Reviews of Sig Sauer P220 in a 10mm

A couple of years agone, SIG Sauer announced that the P220 chambered for 10mm would bring together the Legion family, and I was excited. The discussion was that it would follow the release blueprint of DA/SA offset, then the single-activity-only (SAO) would come subsequently. I opted to hold out for the SAO, figuring it would be a more interesting gun and because at the time I had merely done a review of the P220 Legion in .45 ACP. Had I known it would have more than two years, I might not accept fabricated that choice. But – as they say – skilful things are worth the wait, and this new Legion pistol proves that old saying to be, once again – truthful.

Turns out, the wait paid off well. Not just considering of the SAO configuration and trigger, but because information technology's a different pistol in many means than the P220 Legion in DA/SA of two years ago. The frame of this handgun is constructed of solid stainless steel, rather than the standard alloy frame. This makes the handgun in 10mm virtually a full pound heavier than the one chambered for .45 ACP. This is important in a couple of ways that I'll get to in a minute – but first, let's talk about what exactly a Legion pistol is.

WHAT IS A LEGION?

SIG Sauer introduced the Legion moniker about five or half-dozen years agone as an elite 'height of the line' series of handguns, with a sort of "by operators, for operators" theme. According to SIG at the time of the debut of the Legion, it was about taking the well-nigh common upgrades and later on-market changes that people were making to their SIG Sauer classic line of pistols and producing an "out of the box" version with extra touches. The trademark touches to a Legion pistol are Black G10 grips with Legion medallion insert; SIG 10-RAY sights; Generous checkering and undercut trigger guard; Improved trigger; Legion Grey cease with "Legion" engraving. This is, of course, all on acme of what is one of the best production handguns made to beginning with. To enhance the Legion experience and aid gear up it apart, SIG Sauer created a sort of Legion Tree Business firm that just the cool kids get to hang out in. When you purchase a Legion gun and annals the production with SIG, you get a membership to "Legion Only" areas of their website and access to purchase exclusive Legion branded accessories and swag. You lot besides receive a special pistol example in Legion Grayness (more on this in a moment) and a claiming coin specific to your model of Legion pistol. Sounds similar the marketing department running unchecked, right? Maybe so, but I will tell yous that I have purchased a few of the Legion holsters and other accessories and they are top-notch products, custom fabricated, or coordinated to the guns. And let's be honest – anybody likes to vest to the club one time in a while.

Okay, now you know what the Legion series is all about – then let'southward talk most a few things that have inverse recently. Showtime, the Legion pistol case that SIG used to transport out has been replaced with what I would draw more than as a carry case. The original cases were a molded semi-rigid example with a custom foam insert that was pre-cut to exactly fit your pistol. It besides had cuts for a mag and a knife (a Legion knife, of form – sold separately) and the challenge coin. These cases were very nice, merely I take to confess I plant them a bit impractical. The case had no handle, so you lot could not carry it. And it was not suitable as a display case. All mine went directly into storage. SIG now sends a soft-sided case in a silvery-gray colour with Legion logo on the exterior. The heavy-duty zippered case contains a padded pistol pouch for your gun on one side, a zippered pouch on the other, and generous rubberband magazine loops. Information technology besides has sturdy double handles, and can actually exist used as a overnice carry handbag. You lot'll capeesh the quality of this soft case immediately – specially when you lot see that it is fabricated exclusively for SIG Legion owners by five.eleven Tactical. This writer finds it to be a more applied case and some other Legion-experience improvement.

Another big alter was the switch from a PVD finish to a Cerakote finish. I had not heard of that change prior to receiving the test gun, but the moment I opened the box I saw the difference. Cerakote has a different await than PVD – the former being 'wetter' look. Also, considering dissimilar finish materials are used, the Legion Greyness coloring is a shade more on the green side than it previously was. The subjectivity of color and hue aside, the switch to Cerakote is a positive move. The greyness PVD was always troublesome to many Legion owners because it had a very dry – almost powdery appearance, and it would chop-chop wear thin in loftier friction areas like the slide track. Cerakote is a thicker and harder coating and has some natural lubricity. Earlier Legion owners with PVD coatings should non despair, nonetheless – future collector's value of the "beginning generation with PVD" pistols just went upwards.

The trigger of the SAO is not much different from its dual-mode counterpart in terms of physical shape or pull weight. The 10mm cartridge generates so much force per unit area and strength that changes to the trigger group are difficult to brand. It would notwithstanding be prissy to come across something in the future from the primary shop or Grayguns, only that is speculation at best. A curt reach/curt reset trigger can exist placed in a P220 10mm but wasn't in this example.

