P226 9mm vs 40S&W front sight difference

[sorvanetzsorv]

As most probably know, P226 in 9mm uses the #8 front sight while in 40S&W - #6 front sight, which is 0.28mm taller than #8, while the rear sights are the same (#8) - see:

https://www.realgunreviews.com/sig-sauer-sight-heights-sight-numbers/

The question is why then Glock 17 and 22 use exactly the same sights (and 19 and 23 for that matter), full size M&P in 9mm and 40S&W also use the same sights, etc? What makes P226 different that requires a different sight?

 

[random guy]

Higher bore axis in the SIG? Variations in slide machining that make some makers' .40s work with the same sights as their 9s?

This all assumes that ANY of the guns in question shoot to the desired zero.

I find myself wanting adjustable sights on most pistols. I think that I can swap front sights (#6 and #8) between two of my SIGs and get both of them a little closer to right.

 

[TunnelRat]

P226 9mm vs 40S&W front sight difference

Maybe those other makers simply decided that the difference in POI is not enough to warrant making a different front sight, whereas SIG decided the difference was enough.

 

[carguychris]

Higher bore axis in the SIG?

IMHO this is unlikely because most locked-breech tilting-barrel pistols do not experience significant muzzle rise before the bullet leaves the barrel; the initial recoil is taken up by the barrel and slide moving almost straight backwards, roughly parallel to the bore axis. Consequently, bore axis height in autoloaders mostly affects recoil recovery after the shot, disregarding recoil-induced flinching or trigger-jerking of course. (The story is different for revolvers, but we're not discussing those here.)

Variations in slide machining that make some makers' .40s work with the same sights as their 9s?

IMHO that's a more likely theory, but...

Maybe those other makers simply decided that the difference in POI is not enough to warrant making a difference front sight, whereas SIG did.

I find this to be the most likely theory—a higher standard of what constitutes "good enough," possibly with a dash of old-school European thinking that pinpoint accuracy at 50m+ is important.

 

[random guy]

IMHO this is unlikely because most locked-breech tilting-barrel pistols do not experience significant muzzle rise before the bullet leaves the barrel; the initial recoil is taken up by the barrel and slide moving almost straight backwards, roughly parallel to the bore axis.

I thought the theory was that the barrel in such pistols did not begin to tilt in the frame before the bullet left the barrel but IMHO higher bore axis would still have its normal effect on POI. It doesn't take much movement to change POI as evidenced by the fact that changing front sight height by .010" on a 4" auto will move POI by 1" at 50'.

 

[bamaranger]

SIG models

Are the two comparative SIGS both milled slide models? If the P226/9mm is of the older stamped slide variety , and the .40 a milled slide (as I think all the .40's are) there may well indeed be a difference in the thickness of the "roof" of the slide.

If they are both milled........I dunno.