Thoughts on the SIG P 220 CARRY..

ditrina · Jun 9, 2015

I have really no knowledge of this gun.. other than it's a .45 ACP.. Trade in.. There is one for sale at the LGS.. all the usual stuff Box, Paper, three mags..

Not concerned about the price as I am about the gun.. Reliable? Easy to carry?.. all the " Stuff" needed to make a good decision.

I'll be able to get some range time before hand.. to see if it fits.. but always welcome input..

Thanks

Derosa · Jun 9, 2015

Stone reliable. A bit heavy by polymer standards, but, well able to handle the recoil. Use a quality belt & holster & you will be good to go. I say the same for any third gen S&W, too. Just my two cents.

federali · Jun 9, 2015

Good Guns

Based upon my extensive experience carrying SIG 226s, 228s and 225s, I would not hesitate to own and use a SIG 220.

SC_Mike · Jun 9, 2015

I owned two used P220 Carry's. A SAS model and the Carry Elite Dark. I put new springs in both and wouldn't hesitate to carry either into a bad situation. I found both a little heavy to carry but they both were flawless and more accurate than I. Also the Carry and Full size share the same 8 round mags, just an fyi.

I kept the P220 standard, all German full size because it was made the same year my son was born. KC=1992 shown here with test target.

gutterman · Jun 9, 2015

I had a p220 stainless and sold it. Now I wish I hadn't. It is still at the LGS with a $895 pricetag. The only reason I did sell was it is a bit big and heavy to carry. I opted for a compact 45 but the 220 is an awesome weapon.

okiegtrider · Jun 9, 2015

I carried one as duty gun for a few years. Great pistol. Accurate, reliable and tough. Hardly a hideout gun or my first pic for concealed carry, but one darn good pistol. Like another or two others said here, wish I still had mine.

Ivan the Butcher · Jun 9, 2015

I have two 220's and a 245, now called a 220 Compact. To prove a point, I carried the 245 in a Galco Small Of the Back and both 220's in a belly band at the same time to church on Sunday. That was more weight than I like, but nothing like a book bag or heave woman's purse! But, several of my friends know I carry at church and keep on the lookout, they never noticed! BTW just to further prove the point I carried 3 spare mags, 2 in the band and one in a belt pouch!

My preferred ammo is Federal 230 grain Hydra-shok. These guns have fed it without stoppage for 22 years on the first 220, 19 on the second and 19 on the 245. Accuracy has exceeded me constantly, I have gotten 1.5" full mag groups at 10 yards. They shoot my cast target rounds very well also. Ivan

fyimo · Jun 9, 2015

Sig's are extremely reliable pistols and the P220 Carry has a shorter slide and barrel than the regular P220. I have both a Sig P220 and a Sig P220 Carry SAO (Single Action Only) and they are both excellent shooters and accurate. The P220 Carry is the most accurate of the two and it is actually my most accurate Sig as I own 7 Sig's total. The SAO trigger contributes to the accuracy as it's the best trigger Sig offers.

Sig P220 with a few Mod's

Sig P220R SAO

colt_saa · Jun 9, 2015

Since 1977, if the choice was mine, a member of the P220 family was in my holster.

I do own a couple P220 Carrys. They are agency guns that were built on the SAO Elite frame with the beaver tail. My only photo is of my unfired one.

My preference is for the longer barrels, but they are all great pistols. The fact that you can shoot before buying is a great thing, I am certain you will enjoy it.

tops · Jun 9, 2015

My son has one and it feeds all kinds of ball and hollow points that we have tried but it is not reliable with our reloaded SWCs. He just uses ball and HPs and it is very reliable. The decocking lever is only a decocking lever and not a combination safety and we like that. We also like the first shot DA so it is as safe to carry as a revolver. Neither or us have a problem with the first shot DA and the rest SA. We both think it is a super pistol. Larry edit: The one my son has is a regular 220 and not the carry.

Stirling · Jun 10, 2015

I would have no hesitation carrying a P220. I've found the .45 very accurate.

colt_saa, is that a 10mm SIG with the MP5 and is it also in 10mm?

colt_saa · Jun 10, 2015

Stirling said:
colt_saa, is that a 10mm SIG with the MP5 and is it also in 10mm?

Yes, they are both 10MM

Shorty 45 MK2 · Jun 10, 2015

It's a good reliable TDA .45 that I would not hesitate to use for SD or range fun. Personally I'd go with the compact or full size, but the carry is not bad either. I have a friend who prefer's it over the full size.

Arik · Jun 10, 2015

Generally they are reliable. They can be picky about mags so stick with OEM, no Promags or similar.

