It doesn't advance to the next pellet half the time.
I'm going to get ahold of Airgun Depot customer service on Monday (7/23/18). I haven't decided if I want a refund or replacement. I might try to get a replacement but if the second one performs the same I'll want a refund. Great looking gun and has a great feel with the all metal construction and blowback slide. However, the entire barrel and slide assembly are loose out of the box and seem to float independently from the central gun frame. There is virtually no way this gun can be accurate due to this design. I've been doing sessions at 25 feet with it and had very scattered results with it.
It's all over the place. Only on the most rare occasion does it drop one on a bull's eye and that's by sheer luck only. It's marginally accurate at 10 feet from target with groups inside 2'.
The CO2 loading mechanism works really well. It's by far the easiest and fastest design yet. Grip feels great with no wiggling or rattling parts. The compartment and release for the CO2 at the back of the grip is well placed and the whole thing locks in to place really well when closed. The revolving cartridge system doesn't hold BB's very well. Some of them will fall out of the barrel when you're not looking and you will dry fire if you didn't see it happen.
Pellets seem to stay put but different pellets also seem to sit differently in the individual revolving chambers and had me wondering what effect they would have on fps due to this. There's also no way this gun puts anything down range at the advertised 510 fps. I tried Raptor alloys and they couldn't even come close to my Crosman SR. 357 with an 6' barrel and the thing is amazingly accurate and moves pellets down range at well beyond its rated 475 fps after a trigger back pressure mod. There's no way this Sig Sauer even comes close to the velocity that the Crosman delivers. It's a decent first blowback pistol for someone who wants a gun that looks like the real thing.
Just be aware that there are ones out there that look as cool and deliver a real punch at the target. This one looks great out of the box but falls short on it's main purpose. I wish I'd have saved my money for another break barrel or under-lever. I'd have been better off.
Well it feels like Sig Sauer did put some effort into this release. The gun is not licensed but actually produced by them. The unit itself is made in Japan which brings to mind precision manufacturing rather than cut-rate Chinese production. But my feeling, having put about 500 rounds through the gun now, is that it is mediocre. First of all I'll say: If you are buying the gun for the most realistic reproduction, you should instead look for the X-Five P226 that is semi field-strippable and actually has an ejection port and a realistic magazine.
If you are looking for an accurate, fun plinking gun that is still a reproduction I would suggest any small Umarex gun over this. The gun eats a lot of gas. I would say three magazine is all it can really do at full power. Most of that gas is used to blowback the heavy slide so actual projectile velocity is kind of low and drops of quickly through the fourth magazine. Loading the rotary magazines is annoying.
The spring magazine of most other CO2 BB guns can be loaded ten times faster and have less issues indexing rounds. Separating the CO2 from the magazine is ostensibly to save time swapping magazines in and out, but when the mags take so much longer to load I'm not sure what the benifit is. The gun shoots low, which is worse than shooting high because you can't see the target if you have to compensate high and move the gun on top of it. It loooks like it is picky with ammo so I am going to have to do a bit of trial and error finding rounds that shoot straight or high. OK so why does this version of the P226 exist then? Well I'll tell you, it has the exact weight and weight distribution of the real gun. It does not have an ejection port but it has a full weight slide, it even has a 'loose barrel' that 'tightens up' as a shot is fired like the real gun.
It has a rifled barrel that keep pellets from straying right or left. The whole gun feels serious and deliberate. It exists to train yourself for the real gun.
It does not really feel like a 'fun toy'.for example an umarex replica of a small caliber pistol (like a Beretta M 84) works so well because the gun it replicates is already small and ideal for gas power. The slides is light weight and the real life caliber is closer to the.177 pellet.
The P226 on other hand is full size, almost too big to accurately be powered by a single CO2 powerlet. And is just not as fast to cycle rounds through or reload. But man it feels like the real gun.
If you want this gun just to get used to pulling out a P226 and lining up a shot and adjusting for recoil safely in your home, this is it. That's why even despite its flaws I like this gun. If you are not going to get a real P226 I would say get a different version or a different gun. Bought this for my wife for personal protection. She walks home at night from work and I have our two kids at home, our town isn't the best as far as crime.
I got this for her to carry home to ward off any would be attackers. One evening she had to pull it, she never had to fire. She flicked the safety, pulled the slide and the guy took off.
Probably a good thing too as the mags are very lucky about the pellets and we didn't know this until later. However, if you have patience, and a small roundish file, you can remove the grooves in each individual chamber. Will fire most any pellet now. Hollow points and all. Also did some other mods that I saw on YouTube for the slide rattle and the barrel wiggle. Not too hard to do, and it is almost a naildriver now at 10-15 yards. It would be nice if it were this good right out of the pack.
Gun is really fun to play with. Glad I bought extra mags as you will shoot through the 8+8 rounds in the first mag before you realize it. However as it is C02 powered, if you pull the trigger too fast the power will drop even more (which is pretty low to begin with) and you might get a jam or pellets just not firing. Glad I bought the thing though - it is thankfully more accurate than my MPX that shoots low to the left well beyond any sight adjustment (but that one looks and feels even more awesome, so I can't be too mad at it). Will be buying more Sig airguns. Maybe something in brown/tan next.
I have owned a couple of 9mm 226, this gun feels very close to the real thing. I think the loading of the Co2 is brilliant, love it. After thousands of rounds I have had no problems with jamming. The Iron sights are dead on accuracy is good with them. Cons; I think the slide is too heavy, and the rails it rides on could be much better. With a laser mounted on the frame the gun doesn't shoot accurately, as the barrel and slide flop around quite a bit.
More than it should. I could hit consistently with my 9mm Sig at 50Yards. There is no easy way to disassemble the the gun to see what could be improve. Still like the gun and shoot every day. I have owned 2 Sig 9mm, not any more but that is another story. I loved those Sigs. This gun took some getting use to.
With the first half of the trigger pull advancing the next round into position. I got the brown one and it was about as accurate as throwing rocks, with a good laser sight. I figured out that the barrel was loose and sent it back. When the second 226 replica arrived the accuracy isn't much better with a laser. The laser is mounted on the frame and not on the barrel or the slide. Accuracy is better with the iron sights, but still shoots a 2' group at 20' with one flyer usually.
My GAMO P-25 is more accurate, even with the laser. You can't take it apart to clean it. If it jams you will destroy the mag to get it out. It kicks worse than my 9mm. Good replica, feels good, love the design of the co2 mech.
