Sig P225 Question

Mercenary · September 4, 2012, 07:56 AM

I ran across a couple Sig P225's (P6) for under $500 but they're imported by Century International Arms

They seem to be in good shape but a Sig imported by another company for under $500 makes me a little unsure. Is this a good buy for a used P225? If so, why is Century importing them?

Mrgunsngear · September 4, 2012, 08:33 AM

They're very solid guns. One thing that you may be confusing though---a P6 is not a P225 exactly. The older ones, pre-89/90ish, have a different barrel than the 225 and may not feed hollow points reliably. Mine seems to feed 115gr JHPs fine but the 124 and 147gr rounds are problematic.

Chesster · September 4, 2012, 08:36 AM

I'm assuming that is a retail price???? I bought three and they are fine shooters. Hollowpoint utilization depends on which feeding ramp the particular piece has which usually relates to date of manufacture.

chris in va · September 4, 2012, 10:13 AM

The 225 commands a higher price than the P6. There was an influx of surplus P6 pistols a couple years ago, so beware of someone trying to jack up the price of those to 225 levels.

Honestly, unless you just happen to like single stack 9mm's, why not look for a used 228/229 for the same price? Heck even a 220 is in the ballpark.

hulley · September 4, 2012, 10:35 AM

I have a 86' P225 and while I've not shot alot of HPs, I've yet to have a malfunction, with anything actually. I used it last week in a bowling pin shoot and will tomorrow also.

Mercenary · September 4, 2012, 03:14 PM

So who would handle warranty, Century or Sig?

ohen cepel · September 4, 2012, 03:52 PM

They are old enough that I don't think there would be any warranty. It's a surplus pistol used by the German police.

thedudeabides · September 4, 2012, 04:54 PM

It's a lot of cash for an old German surplus gun.

CPO (and that means warranty) p229's sell for 650, and have a double stack 15 round magazine.

They're not terrible, I had one a long time ago, but at the same time nothing special to their updated P226/9 offspring.

10-96 · September 4, 2012, 04:57 PM

Wideners has the P6's for quite a bit less than the CAI's.
http://www.wideners.com/itemdetail.c...=700|1012|1026

got2hav1 · September 4, 2012, 06:14 PM

CAI is just the importer into the US as I understand it. The P6 were law enforcement surplus pistols imported into the US be several importers depending on the time period. All were made by Sig. Now Sig has a factory in New Hampshire. They offer rebuilds from time to time on the older Sigs. A lot of people do their own refurbishing usually consisting of replacing the springs and pins.
I have had and currently own two P6s and they are great guns. I also own a P225. The P6 has a heavier trigger pull in double action mode than the P225. But you can change that by replacing the mainspring with a P225 spring. Top Gun Supply has all of the parts you will need.
The one thing that everyone loves on the P6/P225 pistols are the grip. It just plain fits most hands very well. I can not think of a better feeling handgun grip than the P6/P225. Good luck and enjoy the P6 its a fine handgun.

WVsig · September 4, 2012, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Wideners has the P6's for quite a bit less than the CAI's.
http://www.wideners.com/itemdetail.c...=700|1012|1026

CAI or PW Arms were the importers of the P6s. They were around for $300 to $350 a few years back. Since then they have climbed back up. They are still a good deal when you can get them around $400 IMHO.

If you are going to use it as a defense gun make sure you get a gun made after July of 1989 IIRC. It will have an improved feed ramp which is the one on the left in this pic.

Personally I prefer the P225 but that is just the Sig snob in me....

wgsigs · September 5, 2012, 09:16 AM

Just to add my two cents. The P225/P6 is the best fitting/handling SIG for me. The P228/P229 that someone mentioned before is close, but it is a little bigger in the grip being a double stack and I notice.

I have a CAI imported P6 made in 11/79 that I paid $340 for in 2009 which included 2 mags and a cardboard box. I replaced the mainspring, about a $8 part, to lighten the DA trigger, and it has been a great gun, running flawlessly, including feeding the few HPs I've tried, and it has been very accurate. If the price is closer to $400 with two mags, then the gun might be an OK deal. Used mags used to be hard to find and were over $30 a piece. However, there has been a recent glut of them and they were selling for as little as $18.

I also bought a 1998 P225 last year with a case, papers, and three mags for $500, which is why your deal doesn't appear to be that great.

BTW I believe SIG used to have lifetime warranties for their guns for the original purchaser so I don't have any warranty on either of my guns.

Fishbed77 · September 5, 2012, 09:24 AM

Quote:

If you are going to use it as a defense gun make sure you get a gun made after July of 1989 IIRC. It will have an improved feed ramp which is the one on the left in this pic.