SHOOTING THE P220 SAO 10mm Legion

The P220 is, for all intents and purposes, the one that started it all for SIG Sauer. Its most popular early incarnation was in .45 ACP, and it became iconic among law enforcement, military, and civilian alike. As mentioned, the 10mm version is made entirely of stainless steel – frame and slide. This is due to the farthermost pressures created past the 10mm cartridge (up to 37,500 psi). That construction puts this v" barreled P220 at nigh 44 ounces – nearly a full pound heavier than the standard P220 with a 4.iv" barrel and alloy frame. It also makes this gun a much tamer shooter than information technology might otherwise exist. I shot everything from the lower-powered range ammo to the bear hunting loads, and at no time did I feel the recoil was excessive.

The Ten-RAY3 sights on the Legion go on to be among my very favorite on any handgun, and provide a fast acquisition combat sight film, while nonetheless offering enough precision to accept long carefully aimed shots. And because they contain Tritium® front and rear, yous have an fantabulous 3-dot sight picture even in complete darkness. But daylight is where these sights really rock. The bright green ring that surrounds the Tritium® eye of the front end sight is almost eye-piercing when you heighten the gun. The rear sight is serrated for anti-glare and finished in a matt black and the Tritium® dots are understated for ameliorate front end sight focus.

I don't do much double and triple tapping with 10mm'south, but it was prissy to discover that you almost can with this pistol and keep the shots on target. Muzzle rising is on par with a 9mm pocket pistol – possibly fifty-fifty tamer than that. I likewise institute the trigger to exist very suitable during live burn down, with more a combat feel than ane of the target pistol. I found the gun easy to shoot well, both off-hand and rested. The ergonomics of the P220 fit my hands very well and this gives me my best chance to holding a steady sight picture and maintaining proper trigger control. The G10 offers fantastic friction without being in whatever way uncomfortable or sharp, and it wraps effectually to encompass the rear. This is besides true of the checkering on the frontstrap. Shooting a total magazine of defense load 10mm without having to re-adjust my grip is pretty convincing.

And then, why single-action-only you ask? Personal preferences, really – it all comes down to the type of action you like best. Double Action/Single Action has many benefits, and is the standard action blazon for most SIG Sauer handguns – but there are those who just tin can't deal with two types of trigger pulls, and want to know that their trigger will experience the same with every shot. That is the most mutual reason.

Another is that a single-action trigger can be tuned more hands almost of the fourth dimension because it has but one mode of operation. I won't claim a preference – I capeesh each for what it brings to the table. In the case of this 10mm Legion, I fabricated up my mind early on that I wanted to shoot the SAO. And while it does not have a short reset trigger, it is remarkably responsive and tactile. It is besides very consistent and crisp – measuring on average exactly v ½ pounds. And because a single-action-merely is… well, unmarried action only – at that place is no de-cocker command to safely drop the hammer. But at that place is an ambidextrous manual thumb condom.

The safety on the P220 SAO operates much similar that of a 1911 and is positioned and sized to about the same specs. It's the same size on both sides of the pistol – so you lefties don't have to make exercise with skinny, half-hearted control. When raised (engaged) there is a visible white dot to indicate that the pistol is on safe. It's also broad enough to serve equally a thumb residue, for you 1911ers. I of the features I like best well-nigh the safety on the P220 Legion is that you can fully manipulate the slide and all other controls – except the trigger – when it's engaged. This means that administrative tasks such every bit loading/unloading and chambering a round can all be done with the safe on. You can even fully field strip the pistol with the safety engaged. The slide can be fully racked and the hammer need non be cocked to engage.

Fieldwork with this gun spanned a couple of range days and several hundred rounds of ammo. There were no malfunctions of any kind – not even a hint of i. And everything put through it found its marker. The accurateness of the 5" barrel combined with the fantastic sight picture makes fifty-fifty me feel similar a marksman. Shooting off-hand from about 11 yards, I was able to consistently keep everything inside 3" groups. Rested tests at 20 yards performed even better, with the exception of a unmarried round of Underwood that got away from me and made its group almost 4". I generally shoot groups of five, and I always call out the best three from that group to help eliminate shooter errors such as that. I truly believe that the iii-shot numbers are more indicative of the performance capabilities of both gun and ammo.

JUST MY Stance

The Legion line has become a well-known segment of the SIG Sauer brand. Overall, I think the Legions do an excellent job of providing the "bells and whistles" version of each model offered, while simultaneously edifice its own recognizable value for the brand enthusiast. Doubtless, the marketing department had a hand in creating the Legion production line – merely information technology was clearly driven by "gun guy" and/or "gun gals" to make it a reality. These guns are made by shooters, for shooters, with an element of smooth operator and classy collector thrown in. The extra swag and accessories – some free, some available for exclusive purchase – add to the Legion experience for owners. Your gun's serial number will permit y'all to create an account on SIG's special Legion website, where y'all can see products others can't – and of grade, purchase them. In that location are also sectional deals to be had from time to fourth dimension. It's all part of existence a grown male child and getting access to the treehouse. And if all that is of footling interest to yous, take heart knowing you have 1 of the finest production handguns made – an heirloom in itself.

For more information visit Sig Sauer website.

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Source: https://www.gunsamerica.com/digest/10mm-sig-legion-p220-sao-review/

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