Why the p220?
- Thread starter chemcal
- Start date
Ammo prices come way down if you reload. I have several pistols in both the P220 and the P250 model. I often carry my sub-compact P250 in 9mm and often have my full size P250 in .45 ACP while in my truck or boat. I seldom carry either of my P220's but do shoot them frequently.
Both models are good pistols, but you can not honestly compare the two. The P220 is far superior in sheer quality.
Both models are good pistols, but you can not honestly compare the two. The P220 is far superior in sheer quality.
Walt Sherrill
New member
chemcal said:
- Shooting a .45 well has become, for some, a rite of passage of almost mystical significance.
- Then, too, not everyone agrees that modern ammo has IMPROVED that much. (I think it has, but that's me.)
- There's not a lot of real-world data that can be used to compare gun or round performance used in human shootings: there are SO MANY factors that typically aren't assessed and no real consistency in measurement, such as the number of rounds fired or the loads used, the type of weapons used, barrel length, the conditions under which the shootout occurred (inside or out, weather conditions, day or night), the experience and relative competence of those involved in the shooting, etc., etc.
Example: a lot of shootings stop relatively quickly, because one party is psychologically unwilling to continue after being hit. In such cases, the round may be relatively unimportant, and that "best case" result should NOT be given as much eight in the analysis or conclusions where the "stop" (i.e., the round fired) was the true physical cause of the stop. - In ballistic gel tests, except for the basic FBI standards addressing the depth of penetration and the consistency of the gel, there seems to be no widely accepted standards in place for simulating the presence of clothing, bone structure, organs, etc.
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noonesshowmonkey
New member
Sig wondered at the same thing, and thus was birthed the P227.
Walt Sherrill
New member
And ... the P226, and the P228 and the P229....
It's just surprising that it took them so long to get to the P227, or to the 10mm version of the P220.
I suspect they'll sell a LOT of P220s in 10mm.
bamaranger
New member
'cause they said so
The P220 was an issued/approved handgun for my agency when the switch was made from revolvers to semiautos. The other choices (at the time) were the P228/9mm) and the P229/.40, and the single stack P225/9mm, and the P226/9mm. The P226 was not yet on the market in .40, and the P229 was not chambered in 9mm. That's all there was......period. Choose.
Hardly anybody choose the single stack P225/9mm. A few went with the P228/9mm, as it was the transition pistol and they were already issed for the most part, and there was alot of ammo available within the agency. But the transition was occurring on the heels of the infamous FBI Miami shootout, and the 9mm was not receiving much good press. Most those that did select the 9mm went with the full size P226 for higher capacity and the hope of higher velocity with the longer tube and +P ammo. But the 9mm did not have much of a following.
The only platform for the .40 (at the time) was the P229. It was a relatively new cartridge, but seemed a good compromise between capacity and power. I'd say about half the staff nation wide went with the new cartridge and the P229 introduced to handle it. There were some teething problems, and more than one P229 blew and extractor for unexplainable reasons, likely due to high pressure ammo. And thus an auto pistol was reduced to a $500 dollar "two shot". The replacment extractor pin and spring were different, and the extractor may well have been also. I was present and repaired two such examples.
That left the P220/.45. and about half the staff where I worked, and I suspect nationwide, went with same. A proven track record for reliability, capacity was improved over the revolvers so many of us came up with (8+1 rds v. 6) that capacity was not an issue. The .45 was thought of as at least the equal of the .357 ammo we had carried, and superior to the .38/110 +P+ which was also issue. And so the P220 went to work for a lot of Rangers.
The P220 was an issued/approved handgun for my agency when the switch was made from revolvers to semiautos. The other choices (at the time) were the P228/9mm) and the P229/.40, and the single stack P225/9mm, and the P226/9mm. The P226 was not yet on the market in .40, and the P229 was not chambered in 9mm. That's all there was......period. Choose.
Hardly anybody choose the single stack P225/9mm. A few went with the P228/9mm, as it was the transition pistol and they were already issed for the most part, and there was alot of ammo available within the agency. But the transition was occurring on the heels of the infamous FBI Miami shootout, and the 9mm was not receiving much good press. Most those that did select the 9mm went with the full size P226 for higher capacity and the hope of higher velocity with the longer tube and +P ammo. But the 9mm did not have much of a following.
The only platform for the .40 (at the time) was the P229. It was a relatively new cartridge, but seemed a good compromise between capacity and power. I'd say about half the staff nation wide went with the new cartridge and the P229 introduced to handle it. There were some teething problems, and more than one P229 blew and extractor for unexplainable reasons, likely due to high pressure ammo. And thus an auto pistol was reduced to a $500 dollar "two shot". The replacment extractor pin and spring were different, and the extractor may well have been also. I was present and repaired two such examples.
