SIG Sauer P250 9x19mm as an Home defense gun?

T

TheGuyOfSouthamerica

Moderator
Hi all,

I am looking now to the SIG Sauer P250 in 9mm Luger instead the Beretta Nano 9mm Luger (and to sell the SD9VE).

The Firing Control Unit System grows on me (toss the Frame if damaged and put on another one) so I want to hear some experiences with the SIG P250.
If I buy it it will be the FULL size 9mm Luger gun with the SMALL grip frame (says FULL SMALL on the Frame).

Comparison of grip fit: The grips of the SD9VE are a bit big for me and the Walthers PK380 grip is Fitting me perfectly.

How are the grips of the P250 in size comparison?

Any personal experience with the gun?
 
Can't compare grip sizes, but if I recall correctly I felt the Sig was mid/big grip in comparison to some others (M&P, XD, SR9, etc).

I had a P250 compact in 9mm for a while and liked it just fine. Shot good, reliable, carried well.

2 things I didn't like were the loooong reset on the trigger (initial pull didn't bother me) and the mags were quite expensive (this was a number of years ago).

Other than that, great gun. If I wasn't already so invested in gear and mags for Glocks I'd give the P320 a look myself.
 
I really like my P250. Mine is the compact model with the medium grips. The only small grips I have felt were the subcompact and they weren't too bad in my hands. I was going to get the small medium grips when I got my fde grip frame but trying to track them down was a giant pain. Finally just ordered the Medium. With all the guns I have handled the medium feels really nice in my hand and the swell fits me wonderfully. Thinking about putting my 250 on night duty as it has the night sights and putting my security six on carry duty until the warmer weather comes again.

Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk
 
I have no problems with DAO triggers, & my P250's have smooth & relatively light triggers much like my Khar CM9 (& Khar triggers are almost universally praised). I have the subcompact grip in 9mm, the compact grip in 9mm, & the full size grip in .45 & .40; one serialized trigger control group & 4 "guns" in 3 calibers. & I have a Walter P22 (a little smaller than the PK380), & a SW9VE (used to have a SD9VE).

So, the compact grip is about the same size as the SD, & it's contoured and curved more like the SD than a glock. The subcompact is a little thinner, but I believe it'll still be larger than the PK380.

Be aware that for $45 (plus shipping & tax) from SIG's website you can buy another grip, and each frame size (sub, compact, full) comes in different sizes also (sub is small, others are medium & large). Lots of flexibility available.

The SIG website also says that trigger length is adjustable. I'm going to have to look into that myself, since my medium sized hands have to catch the trigger with the tip of my trigger finger on the full sized grips.

Hope that helps some.
 
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cc hangfire and all others;

That helps very much.

some more questions.

If you compare the FULL SMALL grip of the P250 4.7" barrel with the SD9VE grip how does that compare?

If you compare the FULL MEDIUM grip of the P250 4.7" barrel with the SD9VE grip how does that compare?

I can not find any COMPACT SMALL grip frame for the P250 3.9" barrel gun. Are they not made anymore? For the FULL size gun (4.7"barrel) there is the SMALL size frame availlable.

I have to have the SMALL size frame so it looks the only choice I have is going for the FULL size 4.7" barrel gun in 9mm Luger.

Is the 4.7" barrel gun front heavy? (like the Taurus Tracker 22 lr 6.5" revolver?)
 
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I own two striker-fired SIG P320s and one hammer-fired P250.

The P320s are a compact 9mm and a full-size .45 ACP. The P250 is a 9mm subcompact.

The P250s and 320s share the same grip modules. The full-size and compact pistols have three grip module size options: small, medium, and large. All have Picatinny rails.

The subcompacts have only two grip module size options: small and medium. The medium has a rail. The subcompact small has no rail and a rounded trigger guard.

The medium sized grip modules fit my hand very well. I have a moderately above-average sized hand for an adult male. Both of my P320s have medium-sized grip modules. The grip feels like it was custom-molded for my hand.

