Rivalled only by the Glock 17, there are few names in the duty pistol world that rival the reputation of the Sig Sauer P226. Known as the former side arm of the US Navy SEALS, the P226 has been a staple in military and law enforcement agencies worldwide. That said, It has been well over 30 years since the P226 was first conceived. How does it stack up to the omnipresent polymer framed competitors that have become so popular?
History
Designed in 1984 for the United States military XM9 pistol trials, the P226 is a classic combat pistol. In order to meet the ammunition capacity requirements, set forth by the US military brass, Sig Sauer had to alter the frame of their classic P220 pistol. The P220, like the 1911, was a single stack pistol and as such held only 8 rounds. By widening the frame to accept double stack magazines Sig Sauer was able to increase the capacity to 15 rounds and put in in line with other modern service pistols.
The P226 performed exceedingly well in the trials demonstrating excellent reliability, durability, and accuracy. At the conclusion of the trials the P226 finished tied with the Beretta 92 for the top spot. Due to Beretta offering to sell their pistol at a lower price, the Beretta 92 ended up being adopted by the US military. However, after some slide failure issues with the Berettas, the Navy SEALS opted to adopt the P226 in lieu of the Beretta’s due to their durability.
Specifications
The Sig Sauer P226 is a DA/SA aluminum frame pistol with a decocker. The pistol weighs 34 ounces and has a 4.2 inch barrel. It is a full-size service pistol, with an American style mag release and a 15 round double stack magazine in the 9mm chambering. Like most modern semi-auto pistols, the P226 uses a short recoil tilting barrel system first pioneered by John Browning in the 1911. The DA/SA trigger is very smooth, pulling around 8-9lbs on double action and around 3.5 lbs single action. There is no manual safety on the pistol. Instead, the shooter is expected to rely on the heavy double action trigger pull to avoid negligent discharges.
Strengths
First off, these pistols have been battle proven to be reliable in all types of conditions. Unsurprisingly the P226 we shot had no malfunctions in over 1000 rounds. There are very few designs that have the extensive resume of functioning in adverse conditions like the Sig Sauer P226. If you replace your recoil spring every 5000 rounds as recommended by Sig, the P226 will go to hell and back and continue to function. This reliability pairs well with the P226’s solid accuracy. Like most quality handguns, if you miss with the P226 don’t blame the gun.
Next, the Sig Sauer is an excellent weight for a full-size duty pistol. As with any pistol, there is a trade off between being comfortable to shoot and being comfortable to carry. A steel framed pistol is heavier and less comfortable to carry, but the weight helps soak up the recoil. On the flip side, polymer framed pistols are a bit snappier to shoot but carry easier on the hip. The P226 splits the difference and uses an aluminium frame which has the durability of being metal without weighing as much as a steel frame. This makes a pistol that is comfortable to carry but still isn’t as snappy as a polymer framed alternative.
In addition, the trigger on the P226 is very good. The double action trigger is very smooth and after your first shot the single action trigger is nice and light after a bit of take-up. The detractor of the trigger is the long reset. However, Sig has addressed this with their SRT trigger, which shortens the reset and allows for faster follow-up shots. The quality trigger makes it easier to make accurate shots as well as shoot quickly under stress.
Weaknesses
There are a few shortcomings to the classic P226. First of all, the grip on most P226s is chunkier than optimal for an average set of hands. This has been addressed by Sig with their E2 grip, but it is an additional cost if you pick up an older version on the second-hand market.
Next, like most Sig Sauer handguns, The P226 has a high bore axis. This is due to the beavertail grip profile that gives Sig Sauer pistols their signature look. The high bore axis results in more muzzle flip as the pistol recoils over the shooters hand instead of directly back into it. This leads to slightly slower split times when shooting as quickly as possible, although with strong shooting fundamentals the difference will be minimal.
Finally, the slide release on the P226 sits directly under where many shooters will rest their dominant hand thumb when using a thumbs forward grip. This is both a blessing and a curse. It is incredibly ergonomic, making reloads very quick and natural. The issue arises that it may be a little bit too natural. Without extra training, many shooters will find themselves accidentally depressing the slide release and causing the pistol to fail to lock open on the last round fired. As many know, a click when one expects a bang is one of the loudest sounds in the world.
Competition
There are a variety of excellent full size service pistols available. The Sig P320 and the Glock 17 are competitive polymer-framed options. More direct competitors are the Beretta 92 and the CZ 75 with their metal frames and DA/SA triggers. Compared to the hammer fired alternatives P226 offers a balance of weight and shooting characteristics. As a pure shooter, the CZ 75 derivatives with their low bore axis and all steel frame outshine the Sig. That said, for my money I’d rather carry the P226.
Closing Thoughts
The Sig Sauer P226 is still an exceptional choice for shooters looking for a service pistol with a DA/SA trigger. The aluminium frame and proven reliability makes the P226 an excellent choice for outside the waistband carry. As far as concealed carry goes the Sig Sauer P226 is probably too large for most people to carry regularly. That said, after over 35 years the P226 is still a worthy pistol to bet your life on.