Any Sig Sauer P220 Fans?
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The SIG P220 has been my favorite double action auto-loader since it's introduction to America in the 1970s
When the choice has been mine, a SIG P220 has been on my hip since 1977
When the choice has been mine, a SIG P220 has been on my hip since 1977
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I've had one for long time and shoot only cast bullets in it. Probably as accurate as an accurate 1911.
Jingles
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SC_Mike
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I've owned a few. Top one's only one left in my safe.
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Brian in Oregon
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I bought a SIG P220 .45 in 1986. It's been the primary home defense handgun for 30 years now. The slide finish is worn, though the frame looks almost new. The tritium lamps went dead long ago. The checkering on the grips is smooth, and original replacements are apparently made of Unobtanium. SIG offers a slide refinishing service and can do a tuneup on older guns, replacing all springs, and installing new lamps. Might sent it in. The P227, the fatter brother of the P220, will become the new home defense handgun. If anyone is wondering, yes, the slides and barrels interchange.
My son has a police surplus P220. It's been totally reliable for him.
I also have the "Baby P220", which is a P225 9mm. The P220 came in 9mm at one time, but there was demand for the same gun in a smaller package, particularly from the West German police, so SIG scaled down the P220.
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CustomChevyGuy
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I was just coming to the "Firearms Knives Other Brands" thread to post a question about the Sig P220. I handled one a year or two ago, and really like how it felt in my hand. It was marked as a P220C, but was larger than my P30. I believe it had the Nitron finish, which I kind of liked.
The other day while I was waiting to pick up my silencer, the gun shop had 2 of them in the same case. Both were simply marked Sig P220, .45 acp but they were NOT the same gun.
The first one looked and felt like the one I handled previously, a bit bigger but very comfortable. The handle was full size and felt great in my hand. It had a standard rail on it, and a two piece wrap around grip, and decocker
The second one had a smaller grip, which wasn't comfortable for me. It seemed to either be a 1 piece or maybe even a molded part of the gun itself. It had a rail but was curved rather than a standard rail.
Any idea what the differences in these 2 Sig P220s? Besides the $150 on the price tag? Is it just a newer model of the P220?
Anything to look out for?
The other day while I was waiting to pick up my silencer, the gun shop had 2 of them in the same case. Both were simply marked Sig P220, .45 acp but they were NOT the same gun.
The first one looked and felt like the one I handled previously, a bit bigger but very comfortable. The handle was full size and felt great in my hand. It had a standard rail on it, and a two piece wrap around grip, and decocker
The second one had a smaller grip, which wasn't comfortable for me. It seemed to either be a 1 piece or maybe even a molded part of the gun itself. It had a rail but was curved rather than a standard rail.
Any idea what the differences in these 2 Sig P220s? Besides the $150 on the price tag? Is it just a newer model of the P220?
Anything to look out for?
Brian in Oregon
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CustomChevyGuy, the P220 has undergone a lot of changes over the years.
The one in my post above is from 1986. It has the stamped sheetmetal slide (which was state of the art aircraft technology at the time). The breechblock is held in with a doubled roll pin. The muzzle area is electron beam welded in place. The older grip you liked is probably like mine.
The P220 slides today are made in the USA and are machined from a solid steel billet. They are stronger but weigh a bit more. Currently the grip is a one piece ergonomic grip, which is a love/hate affair, apparently. I like both the early and the later grips, but some hate the later grips. Right now it is the only plastic grip option on the P220, but two piece wood grips, and there are Hogue G10 grips available. Hogue is making most if not all of the wood and G10 grips for SIG.
P220 Nitron Full-Size
This is an example of the latest version with the one piece ergonomic grip.
As a generality, you should be able to put a two piece grip on a model that has a one piece grip. However, my P227 is early enough it lacks the screw holes in the frame and requires adapters. I don't know it the P220 always had screws or if the early one piece grip models lacked the screw holes. Take the magazine out and see if you see two screw holes on the frame on either side of the mag well.
You can see all of the current factory grip styles for the P220 here:
P220 | Sig Sauer
SIG has some plastic grips available:
Black Grip Set, Black Polymer, P220 SLIM FIT, 2-Piece | Parts
FDE Grip Set, Flat Dark Earth, P220 (As Used On Combat) | Parts
The above will fit later model SIGs with the slim mainspring housing. They WILL NOT fit an older SIG like mine with the larger mainspring housing.
Hogue has a plethora of grips for the P220:
Hogue Inc.
Edit: You mentioned a "standard rail" on one of the SIGs. You mean a slotted rail or was it just a smooth frame? The reason I ask is the first SIG rails we slotted but unlike a Picatinny the profile had a slight curve to it. This caused complaints and SIG now makes the slotted rail with a flat profile, more like a true Picatinny.
The one in my post above is from 1986. It has the stamped sheetmetal slide (which was state of the art aircraft technology at the time). The breechblock is held in with a doubled roll pin. The muzzle area is electron beam welded in place. The older grip you liked is probably like mine.
The P220 slides today are made in the USA and are machined from a solid steel billet. They are stronger but weigh a bit more. Currently the grip is a one piece ergonomic grip, which is a love/hate affair, apparently. I like both the early and the later grips, but some hate the later grips. Right now it is the only plastic grip option on the P220, but two piece wood grips, and there are Hogue G10 grips available. Hogue is making most if not all of the wood and G10 grips for SIG.
