New p220 range report

J.R. Bob Dobbs · July 7, 2002, 10:59 AM

** This is a duplicate of a post I placed over on Sigforum.com **

Took my new P220 shooting for the first time this morning. To sum it up in one word: Nice!

I shot 117 rounds of assorted ammo; Wolf and UMC 230g FMJ, and Ga. Arms 185g JHP+p Golddots. There were no failures of any kind

Recoil was unexpectedly VERY light with the standard loads, and quite heavy with the +p's.

Accuracy was very good. I did all my shooting offhand at 25yds. Groupings were tight, allthough POI was about 4" high and 2" right. I'll probably correct that in the future with a different height (night) sight.

Complaints are relatively minor. About 10 empty cases winged my right forehead. I'm left handed, so I usually wear a hat shooting semi-autos, but this is the only gun I have that absolutely requires the hat. Ejection varied quite a bit, with some cases landing in front of me, out in an arc to about 9' away at my 4:00 position. Surprisingly, ejection seemed most positive when I shot one handed. Again, there were no failures, just an occasional head-ping.

Those 8rd mags are HARD to load!! My thumbs are now sore and a little skinned. It takes so much effort to load the last 2 rounds, that my loading/shooting hand eventually became fatigued and shaky. I stopped shooting when I was shaking so much that accuracy was suffering, and I was barely able to load the mags any more. Maybe I'm just turning into a weak-mary, but I NEED a magloader!!!!!

Overall, this is the nicest .45 I've ever shot. I had 2 Kimbers that were too unreliable to keep; this p220 is definately a keeper. It doesn't seem to recoil much more than a 9mm. A magloader will certainly help make range sessions nicer and longer. Ejection is a concern, but is still 100% so far, and may improve with more break-in.

PS: The p239/357 is still king of my little hill!

VVG · July 8, 2002, 08:22 AM

Great pistol! Try a different lubricant on the slide - that may change the timing just enough to let the cartridges eject a little farther forward. I use Tetra Gun Grease on the slide, CLP elsewhere. I never use steel case ammo after seeing so many problems others have with it at the range.

I load the 8 round mags with 7, so I always have 7 loaded. I like them better because the extension makes them easier to seat. They do get a little easier to load over time, otherwise spend $10-12 on an HKS speedloader.

J.R. Bob Dobbs · July 8, 2002, 08:34 AM

I ordered an HKS speedloader yesterday, and will go shooting again as soon as it arrives. I expect ejection will improve after a couple hundred rounds are shot to loosen it up a little. I'll get some better ammo than Wolf, too; perhaps the lacquored cases were gumming things up a little.

I'm very happy the gun had no failures on it's maiden voyage. I've been having heap-big bad-luck lately!

seadog · July 8, 2002, 08:46 AM

Congrats on your purchase. I just picked up a 220 stainless a few weeks ago. Man, that thing is superb! You cannot go wrong with a Sig.

jar · July 8, 2002, 10:08 AM

Wolf laquer will gum stuff up. And on a pistol with close tolerances such as your SiG, that can be most unpleasant.

Ala Dan · July 8, 2002, 11:57 AM

I knew you would fall in love with a Sig P220!

Now,
that you are "hooked" on Sig's; why not add
some more to your collection?

In case you have
not owned or shot any other's; the "P-series classics"
are VERY nice. You can start with the P230/P232 in .380
auto, P225, P226*, P228, P229*, P239 in 9m/m, and even a
P245 in .45ACP. Like you, the P220A .45 ACP is my
favorite. Enjoy-

*P226/P229/P239 available in 9m/m, .40 S&W, .357 Sig

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

July 8, 2002, 08:22 AM	#2
VVG Senior Member Join Date: November 28, 2001 Location: Boston Posts: 645	Great pistol! Try a different lubricant on the slide - that may change the timing just enough to let the cartridges eject a little farther forward. I use Tetra Gun Grease on the slide, CLP elsewhere. I never use steel case ammo after seeing so many problems others have with it at the range. I load the 8 round mags with 7, so I always have 7 loaded. I like them better because the extension makes them easier to seat. They do get a little easier to load over time, otherwise spend $10-12 on an HKS speedloader. Last edited by VVG; July 9, 2002 at 08:13 AM.

July 8, 2002, 10:08 AM	#5
jar Senior Member Join Date: March 8, 2001 Location: Deep South Texas Posts: 1,719	Wolf laquer will gum stuff up. And on a pistol with close tolerances such as your SiG, that can be most unpleasant. __________________ To be vintage it's gotta be older than me!

July 8, 2002, 11:57 AM	#6
Ala Dan Member in memoriam Join Date: August 14, 1999 Location: In The HOT, Humid, and Mu Posts: 6,116	Good report J.R. Bob- I knew you would fall in love with a Sig P220! Now, that you are "hooked" on Sig's; why not add some more to your collection? In case you have not owned or shot any other's; the "P-series classics" are VERY nice. You can start with the P230/P232 in .380 auto, P225, P226, P228, P229, P239 in 9m/m, and even a P245 in .45ACP. Like you, the P220A .45 ACP is my favorite. Enjoy- *P226/P229/P239 available in 9m/m, .40 S&W, .357 Sig Best Wishes, Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

July 8, 2002, 08:34 AM	#3
J.R. Bob Dobbs Senior Member Join Date: April 11, 2002 Location: Atlanta Posts: 221	I ordered an HKS speedloader yesterday, and will go shooting again as soon as it arrives. I expect ejection will improve after a couple hundred rounds are shot to loosen it up a little. I'll get some better ammo than Wolf, too; perhaps the lacquored cases were gumming things up a little. I'm very happy the gun had no failures on it's maiden voyage. I've been having heap-big bad-luck lately!

July 8, 2002, 08:46 AM	#4
seadog Senior Member Join Date: October 28, 2000 Location: Virginia Posts: 287	Congrats on your purchase. I just picked up a 220 stainless a few weeks ago. Man, that thing is superb! You cannot go wrong with a Sig.