Sig P220 or 1911?

D

David Ramsey

New member
I'm going to buy a .45. Leaning toward a Kimber Classic, but can't discount a P220. I have a P226 and I like it a lot, but the 1911 has me fascinated. I'd like some opinions as to which one to get.
 
1911

The Sig is a fine pistol, but a 1911 is even nicer. Make it a Springfield or Kimber, or if you have lots of money to spend get a Wilson Combat!
 
They're different -- the 220 was the first .45 I ever shot, but I prefer the 1911's.

220 is DA/SA, 1911 is SA only. 1911 has manual safety and grip safety, 220 has decocker. 1911 has (or certainly can have) a better trigger. 1911 (especially Officer's ACP or comparable) will conceal better.

Try 'em both and see. Or buy 'em both used and resell the one you like least. (yeah, like you'd willingly part with either. ;) )
 
Honestly David, it doesn't matter. You are going to agonize over this decision -- sweat blood over it. You are going to get advice and weigh all the pros and cons and in the final evaluation, one of these guns is going to come home with you. And you are going to love shooting it. And you will never regret the decision to get it. But after every range session, while you are sitting in the garage cleaning it, you are going to lust more and more for the gun you didn't buy. And a few months down the road, you are going to purchase the other gun. You will never regret that purchase. You will blissfully enjoy the best of both worlds. So, the question isn't, which should I buy, a Kimber or a Sig 220. The question is...


Which must I have NOW and which can I wait for a little longer.;)

I kid you not.
 
I like my 1911s. The Sig 220 is a work of art, but the 1911s have always felt better in my hand. I also like the single action design of the 1911 over the double action P220.

Still, they're both great .45s. My only advice on your choice is that you should find a range that rents both, and run a box or two through each handgun. Do you like the single action or double action? Recoil characteristics? How do they feel in your hand? Natural pointability? Can you should one better than the other? If there is a possibility of concealed carry, which is more comfortable, and do you feel safe carrying cocked-and-locked? Are you familiar with the 1911 at all?

The fact that you already have a P226 and that you really like it would suggest that you should get a P220 for a uniform manual of arms. Between the 226 and 220, you have the same trigger pull, decocker, slide stop placement, etc. The 1911 would be good for variation, but the P220 might be more practical since you already have a P226.

You have two good choices and can't go wrong with either. Maybe buy one now, and budget to buy the other next year ..........
 
Given a choice...get the 1911. More accessories available, more gunsmiths if you want custom work done and besides, if you want a 45, you gotta have at least one 1911. :)
 
The SIG P220 is a great pistol, but I'd get the 1911. You already have a SIG, and everybody needs at least one 1911 in their collection. If you're only getting one .45, might as well make it a classic.
 
I agree with lendsringer... you already have a Sig, and getting another one would be, well, kind of boring. I mean, other than a difference in caliber, nothing else is different. Nothing new to play with.

Plus, dont forget that all real men own at least on 1911.
 
Oh boy. I hope my brother doesn't see lonegunman's last remark.

He recently (OK about 10 months ago) bought a P220 and loves it (it's actually his duty pistol), but he does get a sort of wistful longing look on his face when he fondles one of my 1911s.

Me? I've never fired a P220 so don't know what I might be missing.
 
I would go with the Kimber. I have owned a SIG 220 and while it is a nice gun, I always thought it was way too big for a 7-round-mag alloy frame gun. Seems to me they could have worked on the grip a bit and made it hold as many as 9 rounds.
 
'Nough said,

while both, the 1911 and Sig P220 are fine
weapons they tend to serve very different
and distinctive purpose's. For my use,
which is now limited to CCW; I prefer the
double action first shot of the Sig P220A.
After all, all follow-up shot's are fired
single action anyway.:)

Both can be lightning fast, in the hands
of a properly trained shooter.:D It's just
a matter of choice; buy one now and the
other at Christmas!!!

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member
 
1911. Parts availability alone makes it the obvious choice.
 
HEY DAVID:GUNNUTS HERE,If you don't any 1911's DO NOT! buy one,there like potatochips!You can't stop at one,2 years ago I bought one,now have 6!!and have money down on #7!I'm picking it up SEPT.29,try www.1911forum.com
 
The SIG 220 is probably the more accurate and reliable out of the box. The 1911 is much easier to customize and create YOUR gun.

But I think you should rephrase your question to be "Which should I get first?";)
 
I would strongly recommend a series 70 or earlier Colt. They are made from steel forgings and have no cheap cast iron parts, no cheap alumimum frames , no powdered metal parts (the Kimber has powdered metal parts).

I just finished reading the book "Ghost Soldiers" by Hampton sides, the true story of the rescue of 500 POW's from the Japanese. In the book one of the Rangers actually had his all steel colt .45 shot out of his hand by a sniper. He picked the gun back up and then used it to shoot the lock off the camp gate.

My point is this. If he had been using an inferior aluminum or plastic frame gun the gun would have been shot to pieces and been rendered inoperateable. ONE more reason to buy an quality gun to begin with.

I have a Sig p220. Believe me it is a vastly inferior weapon to the 1911. W.R.
 
Thanks everybody

Just got back from the range. Traded my G19 for a G22 and I love the .40. I've decided on the 1911 and based on the Gun Tests review I think I'm going Springfield Loaded. The Sig's nice, but something different will be oh so fun.
 
Ah a Springfield Loaded model. Everyone needs a 1911. History and great design. I love my Sig 228, I carried it for awhile. Then I bought a CZ 75 PCR, I carried it for awhile.
Then I bought an SA 1911. Once broken in(1000 rounds) Its is now flawless and I carry it all the time. Why, because I shoot it better than any other gun I own.
I think Springfields are a great bang for the buck.
 
I don't know if you can get ahold of it, but you might want to read and article by Teddy Jacobson called "Why You Don't Need a 1911". The major point of the article is that a 1911 can be made accurate and reliable, but many of the newer designs, he mentions Glocks, Beretta's and SIGs of various stripes, start reliable. After a long discussion of the kind of work he does on 1911s, he says:

Can a 1911 be made totally reliable? Yes, but not that easy. Is it worth all the headaches for the average person to get a 1911 flawless in operation? It won't be cheap, but only you can decide that.
Click to expand...

I don't know where you can get a copy (he mailed me one when I had him do a trigger job on a CZ-52). He sounds like he got started in pistolsmithing trying to make a duty weapon reliable. In this article, he claims that if he were going to a social occasion that he knew would decide his destiny, he would take a H&K P7.

Mike P. Wagner
 
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