III. Firearm Information by Type

C. Semi-Automatic Pistols

2. Models and Manufacturers

m. SIG-Sauer

2. Model Information

by Mike Cavanaugh (cavan@mhv.net)

Summary: This portion of the rec.guns FAQ is an overview of Schweizerische
Industrie-Gesellschaft (SIG) and J.P. Sauer and Son's fine semi-automatic
handguns. SIG-Sauer handguns, imported into the U.S.A. by the American
company SIGARMS, have earned a well-deserved reputation for quality and
reliability which is highly valued by civilian and law-enforcement
shooters.

                   Currently Available SIG-Sauer Handguns

        Model:           P220    P225  P226  P228   P229      P230    P239
      Caliber(s):                                  .40S&W
                       .45 ACP*
                       .38 Super  9mm  9mm   9mm     9mm      .380    9mm
                                                  .357 SIG
   Length, overall:      7.79"   7.08"7.71" 7.08"   7.08"     6.61"  6.65"
   Height, overall:      5.63"   5.15"5.47" 5.35"   5.35"     4.68"   5.1"
    Width, overall:      1.37"   1.34"1.45" 1.46"   1.46"     1.22"  1.24"
    Barrel length:       4.41"   3.86"4.41" 3.86"   3.86"     3.6"    3.6
 Rifling twist: (1 in   15.74"   9.84"9.84" 9.84"  15.00"     9.84"
         ...)            9.84"                      9.84"
                                                   16.00"
    Rifling grooves        6       6    6     6       6         6
      Sight base:        6.29"   5.71"6.29" 5.71"   5.71"     4.72"   5.2"
                         25.7
 Weight, ex. mag (oz)    (.45)   26.1  26.5  26.1   27.54   16.2/20.8 25.2
                         26.5
                         (.38)
   Weight, empty mag   2.4 (.45)
         (oz)          2.9 (.38)  2.8  3.4   3.0     3.0     1.4/1.8  2.3
  Trigger pull (lbs)
 Double Action/Single    12.12   12.1212.12 12.12   12.12      9.9     10
         Act.             4.4     4.4  4.4   4.4     4.4      3.75     4

     Muzzle energy     370 (.45)  368  368   368     390       190    368
       (ft-lbs)        398 (.38)                     368
                                                     510
                       7/8 (.45)   8  15/20   13  12 (.40)      7      8
   Magazine capacity    9 (.38)                   13 (9mm)
                                                  12 (.357)

Notes: The function principle of all firearms (except P230) is
mechanically-locked, recoil-operated autoloader. The trigger for all
firearms (except P230) is double-action/single-action or double-action
only. The P230's function principle is straight blowback, fixed barrel. The
P230's trigger is double-action/single-action.

*    P220 American version (.45 ACP) is listed. The American P220 has thumb
     magazine release. European versions in .45 ACP, .38 Super, and 9mm are
     available but have European magazine releases. (P220 in .38 super and
     9mm have 9 round magazines.)

The Decocking Lever

All currently available SIG-Sauer handguns (except for double-action only
variants) have a decocking lever on the left side of the frame. Pressing
down on the decocking lever will safely lower the hammer. Once lowered, the
next shot may be fired with a heavy double-action trigger pull. Internal
safeties prevent accidental discharges during the decocking procedure, no
matter how forcefully the decocking lever is pressed. The owner's manual
that comes with SIG-Sauer handguns as well as many SIGARMS advertisements
in gun magazines contain a warning to only and always use the decocking
lever to safely lower the hammer.

This is incredibly important from a safety standpoint and bears
reiteration: only and always use the decocking lever. Hammers should never
be lowered by manually lowering the hammer and pulling the trigger.
Manually lowering the hammer is dangerous in itself and prevents the full
application of the pistol's safety features. Accidental discharges are a
frequent, indeed likely, consequence of manually lowering the hammer.