Sig Sauer hit a home run with this almost exact replica of their world famous P226, without close inspection the average person would be hard pressed telling it apart from its powder burning counterpart. Physical size, heft and weight are all spot on. Only in some areas of functionally are there noted differences, the cast molded ejection port and slide release in the all metal upper being the most obvious. I've shot over 500 pellets through mine without a single problem, I use Crosman Premier Hollow Points always, they never jam, hit hard, easy to find and don't cost much. This gun reeks of quality, its apparent shot after shot, the blowback is very strong and CO2 usage is good all things considered, I constantly shot 3.5 mags before having to change CO2.
Super easy to load, cam-operated CO2 piercing system, best CO2 loading system I've seen on an action pistol. 16 shot magazine is nice with an 8rd rotary mag on each end, easy to load and flip when firing.
High fps 400-425 using lead pellets and very accurate, some people complain it won't hold a tight group, I have zero problems with that, my P226 is dead on at 15-25 feet. Trigger pull is two stage, first pull rotates the rotary mag into position, second pull drops the hammer when cocked single action, which breaks clean, is predicable, slightly heavier pull in double action mode but still very manageable. Super sundash bed manuals online. This gun is full metal slide and frame; weighs 2.35 lbs, rifled barrel so don’t shoot BBs out of it. If you’re into replica action pistols or want a realistic shooting experience in order to maintain your firearm skills I highly recommend the Sig Sauer P226 CO2 Pellet Pistol.
I have now had this Pistol for a couple of months, it shoots nice and straight but the FPS is really lacking with the claimed 500+ fps claimed I felt at 25' it should pierce a pressurized paint can but barely a dent I was disappointed, I'm wondering if the blow back feature is killing the fps Oh well live and learn. Overall I do like all of the features blow back I could really care less but the construction is nice and like I said before it shoots really straight so if you are into plinking only paper targets and the little spin-ey kind in a pellet trap it should work well for you but me I want to kill paint cans and plastic water bottles (it excites the kids when stuff blows up). The build quality of the gun is about 95% great. Let's first start with all the good. Full metal, very realistic, good power, and accurate. A lot of people have been saying sights are off, I don't think so. After reading the reviews, before buying, I thought I was having the same issue after receiving, shoots low.
After a couple videos on how to improve accuracy, trigger control, and aim, this gun shoots pretty accurately. This is my first air pistol; it was hard finding info on pellet pistols, most of everything I found was relating to rifles, so I hope this review helps.
I love this gun. Of the few different pellets I've shot out of the p226, I like shooting crosman premiere hollow points 7.9 gr. I like these the best because they, although are slower than lighter pellets, seem to give the most solid feeling shot, feels like a.22. That's just my preference.
I shoot cans, shaken, not stirred, and plastic bottles of water, at about 10 - 25 feet away typically. I started shooting with the rws basic wad cutters 7.0gr, which are deadly accurate.
I've gone through the same hole on paper targets a few times resting on a table. They'll only make holes in cans full of water after the first few shots. The hollow points knocks cans full of water down, and both will bounce off plastic bottles, at medium range, except for the first couple shots, so be careful with that. I've tried the crosman destroyers 7.4gr, and the sample pack of hyper max 5.2gr that airgun depot provided.
I had problems with the rws and destroyers falling out of the magazines, but has only happen a few times, not while shooting but while changing/rotating mags. I personally don't like the destroyers. The pointed hyperMax were great for puncturing holes in plastic bottles, and were very accurate at close range. I highly recommend buying extra mags, at least two packs of two, 5 mags total, which is usually good for one co2 cartridge. The shots toward the end of the 5th mag is when you really start to notably lose power and accuracy, this was mainly using either the premier hollow points or rws wad cutters. I don't have a chrono, but I'll guess that, in the desert heat of 80+ degrees F I'm getting mid to high 300fps with the 7.9 premier with great impact power, and high 300 to low 400 with 7.0gr wadcutters and mid to high 400fps with the hyperMax 5.2gr.
Like I said earlier, I like the knock down power. I had one defective mag but airgun depot promptly replaced it; they have excellent customer service! I will definitely do business with them again.
I've had this gun for about a little under a month now, shooting one day every week for a hour or two with friends and family who like to shoot real guns, and they had fun shooting this. It really is great when you can't make it to the range, or out in the desert, to shoot the real thing.
As of now I've gone through 15 co2 cartridges, with around 800 pellets. The co2 loading mechanism is great, I've managed to misload one cartridge, causing it to unload completely. It wasn't seated properly when I closed handle.
The way the p226 loads co2 is why I chose it over the p250. Sig needs to do this with every air pistol they make from now on.
I've only been using the asg lubricating co2 cartridges, which recommends using every 10 regular cartridges. I've used two of those so far, very first cartridge in, 10 regular co2, then another asg. The asg did leave a different imprint on the ring around the needle, which I was worried about at first, but no leaks as of now, while using crosman co2 cartridges.
If I were to do it all over I would just use pellegunoil. Now the things I didn't like and things I would like to see changed. Guide michelin restaurants washington dc. First, I got this mainly for back yard fun, but also to train with when I can't shoot the real sig.
The slide does provide realistic recoil, but it rattles. I noticed it drawing the gun, and going from retention to aim. The slide moves back slightly as the gun moves out to aim, ending with an annoying clink. I don't know if this is common for bbg's, but if sig is marketing these air guns to also train with, I feel that you should be able to do a proper draw, without the slide clumsily rattling around or moving back and forth while going to aim. Also, when bringing the gun back in to retention, the slide moves back and forth as well, making it feel clunky. I don't like having to release the trigger fully in order to have the chamber cycle. In SA, there's a good feel when trigger resets, but then you have to bring it out further for the magazine to cycle to the next chamber.
I fired a lot of blanks before realizing this. You do adapt to it, but I feel they have it backwards. After pulling the trigger, it should cycle as soon as you let off, then reset. I know you do lose a lot of power firing rapidly, but sometimes you don't care about accuracy and just want to unload a whole clip quickly, at least the 8 rounds half the clip holds.
Then there's no slide lock feature, especially when the magazine is empty. I'd think I'm missing the target when it's empty, and it skips a step when reloading, it messes up muscle memory. Back to the magazine, they are plastic, at least have the revolving part metal.
For fear of it breaking, I carefully pop the empty mag out, carefully lay it down, pop in a new one carefully, then continue on. I can't do a proper reload. It'd be great if they make a version that only holds 10 rounds, with a metal bottom plate for added realism and to make it easier to determine correct orientation. That would be similar to firing the p227.45acp. Again, I'm looking at the training/realistic side of things.
Airsoft has a lot of these features, but I don't want to shoot plastic Bb's. Pellets are more accurate and feel better shooting. I don't like that I can't change the sights; I'd like to put on night sights.
