How accurate is your 9mm SIG 226?

Q

QA Commando

New member
I'm thinking of buying a used 226 9mm and I was able to take it out and bench it at the range. It shot relatively consistent 3" 10 shot groups with 8 out of 10 in about a 2" group. I'm using 124 gr. PMC and Fed American Eagle loads from 15 yds. Is that good, bad, or OK?
 
That's a good group. I'm sure you could do even better with a little practice. If the gun feels right for you, buy it!:)
 
stevetuna,

Without taking anything away from the fine
line of Sig's, and especially the P226; the
P220 .45ACP is simply out standing. I have
trusted my life, and the live's of loved
one's to the P220 since 1988. Stay safe
and shoot straight.

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, Life Member N.R.A.
 
I guess I wasn't real clear in my initial post. The groups I described were shot from a sand bagged rest position on a very stable shooting bench. From that position, I wouldn't expect practice to be an issue. I'd like to use the pistol for target shooting, not for carry, and these groups seem a little large to me.
 
Accuracy

The Federal USA ammo is not especially accurate, according to charts I saw in, I think, a Gun Tests review. They also shot 3" groups, so the marksman and pistol are doing as well as can be expected. I don't recall what brand had the smallest groups, and it did vary a bit by pistol.

I have a P220. The P22x are superb pistols.
 
And if you practice, the groups will get smaller. You need to get real; the P226 isn't intended to be a bull's eye gun. If that's what you want, get a SIG P210-8. The groups you described were fair and could be improved, within limits, with good marksmanship skills and much practice.

From a sandbag rest on a cement shooting position I can ring a 100-yard gong with my P220, P225, P226 and P228. I can do this because the guns are very accurate and I {say it with me now} practice!:rolleyes:
 
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Thanks for the encouragement, and blades, I promise I will continue to practice as often as I can get to the range.

I've done a lot of hand loading and informal bench rest shooting, and I really enjoy finding a pistol's sweet spot for best accuracy. I have a customized Browning HP that consistently shoots 1 to 1 1/2" groups at that range with a hand load tuned for it and a stock out-of-the-box CZ75B that groups between 1 1/2 to 2" with just about any of my handloads. It's not very picky.

I realize that I'm using lousy ammo for an accuracy test, and I'm glad to hear that these groups aren't unusual. I should be able to tighten them up quite a bit with a customized load.
 
If you roll your own you could see sub-two inch groups. I have had good success with HP-38 and Titegroup for both 9mm and .45 ACP.
 
I typically use Power Pistol from Alliant. I was able to shoot one target using some of my hand loads. The result wasn't pretty. They were 115 gr. FMJ over 6.5 gr. of PP powder. My guess is that this load is a lot hotter than the Federal or the PMC, and maybe the 226 likes lower velocity loads. Well, getting there is half the fun. Thanks for the advice.
 
The sig 226's I have shot are very accurate. Keep it up ....
Blades ...nice shooting..impressive...I want to find a range around
here with a gong....shoot well
 
This is something I did at the club 2 week's ago. I made a 100 yard shot on an 8 inch steel plate with my 226 from a sandbag, sitting at a bench. I was shooting my reload's, military brass, cci primers, 4.5gr Win 231 with a 115gr fmjrn. Was trying it for fun and when I shot the plate went down. My son looked at me and said Dad I'm impressed, I didn't tell him I was so excited I couldn't hold the weapon steady to shoot another shot. I just handed the 226 to him to keep shooting. I can still see it clearly in my mind.

The 226 is a fine weapon and the 9mm is no wimp round.
 
My 226 is pretty acurate even with crappy lead bullets. It isnt as accurate as most of my revolvers but it is ok.
 
I'm with the Blade on this one (as usual) although I am not likely to do as well at those 100 yard gongs.

The groups you describe are typically what I get from shooting my P226's standing using either Sellier & Bellot or plain old white box Winchester offerings (both in 115 grain). Both are inexpensive target/plinking ammunition. My shot groups tighten up considerably using 124 grain defensive ammunition.

I do not like UMC 9mm ammunition due to the shorter overall cartridge length which causes accuracy to suffer in my firearms. I do not use American Eagle brand (more expensive than my choices and the results I am getting are satisfactory).

I do not consider my P226's "target" pieces, but I have to admit that I chose them partially because of their consistent accuracy with a variety of ammunition. Admittedly, I can duplicate these results with Berettas and Glocks with minimal practice (usually a magazines worth does it). I just prefer the SIG overall.

Your experience was good in that your groups were achieved the first time out with the pistol in question.:)
 
I've also found with my handloads that I get better accuracy with the 124 gr. bullets than the 115s (except for the CZ which shoots both equally well). Have any of you other reloaders chronographed your favorite P226 loads? What velocities do your guns seem to like? I realize that each gun is a little different, and your loads might not be the best for my gun, but some starting point is better than none.
 
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