The Sig-Sauer P220

[PALADIN85020]

I've had one of these fine pistols for a number of years. I bought the one illustrated here in 1998, and outside of an initial break-in firing, I haven't used it much since. It serves as my bedside pistol now for a couple of reasons. First, it operates much like a revolver - point and shoot. There is no manual safety. You can fire it either double or single action, again, just like a revolver. I'm in the process of writing an article about the P220, and recently took it out on the range to really wring it out. First and foremost, the gun is totally reliable. I burned up several boxes of .45 ACP - hardball, hollow points, in varying grain weight and power level. Not once did this gun stutter. Secondly, the factory tritium sights were right on with most loads, and very close indeed with some of the lightweight bullets. It feels good in the hand. I've gained new respect for it. How many of you own one? What's your experience with it?

 

[cmort666]

They're decent guns, although too big for my hands, as most true double action autos in .45/10mm are. I wouldn't buy any handgun that REQUIRED me to shoot two handed, as these and S&W .45s and 10mms do.

Back in the late '80s or early '90s I knew at least one Berea, Ohio cop who carried one. I don't know if they were issue or not.

 

[Ron H.]

Sir, the P220 is a good gun--accurate and reliable, as you note. FWIW, I don't care for the DA/SA trigger, the oddly placed slide stop, or the high bore line. It's not the best choice for those "blessed" with short fingers, either.

JMHO, and YMMV.

Hope this helps, and Semper Fi.

Ron H.

 

[buckeyeshooter1]

I bought one in the late 70's when they were imported under the Browning BDA name with the European "heel" magazine release.

It was 100% reliable and accurate, but a rather bulky 7+1 shot .45 ACP when compared to the 1911.

I have the Browning BDA version also. I've shot only about 100 rounds through it, partly because the Browning version was so limited in production and because I have a bunch of 1911's. The good news is that it feeds any type of bullet profile well, the double action trigger pull is too heavy on mine and the heel release is a bit slow.

 

[anoblefox]

I bought one when the sporting goods had them for $499, I already owned a P226 9mm interarms import. VERY reliable and accurate out of the box.

 

[westcoast362]

I bought three of them when they were Browning BDA's. One in .45acp and two in .38super. I bought the .38's because they only made 700 of them and I thought they would be a good investment. I also have a Sig P-220 in .45.
They are as reliable as any auto I have ever owned. I like the way they feel in my hand, but the double action trigger pull is not the greatest. I would put them at the top of my list for an every day auto.

 

[max]

I bought a used two tone from CDNN several years ago. It came from the Texas DPS and did not appear to have been fired. It is first rate and I have never had a problem. My only complaint is that the slide is very hard to retract as they have a very strong spring. I have fired many of my lead swc reloads without any failures.

 

[Uncle Larry]

I had a 220ST..it was reliable, accurate and fun to shoot. However, it was a little too heavy for every day carry, so I sold it and now have a 220 Carry SAO with Nill grips and factory night sights..it's a dream to carry, scary accurate, eats anything I feed it and is dead nuts reliable...the Nill grips fit my hand perfectly and I'm perfectly satisfied with the trigger and manual of arms....for me, it's the perfect carry/HD gun, but that's JMVHO & YMMV.

 

[jimmyj]

Hi:
Great weapon. My favorite .45 Semi-Auto. One day at the range I let my Wife shoot it. Now its Hers. There is a learning experence here.
Jimmy

 

[mlk18]

I have always thought of the P220 as the "4506-1 of the Sig line". I don't own a Sig but have shot many different models. A few I liked and several I didn't. But if I were to ever buy a Sig, it would be the P220. It was one of the most accurate handguns I have ever shot.

 

[Danny Abernathy]

I have two of them at the present time. One, like yours, serves as my nightstand gun (it came with night sights). It is one of the most accurate and reliable pistols that I have so this is why I keep it near.
Not the most ergonomic gun that I have but I can live with it.
The other I took on a trade and it is still in the box, unfired. I am keeping it for a spare.
Danny A.

 

[586L-Frame]

Hi Paladin,
Great pistols!
I own a Sig P220 Stainless .45acp and a P220 Combat.
They are both very accurate and reliable.
586L-Frame

DLC’s SIG P220 Stainless .45acp.