I'll be painting them for now. Speaking of paint, I don't know how I feel about the quality of the fde paint.
I mean a quality gun should be rugged, so I'm OK with it acquiring a weathered look, but the paint has slightly worn off from just setting it down. I also don't like the threaded barrel. I've almost lost the threaded end, which loosens up while shooting; it's nothing some blue loctite can't fix. The gun is kinda loud, which I like, but the neighbors don't. I don't think it's that loud, they would only hear it if they're out in their yard. I hope the suppressor is functional when they release it. Otherwise, I'd like to see a version without the threaded barrel.
I'd also like to see sig do a p320 in all sizes, with a sturdy, locking slide, and definitely the same co2 loading mechanism, and metal magazines, or at least the revolving chambers metal. Overall, the build quality of this gun is great, and extremely fun to shoot.
It being full metal, having gbb and the co2 loading method were the selling points for me. The first thing I did was drop the gun on concrete trying to open the stupid plastic packaging it comes in. The gun landed on the barrel but no visible damage. I loaded it and put a drop of oil on the co2 cartridge and clamped it down. I like the way the co2 loads in the grip, you just clamp it shut, no screwing it in.
The pistol works flawlessly and is accurate. It groups well for sure.
The sights are off a little but that may be because I dropped it before I got to shoot it. I hate the new hard plastic packaging!
The blowback is fun. I got over 60 good shots from a cartridge. Very nice gun. Fired hundreds of rounds anywhere from 25 feet to 10 feet. Every group looks like a shotgun pattern. I tried seven different pellets, including Crosman Premier Ultra and I broke down and bought some expensive Sig pellets. All had the same effect.
Then, I ran a couple patches through it with some Hoppe's No. 9 Synthetic Bore Cleaner. They came out black. Ran new patches until they came out clean. Went back out and fired three more mags full from about 15 feet.
My group then had constant elevation, but, the shots were scattered left to right about four inches. Now, I don't claim to be the best shot in the world, but, with my Crosman 1377, I can consistently shoot a 3/4' group at 40 feet. I can shoot a 1-1/2' group with my Sig P220,.45, all day at 50 feet.
So, my experience with this pellet pistol is that it is not accurate, at all. It isn't even good for practicing trigger squeeze because you don't get good feedback as to where your POA is when the pistol fires. I was going to keep it, if it would shoot good groups. I could always use Kentucky windage to put the rounds on target. That ain't gonna happen. My recommendation is, try something else. I know that some people are happy with their pistol, but, the odds are too great that you will get a dud.
I am returning mine and am going to research something else to take its place. Oh yeah, the first stage of trigger pull advances the magazine. If you ever start squeezing the trigger, don't let off until it fires or you will skip a round. I received my P226 a few days ago. I was surprised how realistic it feels (I own a Sig Sauer P226 MK25 9mm) and looks. The first time I shot it I was surprised as well.
I doesn't kick like my 9mm but everything else feels and sounds good. It comes with only one magazine so it might be best to order an extra set, The de-cocking lever works a little hard but seems to be loosening up. So far it doesn't return to the 'ready' position, as with my 9mm this is a nice feature to have.
As noted in another review, the slide does not stay open after the last pellet is shot so one must keep count on the number of pellets expended. It could be dangerous if a pellet remained in the magazine and the shooter is not aware of it.
The trigger, slide and hammer operate just like my 9mm although slide doesn't offer the same resistance. The gun cannot be field stripped but that doesn't seem to be a negative. I liked the ease of loading the CO2 cartridge. It is a really good target/plinking gun replica with plenty of power. I really like it. Shoots Crossman Destroyers into a half dollar size group at 15 feet, chronograph at 7 feet is 370 fps with Crossman destroyers on the 3 round of magazines so it was about the 30th shot, each mag holds 8 on either side so at 3 magazines I am already at 48 shots and could definitely dump a cotton tail at a headshot of 20 feet or so.
This thing punches through 1 inch of a Uline Catalog at 15 feet or so on the 2nd round of magazines with destroyer pellets. I got a houge grip that slides over the CO2 location on the grip which is not really a big pain as it really helps steady my shots. I am going to put a NIC light laser on it as the sights are not adjustable. For the money this thing is a good buy and is heavy enough to outright pummel an intruder like a 5 pound sledge.
Really like it and I can hit 3inch spin targets at 20 yards with Crossman pointed pellets. Gets about 50 good shots off one co2. ProsIt is all metal except for the grips, it shoots at a confident 500 fps, the barrel is rifled, the outer part of the barrel is threaded for a 'silencer', it is blowback, the safety is a de-cocker, and its pretty heavy. It also features the new CO2 loading system that is effortless and efficient. It feels like the real Sig Sauer P226 MK25.
You can purchase accessories for it off of any website as long as it fits the Sig Sauer P226 MK25. If you register your airgun on Sig's website, you also get an additional 20% off of any accessories from them. Had this gun for about a week now, all around its a great gun, the look the feel, the weight and balance. Accuracy is there depending on how you shoot it. If you wait a couple seconds between shots its a very accurate pistol, if you empty the clips fast the accuracy is all over the place and your just spraying lead.
I love the way the cO2 loads, has great magazines. I am getting close to 80 shots per fill. It does seem to pack a punch for a pellet gun as well, sends coke cans flying more so then any of my other pistols. A quality piece for the price, and an excellent training tool.
If you put this in a case few people would be able to tale its not the 9mm version. I also got the flat dark earth version. Had this gun for about a week now, all around its a great gun, the look the feel, the weight and balance. Accuracy is there depending on how you shoot it. If you wait a couple seconds between shots its a very accurate pistol, if you empty the clips fast the accuracy is all over the place and your just spraying lead.
I love the way the cO2 loads, has great magazines. I am getting close to 80 shots per fill. It does seem to pack a punch for a pellet gun as well, sends coke cans flying more so then any of my other pistols.
A quality piece for the price, and an excellent training tool. If you put this in a case few people would be able to tale its not the 9mm version. I also got the black one.
Wow, it's FINALLY here! After months of release date push backs, my P226 arrived earlier today! I had two immediate impressions upon opening the cardboard package and pulling the contents out.
First thing you are greeted with is ballistic grade clam shell packaging. I wish it came in a little cardboard (or better yet, plastic) fold over 'gun box' style box. First impressions are important and the clam shell with vivid graphics seems more aimed at attracting thugs but preventing theft rather than attracting practice/target shooters on a budget. Most of the pistol follows suit, actually. The next immediate impression was the weight. Man this pistol is heavy. It feels heavier then a fully loaded P226 but in actuality they are about the same per online stats as of today.