P220 Nitron Full-Size
This is an example of the latest version with the one piece ergonomic grip.
As a generality, you should be able to put a two piece grip on a model that has a one piece grip. However, my P227 is early enough it lacks the screw holes in the frame and requires adapters. I don't know it the P220 always had screws or if the early one piece grip models lacked the screw holes. Take the magazine out and see if you see two screw holes on the frame on either side of the mag well.
You can see all of the current factory grip styles for the P220 here:
P220 | Sig Sauer
SIG has some plastic grips available:
Black Grip Set, Black Polymer, P220 SLIM FIT, 2-Piece | Parts
FDE Grip Set, Flat Dark Earth, P220 (As Used On Combat) | Parts
The above will fit later model SIGs with the slim mainspring housing. They WILL NOT fit an older SIG like mine with the larger mainspring housing.
Hogue has a plethora of grips for the P220:
Hogue Inc.
Edit: You mentioned a "standard rail" on one of the SIGs. You mean a slotted rail or was it just a smooth frame? The reason I ask is the first SIG rails we slotted but unlike a Picatinny the profile had a slight curve to it. This caused complaints and SIG now makes the slotted rail with a flat profile, more like a true Picatinny.
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Ed Fowler
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This is my favorite SIG, a very early 220 single stack 9mm heel release that served in operation desert storm on both sides.
Below is my favorite P 210 Legend Target.
Below is my favorite P 210 Legend Target.
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Arik
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I had the early 220 9mm heel release. It was made in 77 and surplus Geneva Switzerland police gun. Nice gun but it jammed something wicked at the range and I traded it awayThis is my favorite SIG, a very early 220 single stack 9mm heel release that served in operation desert storm on both sides.
Below is my favorite P 210 Legend Target.
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CustomChevyGuy
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Ton of good information in the reply, Thank you!
I think the one that I didn't like might have been a newer Carry version, as it had a bit of a shorter barrel. I personally like the older style with the P220 block script on the grips.
This is a photo of the one I handled previously. I was looking for a 1911 on that trip but the LGS I was at, didn't have any that I was considering. The P220 caught my eye, and I seriously considered getting that instead.
As for the rail section, both looked like they were somewhat curved, but the one with the grip I didnt like had the more noticeable curvature..which is what actually made me look at the two rail sections at all..
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inspcalahan
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Love the 220s - nothing bad to say about them one bit. This one has been around the block a few times. I've posted the same pic before, but it's the only one I have of it for now.
Brian in Oregon
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Ton of good information in the reply, Thank you!
I think the one that I didn't like might have been a newer Carry version, as it had a bit of a shorter barrel. I personally like the older style with the P220 block script on the grips.
This is a photo of the one I handled previously. I was looking for a 1911 on that trip but the LGS I was at, didn't have any that I was considering. The P220 caught my eye, and I seriously considered getting that instead.
That one has the slimmer two piece grips with the stippled finish and gun model on it. SIG says they will not fit the very early guns. The one piece ergonomic grips (often referred to as the E2 grips) are even slimmer.
The slotted rail has a rounded profile. Most Picatinny accessories will fit it, but some may be loose. This is why SIG has gone to a flat rail design on the latest guns.
I think that is the one piece slide, not the earlier one. You need to look at the other side of the slide near the muzzle to see if it references Germany or if it only has the New Hampshire markings.
SIG Sauer Proof Marks and Date Codes - Real Gun Reviews
SIG is changing the EXETER NH marking to NEWINGTON NH marking on the latest guns.
Goodbye 'Exeter' markings: Sig Sauer to change roll marks
The P220 in your pic at $670 seems to me to be a bit high for used, especially if it does not have tritium night sights or if they are getting dim. Check that, and bargain accordingly or get them to install a fresh set. Having said that, prices vary regionally and even by state. In states that restrict new guns for state compliance, older ones can fetch a premium. Also, how many extra mags? All SIGs ship with two mags, so if only one mag, a replacement is around $40 to $50.
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CustomChevyGuy
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That pic is from a year or two ago, not the one I saw earlier this week. It definitely said Germany, as I vividly remembering my dad laughing and saying how I always liked the German guns, referencing my affinity for the H&K I carry.
I doubt that exact gun is still at the shop, being that it's an old photo. The tritium sights were still visible. I really liked how the trigger felt. H&K mags run about the same price range, so that's not a shock.
I'm blessed to live in Florida, sometimes referred to as the Gun-shine state. We've been lucky enough not to have to worry about the state compliance, or any capacity limits..so far.
Cocked & Locked
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Just one...
Brian in Oregon
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Keep in mind it is possible to have the frame made in Germany but the slide made in the USA.
Arik
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Depending on age yes. It started late 90s and lasted into the mid 00s. Now it's all done here. Since 2000 SIG Sauer Inc (USA) has been organizationally separate from manufacturer SIG Sauer GmbH (SwissArms)
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The SIG P220 has been my favorite double action auto-loader since it's introduction to America in the 1970s
When the choice has been mine, a SIG P220 has been on my hip since 1977
]
Those bullets look like SWCs. My son had a 220 and a 227 and they wouldn't feed 200 gr. SWCs. Did you do anything extra to get them to feed or was he just unlucky? The same load has always worked like a dream in my 1967 Colt. Larry
samnev
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My favorite 45 ACP. I own 2 a West German and a stainless steel railed model. Both have performed flawlessly.
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