My subcompact P250 has a small grip module to enhance concealability. The small grip module is a bit small for me but works tolerably well.

The hammer-fired P250 is a double action only pistol. As such, it has a long but smooth trigger pull, which is relatively light for a hammer-fired DA. The reset is almost equally long which could work against some shooters for rapid fire. Neither the P250 nor the P320 comes with an external safety standard although there is a safety option for the P320. There is no safety option for the P250.

Although the P250 trigger pull is in some ways similar to that of the striker-action Kahr (the trigger action of which I also like), I would have to say it is considerably longer. The P250, like Kahrs, does have second strike capability if that is important to you.

If you have shot other double action only hammer fired pistols, or have shot double action revolvers in double action, and have liked them you would probably like the P250. A lot of people who bought P250s after having shot striker-action pistols that called themselves "DAO" were taken aback by the length of the trigger pull length of the P250 and disliked it.

For myself, for home defense I prefer the striker-fired P320 but for carry purposes, especially IWB carry, I feel that a hammer-fired pistol, either DAO or a traditional double action (DA/SA) is safer. I bought the P250 subcompact specifically for IWB carry.

I am pretty accurate with the P250 at short ranges (12 yards or less) but I am not as accurate with it as I am my P320s at longer ranges. Part of that is the shorter sight radius of the subcompact slide, but I am still adapting to the DAO trigger pull. I would say that if the P250 trigger pull were just a touch shorter without being heavier, it would be just about ideal. I have found myself tending to pull the sights off-target just at the very end of the trigger pull. The point at which the trigger breaks puts my finger very close to the "frame" (grip module).
 
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For the COMPACT pistol (3.9" barrel) I can not find any SMALL grip size.
They must have dropped it.

Correct me if I am mistaked but I can not find any even on SIG Sauers homepage.

Regards the trigger: If you can stand/tolerate the SD9VE's trigger then most surely you can stand any other triggers on planet earth I guess.

However is the trigger pull on the P250 longer than the trigger pull on the SD9VE? What concerns me is trigger reach (I have small hands).
 
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For the COMPACT pistol (3.9" barrel) I can not find any SMALL grip size.
They must have dropped it.

Correct me if I am mistaked but I can not find any even on SIG Sauers homepage.
Click to expand...

You can find one right here:

http://store.sigsauer.com/p320-p250-compact-grip-module-45acp.html

SIG Sauer has not done the greatest job keeping up with demand for all the various grip modules and caliber X-Change kits. Part of the problem finding grip modules for the P250 in all the sizes is that they are the same as for the P320 which has been very popular.
 
Thanks pblanc,

But right on the link it says <<45acp>.

My P250 will be an 9mm Luger gun.

What about nose heavyness of the Full size P250 9mm Luger?

Let's talk about reliabulity of the gun as well. (it get's a Little negative reports on the Internet. Even was declined by all public agencies due to FTF, etc).
 
I have heard some people describe the full-size P320 as nose-heavy. I have a full-size P320 in .45 ACP and have shot a full-size P320 in .40 S&W but not in 9mm. I did not feel either to be nose heavy. I doubt the 9mm full-size P250 would feel much different.

The first generation of SIG P250 pistols had reliability issues with light primer strikes and failures to cycle. This largely doomed the model when it was tested by a number of law enforcement agencies.

SIG has made a number of changes and with the second generation pistols there seems to be few complaints regarding reliability. If you look at the fire control unit of a P250 it is really quite simple with few moving parts.

All I can say is that my second generation subcompact P250 purchased used has been absolutely reliable thus far but I recently acquired it and only have shot a couple hundred rounds through it.

The biggest complaint that I have with the P250 is the design of the rear sight. The rear sight is proprietary to SIG and unique to this model. It contains the firing pin block and spring. This pretty much precludes changing the rear sight with anything other than a SIG P250 sight. The front sight is dovetailed, however so this is not that big a deal, given that so many shooters choose to black out there rear sights these days.
 