The 220 is like the S&W 4566

I'm not sure when the 220 carry came out. There was about a decade, between 04/05 & 13 where their quality dropped across the board. You either got a good gun or you didn't. There was restructuring, outsourcing of small components, faster and cheaper manufacturing. If you were the type to shoot a box or two every month you wouldn't notice the problems. But if you did high volume shooting they showed up pretty quickly. At one point the Secret Service dropped all Sigs when they started experiencing frame cracks around 5-10k rounds. The Sig Patrol rifle V1 was desester, even for the casual civilian shooter.

Either way the old CEO is out, a new one in, quality has seemed to be getting better and consistent. I tend to stick with the old German ones.

I have shot every 45acp ammo (standard pressure) I could get my hands on and the gun just eats them up, including steel case. My only complaint about the steel case is that the mag won't fit more than 4 or 5. I'm not sure if it's the mags or the dimensions of the steel case or both but they stop at 4 or 5 (can't remember) and you can't fit any more, which doesn't bother me since it's range ammo

One more thing. If it's the older German one you should stay away from +P ammo.

Stirling · Jun 10, 2015

colt_saa said:
Yes, they are both 10MM

That my good man is very cool!!!

I've read about 10mm SIG P220 conversions in the past but I believe they're now being made by SIG. The MP5 must be quite a heavy hitter.

Mainsail · Jun 10, 2015

The P245 (no longer made) is pretty much the same gun as the P220 Carry, only it used a folded slide vs the milled slide on the P220. The folded slide is a bit lighter, and that makes the P245 more desirable to some people.

I had looked for YEARS for a P245 in decent condition for a fair price- saw one in a local gun shop that looked like it had been used as a wheel chock and they wanted over $800. Bite me. Summit just got a few P245s in but I think I'm going to let them pass- liking the P320 series for their greater capacity and lighter weight.

The P220 will not disappoint- they're solid reliable pistols in a strong caliber.

colt_saa · Jun 10, 2015

tops said:
My son has one and it feeds all kinds of ball and hollow points that we have tried but it is not reliable with our reloaded SWCs. He just uses ball and HPs and it is very reliable. The decocking lever is only a decocking lever and not a combination safety and we like that. We also like the first shot DA so it is as safe to carry as a revolver. Neither or us have a problem with the first shot DA and the rest SA. We both think it is a super pistol. Larry edit: The one my son has is a regular 220 and not the carry.

Larry,
Where is your reliability issue? Feeding, Ejecting? Cycling?

I have found the opposite to be true.

Every P220 that I have owned or my family has owned shoots my hand loaded 45ACP SWCs with no problems. Straight out of the box, no mods to the firearm.

Now I have been loading the H&G #68 since the late seventies. I have never tried a different SWC. The projectile is seated so the driving bands are just at the case mouth (as you can see in the picture in my previous post) and then a very slight taper crimp is used.

The load is 5.5 grains of 231.

loc n load · Jun 10, 2015

+1 for the 220

I have a lot of duty carry/training with and instructing experience with the Sig pistol....228,229. I have three personal 45 Sig's, a 220 DA/SA, A SAO & a 245 ( I haven't carried all three of mine simultaneously like Ivan has, but it's a thought.

) I have owned them for years and ran a considerable # of rounds thru them. If I am going to carry a metal frame pistol, then it will be one of my Sigs. The Indiana State Police recently transitioned to the Sig 227 which is the double stack version of the 220. The troops I have talked to regarding it are most happy.
The Sig 220 IMO is a great pistol and will serve you well.

JayAychOh · Jun 10, 2015

I don't own a P220, but have shot and carried P226's of comparable size and weight off and on for 25 years. I'm carrying the slightly smaller M11A1 today. I wouldn't hesitate to trust a P220.

M29since14 · Jun 10, 2015

colt_saa said:
Every P220 that I have owned or my family has owned shoots my hand loaded 45ACP SWCs with no problems. Straight out of the box, no mods to the firearm.

Now I have been loading the H&G #68 since the late seventies. I have never tried a different SWC...

Same here. Even the #130 has worked fine for me. I've never seen a SIG 220 that would not feed #68s. It would be an oddity, IMO.

I've never fired a 220 Carry. My only objections to the 220 (in general) are the high-ish bore axis, which most people don't seem to care much about or even notice, and the lack of a thumb safety. To me, compared to having a 1911 in your hand, the 220 seems like you are shooting a railroad trestle.

Nevertheless, a good gun.

Thoughts on the SIG P 220 CARRY..

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