That left the P220/.45. and about half the staff where I worked, and I suspect nationwide, went with same. A proven track record for reliability, capacity was improved over the revolvers so many of us came up with (8+1 rds v. 6) that capacity was not an issue. The .45 was thought of as at least the equal of the .357 ammo we had carried, and superior to the .38/110 +P+ which was also issue. And so the P220 went to work for a lot of Rangers.
I switched to the P220 when I quit the 1911's. The P220 really isnt all that big, its more or less the same size as a Colt Commander.
The P220 is a great, accurate, and reliable handgun, as are most SIG's. Once I had my first, I soon had a couple of more, and soon spread to the P226's and P229's, P239, P6/225's, P230's, P245, a P250, and even a P238, the only "dud" in 17 SIG's.
While going through the P series guns, I found 357SIG, and it wasnt a hard leap from .45. Im from the era of .357Mag/.45acp caliber carry guns. If you carried an auto, it was .45, and a serious revolver, was .357Mag. 357SIG seemed like the best of both worlds, and it increased the number of rounds in the gun, so, whats no to like?
After spending some time with 357SIG, I came to realize, it really wasnt doing anything +P+ 9mm could do, and 9mm was a good bit cheaper, and more versatile. That, and the ever rising cost of the SIG's, drove me back to Glocks, and I ended up getting rid of all but one of my P230s.
I always liked my P250. Best feeling grip of any of them, and a sweet DAO trigger. I know a lot of people dont like them, but I never had any trouble with mine, and it was as accurate and as reliable as my other SIG's. It, and my P245, were the only DAO SIG's I had, and I actually liked the P245's DAO trigger (true DA, not a DAK) the most of all of them. Should have kept that one too.
The P220 is a great, accurate, and reliable handgun, as are most SIG's. Once I had my first, I soon had a couple of more, and soon spread to the P226's and P229's, P239, P6/225's, P230's, P245, a P250, and even a P238, the only "dud" in 17 SIG's.
While going through the P series guns, I found 357SIG, and it wasnt a hard leap from .45. Im from the era of .357Mag/.45acp caliber carry guns. If you carried an auto, it was .45, and a serious revolver, was .357Mag. 357SIG seemed like the best of both worlds, and it increased the number of rounds in the gun, so, whats no to like?
After spending some time with 357SIG, I came to realize, it really wasnt doing anything +P+ 9mm could do, and 9mm was a good bit cheaper, and more versatile. That, and the ever rising cost of the SIG's, drove me back to Glocks, and I ended up getting rid of all but one of my P230s.
I always liked my P250. Best feeling grip of any of them, and a sweet DAO trigger. I know a lot of people dont like them, but I never had any trouble with mine, and it was as accurate and as reliable as my other SIG's. It, and my P245, were the only DAO SIG's I had, and I actually liked the P245's DAO trigger (true DA, not a DAK) the most of all of them. Should have kept that one too.
Tactical Jackalope
New member
Why not? Just kidding. I don't go for low round count guns anymore. I just can't do it.
I carry a P226, P229, or Glock 19. All 9mm's for that reason. I love the .45ACP don't get me wrong. I just cannot get myself to carry such a low capacity handgun anymore.
These are why I've opted for a high capacity 9mm...
So I do love the P220. I just like my 9mm SIG's more.
The HK45C, 1911's, and P220's have the same 8 + 1 round count.
I carry a P226, P229, or Glock 19. All 9mm's for that reason. I love the .45ACP don't get me wrong. I just cannot get myself to carry such a low capacity handgun anymore.
These are why I've opted for a high capacity 9mm...
- In case of multiple attackers, more round to go to work with.
- In case of any missed shots, there's a little more chances.
- More rounds between reloads, we all know reloads can go bad.
- Less felt recoil, with less range time needed to get confident with.
- Spare mag can have just as many or more rounds if need be.
So I do love the P220. I just like my 9mm SIG's more.
The HK45C, 1911's, and P220's have the same 8 + 1 round count.
chris in va
New member
I tried very hard to like my 220, I really did. Light, reliable, high quality.
That darn manual of arms though. Goofy decocker and long DA pull along with single stack mag and skinny grip? Nah. The trigger return spring was a weak point and snapped during a match.
If it had a safety and fatter, hand filling grip like the 229 I might have kept it, but alas. My CZ97 fits the bill.
That darn manual of arms though. Goofy decocker and long DA pull along with single stack mag and skinny grip? Nah. The trigger return spring was a weak point and snapped during a match.
If it had a safety and fatter, hand filling grip like the 229 I might have kept it, but alas. My CZ97 fits the bill.
highpower3006
New member
If you learn how to shoot, you won't need twice as many rounds to do the job.
Jim Watson
New member
Well, sort of.
They replaced the hammer with a striker and called it the P320.
They replaced the hammer with a striker and called it the P320.