If you've ever fired a P226 you will know it is a full size gun fit for beefy hands. Be prepared for that. My pointer finger cannot make a full purchase on the trigger. I cannot engage and disengage the safety/decocker with one hand, but this is partially due to the decocking lever being very rigid and difficult to operate. The gun does not take down, the other two levers on the side are faux and do not move.
Considering the slide lock and take down lever are faux, a little more effort could have been put into the single operable selector. The slide doesn't lock back, and the gun cannot be field stripped.
There is no breach, it is molded into the slide, so accessing any of the internals could prove difficult if repair or pellet removal was necessary. The slide spring seems weaker than it should. I hope the slide continues to cycle properly. When I manually rack the slide, it has stopped halfway short of returning to battery a few times. This never happened during firing though. The threaded barrel is great. The barrel cap is metal and screws on and off just like it should and I am VERY excited about an optional suppressor.
I am also very pleased to have a rifled barrel. Most air guns are BB shooters, it is so pleasing to fire pellets through a rifled barrel. You have added accuracy and, well, it's like firing little bullets really.
As for the pellets, I had problems using all of my longer skirt pellets. I was unable to use Gamo whisper or red fire pellets, they would not feed (the red fire wouldn't even fit the clip). I wound up running the old, trusty, crossman $2 lead pellet variety pack type pellets.
They fired fine. Gamo alloy wadcutters (Match?
High velocity? The tin doesnt have a name and I can't remember) also fired fine. They are the same size as crossman but are shiny silver and of a lighter alloy composition. The up to 510fps is disappointing. The pistol obviously doesn't fire at such speeds. For months, I waited for this release, and my excitement was on par with the claims. The release date, FPS, and some other minor quips detract more than they would had a realistic expectation been given from the get go.
I'm going to put some more rounds through the pistol and leave a follow up review after I've had more time with it. I'm happy overall, but I'm not blown away by any means. I would gladly spend another $50+ for further improvements in realism. I do recommend the gun and hope that during break in I fall more in love than I have at first sight.
I picked up the P226 a couple days ago and truth be told it has surpassed my expectations. This product is well built with a full metal frame, fictional metal slide. When this thing is fired it feels like a real firearm. There is so much I could say but I'll let ya figure all the superb features on this awesome AIrguN. Great job sig.
The only thing I would have liked to see and be able to do is field strip, however I am not sure how possible that is with a pellet hand airgun. That's all ladies and gents. Got it today and noticed it came in a bubble pack. I was not impressed.
Examined the gun thoroughly and noticed there was no locking the slide back. It does not stay open at end of pellets. It doesn't even travel the full distance. Also the slide sounds clunky, not like the real gun or even like the X-Five model BB gun. In addition the trigger has a long travel in single action due to the midway point being the cylinder rotation of the mag.
Maybe I am just too picky but this is not a replica in the sense of other pellet and BB guns. This gun shoots with more recoil than any of my other Co2 pistols. This gun feels like a 22LR auto pistol and not no BB gun. It's louder and really simulates the firing feeling and the weight and feel does simulate the real thing. I didn't rest while I shot, just squeezed out 2 mags worth and was pleased.
Getting about a 2.5' group at 20' and about an inch low. I was shooting Crosmans 7.9gr and probably should have shot 7.4gr or lighter. By the way the 5.4gr PBA pellets fit the mag with room to spare! I will be trying them next. With all said, this gun is $100 and may well be the best Co2 shooter I have.
This article needs additional citations for. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Contents. History ( SIG) is a Swiss company, now known as. In 1975, SIG entered into an agreement with German gun manufacturer to develop and market a new handgun which became the P220. The P220 was the first SIG Sauer handgun sold in the US.
It was marketed initially by Browning as the. The SIG Sauer P220 is a refinement of the Petter-Browning design used in the SIG P210. The locked breech design is very different and was pioneered by SIG Sauer. The P226 was designed for entry into the XM9 Service Pistol Trials (see also ) that were held by the in 1984 on behalf of the to find a replacement for the and 24 other makes of handgun in US military service. Only the SBF and the SIG P226 satisfactorily completed the trials. According to a GAO report, Beretta was awarded the M9 contract for the 92F due to a lower total package price.
The P226 cost less per pistol than the 92F, but SIG's package price with magazines and spare parts was higher than Beretta's. The, however, later chose to adopt the P226 as the P226 MK25 with special corrosion protection. Military XM9 trials, the P226 was imported by Saco Defense. Took over importing when the pistol was introduced for civilian sales. Eventually founded SIGARMS, Inc. (Now ) in the United States to handle importation of their products. In 2000, SIG Holding AG sold J.P.
Sauer & Sohn GmbH to two German businessmen. The brand name SIG Sauer remained at J.P. Sauer & Sohn GmbH. Design details. Detail of the controls and parts: 1.
Ejection port/locking lug, 2. Takedown lever, 5., 6., 7., 8. The P226, like the other members of the SIG Classic family, operates by the locked breech short-recoil method pioneered. On firing, the slide and barrel are locked together for a few millimetres of rearward movement, after which the barrel is cammed down at the rear.
By this time the bullet has left the barrel and the pressure has dropped to safe levels, whereupon the slide completes the rearward stroke, ejecting the spent cartridge. The recoil spring then propels the slide forward, stripping a round from the magazine and in the last few millimetres of forward movement the barrel is cammed upwards, locking the slide and barrel together again. A SIG Sauer P 226 S Sport Stock, an all stainless steel variant, with heavy barrel and adjustable LPA match sights.
Instead of the locking lugs and recesses milled into the barrel and slide of other Browning-type firearms (such as the, and ), the P226 locks the barrel and slide together using an enlarged breech section of the barrel locking into the ejection port. This modified system, which was devised by SIG based on 's and their own, has no functional disadvantages compared to the original system, and has since been copied by numerous firearm manufacturers. The slide of the pre-1996 P226 was a heavy gauge, mill finished sheet metal stamping with a welded on nose section incorporating an internal barrel bushing. The breech block portion was a machined insert attached to the slide by means of brazing and a roll pin visible from either side. Since 1996, production has shifted to CNC machining and the slide is now milled from a single piece of stainless steel. Therefore, the current standard P226 has a Nitron coated, slide.
This resulted in a stronger slide, which was necessary to chamber the more powerful and cartridges. The frame of most models is made from hard anodized alloy. Original West German model SIG-Sauer P226 The standard SIG P226 incorporates a on the left side of the frame above the magazine release button, which first appeared on the prior to World War II, which allows the hammer to be dropped safely. In chambering or firing a round, the actuation of the slide automatically cocks the hammer. By using the decocking lever, the hammer can be de-cocked without actuating the, making it impossible to accidentally fire the firearm by using the decocking lever.
