Is my 3 lb full sized semi auto pistol obsolete?

[bushmaster1313]

Before New Jersey carry permit was even a remote possibility, I acquired an all stainless stainless Sig P226 that weighs just over 3 lbs fully loaded. It quickly became my favorite range gun and the gun I would rely on at home if the need should arise.

But know New Jersey has carry permits and I practice with a pocket sized P365, carry it often and gave it at the ready at home. Seems like the P226 is obsolete.

 

[robertrwalsh]

There is a difference between obsolete and no longer fits your needs. I USED to carry a 1911 government model 35 years ago. I now carry a Sprignfield EMP. Everybody gets older and available equipment changes. The 1911 still works, in fact I shot it at a Steel Challenge match Saturday with iron sights and full-power ammo. Not as fast as the guys with double-stack nines and electronic sights, but I was still hitting what I was shooting at with no problem.

 

[Marshal Tom]

No and heck no! The P365 is a fine gun for carry because it is light weight , small and concealable. None of those features make it ideal for a HD firearm. At home, weight, barrel length and overall size don't matter and in many ways is an advantage to more accurate shooting. No one gun fits all the various criteria well. that's why some of us own several, me included!

 

[Rich Richardson]

I EDC a Sig 229 40 cal in a good holster. I don't notice it after 15 minutes. It's the gun I'm most accurate with.

 

[Racer X]

I have an aluminum framed P226 in 40 as my home gun with a light/laser. Nothing obsolete at all.

My carry is a Taurus G2C in 40, which is made to use Sig P doublestack magazines.

 

[rwsmith]

Not obsolete one bit....

... but it wouldn't make a good cc gun in my book. Home and range......heck yeah.

 

[chief38]

Before New Jersey carry permit was even a remote possibility, I acquired an all stainless stainless Sig P226 that weighs just over 3 lbs fully loaded. It quickly became my favorite range gun and the gun I would rely on at home if the need should arise.

But know New Jersey has carry permits and I practice with a pocket sized P365, carry it often and gave it at the ready at home. Seems like the P226 is obsolete.

While the P226 might be sort of obsolete for EDC / CCW, it is still a viable house and range gun. I agree that 3 pounds is a ridiculously heavy weight to tote around all day but if shoot it well and still like it, designate it for a nightstand gun, extra house gun or a fun gun.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

As a Life member of SNM-Sons of Neanderthal Man-I like my handguns to have heft, recoil dampening weight. If you are weight sensitive I recommend pumping iron. Thinks of how much the LEOs have to carry. IMHO lighter handguns are for summer wear where concealment is more of a problem.

 

[clang444]

Yes, definitely obsolete. Please send it to me for proper disposal.

: )



.

 

[Imissedagain]

Not sure which trigger you have, but Steel is Real.
The only downside is it ain't an adult caliber that
starts with a 45.
Not as good for local concealed, in South Florida, but a great fighting gun, as I have been told by IDF friends and others.
I carry an M59 at times, with fishing jacket or long shirt and overalls.

 

[BabaBlueJay]

Obsolete? No. Ideal for carry? Also no.

 

[alwslate]

Any 3 lb gun for SD carry seems a bit silly. Obsolete, maybe not. Five buckle overshoes are not really obsolete but you wouldn't want to wear them every where you go

 

[BAM-BAM]

No....... great "Service" auto

I have a all stainless steel 220 for the range; a alloy frame 220 for carry and a compact 245 for concealed carry

I regularly carry a 15+1 Beretta 92 Compact IWB or OWB

The 365 I'm told is a great EDC; I still carry a S&W 3913NL at 7+1 about 30 oz loaded.

 

[ladder13]

After carrying an LCP MAX all summer even my P365 now seems heavy.

 

[malph]

No. It's not. It's just heavy.

 

[M29since14]

The gun was never intended to be the type one would wear on his belt for anything except a shooting competition. You've got the best of both worlds - a very nice range gun that's as good as it ever was, and an excellent gun for daily use. Neither "obsolete."

 

[CH4]

Definitely not obsolete. Personal preferences change. Not sure how much it weighs, but I am currently in my office with my P220 riding in a shoulder holster.

 

[Shibadog]

As the folks have said, while it's a chunk for daily carry it's a great pistol. Typically a larger heavier pistol is easier to shoot well than a smaller one, esp when they're in the same caliber. For range/HD it's ideal. A longer barrel will also typically give higher velocity/more energy than a smaller gun with the same ammo. I've carried a J frame for a loonnggg time, but the gun at home is. cZ75 (or 1911 .45). I can hit a lot better with either at 20 yards than I can with the j. Different horses for different course…

 

[BB57]

As others have said, larger service sized pistols are almost always easier to shoot than a lighter weight compact pistol.

For most shooters that means better accuracy, better rate of (accurate) fire, and a greater likelihood they will shoot more often, with a higher levels of proficiency as a result.

In my experience way too many people get hung up on all the wrong things, encouraged by "experts" who make money of product promotion and teaching a long series of tactical pistol and self defense courses. Proficiency isn't something you can buy by getting "the best" pistol, or by attending a course.

Get (or keep using) a pistol that fits your hand well, meaning one you can grip in the holster, draw and bring to eye level with the sights in view and more or less aligned. Then practice with it, drawing or bringing it up from a low ready position into your line of sight, placing the front blade on target, and then pausing to align the front sight in the rear sight, and then maintaining that sight alignment while you press the trigger.

It's slow initially. However with repetition the muscles in your hands know exactly how they have to tension in order to align the sights and at that point sight alignment for all tactical pistol purposes becomes an automatic and unconscious act. Your pause then gets shorter until it only serves to verify the front sight is on target and the target still needs to be shot.

Unfortunately way too many people try to fast forward to shooting fast without ever mastering the basic essentials of grip, sight picture and trigger control.

When that happens, these shooters start looking for a "better" pistol in hopes of providing an equipment solution to what is really a skills deficiency.

It's not the guy who gets the first shot off who prevails in a self defense situation, or even the guy who gets the first hit. It's the guy who gets the first effective hit.

—-

Lighter weight isn't all sunshine and rainbows. There's never a free lunch, and a pistol or revolver that is small, light, and easy to carry almost always has downsides when it comes to shooting both accurately and rapidly, especially in a substantial cartridge.

—-

Carrying a 35-40 oz pistol comfortably all day long isn't difficult, it just requires a well made concealed carry belt and holster.

 

[Racer X]

While the P226 might be sort of obsolete for EDC / CCW, it is still a viable house and range gun. I agree that 3 pounds is a ridiculously heavy weight to tote around all day but if shoot it well and still like it, designate it for a nightstand gun, extra house gun or a fun gun.

I've never weighed an all stainless P226, but the aluminum framed P226 is about 1.75 pounds.