If the P250 in 9x19 is noseheavy with it's 4.7" Barrel then most certainly an Beretta 92, 1911 is considered "nose heavy" as well since they have all an 5.0" Barrel. This gun is about 29 oz.
On the other Hand the SD9VE is about 22 oz and is somewhat snappy if shot factory stock (on the edge of uncomfortable Shooting).

I have an 357 mag Pietta 1873 model 5.5" Barrel Revolver and it is manageable (no excessive noseheavyness). This gun is 36 oz.

I had an Taurus Tracker 970 7 shot in 22 LR which weighted 45 oz and that was so nose heavy it almost damaged my wrist (arm-Hand Separation due to torque). That gun I sold because of nose heavyness.

I do not believe there is an 3.9" P250 with an SMALL grip Frame factory stock. But the Full size P250 4.7" Barrel gun is availlable with the small grips.

Hard to decide
 
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Let's talk about materials of the P250.

The slide is supposed stainless steel.
What about the Barrel is it stainless as well?

I read somewere the Firing Control Unit is stainless and other sources Claim aluminum. What is it made from?
 
The frame of the fire control unit is definitely stainless steel.

I believe that most SIG barrels are made from hammer-forged, chrome-moly steel
and heat treated (not stainless). I could be wrong. I wouldn't worry about it. SIG barrels have a reputation for durability.
 
I do not know.
I almost have any courage to buy the P250 since once they arrive here they are about 1000 US$ I fear. That is much money.

But I believe it makes sense for now to buy the Beretta Pico in 380 acp for disguised carry. Makes much more sense having a gun allways on me than exchanging the SD9VE with the expensive P250.
 
Guns are very expensive where you live!

Can you easily get caliber exchange kits or grip modules for the P250 where you live? Exchange kits can be an attractive option, both legally where there are limits on the number of "firearms" a person can own and financially because they are less expensive than whole guns.

You might start with a P250 Compact, which comes standard with a Compact-Medium grip module; then order a Compact-Small grip module to better fit your hand. To carry the gun, you could use the Compact's slide, barrel, and Fire Control Unit with a Subcompact-Small grip module and Subcompact magazine or just order a separate Subcompact exchange kit.

Due to its modular design, the P250 allows you to choose between .22LR, .380ACP, 9mm, .357SIG, .40S&W, and .45ACP in different combinations of Full, Carry, Compact, and Subcompact sizes, with Large, Medium, or Small grips.
 
I don't have a P250, but I have a P320. I've dry fired a SD9VE, but not side-by-side with the P320. I have both the medium and large grips. I do not recommend this platform for someone with very small hands, especially considering the cost. The issue isn't the grip size, but the trigger reach. It's pretty long.

What specifically makes you want to trade in your SD9VE? Since you already have the pistol, I recommend getting an Apex drop-in trigger. It will dramatically improve the trigger, for not much money. Unless you can sell your SD9VE for what you paid for it, a new trigger will get you what you want.

If you need a smaller grip than the SD9VE, I recommend a Walther P99 or PPQ. These grips are the smallest, and the trigger reach the shortest (especially the P99) of any service pistol that I know of.

Alternately, try a single stack gun, like a 1911 or one of the larger Kahrs.
 
To follow up my previous post, the P320 and it's P250 cousin have fully supported chambers. Based on your comments, getting a subcompact P250/P320 would be a good way to go. Then get a caliber exchange kit for a larger platform, if you like it.

I don't recommend the Beretta Pico or any .380. The 9mm is a much more effective cartridge, and you already load for it and have components. You'd be much better off with a Glock 43 or M&P Shield, in terms of effectiveness very size.

If you really want to know whether the P320/P250 fits your hand, drop the $45 for the small grip module and check it out before you buy the whole pistol. You'd need to buy a small grip module regardless; the pistols ONLY come with a medium grip module. The other sizes are extra.
 
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