Furthermore, using the decocking lever makes the firearm ', which means the firing pin will be blocked from striking a loaded round unless the trigger is pulled. Pulling the trigger and slowly lowering the hammer does not make the firearm 'drop safe', and can result in an if sufficient force is applied to the hammer. Properly decocked, the pistol can be holstered safely and can be fired in double action mode by simply pulling the trigger. With the exception of single action only models, the SIG P226 has no. Double action trigger pressure is approximately 44 N (9.9 lbf). Subsequent shots are fired in single action mode with a lighter trigger pressure of approximately 20 N (4.5 lbf). As with other DA/SA pistols such as the and, some training is required to minimize the difference in point of aim caused by the different trigger pressure between a first double action shot and subsequent single action shots.
The hammer may also be manually cocked at any time by the user to fire in single action mode. Manufacture firearms are manufactured in, Germany by Sig Sauer, GMBH and in, by Inc., (formerly SIGARMS Inc.) Both of these companies along with Swiss Arms AG, and are subsidiaries of Luke and Ortmeier Gruppe of Emsdetten, Germany.
Copies of the P226 are produced in China by, under the name of NP226. The ZOAF is made in as the standard pistol of the Iranian military. Variants P226 Rail The P226 Rail (or P226R) is the same as a P226, but it has a rail on the underside of the frame, just forward of the trigger guard.
The P226R's rail has a more rounded contour than the military standard M1913 and while most Picatinny-rail accessories will fit, not all will. This has now become the standard P226. P226 Tactical A P226R with an extended 127 mm (5.0 in) barrel and external threads to accept a (the standard P226 barrel length is 112mm (4.4 in)). It was also equipped with SIGLITE Night Sights, 1 extended 20rd. Magazine and 2 standard 15rd. P226 Tactical Operations (TacOps) Essentially a P226 Elite with extended Magwell grips and a Nitron coated stainless steel slide. The Elite beavertail frame is used (with standard accessory rail), and the slide features front cocking serrations.
Like the Elite, SRT is standard. Magazine capacity is 20 rounds in 9mm, and 15 rounds in.40S&W and.357 SIG. The firearm comes with SigLite rear combat night sights and a TruGlo tritium fiber-optic front sight. The firearm ships with 4 magazines. An extended, threaded barrel is optional.
P226 Navy U.S. Navy SEAL teams started using the SIG P226 in the 1980s, after German tested them successfully. The first inspired P226 pistols to be offered to the public were the NSW Commemoratives, issued in early 2004. The SIG P226-9-NAVY is a version of the SIG P226 produced that features a stainless steel slide engraved with an anchor to designate them as Naval Special Warfare pistols.
SIGARMS raised $100,000 for the through the sale of these NSW serialized pistols. The pistol with the serial number NSW0001 was sold during a live auction on the US-wide syndicated radio show for an additional $25,000. Later produced commercial versions added a universal rail for accessory attachments while retaining the anchor of previous models, but do not have the SIGLITE Night Sights. A P226 Mk25 model featuring the UID barcode, Silver Anchor and a X300 Ultra weapon light mounted on the. P226 MK25 Released in 2011, the MK25 has been advertised by SIG as being identical to firearm carried by the U.S. Features that help identify it amongst other P226 variants include the silver anchor and UID identification label on the left side of the pistol, as well as a mil-spec picatinny rail. Although cosmetically similar to the Navy model, the MK25 features an anti-corrosion coating applied to all external and internal surfaces, as well as SIGLITE Night Sights.
P226 Blackwater Introduced in 2007, the SIG P226 Blackwater was designed in cooperation with the. It featured SIGLITE front and rear night sights, the logo on the slide and wood grips, an integral Picatinny rail, black anodized frame, and Nitron-coated stainless steel slide. It was available only in 9×19mm Parabellum, with a trigger. The gun was sold with five 15-round 9mm magazines. The P226 Blackwater was discontinued in 2009 with the release of the P226 Blackwater Tactical - a nearly identical pistol also with 20-round 9mm magazines. The Blackwater Tactical has since been discontinued, having been replaced by the Tactical Operations.
It is essentially the same firearm, but lacks Blackwater markings. P226 SCT The P226 SCT (Super Capacity Tactical) is an all black, Nitron finished P226 featuring front cocking serrations, accessory rail, a SIGLITE rear night sight, a TRUGLO Tritium Fiber Optic front sight and comes with four newly designed 20-round magazines for the 9mm version or four 15-round magazines for the.40 S&W version. P226 Equinox.
SIG-Sauer P226 Equinox. The P226 Equinox comes chambered in.40 S&W and features a two-tone accented design. The design is achieved by the brush polished flats of the slide and nickel accents of the gun's controls. The P226 Equinox comes with a TRUGLO Tritium Fiber Optic front sight, rear SIGLITE night sights, SIG accessory rail, and gray laminated wood grips. P226 ST The SIG Sauer P226 ST was a limited production all-stainless version of the SIG P226 pistol. It is heavier than a standard P226 because the frame was made of stainless steel instead of aluminum. Weight with the magazine was a hefty 1,196 g (42.2 oz) vs 964 g (34.0 oz) of the standard aluminum-framed version.
The added weight of an all-stainless frame is claimed to provide greater recoil reduction and a quicker return to target between shots making it a common choice among Practical Shooting competitors. The P226 Stainless had a blued barrel and featured an M1913 Picatinny rail. These frames were made in Germany. Prototypes were tested in 2004 and it went into production in very limited numbers. The P226 ST is no longer manufactured. P226 S Sport Stock The P226 Sport Stock was produced in Germany in 2002 and 2004 in limited numbers, all stainless construction with a strengthened frame dust cover, 4.4 inch stainless bull barrel, extended controls, and comes originally with Hogues grips and LPA target sights, these are often referred as the SIG Mastershop predecessors to the X-family. P226R HSP On sale in September 2005, SIG Sauer Homeland Security Pistols (HSP) are the same models SIG builds for the.
This is a limited production run of 1,000 P226R HSP pistols available engraved with the American flag and Homeland Security X of 1000. Additionally, each pistol comes in.40 S&W caliber and is engraved with serial number barcoding just like those which were shipped to DHS. The HSP also features the new DAK trigger, a stainless steel Nitron slide topped with SIGLITE night sights, and a light weight alloy frame with rail. There is also a P229R HSP model available with the same features. P226 X-Five. German 226 X5 The SIG Sauer P226 X-Five is a competition variant of the P226 with a 127 mm (5.0 in) slide and barrel, beavertail grip, and an adjustable rear target sight. Intended for Wa1500, bullseye and other centrefire competitive shooting, the X-Five is hand-fitted and assembled in Germany, and its resulting accuracy accordingly rivals the.