I have found that most right handed shooters are unable to press down on
the decocking lever without shifting their grip on the gun slightly. Such
shooters may prefer to use the thumb of their support hand for this
purpose.

None of the modern SIG-Sauer handguns have any other type of external
safety - no grip safeties on the backstrap (like the Colt 1911), no trigger
safeties (like the Glock and Smith & Wesson Sigma), no frame mounted thumb
safeties (like the Colt 1911 or Ruger Mark II), no slide mounted thumb
safeties (like the Walther PP, PPK, and PPK/S or Beretta 92F), no magazine
safeties (like the Browning High Power and many, but not all, Smith &
Wesson semi-autos).

All modern SIG-Sauer handguns share a number of internal safeties, which
work in concert to assure the gun does not fire unless the trigger is
pulled. They are detailed below, along with a short hands-on exercise
demonstrating their function. First time readers, or those without a
SIG-Sauer and manual handy may wish to skip over the exercise. All
exercises are to be done with unloaded firearms; do not attempt them (or
handle the gun in any way) if you do not know how to determine if the
firearm is loaded.

Safety Intercept Notch
     If the gun is dropped directly onto the hammer while the hammer is in
     either the single-action or double-action position, the safety
     intercept notch on the hammer is engaged by the sear, and prevents the
     hammer from contacting the firing pin. Decocking (using the decocking
     lever) lowers the hammer to the safety intercept notch, completely out
     of contact with the firing pin.

     To demonstrate the function of the safety intercept notch, unload and
     decock your SIG-Sauer and apply moderate thumb pressure to the hammer.
     The hammer is not free to travel forward to contact the firing pin
     since the sear has engaged the safety intercept notch.

Firing Pin Safety
     Located within the slide, a firing pin safety blocks forward motion of
     the firing pin unless the trigger is pulled. When the trigger is
     pulled, the (unfortunately named) "safety lever" pivots upward and
     disengages the firing pin safety.

     To demonstrate the function of the firing pin safety, unload and field
     strip your SIG-Sauer as described in the manual, separating the barrel
     from the slide. Place the slide upside down on a table in front of
     you. Press on the rounded end of the firing pin where it emerges from
     the breech block and observe that the firing pin does not emerge from
     breech face. Repeat, this time while pressing downward on the firing
     pin safety, and observe the firing pin protruding from the breech
     block. Lastly, examine the frame and locate the stamped steel safety
     lever located just forward of the hammer. The safety lever pivots
     upward and disengages the firing pin safety when the gun is fired.

Disconnector
     Protruding just above the right grip panel, the disconnector is part
     of the trigger bar. When the slide is out of battery (ie: not locked
     fully forward) the slide presses the disconnector downward and the
     trigger is literally 'disconnected' from the sear. This prevents the
     SIG-Sauer handguns from firing unless the slide is fully in battery.

     To demonstrate the function of the disconnector, unload and field
     strip your SIG-Sauer as described in the manual. Locate the rounded
     top of the disconnector just above the right grip panel. Using your
     thumb to press downward on the disconnector (as the slide would do
     when it is out of battery) pull the trigger. The trigger pulls easily,
     the hammer does not move. Lastly, note the rounded cutout in the right
     slide rail which permits the disconnector to move upward only when the
     slide is in battery.

Hammer Reset Spring
     Perhaps the least commonly understood safety feature employed by P220s
     manufactured in or after 1994, as well as all P225, P226, P228, P229
     models. The hammer reset spring is a small spring attached to rear of
     the hammer and concealed by the plastic hammer stop. The spring
     actually pulls the hammer away from the firing pin. If the hammer is
     lowered incorrectly by using the thumb and trigger (and an accidental
     discharge does not immediately result), the hammer reset spring will
     pull the hammer away from the firing pin back to the safety intercept
     notch.

     To demonstrate the function of the hammer reset spring, dry fire an
     unloaded gun and hold the trigger back. Press the hammer forward until
     it contacts the firing pin. When the hammer is released, the hammer
     reset spring pulls the hammer back to the safety intercept notch.
     Release the trigger, and again press forward on the hammer. The safety
     intercept notch prevents the hammer from moving forward and contacting
     the firing pin.

