SIG P220?

[JayFramer]

Anyone own a SIG SAUER P220 .45 ACP? Here is mine:



Great gun and has never jammed. I like it a whole lot and this one was a law enforcement trade in I got at a steal a while back. Think I’m going to send it to SIG for their overhaul program and to get new night sights added.

Anyone else like the P220?

-Jay

[Breakaway500]

One of the few guns I regret selling. Tack driver..ate any kind of ammo..well balanced. I miss it..

[dmthomp32]

I have never had a 220 but it is definitely on the list. I have had 228's, 226's and P6's. Honestly while I have liked them all but the P6 has been my favorite for some reason. I've considered it into sig as well for the love and night sights. How is the 220 on recoil? I have owned and fired Glock 21's, 41's and 1911's. I love a big fat bullet.

Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

[RoyM52]

I thought about getting a 220 sas 2nd gen with the 3.9 inch barrel....they quit making them....end of story

[Jingles]

I've got the 220 Carry. It's a quality gun and very accurate. I thought it might replace one of my 1911s on my CCW but there is no comparison to the 1911 trigger. Plus, it's pretty heavy so it sits in the safe.

[M29since14]

As they came from the factory, I always thought they were slippery and, together with the high bore axis, made for a difficult gun to shoot well in .45 caliber. I have no doubt they are very good shooters, just a bit hard to hold. If you can abide rubber grips, they help quite a bit, IMO. It’s one of those guns I would like to like more than I do.

Important to always be sure to use the decocker, particularly with older P220s. I was not aware of that until I read here about the accidents, some of them tragic.

[LoboGunLeather]

Had a P220 briefly about 15 years ago. At the time I could not afford to keep all the good deals that came my way so I let it go, and have regretted that decision ever since.

In more recent years I picked up one of the German police surplus P6 (P225) pistols, which I consider excellent. My cost was right at $200 at the time.

Also have a P232 in .380 which is a great compact pistol, very accurate and easy to shoot well.

Just last month I caught a deal on the Sig Certified Pre-Owned P229 in .40 S&W. Full factory refurbishment, refinished, shipped in the "red box" with two mags and one-year warranty. My cost was $400 and pocket change (compare that to the current MSRP of $1087).

Fortunately I am at a point in life where I can hang onto all the goodies that come my way, play with them to my heart's content without busting the budget.

[hkcavalier]

I had one for almost 15 years and stupidly sold it. It was extremely accurate.

I've been hankering for one, but it's kind of second tier to my other desires. I'd like an SAO model.

[colt_saa]

I have been a fan of the SIG P220 since I switched to it as my primary carry pistol back in 1977. Back then I found it to very reliable and incredible accurate for an out of the box duty style firearm. Plus at the time it was one of the few DA/SA 45ACPs on the market that was built on lightweight alloy frame

I still have that original 1977 piece, it is in the lower right corner of this photo

Since then I have added others. Like the 5" versions

Or the Ernst Langdon special

I even have one of the P220 Sport pistols. These look a little funny but are amazing to shoot

Not all of my P220s are chambered in the 45 ACP cartridge.

I have both a 9mm and a 38SUPER that are in the standard configuration. The 38SUPE really shines in a P220. It is even more accurate than the 45 ACP versions and it has a deep throaty KaBOOOM when it goes off as opposed the the standard Bang that you get from the 45 ACP

Plus there is the 5" 10MM Auto that Gray Guns converted several years before SIG introduced their version. The 10MM Auto P220 is pictured here with an MP5/10 SMG

[nachogrande]

I kept the newer stainless version with the rail. Had it sent back for most of the mod packages Sig offers. HEAVY YES, a very fast/accurate double tap with low recoil. The DA trigger pull surprisingly light. I MAY retire the 226 from nightstand duty, put a light on it & use the 220??? Two thumbs up for me. The DREADED high bore axis, a big non issue.

[CelticSire]

My duty weapon is a P220. My department issues Glock 17s, but my Chief lets us carry our own as long as we qualify with what we carry. Easy decision for me.

