Eisenherz

I just got my claws on a SIG 220, 45ACP,Standard for $750 out-the-door.
I haven't fired it yet though. I've researched 45ACP's for a few months. 1911's looked nice but most just didn't fit my hand. Plus I read alot of hype about them. I understand every gun owner usually thinks their gun is the best and wants to brag, but something about the 1911 crowd just threw me off. Don't get me wrong, I've seen some beautiful 1911's.
I went with the SIG because I have a Glock 22, HK USP9mm, and Beretta 92. I wanted to diversify to get a taste of all the best.
My first impressions of the SIG are as follows:

WOW!!! thats all I can say. I usually get aftermarket grips for any pistol I shoot, but with the SIG I honestly don't think I will. The gun fits me like a glove. I looked at a Glock 21, but the grips were very uncomfortable and big for me, and I've got fairly large hands. It just didn't seem controlable
for me. The SIG 220 points and pulls up like a dream. The only real gripe I have thus far, is the finish. I stripped the gun down to give it a pre-game clean tonight and I noticed that some of the finish was worn on the bottom of the breach block. Had I put some rounds through it already, I wouldn't be that suprised, but the gun thusfar is unfired (asside from the factory test) I was aware the some SIGs had a reputation for finish problems, but I got the gun to shoot, not to hang off a chain around my neck.
I'll post again after my first day at the range.

JHP

I've had the 220 in 9mm for a few years now and as I've said on other posts it has never had a failure of any kind. I have 2 1911's (Which by the way are still my favorite style of pistol) and a CZ 85 combat. They are all great guns, but I agree with you that the 220 is a fabulous gun. Super accurate and a great single action trigger. Not to offend anyone but I prefer it in every way over a Glock except as far as reliability. I know the two are often compared. The double action first pull is heavier than the CZ but with practice It can be mastered.

BOSS

Eisenherz,

You will not be disappointed. $ for $ the best .45 on the market. It has been called 'the thinking man's .45' for a reason. I too have 1911's (some nice ones too) in 9mm, 38 super, 9x23, .40 and .45, and they are definitely fine guns. But for real world use, especially in the DA platform, the 220 is 'it'. An approx. 26 oz. 45 that is as reliable and rugged as they come and exceptionally accurate, what's not to love? It would be one of my first picks for CCW. If you like most 220 owners, you will soon become a devoted and loyal user. Congrats on a wise purchase. Just avoid +P ammo usage.

Give us a range report.

Regards, stay safe,
BOSS

spcwes

Why stay away from the +p ammo? I just got into a new Sig 220 with the rail and I have to admit I have never thought it necessary to use +p for any of my firearms but just curious. Any info from the company against it? There is I think a 200gr +p Gold Dot that I was considering that is why I was asking. 8)

M. Hall

Heck-the .45 doesn't need to be +p to work well anyway, but I did use every form of defensive
ammo looking for the most reliable and accurate rounds out of my P220, including many +p's.
I have well over 20k through mine, and have only had to replace springs. Great guns even
though mine just sits in the safe anymore....

Eisenherz

I shot my 220 for the first time today....i wasn't really all that impressed thus far. HOWEVER
The recoil and noise were very un-noticable. The Glock 21 kicked much harder. I dunno about everyone elses, but my 220 has the noise level comparable to a 40s&w with the same or less recoil.
In all fairness, I remember my glock and HK both were not all that accurate off the bat, but once I got used to shooting it (and perhaps they got broken in), I could drive tacks with them both. I think the sig will be extraordinary once its been shot a few more times and I have time to adjust to the sights and so on. Also, I was using a rather cheap ammo that the dealer gave to me as a "extra" for buying the SIG. I'm going to get some different ammo for the next range day. Are there any suggestions? (that won't make my wallet cry)???

JHP

I too found that I wasn't hitting when I first got my 220, although my son said it was the most accurate of all our guns when he shot it. After 2-300 rounds and after seeing where it hit I made the adjustments and have to say it's a tack driver.Get a few hundred rounds through it and I assure you you'll see the same. Unlike many producers Sig's are amazingly consistent as far as accuracy goes, so get used to the gun and you will see those groups tighten up. By the way I use Winchester Winclean ammo with good results.

M. Hall

Practice, practice and more practice.....especially if you are used to using
other trigger systems. I usually use Winchester JHP's-the plain janer's.

f4tweet

I have a P-220 and one of the first things I did was to black out the front sight dot . I found I was chasing the dots instead of concentrating on the front sight profile. I thought one of the reasons that Sig went to a #22 spring instead of the older #16 was so Police could use + P ammo. FWIW

Eisenherz

Here is a Picture (though horrible) but you can still tell, of the finish problems I was talking about in the HK forum...
http://www.geocities.com/decemstein/IMGA0278.JPG

I really don't want to contact SIG over the whole thing. I heard it can get messy after a while. Like I said, I got it to shoot, not wear as a piece of jewelry...ha but still for a gun in the 700$ new range, I expected a bit more durability. As long as the rest of the gun doesn't follow the example set by the finish, I'll be one very happy camper....and armed camper...
Oh yes , as far as the sites go, I half-assed fixed them. Rather than drop the bucks for a different sight system, I got my hands on some nice bright car paint for fixing scratches and such. I put a dab on each side of the rear sight and on the front sight. I'm more accustomed to that combo. It helped me out alot in sighting to shoot.

BOSS

Eisenherz & Others,

Sorry, been away for a few days.

As to the +P ammo, as far as I've ever read, and I believe this include's Ayoob's SIG book (unless he's changed his opinion recently), you'll want to avoid +P's in the 220 due to it's alloy frame. In the 90's SIG beefed it up for better durability, but it is still something most knowledgable folks would recommend you avoid. If you want to shoot alotta +P .45, the all-stainless 220ST is the ticket. As another poster pointed out, the .45 does pretty well in standard pressure format. Look at most of the top rated rounds, including the 230 HydraShok, standard pressure. I also think highly of the Winchester SXT standard pressure load, and am a real fan of the Federal Classic 185 HiShok JHP. The last is a real tack driver from my 220's, with extremely light recoil and a good trajectory.

As to not being impressed thus far, that will definitely put you in the minority of 220 owners. But I think the more you get used to it, the more you will like it. It took me about 15 years worth of shooting to come to appreciate SIG's. They are great guns. But like anything, not everybody loves the same thing. Alotta folks love HK's, or Glocks, or whatever. They're all good. Whatever works for you.

Regards, stay safe,
BOSS