     Thus, a hammer reset spring is essentially unnecessary if the user
     only and always uses the decocking lever to lower the hammer. Are
     P230s and pre-1994 P220s any less safe for lacking a hammer reset
     spring? Only if the decocker is not used! I have what I believe to be
     a valid report of an accidental discharge resulting from a blow to the
     hammer of a pre-1994 P220 which was not properly decocked using the
     decocking lever. My conclusion is that under some circumstances, the
     firing pin safety alone may be insufficient to prevent an A.D. if a
     pre-1994 P220 is improperly decocked. Again, this applies only to
     pre-1994 P220s which lack the hammer reset spring and were improperly
     decocked without using the decocking lever. One last time: only and
     always use the decocking lever!

Model Descriptions

P220
     The 9mm version of the SIG-Sauer P220 was adopted by the Swiss
     military in 1975 and designated the Pistole 75. The oldest of the
     SIG-Sauer handguns, the P220 is most commonly available in the USA
     chambered for the .45 ACP. For .45 aficionados, the P220 offers an an
     excellent alternative to 1911-style single action implementations of
     handguns of that caliber.

     The P220 was first imported into the USA in 1975 as the Browning BDA
     (Browning Double Action) in calibers 9mm, .38 Super, and .45 ACP.
     Interarms and other importers brought in small numbers, until the
     American SIGARMS corporation became the sole importers of the entire
     SIG-Sauer line. (The Gun Digest Book of 9mm Handguns ISBN
     0-910676-97-6)

     Even with the heel-mounted European-style magazine release, the .45
     ACP Browning BDA was the very first double-action/single-action .45
     ACP semi-auto to enjoy any U.S. commercial success. In 1986, SIGARMS
     began distributing P220s in calibers .45 ACP and .38 Super with
     American-style magazine releases mounted on the frame just behind the
     trigger guard. A Double-Action only variant of the P220 is available.

     In 1994, SIGARMS modified the P220s .45 ACP magazine to enlarge the
     magazine capacity from seven to eight rounds. There are no external
     changes to the magazine, only a redesigned magazine follower. The
     redesigned follower may be added to existing magazines without any
     additional changes.

P225
     In 1975 SIG-Sauer developed the P225 as a compact version of the 9mm
     P220 to meet the requirements of German police organizations. As part
     of the police reorganizations that followed the 1972 Black September
     terrorist attack on Israeli athletes at the Munich Olympics, the West
     Germans set standards for police-issue handguns. Their criteria were:
     9mm chambering, a magazine capacity of at least 8 rounds, and
     dimensions just slightly smaller than the P220. The P220 in 9mm was
     shortened, sacrificing one round of its 9 round magazine capacity, and
     dubbed the P225. The P225 was the first SIG-Sauer handgun with a
     hammer reset spring. A Double-Action only variant of the P225 is
     available.

     The West Germans deemed the SIG P225 acceptable and designated it the
     P6. The Heckler and Koch Polizei Selbstlade Pistole (PSP) was accepted
     as the P7, and the Walther entrant as the P5. The Walther P5 and H&K
     P7 (and the later P9) are marketed in the USA under those West German
     Government designations. (Small Arms of the World - ISBN
     0-88029-601-1)

     The P225 (a.k.a. P6) placed the magazine release in the place
     Americans have come to expect, on the left side of the frame where the
     trigger guard meets the grip panels. The P225 is easy to distinguish
     at a glance from the P220 and P226 by the shape of the trigger guard:
     the forward part of the guard is nearly vertical and the guard itself
     is very squarish. What doomed the P225 to a life of relative obscurity
     in the USA was its magazine capacity. Its single column magazine held
     only eight rounds. As high-capacity "wondernine" 9mm semi-autos gained
     favor in the 1980's, the P225 was left behind.