DLC's Sig P220 Stainless with Hogue Rubber Grips

DLC’s SIG P220 Combat with Black Factory Slim Grips.

x

 

[oldRoger]

I have a 220 SSE w/SRT, when I put the rubber grips on it is almost exactly like my 1076 or 4566 in size, shape, weight, and trigger “feel”. I can carry and use it interchangeably with the S&Ws. It will fit a 4566 holster I have, but the reverse is not true.
It is no more or less reliable than my 3rd gen S&Ws which have been perfectly reliable. It may be a bit more accurate than the Smiths, but I would leave that judgment to the Ransom Rest.
I have replaced the sights with LPA fiber optics and BarSto barrel and now consider it one of my go-to guns

 

[sigp220.45]

I've carried this one on the job every day for almost 19 years. Its been boringly reliable, its more accurate than I am, and with any luck I'll retire with it in a few years. I don't know any other LEOs who have been carrying the same gun for as long, though I'm sure there are some out there.

Plug your ears, 1911philes. Its the best .45 auto ever made.

 

[Center Villian]

I too have the Browning BDA and a P-220. Both are excellent guns. They have both been shot quite a bit and continue to function flawlessly. The P-220 has night sights and a stainless slide, and a laser mounted on the rail. It's the go-to
gun at the house. I like the way they feel in my hands. I shoot them better than my 1911 probably because I shoot them more often.

 

[Len]

Paladin,

I know it sounds like heresy...and...my stock guns were always my 5906TSW, and 4566TSW but then, on a shotgun trade, I picked up a 220 match, and a 226 PE. I was totally unprepared for how good they were. For all the reasons you state.

I don't know how to explain this, but I shoot significantly more accurately with the Sigs, both calibers. All four guns are sighted in exactly the same. I guess the extra barrel length of the 220 match might explain some of it for the 45's, but not for the 9MM comparisons.

It may be just that the Sigs fit my hand better, I really don't know.

The SW 3rd gens will always be favorite, never sell, never trade guns, but the Sigs are my go to for CC and range.

I feel fortunate to have picked up all four, though, I am supremely happy with all of them.

Len

 

[ladder13]

The only Sig I own is this German made P226, purchased back in the late 80's when most folks, including me, knew little of SigSauer.
This gun is incredibly reliable, and will function with any ammo fed it. Way too big for me to carry and is pretty much relegated to the safe. Having said that, it's one of those guns I'll never consider selling.

 

[hberttmank]

I am a fan of Sig pistols, the P220 is a fine 45. Mine has always worked perfect. Here's my 1994 tu-tone.

 

[Wyo]

I've owned three of them over the years. Each time I would think to myself "I really need to get one of those." And I would. Then, about 6 months later, I would think "What am I doing with this thing?" So I would sell it and go through the whole process again a couple of years later. I'm a slow learner. Nothing against the gun, they're very reliable, accurate, etc. But I have smallish hands. They don't fit me very well, and I just never could get used to the high bore line. I found I just didn't carry it or use it much and 1911's just work better for me. So I don't have one right now though I suppose I'll probably get another one in a year or two and go through it all again.

 

[handejector]

Plug your ears, 1911philes. Its the best .45 auto ever made.

Yep.

I've tried to shoot 1911's since I was 14. I could, and did, BUILD a tightened Bullseye gun when in my teens. I love their history, and have owned SCORES of them, from high condition pre WW I Commercial(had the SECOND 1911 shipped to Browning Bros store in Ogden) and militaries, through some FULL blown race guns. I can't shoot them like I know I can shoot, and never warmed up to shooting them. This ain't the Colt forum, so there!

Back in the early 90's, a friend called me and said he just got a bunch of 220's in- did I want one? I wasn't that familiar with one, and he said they're hard to get, a great gun, and I should take one. I nonchalantly replied I hadn't ever thought about one, so I probably didn't need it. He told me he'd send me a NIB 220, I could shoot it, and if I did not like it, clean it and send it back. If I liked it, pay him.
It was a match made in heaven. Perfect for my hand. Took it out behind the house the first evening, and did a lot of aimed and point shooting. WOW!- it was a natural point shooter, hitting bowling pins all the time from the hip or shoulder level.
I've owned at least one ever since. Put some aftermarket grips on one, and couldn't hit a thing from the hip. Back to the factory plastic, and the magic returned.