Just curious - would there be any harm in opening up one of the old-style feed ramps to more closely match the new style? Folks do this all the time with 1911s.

Misssissippi Dave · September 5, 2012, 03:41 PM

The angle of the feed ramp is different between old and newer models. Costomized Creationz does modify the ramp. They also do refinishing and other things. I do carry a P6.

wgsigs · September 5, 2012, 04:20 PM

My P6 has the original barrel, but I can't tell if the feedramp has been polished and opened up a bit, but if it has, that could explain why a '79 seems to feed HP fairly well. My son currently has the gun so I can't exam it closely now. Of course, I have heard reports of many other older P6's that have had no problem feeding hollow point ammo either.

halfcocked · September 5, 2012, 10:37 PM

It may depend on the type of hollow points being used. I ran a few mags of Federal HST through my '83 P6 with no issues. Best $260 I ever spent when Gander Mt had them on sale a few years back. Unfortunately they goofed the boxes up and the serial number doesn't match, but can't be too picky for the price.

Robk · September 6, 2012, 08:53 AM

If it is a P225, than I would say that under $500 is not a bad price at all. Of course condition is a factor and what if any accessories will be included. As mentioned, the importer markings are normal for these pistols as Sig Sauer had no US presence at that time. Just to repeat, the P225 would have been made for the commerical market where as a P6 is either a police or military trade in. Many more P6s out there than P225s. Either way, my P6 is the best feeling Sig I own, single stack and relatively thin. The others mentioned, P229,P226 are double stack magazine pistols so the grip is thicker of course. If you like the way it feels in your hand, than by all means buy it if you have not yet done so. Price is subjective by condition, region, and availablility. So if you think it has a resonable price tag for you, by all means get it. You will not be disappointed.

September 4, 2012, 07:56 AM	#1
Mercenary Senior Member Join Date: April 28, 2011 Location: NC Posts: 311	Sig P225 Question I ran across a couple Sig P225's (P6) for under $500 but they're imported by Century International Arms They seem to be in good shape but a Sig imported by another company for under $500 makes me a little unsure. Is this a good buy for a used P225? If so, why is Century importing them? __________________ "The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government." - Thomas Jefferson

September 4, 2012, 08:33 AM	#2
Mrgunsngear Senior Member Join Date: May 13, 2011 Location: Carolina Posts: 3,415	They're very solid guns. One thing that you may be confusing though---a P6 is not a P225 exactly. The older ones, pre-89/90ish, have a different barrel than the 225 and may not feed hollow points reliably. Mine seems to feed 115gr JHPs fine but the 124 and 147gr rounds are problematic. __________________ Mrgunsngear Youtube Channel

September 4, 2012, 08:36 AM	#3
Chesster Senior Member Join Date: September 6, 2007 Location: Dixie Posts: 2,538	I'm assuming that is a retail price???? I bought three and they are fine shooters. Hollowpoint utilization depends on which feeding ramp the particular piece has which usually relates to date of manufacture. __________________ Chesster Proud NDN "The American Idle" Vote 'Pro-Choice' on 2nd Amendment issues!!!

September 4, 2012, 10:35 AM	#5
hulley Senior Member Join Date: November 9, 2008 Location: Hoschton, Ga. Posts: 726	I have a 86' P225 and while I've not shot alot of HPs, I've yet to have a malfunction, with anything actually. I used it last week in a bowling pin shoot and will tomorrow also. __________________ Nov 2, 2011 sent form 4, SS Sparrow. Arrived May 29, 2012. Jan 30, 2012 sent form 1 for SBR. Arrived July 12, 2012 Jan 22, 2013 Sent form 4, 762-SDN-6. Arrived Sept 13, 2013

September 4, 2012, 03:14 PM	#6
Mercenary Senior Member Join Date: April 28, 2011 Location: NC Posts: 311	So who would handle warranty, Century or Sig? __________________ "The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government." - Thomas Jefferson

September 4, 2012, 10:13 AM	#4
chris in va Senior Member Join Date: December 26, 2004 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 13,806	The 225 commands a higher price than the P6. There was an influx of surplus P6 pistols a couple years ago, so beware of someone trying to jack up the price of those to 225 levels. Honestly, unless you just happen to like single stack 9mm's, why not look for a used 228/229 for the same price? Heck even a 220 is in the ballpark.

September 4, 2012, 03:52 PM	#7
ohen cepel Senior Member Join Date: November 20, 1999 Location: Where they send me Posts: 1,013	They are old enough that I don't think there would be any warranty. It's a surplus pistol used by the German police. __________________ He who dares wins. NRA Life Benefactor Member

September 4, 2012, 04:54 PM	#8
thedudeabides Senior Member Join Date: August 22, 2012 Posts: 1,031	It's a lot of cash for an old German surplus gun. CPO (and that means warranty) p229's sell for 650, and have a double stack 15 round magazine. They're not terrible, I had one a long time ago, but at the same time nothing special to their updated P226/9 offspring.