     Like all semi-automatic handguns which contain the magazine within the
     grip of the gun, the magazine width sets a lower bound on the overall
     width of the grip. One advantage of the single column magazine is that
     the overall grip size of the P225 is smaller than that of the double
     column P226, P228, or P229. Lately, SIGARMS has attempted to revive
     the P225 as a higher-caliber alternative to the P230 for women and
     individuals with small hands. ("Which Pistol? Make Hers a SIG" - Gila
     May-Hayes - SIGARMS Handgunning)

P226
P226
     SIG's first 9mm high-capacity double column semi-automatic.    [Image]
     The P226 was submitted as a replacement for the Colt .45
     M1911A in the nearly decade long US Military struggle to move to a
     high capacity semi-automatic. For the duration of the selection
     process the Army designated the P226 (and all other submitted guns)
     the "XM9" (eXperimental M9). When the selection process was finally
     over in 1985, the Beretta 92F and the SIG P226 were deemed acceptable,
     but the SIG was rejected for cost and spare part availability reasons.
     The cost difference was not large - just $15 per gun - but the 320,000
     gun, $76 million contract necessitated economy. (In January 1995,
     Beretta USA celebrated their tenth year of supplying the US Armed
     Forces with their excellent, reliable M9.)

     The SIG P228 has become SIGARMS' best-selling 9mm, and its popularity
     has doubtlessly dented sales of the P226 - and that really is a shame.
     Some shooters who have used both guns like the concealability of the
     P228, but prefer shooting the longer-slide P226.

     A Double Action only variant of the P226 is available. Installation of
     a DAO hammer and removal of the decocking lever can be done by any
     qualified SIG armorer. Wisely, the "SIG DA P226" retains the external
     hammer spur, often a requirement for holsters with retention devices.
     If you cock the hammer on a SIG DA P226, the hammer will simply fall
     harmlessly to the intercept notch.

P228
     A hybrid of the full-sized P226 and the smaller P225 which combines
     all the best features of each. The P228 has a double column magazine
     like the P226 and the reduced dimensions of the P225. Magazines made
     for the P228 hold 13 rounds, but note that the P228 can accept the 15
     round P226 magazines, although they hang slightly below the grip of
     the P228. A Double Action only variant of the P228 is available.

     Observers will note that the trigger guard on the P228 is more rounded
     than those of the P220, P225, and P226, which have a pronounced "hook"
     to them. Suits me fine, since that hook seems to invite novice
     shooters to place the index finger of their weak hand on the trigger
     guard, which I discourage.

     On April 23, 1992 the US Army accepted the SIG P228 as the M11 Compact
     Pistol. (SIGARMS Quarterly Volume 4) During Army reliability tests
     conducted at the Aberdeen Proving Ground in January 1992, only a
     single malfunction was experienced in 15,000 rounds among the three
     P228s submitted for testing. The M11 is available to military police,
     flight crews, those with hands too small for the larger M9 (Beretta
     92F) and those who prefer it, based on availability.

P229
     "Previewed" at the 1991 Shot Show and "officially announced" at the
     1992 show, the P229 is the long-awaited .40S&W addition to the
     SIG-Sauer product line. Most P229s have a black stainless-steel slide
     and black anodized aluminum frame, but an ornately engraved
     "unblackened" version is available and is designated the P229 SL. A
     Double-Action only variant is available.

     Although the same size as the P228, the P229 required several design
     changes in order to withstand the more powerful .40S&W cartridge. The
     P229 employs a powerful recoil spring, resulting in considerably more
     force required to manually draw back the slide. Most importantly, the
     P229 incorporates a significant change in the slide construction. The
     P229 slide is machined out of a single block of stainless steel. The
     slides of the rest of the SIG handguns (except the P230) are made from
     sheet steel which is bent into a 'U' shape over a mandrel and then has
     the breech block pinned into it. The P229 owes most of its increased
     weight over the P228 to the heavier, more rugged slide.