[fyimo]

I have two Sig P220's with one being a P220 Carry SAO and the other is a full size Sig P220. I really like them both and The P220 Carry with the SAO trigger has the best trigger.

[sodacan]

The 220 is one of my favorite pistols. I have an older West German model with the flat spur hammer and a Stainless Match Elite with a 5" barrel. Utterly reliable and accurate guns. Beautifully made and engineered. The fact they're both in 45acp doesn't hurt either.

[andy52]

Here's one I bought a couple of months ago it's a older model from west Germany. I've only had it to the range once but it shot well when I did try it.

[Nedroe]

Picked it up last week. P220 SAO SAS Carry. Added a set of Crimson Trace grips, & it is good to go.


Had to modify both the gun ( lose the right side safety ) & the grips ( they are only made for DA/SA ) to make it work.
Here is the payoff. All 5 rounds on a 3" Shoot-N-See, between 25- 30 yds, from a side barricade, using the laser.

Here is offhand at 15 yards, fast.

I like the way it shoots, but it doesn't carry / conceal as well as my 1911. 20+ years packin' that one.
This one may end up lookin' for a new home.

Ned

[Stentor]

Here is my P220 Sport--a unique and great shooting pistol.

[Grayfox]

I've got an older West German P220. My favorite DA/SA .45.

[Mortimer94]

Have a full size P220 and a P220 compact that I carry daily.

[Redcoat3340]

I liked my older heel-release 9mm 220 and got one in .45. It was my first .45 in many, many years and was so soft shooting it got me back in the caliber (now have Shield, M&P 2.0, a 4566TSW, 4513TSW and just sent the $$$ for a 645).

The .45 came with .22 conversion. Couple of pics of the 9 and .45 + .22.

[C J]

Originally Posted by M29since14

As they came from the factory, I always thought they were slippery and, together with the high bore axis, made for a difficult gun to shoot well in .45 caliber. I have no doubt they are very good shooters, just a bit hard to hold. If you can abide rubber grips, they help quite a bit, IMO. It’s one of those guns I would like to like more than I do.

Important to always be sure to use the decocker, particularly with older P220s. I was not aware of that until I read here about the accidents, some of them tragic.

The high axis makes for hard to shoot accurate follow up shots but the first round fired from the cocked position is amazingly accurate on my W. German Sig. It shoots accurate well past 50 yards. I've been known to draw a large crowd to watch me shoot that pistol. As accurate as any pistol I've ever shot but not from DA mode. The trigger is way too hard for that.

Definitely needs to be de-cocked if you want to carry it. I carried mine for many years. I bought it as a LEO trade in and I've put 15,000 rounds or so through it. I keep meaning to send it in for the tune up but I don't really shoot it much any more and I don't carry it. It's too heavy and doesn't hold enough rounds for that. But if anyone wants to challenge me to shoot targets that will be the pistol I use. It's been rock solid but I did wear out a recoil spring. It has a lot of rounds through it though. I know it needs the tune up.

[BAM-BAM]

My love for the 2xx Series Sigs started before the S&W 3rd Gen gun were introduced.

My first was a W. German 220 that replaced a Colt 1911 Combat Commander as my "winter carry" .45 back in the late 80s when I made a decision to not carry cocked and locked.My other autos at the time were both DA/SA ... a Walther PPK .380 for "Suit carry" and a Beretta 92 Compact (13+1)
In the right hands this 220 will shoot cloverleafs at 50 ft.

I later added an all steel Earnest Langdon model (see Colt_saa post for pictures). It's been a safe queen as I really cut back on USPSA and IDPA when the boys were little and later Soccer.


In the mid-90s I added a Compact Sig 245..... as a concealed carry .45.It replaced a Smith 4516 that was a great gun but IMO too heavy for it's size and everyday concealed carry.

A couple of years later I got a good deal on another used two-tone 245.