September 4, 2012, 04:57 PM	#9
10-96 Senior Member Join Date: October 19, 2005 Location: Tx Panhandle Territory Posts: 4,159	Wideners has the P6's for quite a bit less than the CAI's. http://www.wideners.com/itemdetail.c...=700\|1012\|1026 __________________ Rednecks... Keeping the woods critter-free since March 2, 1836. (TX Independence Day) I suspect a thing or two... because I've seen a thing or two.

September 4, 2012, 06:14 PM	#10
got2hav1 Senior Member Join Date: November 27, 2011 Location: NC Posts: 230	CAI is just the importer into the US as I understand it. The P6 were law enforcement surplus pistols imported into the US be several importers depending on the time period. All were made by Sig. Now Sig has a factory in New Hampshire. They offer rebuilds from time to time on the older Sigs. A lot of people do their own refurbishing usually consisting of replacing the springs and pins. I have had and currently own two P6s and they are great guns. I also own a P225. The P6 has a heavier trigger pull in double action mode than the P225. But you can change that by replacing the mainspring with a P225 spring. Top Gun Supply has all of the parts you will need. The one thing that everyone loves on the P6/P225 pistols are the grip. It just plain fits most hands very well. I can not think of a better feeling handgun grip than the P6/P225. Good luck and enjoy the P6 its a fine handgun. __________________ Sig P225, Sig P229,P228 Sig P239, Sig P226, Colt Comm. 1911 Colt Python, G19 Gen 2 Colt OMM, GP100, Colt DS

September 5, 2012, 09:16 AM	#12
wgsigs Senior Member Join Date: August 13, 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 222	Just to add my two cents. The P225/P6 is the best fitting/handling SIG for me. The P228/P229 that someone mentioned before is close, but it is a little bigger in the grip being a double stack and I notice. I have a CAI imported P6 made in 11/79 that I paid $340 for in 2009 which included 2 mags and a cardboard box. I replaced the mainspring, about a $8 part, to lighten the DA trigger, and it has been a great gun, running flawlessly, including feeding the few HPs I've tried, and it has been very accurate. If the price is closer to $400 with two mags, then the gun might be an OK deal. Used mags used to be hard to find and were over $30 a piece. However, there has been a recent glut of them and they were selling for as little as $18. I also bought a 1998 P225 last year with a case, papers, and three mags for $500, which is why your deal doesn't appear to be that great. BTW I believe SIG used to have lifetime warranties for their guns for the original purchaser so I don't have any warranty on either of my guns.

September 5, 2012, 03:41 PM	#14
Misssissippi Dave Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 2009 Posts: 1,411	The angle of the feed ramp is different between old and newer models. Costomized Creationz does modify the ramp. They also do refinishing and other things. I do carry a P6.

September 5, 2012, 04:20 PM	#15
wgsigs Senior Member Join Date: August 13, 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 222	My P6 has the original barrel, but I can't tell if the feedramp has been polished and opened up a bit, but if it has, that could explain why a '79 seems to feed HP fairly well. My son currently has the gun so I can't exam it closely now. Of course, I have heard reports of many other older P6's that have had no problem feeding hollow point ammo either.

September 5, 2012, 10:37 PM	#16
halfcocked Senior Member Join Date: June 26, 2001 Location: NE PA Posts: 140	It may depend on the type of hollow points being used. I ran a few mags of Federal HST through my '83 P6 with no issues. Best $260 I ever spent when Gander Mt had them on sale a few years back. Unfortunately they goofed the boxes up and the serial number doesn't match, but can't be too picky for the price.

September 6, 2012, 08:53 AM	#17
Robk Senior Member Join Date: April 18, 2011 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 324	If it is a P225, than I would say that under $500 is not a bad price at all. Of course condition is a factor and what if any accessories will be included. As mentioned, the importer markings are normal for these pistols as Sig Sauer had no US presence at that time. Just to repeat, the P225 would have been made for the commerical market where as a P6 is either a police or military trade in. Many more P6s out there than P225s. Either way, my P6 is the best feeling Sig I own, single stack and relatively thin. The others mentioned, P229,P226 are double stack magazine pistols so the grip is thicker of course. If you like the way it feels in your hand, than by all means buy it if you have not yet done so. Price is subjective by condition, region, and availablility. So if you think it has a resonable price tag for you, by all means get it. You will not be disappointed.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search