     Rumors circulated on rec.guns in early 1994 that SIG was about to
     introduce a 9mm version of the P229. Many people were puzzled by the
     rumor, uncertain what a 9mm version of the P229 would have to offer
     over the equally-sized P228. Did SIG believe that the machined-slide
     construction of the P229 rendered the P228 design obsolete?

     Speculation ended in the summer of 1994 when SIG introduced the P229
     in a new, proprietary caliber, the .357 SIG. The new .357 SIG is a
     .40S&W round, necked down to accommodate a 9mm sized bullet. Federal
     manufactures one .357 SIG load, using a 125gr. bullet at 1,352 feet
     per second. (in either JHP or FMJFP bullet configurations). By early
     reports, the .357 SIG is an impressive round, achieving near-.357
     Magnum performance. The new P229 in .357 SIG is squarely aimed at the
     law-enforcement market and several police agencies are already
     evaluating it. (American Rifleman, May 1994)

     SIGARMS informs me that a conversion kit will be available in late
     1995 or early 1996 to convert a .40S&W P229 to .357 SIG. A replacement
     barrel is all that is required. It will cost approximately $150. No
     conversion of the 9mm P229 to any other caliber is possible.

     Bar-Sto Precision Machine (Phone: (619) 367-2747) is supposed to be
     currently shipping .357 SIG and .40 S&W barrels for P229s.

     In late 1994, a 9mm version of the P229 was introduced with
     considerably less fanfare than the .357 SIG version. The main
     advantage of the 9mm P229 over the P228 seems to be the single-piece
     slide design and that the P229 is made in New Hampshire, rather than
     imported from Germany.

P230
     An excellent .380 caliber (a.k.a. .380 ACP, 917, 9mm kurz) handgun,
     the P230 was introduced in 1974 as a companion piece to the P220. It
     is thought by many to be superior to other "pocket pistols" on the
     market. If you normally carry a full-sized SIG, the P230 makes an
     excellent off-duty, backup, or "warm-weather" gun. The controls are
     similar, although the P230 does have the European (heel mounted)
     magazine release.

     Unlike the rest of the SIG handguns, the P230 is a fixed barrel
     blowback design. The recoil spring surrounds the barrel, eliminating
     the need for a recoil spring guide rod. The P230 is exclusively Double
     Action/Single Action; no DAO version is available.

     Note the 25% weight increase when you choose the stainless P230 SL
     over the blued P230! The difference in weight is not because stainless
     steel is significantly heavier than blued, but because the blued steel
     model has an anodized aluminum frame (just like the P220, P225, P226,
     P228, and P229) while the stainless version has a stainless steel
     frame.

     While some prefer the balance of the heavier model, I feel that the
     prime reason for carrying a .380 caliber handgun is convenience. The
     P230 SL is so heavy, that one might just as well carry one of its full
     sized brethren. At the same time, I prefer to use stainless steel SIG
     magazines in the P230, as I find them marginally easier to inspect for
     cleanliness than the blue steel version.

     My P230 manual lists "7.65mm Browning (.32)" as a P230 chambering,
     though I've never seen one. The 1995 SIGARMS catalog lists only the
     .380 model.

     Like all modern SIG-Sauers, the decocker safely lowers the hammer to
     the safety intercept notch. Unlike the other SIGs though, the safety
     intercept notch positions the hammer almost halfway between the firing
     pin and the single action hammer position. The hammer does not look
     fully "down", and some users become concerned that the gun is
     "half-cocked." Such users might be tempted to use the trigger and a
     thumb to fully lower the hammer so the gun becomes "decocked all the
     way." This is an unsafe practice, and users are again reminded to only
     and always use the decocking lever. Lowering the hammer past the
     safety intercept notch defeats one of the gun's three internal
     safeties and (lacking a hammer reset spring) leaves only the firing
     pin safety to prevent an accidental discharge arising from a blow to
     the hammer.