My only .40 and .357sig is an almost "unused" 229 I got that came with two barrels and 4 magazines.

[Richard Simmons]

How does the Sig 220 in 45 ACP compare, size wise to say the S&W 645? Haven't dug up the specs on the two but from photos they look like they might be pretty similar.

[Texas Star]

Originally Posted by Richard Simmons

How does the Sig 220 in 45 ACP compare, size wise to say the S&W 645? Haven't dug up the specs on the two but from photos they look like they might be pretty similar.

The SIG fits my hand very well and moves quickly and well. The S&W .45's I handled were big and awkward and I have pretty large hands. The DA Star and CZ-97 are also too large.

If you want a .45 auto, get either the famous old Colt or the SIG P-220.

[Old Corp]

While I don't own a 220, I'll always remember one that lived it's life in the rental rack at a LGS/Indoor Range where I worked p/t for awhile.
None of the guns received any care unless they went down.

The 220 would not die. No care, not even an infrequent cleaning. I doubt a dump truck could hold all the ammo that's gone through it. Used in classes as well as rental.

That made me kinda want one, but as I already had a heavy DA/SA .45, my issued S&W M4566 given at retirement, that block was already checked. And I never carry the 4566, as I much prefer a 1911.

[M29since14]

Originally Posted by Texas Star

The SIG fits my hand very well and moves quickly and well. The S&W .45's I handled were big and awkward and I have pretty large hands. The DA Star and CZ-97 are also too large.

If you want a .45 auto, get either the famous old Colt or the SIG P-220.

If you can tolerate plastic and uh... “modern triggers,” the M&P45 is accurate, pretty handy, and adaptable to different hand sizes more easily than the 1911 or SIG. If it has to be metal, I agree with Texas Star. The 645/4506 are great guns, but they are definitely BIG and HEAVY. At the range, that’s not a problem and they are very pleasant .45s to fire. If I had to wear one, I’d prefer the SIG, a Commander, or one of the Commander-size DA S&Ws made with an aluminum frame. The SIG would come in last place in that race since it lacks a thumb safety. (Unfortunately, the thumb safeties I have seen on the plastic S&Ws hardly qualify as safeties. )

[Texas Star]

Originally Posted by M29since14

If you can tolerate plastic and uh... “modern triggers,” the M&P45 is accurate, pretty handy, and adaptable to different hand sizes more easily than the 1911 or SIG. If it has to be metal, I agree with Texas Star. The 645/4506 are great guns, but they are definitely BIG and HEAVY. At the range, that’s not a problem and they are very pleasant .45s to fire. If I had to wear one, I’d prefer the SIG, a Commander, or one of the Commander-size DA S&Ws made with an aluminum frame. The SIG would come in last place in that race since it lacks a thumb safety. (Unfortunately, the thumb safeties I have seen on the plastic S&Ws hardly qualify as safeties. )

Why do you need a thumb safety on a DA auto?
When I had a CZ-75B, I could have carried cocked and locked, but chose the DA carry.

[RoyM52]

Originally Posted by M29since14

SNIP - If I had to wear one, I’d prefer the SIG, a Commander, or one of the Commander-size DA S&Ws made with an aluminum frame. The SIG would come in last place in that race since it lacks a thumb safety. (Unfortunately, the thumb safeties I have seen on the plastic S&Ws hardly qualify as safeties. )

The Sig 220 was offered with a de-cocker or a thumb safety. See picture in post # 15 for one with a thumb safety

[M29since14]

Originally Posted by Texas Star

Why do you need a thumb safety on a DA auto?

As soon as I pick up a pistol my thumb automatically “looks” for the thumb safety. It’s not happy unless it finds one.

[SC_Mike]

I have owned several P220's and have had great service out of all.

This is my only current one, a 1992 Model with spur hammer, original box and test target from the factory.



An Elite model:



A SAS model:

[dmar]

I keep mine by the nightstand, great gun. Also have a nice P245 two-tone. It’s made in Germany and is in like new condition, but I’m thinking about selling it as it just sits in the safe and I need to thin the herd at some point... Decisions, decisions...

