The SIG Sauer P220 is a piece of masterful artwork.
The first of the legendary P series of handguns from SIG Sauer introduced one of the most well made modern semi-automatic pistols in the world. The SIG P220 was designed in 1975 and has remained a mainstay of the SIG Sauer lineup.
The P220 is a big boy that fires a big caliber and makes a big impression.
So we’ll give it the big-time attention it needs right now:
Inside the SIG P220
The SIG Sauer P220 is a semi-automatic handgun chambered in 45 ACP with a DA/SA trigger system and a decocker except for their single-action pistols, and DAK or DA only designs. This is a very standard P220, and an old one. This is a West German marked model. Internet wisdom says the West German models are superior, but I don’t have a modern version to compare it to.
The P220 is a big heavy gun that holds a low eight rounds. The gun is a product of its time being two pounds, being 1.5 inches thick, and carrying only eight rounds. Back in the 1970s the idea of a high capacity firearm was only really gaining ground, and the 45 ACP still required a reliable and most importantly thin single stack magazine. It should also be noted most police forces were still knee-deep in revolvers, at least in the United States. The SIG P220 offered two more rounds than most police revolvers.
The P220 was initially built with a heel magazine release, but SIG Sauer was wise enough to jump to a standard push-button magazine release. The gun was initially imported into the United States as the Browning BDA but eventually became the proper SIG P220.
These days, the P220 comes in a wide variety of different variants including a railed model, a smaller carry model, a compact, a Combat, and an ST model. These all have slight differences, and of course, SIG introduced a Legion variant of the P220 to go with that line. The P220 is still a legendary gun and has a huge fan base.
On the Range
This is a well worn SIG P220, but not in a bad way. It’s smooth as butter. The slide feels like it’s on ball bearings and it glides rearward. The mag release, decocker, and more are smooth. Smoother than Prince in Purple Rain. This particular model is quite broken in if I do say so myself.
Let’s talk trigger first and I was impressed to find the internals may have been modded. I say this because the trigger is just fantastic. Either it’s been modded, or the gun is at that perfect level of smooth wear. The double-action is long but not very heavy, and it moves smoothly and grit-free. The single-action trigger should be on the cover of the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue because it is hot.
The trigger pull is smooth and ridiculously light. If you’ve ever heard the phrase, “The trigger should surprise you.” Well, this trigger will surprise you. It barely resists your finger as it travels rearward. The travel is short, as is the reset. Once you pop off that first double-action round, you transition seamlessly into the single action.
The single-action makes rapid double taps a breeze and it’s even more comfortable due to the weight of the weapon. The gun is 2 pounds of metal, and it eats up the 45 ACP’s recoil. The same could be said for that fat and round grip of the gun. It makes the recoil soft and enjoyable. The 45 ACP isn’t precisely a fierce hand cannon but its no rimfire plinker, either.
The muzzle rise isn’t significant and staying on target isn’t an issue. This is a full-sized duty gun so there is an expectation that the gun will be easy to control. It fits the bill well.
The only real downside is the magazine well feels super narrow. Maybe I’m double stack spoiled but the magazine well is super small, and it takes me a few fractions of a second longer to reload the SIG P220.
Speaking of magazines, the simple single stack mags work well and feed reliably. My example came with three magazines that were equally as worn as the SIG P220, yet they function brilliantly. The best way to describe this big-bore beauty is brilliant. It’s a well made, easy shooting piece of Swiss and German engineering.
The SIG P220 is an excellent gun, although as a full-sized duty gun it feels a bit behind the curve. The low capacity is overshadowed by 45 ACPs like the SIG P227 and the FNX Tactical. Overall the SIG p220 has remained part of SIG’s P series for a reason. The gun works are well supported by the industry and its the grandparent of the SIG P series. There doesn’t seem to be any plans to put Granpa in the retiring home anytime soon.
AND?
What do you think of the SIG P220? Sound off in the comments, we want to hear from you!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Travis Pike is a former Marine Machine gunner who served with 2nd Bn 2nd Marines for 5 years. He deployed in 2009 to Afghanistan and again in 2011 with the 22nd MEU(SOC) during a record-setting 11 months at sea. Travis has trained with the Romanian Army, the Spanish Marines, the Emirate Marines, and the Afghan National Army.
He serves as an NRA certified pistol instructor and pursues a variety of firearms based hobbies.
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Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Travis Pike and the CrossBreed Blog with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
I haven’t tried out a west German model, but the phrase “Internet wisdom” is the worlds biggest oxymoron, and I have a real hard time believing they are even as good as the newer models. I’d have to hear a real reason to even consider it ( I haven’t heard one), and run one to know, but I’m willing to bet the price of 5 Sigs it’s just the same old story of gun owners validating their purchase; which is 99.9% the cause of any gun disagreement anyways. Anyways, I just have to disagree about the P220 being behind the times based on one factor repeated nonstop: It’s a single stack… Yes it is, but nobody aside from military and 1 in a 100k police officers will EVER need more than 9 rounds of .45 acp in their lifetime. Nope. Not gonna happen, and if it ever even becomes a possibility, you’re making some terrible life choices and you need an AR15 or a 12 gauge. The P220 is the best combination of reliability, accuracy and point-ability, out of the box you’re going to find, and having a brick sized grip bursting at the seems with extra rounds uncomfortably clutched in your hand isn’t a real world advantage. I like my Glock 21, but I love my Sig.
I have an early 80’s P226, and a modern MK 25 P226. I can say there is a big difference in fit/feel and I shoot the older gun noticeably better. But the forged slide on the modern gun is said to be inherently stronger.
I own several sig arms p220s and i love them all!! The first one i bought was in 1990. It is a plan jane 7 round mag, no rail on the body but it still shoots just a good as the day i got it. I has shot at least 10,000 rounds though it and it always performs with absolutely no issues!!
I have a P220, 226 and 230. I have owned these weapons for years and have fired hundreds of rounds through each one, never had a problem with any of them. All were very accurate out of the box. Easy to tear down and clean. My choice will always be a Sig.
I’ll be purchasing a sig within 60 days!
Carried a 220 on duty for most of my 30 year career. Started with the original with the heel release. Shoots as good as my Gold I Cup. Reliable beyond belief. It will even feed empty cases My opinion it’s the best defensive pistol ever made.
If George Patton had been a police officer he would have said “ the P220 is the greatest duty implement ever devised”.
I have two p220 as well as p2226 and p230. The first 220 was an imported Browning BDA. From a sandbag rest it outperformed my Colt Gold Cup. Though it has a “heel” mag release I still have it and it still shoots great. The second p220 has a rail and matches the other in performance (excellent).
I have owned a P220 for many years. Mine had a fixed front sight and I sent it to Sig with a check. They milled off the sight,dovetailed it, recoated and put in a new adjustable sight for a very small fee. I love .45acp and my P
I have owned a P220 for many years. Mine had a fixed front sight and I sent it to Sig with a check. They milled off the sight,dovetailed it, recoated and put in a new adjustable sight for a very small fee. I love .45acp and my P220 is one of the reasons.
With my limited knowledge, experience, and skills, it seems to me that you really can’t go wrong with any of the P Series. IMHO. They seem to me to be like the proverbial fine wine: the more rounds you put down range, the smoother the trigger gets. Add the Short Reset and you really can’t go wrong. German Engineering has Earned its well deserved reputation, second only to Mr Sam.
sigs are great pistols i have a west german sig p 220 i like it they shoot smoth and are very accurte pistols i woud never get rid of mine