P239
     11/10/95 -- Reports have begun to come in about a new SIG-Sauer
     handgun, the P239, expected to debut in early '96. It is alleged to be
     a 9mm, single column magazine gun with a seven round capacity, built
     on a P230-sized frame. Stay tuned!

     11/21/95 -- The January '96 issue of Shooting Times and the February
     '96 issue of Combat Handguns (both of which hit newsstands in November
     '95) have articles on the P239. As described therein, the P239 is
     indeed a small 9mm, with a single column magazine holding eight
     rounds. The black anodized aluminum frame is somewhat larger than the
     P230 and smaller than the P229.

     The P239 is an interesting hybrid of the P229 and P230 designs. Like
     the P229, the P239 slide is manufactured in New Hampshire from a
     single piece of blackened stainless steel, rather than the pinned-in
     breech block design of the the P220, P225, P226, and P228. The P239
     has an American-style magazine release, rather than the heel-mounted
     magazine release of the P230. Like the P230, the P239 has a "swept
     forward" trigger guard rather than the somewhat more rectangular guard
     of the P229. Like the P230, the P239 magazines have a finger rest at
     the bottom. Unlike any of the the other SIG-Sauer handguns, the hammer
     of the P239 lacks a spur, presumably for a snag-free draw from
     concealment.

     The U.S. Congress' passage of the 1994 Omnibus Crime Bill banned
     civilian sales of magazines with a capacity of more than ten rounds.
     Barring a possible repeal of this ill-considered legislation, the era
     of the double column semi-auto would seem to be passing. Simply put,
     SIG-Sauer was not represented in the small-size single-column 9mm
     market that the Crime Bill so strongly favors. At first brush, the
     P239 looks likes a good entry in this niche.

P210
     The legendary P210, long unavailable in the USA except for the used
     market, is again being imported into the USA by SIGARMS. The 9mm
     P210-6 has an eight round magazine and an optional .22 LR conversion
     unit. Save your pennies, because prices for a new P210 start at around
     $2,500! As for the used market, a sampling of a few issues of Shotgun
     News and Gun List reveals prices ranging from $1000-$3000, depending
     (as used guns always do) on rarity, age, and condition.

     The P210 has a long, mostly European, history. Available in a variety
     of calibers - 9mm, 7.65mmP (.30 Luger), and .22 LR - it was never a
     cheap firearm. The P210 was adopted by the Swiss military in 1949, and
     designated the Pistole 49. As such, it predates the SIG and J.P. Sauer
     and Sons collaboration and is more properly be referred to as a "SIG"
     rather than a "SIG-Sauer". Emmanual Baechler, a rec.guns contributor
     from Switzerland, informs me that the SIG P-210 is still being
     manufactured and marketed in Europe and is widely available in Swiss
     gun stores.

     In design, the P210 differs greatly from the modern SIG-Sauers. A few
     of them are enumerated below:
        o The P210 is single action, like the 1911; all of the other SIGs
          are single-action/double-action (or double-action only).
        o The P210 possesses an internal magazine safety; a chambered live
          round cannot be fired unless a magazine is inserted in the grip.
        o The P210 is unique among SIGs in that it has no decocking lever
          and instead has a thumb safety. Just behind the trigger guard, on
          the frame (about where any American would expect the magazine
          release!) is a lever - up for safe and down for fire.
        o The P210's slide rides inside the frame rails rather than outside
          as with all of the other SIGs.
     There are five P210 variations:
        o The P210-1 has a bright finish and wood grips.
        o The P210-2 has a matte finish, plastic grips, and a simple "U"
          shaped rear sight notch.
        o The P210-4 was produced for the German Border Police.
        o The P210-5 is a long barreled target gun with a barrel mounted
          front sight.
        o The P210-6 is a standard length barrel target gun with adjustable
          sights.