Available in 9mm or.40 S&W, there are five models being offered in the United States:. The 'Competition' model has a trigger, ambidextrous thumb safety, flared magazine well, and high-capacity magazines (19-round 9mm/ 14-round.40 S&W). The 'Level-1' model adds a special adjustable SA trigger and Nill wood grips. The 'Lightweight' model is similar to the 'Level-1' but with an alloy rather than stainless frame. (US models only chambered for 9mm.).
The 'Allround' model has a trigger, a decocking lever and a standard magazine well designed to accommodate P226 magazines. The 'Tactical' model comes with a black Ilaflon finish, and features a heavy-weight alloy frame with a SIG rail, and fixed contrast or tritium night sights. Available in single action only (SAO) configuration. The X-Five Tactical model is available only in 9mm. The 'Norway' is a very limited edition model that was created for the Norwegian Special Forces and comes completely made of stainless steel with a PVD coating.
There were approximately sixteen of these imported to the U.S. Making them extremely scarce. All SIG P226 X-Five models include a factory test target with a sub-50 mm (2.0 in) 5-shot from 25 m (27 yd).
P226 X-Six The SIG P226 X-Six is designed, manufactured, and marketed as a precision pistol under SIG's sporting firearm line. The X-Six features an extended slide and frame to accommodate a 152 mm (6.0 in) barrel, an ambidextrous manual safety and a trigger adjustable for pull weight, distance and stop. To further enhance the X-Six's sporting pedigree the pistol features a standard low profile adjustable sights, grip grooves cut into the front of the frame, lightweight magazine extension and NILL sporting grip plates. The P226 X-Six is also offered with an aluminum frame. This model, designated the P226 X-Six AL is identical to its steel frame counterpart in every way yet weighs in at only 1,070 g (38 oz). X-Series The X-Series was launched in 2013. It is a redesign and expansion of SIG Sauer competitive models, consisting of the brand new X-Short (Barrel lengths comparable to the standard P226) and updated versions of both the X-Five and the X-Six.
All three barrel lengths are available in Classic, Match and Supermatch configurations. In addition, there are a number of specialized models available that feature only one or two of the barrel lengths. The line features great interchangeability of parts, along with a wide array of accessories. For instance, sights can be replaced quickly by undoing a screw and some clips. The 'Classic' model most closely resembles the X-Five and X-Six of old.
The models feature walnut grip plates, short magazine release, completely adjustable SAO trigger system and micrometer sights. The 'Match' model is a sporting model featuring black laminated wood grip plates, extended magazine catch, skeletonized hammer, fully skeletonized SAO trigger and adjustable micrometer sights. The 'Supermatch' model is their premier competition model. It features G10 grips, sport-magazine catch, skeletonized hammer, fully adjustable SAO straight match trigger and a sporting disassembly lever. The 'Allround' most closely resembles the P226 the range is built on.
It is an X-Five with a DA/SA trigger assembly, and has the normal SIG Sauer decocker and internal safeties. The pistol is, amongst other things, intended for the IPSC Production division. The 'SO Series' is a model intended for service pistol competitions.
It comes in two variants where the difference is the frame material. The SO has a steel frame, while the AL SO SAO has an aluminium frame. Both versions feature fixed sights (on an adaptor plate), a non-adjustable SAO trigger, short magazine catch and polymer grip plates. The 'X-Press' model is a base-model X-Five, ready to accept the upgrades the user wants.
Additionally, the SIG Sauer mastershop has three Supermatch-based models available for more specialized competitions. The X-Five Open is intended for the IPSC Open division, while the X-Six PPC and X-Six PPC Open are intended for PPC 1500 competitions. P226 Elite.
A SIG Sauer P226 Elite Dark with attached TLR-1s weapon light. Note the extended beavertail. The P226 Elite adds an ergonomic extended beavertail, forward cocking serrations, front strap checkering, custom wood grips, adjustable combat night sights, and the Short Reset Trigger (SRT). SIG engineers designed the SRT to provide the same safety and action of the SIG DA/SA trigger with a reset that is 60% shorter for faster trigger return during high speed shooting. The Elite Dark is equipped with grips produced by Hogue instead of wood. The Platinum Elite also has aluminum grips. The P226 Elite line is available in 9mm,.357 SIG, and.40 S&W.
P226 Combat Like the before it, the two models, P226 Combat and P226 Combat TB (Threaded Barrel), are available in DA/SA. Their frames are 'Flat Dark Earth' in compliance with the Combat Pistol program. The Combat model comes with night sights, a Nitron-finished slide and barrel, fore slide serrations, desert tan polymer grips and a military standard M1913 Picatinny rail as well as phosphate coated internals. The TB model features an extra 15 mm (0.59 in) on the barrel, and external threads to accept a suppressor. SIG Sauer P226 E2.
Note magazine capacity in this picture is capped at 10 rounds. Introduced at the 2010 SHOT Show, the P226 E2 at the time was a significant update to the P226 line. 'E2' (pronounced 'E-squared'), or otherwise known as 'Enhanced Ergonomics', is SIG Sauer's attempt to make the large frame gun more ergonomic for persons with small and medium-sized hands.
A reduced grip size and reduced reach trigger bring the trigger face back more than 13 mm (0.5 in), thus potentially allowing better trigger manipulation and control for a greater number of shooters. Other standard features include the Short Reset Trigger, aggressive grip finish texture, and a new wrap-around, one-piece grip panel configuration. The gun was discontinued from the P226 model lineup at the end of 2010 but the E2-style grip system has been adopted on and carried over to other P226 variants. P226/P229 Classic 22 This model's primary purpose is as practice or range pistols. The Classic 22 has an aluminum slide with a nitron finish (instead of the centerfire stainless steel slide) and a barrel chambered in.22LR.
The Classic 22 slide assembly is complete with a lighter recoil spring and plastic guide rod. It also incorporates the same frame and operation as center fire P226 models. The Classic 22 model is available as a stand-alone firearm or as a conversion kit to an existing center fire P226 or P229. Likewise, conversion kits (the SIG Sauer X-Change Kits) exist to convert a.22LR into 9mm,.40 S&W or.357 SIG. The conversion can be accomplished by field stripping the firearm and replacing the slide assembly and magazine - a process that can be accomplished in seconds. The Classic 22 use a 10-round polymer magazine in lieu of the steel magazines used by the centre fire models and conversion kits.