[Amp]

I bought a West Germany 220 years ago. Its a very good shooting safe queen.
I like the current P220 also. Try a P225A1, they handle well too.

[nachogrande]

Originally Posted by C J

The high axis makes for hard to shoot accurate follow up shots

Complete balderdash! While shooting my stainless P220 (with the light rail) @ 10 yards the RO asked me to put a round into a piece of 4x4 as he was collecting & comparing 45 bullets. I knew I had 2 different bullet types on tap so I did my fastest ever double tap into the 4x4 and both bullet holes were touching. OF COURSE I gave my best, yeah I do that all the time look. HIGH BORE AXIS AND ALL.

[Texas Star]

A high bore axis may keep the gun from catching your parka sleeve between slide and tang. I had that happen with a Browning Hi-Power.

I had to take off the coat in cold weather & struggle a bit to get the sleeve free. Probably a freak thing, but it's made me very uneasy since, and I usually prefer to carry a revolver in very cold weather, where the sleeve might be snagged by a recoling auto.

[Texas Star]

Originally Posted by M29since14

As soon as I pick up a pistol my thumb automatically “looks” for the thumb safety. It’s not happy unless it finds one.

Sounds like you're adapted only to Colt-like autos.

Reminds me of the koala, which can eat only leaves of the eucalyptus tree. If that tree dies out, the koala will starve.

[Ivan the Butcher]

I bought my first 220 in 1992, now I'm up to 3 and a 229 in 357 Sig.

I too, have a thumb that looks for a safety. It hasn't caused any problems yet! But it keeps me out of trouble when I have a 1911 on!

Ivan

[M29since14]

My Dad was fairly ambidextrous. He used shotguns and rifles from his right shoulder, but preferred to shoot pistols with his left hand as the dominant side. He liked the P220, in the form of the Browning BDA, and I still have his BDA .45. I have had several P220s in addition to that gun, and still do. I can get along with a P220 very nicely if I need to, and I do like the gun, but for me, I think the old koala will die before the eucalyptus. The guns I really don’t care for are the modern plastic jobs that are striker-fired with no thumb safety. That’s an uncomfortable arrangement for me, and the addition of a flimsy thumb safety the wiggles around and doesn’t engage/disengage positively doesn’t help matters. I’d rather use a P220 than one of those. The slippery problem can be solved one way or another, and I can live with the high bore-axis.

[CH4]

The P220 is an iconic pistol and I regret selling mine. At one time I had all the Sigs from 220 to 239, but now only have my 229 and 232. I would love to have another 220, but in .38 Super.

Of all the guns I own, my 229 would be the first gun I’d grab when the stuff hits the fan.

[bc1023]

Yes...

[bc1023]

The P220 has always been a 9mm for me. Other than the high end models, like my Sport above, I don't care for 45ACP P220's.

It was the original Sig Sauer 9mm...

[PALADIN85020]

I've had this P220 since January, 1998. I like it because it's proven to be 100% reliable with any .45 ACP I feed it, and it's as easy to use as a revolver; works pretty much the same way so my wife is comfortable using it also.

This particular gun, factory equipped with Trijicon sights, was featured as one of the subjects of my book 101 Classic Firearms. By the way, that book is still available from Dillon Precision, and sales are high each Christmas season for those wishing to give one or more as a gift or gifts.

John

[JayFramer]

Some absolute BEAUTS in this thread! Love ‘em, gang!

Anyone tried the E2 grips on there’s? Thinking on having SIG install some for me when I send mine in for the factory overhaul and night sights when I get back from this deployment.

[Andyd]

I have an earlier SIG Sauer P220 in 9mm, the trigger is so much nicer than the abominable DAK.

[505Gibbs]

I added adj. sights from Millet as well as grips from Karl Nill. Additionally, I had Barsto make up & fit a 400 Corbon barrel.