The P226 Classic 22 should not be confused with the.22LR pistol. The Classic 22 is a full-sized P226 while the Mosquito is modelled on the P226 but is 90% of the size. Also the Classic 22 is manufactured by SIG Sauer while the Mosquito is made under licence by German Sport Guns GmbH. P226 LDC In 2014 SIG Sauer sports division in Germany introduced the P226 LDC Version. This version is made for shooting sports and features a longer dust cover and 1913 rail. It also features the E2 grip and the SRT Short reset trigger system, HiViz front sight, adjustable rear sight and skeletonized hammer.
The magazine takes 17 rounds. P226 Legion. US Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal range practice A compact version of the P226, the P228, is in use with various law enforcement agencies and also with the, where it is designated as the M11. The P228 has a shorter slide and barrel than the P226. Unlike the P226, the P228 is available only in with a 13-round magazine, but can also use P226 15- or 20-round magazines. Aftermarket magazines extend the capacity of the P228 to 15 rounds.
From a distance, the P228 can be differentiated from the P226 by comparing the trigger guards (the P228's is curved, while the P226's is slightly hooked) and the barrel and slide lengths (the P228's barrel 99 mm (3.9 in), thus having a corresponding shorter slide). Also in a side-by-side comparison the P228 would appear slightly shorter (15 mm (0.59 in) shorter) than the P226. The larger capacity P226 magazine can also be employed in the P228 although it extends from the base of the grip. Civilian sales of the P228 were discontinued with the introduction of 9mm chambering in the but were recently reintroduced in limited quantities to civilians with an accessory rail and hooked trigger guard, designated the P228R. The P229 is nearly identical to the P228, however its slide is made from milled (versus the P228's folded slide) and is available in,. In the summer of 2012, SIG Sauer announced they were releasing the M11A1, which is essentially the milled-slide P229 chambered in 9mm with P228-labeled grips, a short reset trigger, SIGLITE tritium night sights, Mec-Gar 15-round magazines, and a military style smart tag and serial number.
Later in 2012, Air Force M11b versions of the P228 were released for civilian sale. The M11 is to be replaced in the Army and Air Force through the program. On January 19, 2017, it was announced that the had been selected to replace the M11 as the U.S's service pistol. One factor in winning the competition was the ability to employ 9mm Parabellum,.357 Sig or.40 S&W cartridges within the same basic frame. SIG Sauer P229R—'R' denotes the accessory rail The P229 is a compact often used for duty or purposes. The standard version features a DA/SA trigger.
The pistol has also been made available in a DAK (Double Action Kellermann) model, which is a DAO system with two trigger reset points, and a lighter, smoother pull than that of traditional DAO handguns. Most of the above-mentioned factory variants of the P226 are also available for the P229, including the Equinox option, Elite lineup, as well as a SAS GEN 2 model. The P229 differs from its cousin the P226 in several respects, and was originally introduced to supplement and then replace the P228 by adding the.357 SIG and.40 S&W as available chamberings. The P229 was the first production handgun introduced that could chamber the.357 SIG round. The P226 and P228 were originally manufactured using a stamped-steel slide on an aluminum alloy frame. The P229 consists of a CNC-milled stainless steel slide, typically colored black with a Nitron finish. The P229's milled steel slide was introduced to handle the higher slide velocities created by the.357 SIG and.40 S&W loads, which the stamped slide of the P228 could not handle without the use of a much stiffer recoil spring.
This would have made manual slide-retraction much more difficult and the use of a milled stainless slide (coupled with the new milling and stainless production capabilities found in the U.S. Factory) with a standard weight recoil spring made more sense. A standard weight recoil spring for the P229 is 71 N (16 lb f). A spring weight of 89 N (20 lb f) or higher would have been required if a stamped slide was used for the.40 S&W or.357 SIG chamberings. The SAAMI maximum chamber pressures of 9mm, 9mm +P,.40 S&W, and.357 SIG are as follows: 240 MPa (35,000 psi); 265 MPa (38,500 psi); 240 MPa (35,000 psi); and 280 MPa (40,000 psi). The slide on the P226 was redesigned in a similar fashion, and civilian sales of the P228 were discontinued in early 2005 due to declining sales and the advent of the P229 in 9mm. The P226 and P229 are both available with optional accessory rails and optional forged stainless steel frames.
The P229 can be chambered in.22 LR,. Changing between and is as simple as switching out the barrel; both calibers use the same magazine.
Conversion barrels also allow a P229 or P226 to change between a.40 S&W/.357 SIG to a 9mm caliber. The model (both railed and non-railed) can be converted to.22 LR, but in the past its receivers were not designed to provide the space needed for handling the larger rounds of.357 SIG and.40 S&W. As SIG Sauer has slowly begun adopting the E2-style grip system across the P229 model range in 2011—a move similar to what is also happening to the larger P226—they have also begun using the.357 SIG/.40 S&W spec frame dimensions for their factory 9mm P229s, presumably to streamline the number of variations in parts needed to be kept in inventory. Although the manufacturer has announced that older-configuration magazines will continue to operate in the new receiver configuration, SIG Sauer has nonetheless revised new P229 9mm factory magazines to a design that is specific to the resized magazine well of the newly reconfigured receiver/frame. As a consequence, the newer magazines are not back-compatible, due to their larger width. DAK Version.
German made P225 (a true Classic) with triple serial numbers. 4 magazines, and manual. Night sights (better than I thought if you're following my purchase thread ). Seller claimed to be the original buyer and put.
SIG controls are comfortable and function well, but the layout requires some getting used to. The First SIG P225 While many regarded the P225 as a smaller, slimmer version of the company’s wildly popular double-stack P226, the SIG Sauer P225 was actually a reduced-size version of the.45 ACP P220 chambered in 9 mm. Its claim to fame, though, was its adoption by the West German police as the P6. That was a strong endorsement which solidified the reputation of the handgun in the minds of American shooters.
So, why then did SIG phase it out? Well, not because there was anything wrong with it, but because there was so much else right with. It had the aforementioned P220 for big-bore fans and the P226 for aficionados of full-size, double-stack pistols. Then a double-column compact with dimensions otherwise similar to the P225—the P228—was released (and embraced by the U.S.
Military as the M11). Further, a similarly sized single-column compact, the SIG P239, arrived on scene. It wasn’t really that much smaller than the P225, but looked it, and was “swoopier,” with graceful curves and sleek styling. Finally, refurbished surplus police pistols from Germany started arriving on the U.S. Given that those who desired a P225 could and would often make do with a second-hand P6 (which had some differences, most notably a heavier trigger pull), SIG chose to remove the P225 from its product line.
The P225-A1, like all SIG P-series pistols, disassembles quickly and easily into its constituent parts for routine maintenance. Reintroduction While it is unclear exactly why the company recently chose to reintroduce the P225 as the SIG Sauer P225-A1, we can speculate. The concealed-carry market has exploded since the P225 left the stage. The platform is still more than viable, so why expend R&D on an entirely new pistol? Further, the 9 mm is seeing a resurgence in popularity due to the FBI’s decision to return to it as the agency’s standard chambering.
Additionally, by reintroducing an established pistol, SIG makes life easier for accessory makers, who already have the necessary molds, dies and tools, if not finished stock. Lastly, many SIG devotees feel the P225 fits their hand better than the P239 and lamented the former’s demise. (top) A tritium-enhanced dot adorns the front-sight post on night-sight-equipped guns. (btm.) Generous height, tritium dots and a square notch make for a good, fast sight picture in any light. (r.) The exposed hammer is small enough to reduce snagging, yet is easy to locate and cock should you desire to fire single action. Tweaked, Not Reimagined Having said that, know that there are differences between the P225 and the P225-A1, but they are subtle. The new model incorporates a machined-stainless-steel slide rather than the stamped-steel part used on the earlier version.
This adds strength and permits the pistol to operate safely with hotter loads. The hooked trigger guard, positively de rigueur in the ’70s, is gone in favor of a handsomely contoured guard. Also, the juncture of the frame and trigger guard is now radiused or “cut high,” allowing the gun to sit deeper in the hand.
The plastic grips of the P225 have been supplanted by G10 panels embellished with SIG medallions. The most-significant technological change is SIG’s inclusion of its Short Reset Trigger (SRT), allowing you to send lead downrange a bit quicker. Otherwise, the new pistol largely looks and feels like the old pistol—and that’s not a bad thing. The G10 grips’ texture is augmented with molded checkering. Further checkering is added to the aluminum-alloy frontstrap Non-issues The few complaints about SIG pistols have never really been problems as much as they’ve been hotly debated matters of taste.
First and foremost is the traditional DA/SA trigger. The transition from the initial long, 12-pound, double-action pull to subsequent short, 5-pound, single-action pulls is hopelessly deleterious to accuracy, or so claim 1911 proponents and, now, striker-fired pistol advocates. Moreover, SIGs have a high-bore axis, meaning the pistol doesn’t sit deeply in the hand, inducing muzzle flip while reducing control. Add to that the fact that SIGs have uniquely located controls and—to hear critics tell it—the whole system is nigh unworkable. Unless, of course, you actually try it.
The long, heavy initial pull is a pain in the butt; don’t get me wrong. But it is workable, just as it is on a DA revolver. It does take practice, though. And, from a safety standpoint, it’s reassuring. The transition to SA isn’t nearly as bad as some make out. The real problem is you tend to rush the initial shot in order to get to SA trigger mode.
Cut to permit flush fitting of the magazine, the magazine well is also contoured to funnel reloads into place. Yeah, SIGs do have a high-bore axis, but I find it’s more of a theoretical problem than a practical one. Because of the pistols’ excellent ergonomics, the muzzle rises but then levers down very quickly. I find I can get off aimed shots from a SIG as fast as I can with practically any other carry pistol.
As for the control locations—learn your gun. Yeah, if you regularly run a Glock or 1911, a —briefly handled—is going to upset your muscle memory a bit. However, if you commit to the platform, it will quickly become natural to you.
The P225-A1 in Particular Speaking of controls, the P225-A1’s are excellent; typical of the entire P series. The slide release is located far back on the left side. Ahead of it is the decocking lever, which allows you to return the pistol to DA mode without having to touch the trigger or hammer. Above the trigger is the disassembly lever. With the gun unloaded, rotate it into a crescent cut-out in the slide to remove the slide from the frame.
P-series disassembly and maintenance are quite simple. The clean, sculpted muzzle identifies the P225-A1 as a SIG product.
Our sample came equipped with three-dot tritium night sights. The square post-and-notch arrangement provides a good sight picture in daylight, too. The rear sights have a squared profile as preferred by some trainers as they allow you to rack the slide one-handed against your belt or other object should the other hand be disabled or occupied during a fight. The serrated hammer spur struck the right balance of being unobtrusive, yet quickly accessible, should you have time to thumb-cock the gun before firing. That’s something people sometimes forget about these pistols—they’re DA but can be fired SA if the situation permits or dictates. Two 8-round magazines, complete with witness holes, accompany each P225-A1. One feature notably absent on the P225-A1 is an accessory rail.
Sig Sauer P225 A1
It’s not as big a deal as you might think. A lot of shooters don’t favor gun-mounted lights, not wanting to aim at or near a target they have not yet identified. Many like having a separate light that can be used just for illumination at those times when drawing a firearm is not appropriate. As for lasers, LaserMax has never stopped making its excellent internal guide-rod laser for the P225. And since the P225-A1 has removable grip panels, I imagine could produce Lasergrips for it if there were sufficient demand. Sized Right I divide carry guns into two categories: pocket pistols and belt guns. Pocket pistols need to be as small and light as practical.
I find about 15 ounces unloaded to be the maximum I can carry in pants of a heavy fabric. Lightweight fabrics require an even lighter gun. Belt guns, though, can be considerably larger and heavier since you have to wear a concealing outer garment (a jacket, long vest or untucked shirt) anyway. Many of the new belt-carry guns on the market seem not to have had this considered in their design. Too big for a pocket, they’re needlessly small for a belt. The P225-A1, however, is sized just about perfectly in that regard. Mitch Rosen is already on board to supply holsters for the updated pistol.
The gun is compact, but the muzzle is long enough for a good sight radius, steady balance and decent muzzle velocity. Also, the P225-A1 exhibits no whippiness, despite handling quickly. The grip is generous and comfortable, even for large hands but—accommodating only a single-stack, flush-fitting magazine—it is not too large to conceal easily. On the range the P225-A1 could best be described as unremarkable—by SIG standards.
Early on, there was a single failure to feed and the slide didn’t consistently lock open after the last shot. Neither problem recurred after the gun had been shot for awhile. It was accurate, comfortable and controllable. Controls functioned crisply and reliably.
Operationally, the gun is refined to the point of simplicity. Maybe it’s the single-column magazine, but the P225-A1 carries very well, certainly as well as more capacious polymer-frame pistols, despite its aluminum-alloy frame.
Sig Sauer P225 Value
On the whole, the revamped is a very nice pistol, actually superior to the original. It has a stronger slide, more comfortable grip frame, updated trigger guard design and shorter trigger reset, all without sacrificing any of the earlier pistol’s virtues. The platform is back, it’s better and the time is ripe.
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