SIG-Sauer Design Philosophy

One strength of the SIG-Sauer product line is that all of the guns share
the same operating features: double-action/single-action with decockers. If
you carry a P229, it's easy enough to switch to a P230 - no new safeties to
fiddle with. Glock's great success with their Safe Action design is also
owed this strategy - one sound and simple design offered in a variety of
calibers.

Smith & Wesson semi-automatics offer a counterexample. S&W offered so many
different models of their third-generation semi-automatics that their
dealers had to be supplied with little slide rules to match up the model
numbers to the caliber, action, and safety features! S&W is still trying to
recover market share and credibility from their "gun of the week" phase
when every passing day seemed to offer a new model or variant. (By the
looks of their new 9mm and .40S&W Sigma semi-automatic, they're well on
their way.)

SIG-Sauer Finishes

The SIG-Sauer P220, P225, P226, and P228 guns are available in blued,
nickel, or SIG's K-Kote finish. I'm partial to the nickel finish - I like
the contrast of the shiny nickel slide with the black anodized aluminum
frame. My Glock-shooting friends deride my flashy P228 as a "pimp gun", but
I like the two-tone look!

Equally attractive looking is K-Kote, SIG's dark non-reflective matte-black
finish. Beware: recently many owners have reported that newer SIGs have had
the K-Kote finish rapidly wear off from nothing more than routine handling
and holster wear! Enough reports have come in that, as it stands now, I do
not recommend K-Kote.

Once the K-Kote has worn off, SIGARMS will reapply it for around $50, but
be aware that various other companies refinish guns as well. In particular,
Robar, Inc. (Phone: (602) 581-2648)) offers their proprietary NP3 finish.
NP3 is applied to all of the steel parts of the guns (except springs), not
to the the aluminum frame which is left anodized black. NP3 looks much like
SIG's nickel finish and is imbued with teflon for lubricity. It is easy to
clean; unburnt powder comes off very easily with a bit of solvent.

The SIG-Sauer P230, as noted above, is available only in blued steel or
stainless steel configurations (P230 SL). The SIG-Sauer P229, as noted
above, is available only in "blackened" or "unblackened" stainless. The
P239 is available only in "blackened" stainless.

SIG Sights

SIG-Sauers come with "bar sights": the rear sight has a white marking just
below the notch and the front sight is marked with a white bead. Lining up
the front and rear sight is easy, just form an unbroken vertical white line
with the front and rear sight markings. For users who prefer the Three-Dot
sights, they are available for all SIG-Sauer guns except for the P230.

SIGARMS also sells all of their guns (except the P230) with their SIGLITE
(Trijicon) tritium night sights already installed. SIGLITE sights employ
tiny amounts of radioactive tritium gas to produce a three-dot sight that
glows fairly brightly in no- or low-light conditions. While a competent
gunsmith could replace the standard sights with aftermarket tritium sights,
SIGLITE sights add only $60-$80 (US) to the purchase price of the gun, and
the owner is assured that the gun is reasonably well sighted in. I am told
there are gunsmiths who will install night sights on the P230 after
carefully drilling holes in the sights or by replacing them entirely. This
is not a simple process, since the front sight on the P230 is an integral
part of the slide. The rest of the SIG guns have both front and rear sights
mounted in dovetail grooves, installing new sights involves only in sliding
the old ones out and the new ones in.

SIG Sight Adjustments

All SIG-Sauer firearms are test fired for accuracy at the factory and are
shipped with the test target. Out of the box, one may expect the gun to
shoot reasonably close to the point of aim. Once the user has become
thoroughly familiar with the gun and has developed good groups, the shooter
may wish to move the sights. No amount of sight adjustment will improve a
poor shooter: do NOT mess with the sights until groups are shot
consistently.

SIG-Sauer handguns are drift adjustable for windage. The rear sight may be
drifted left or right in the dovetail in which it rests. Use a wooden dowel
to prevent marring the slide, and tap the rear sight left or right. The
only way to adjust for elevation is to purchase shorter or taller front
sights.

SIGARMS sells a sight pusher to precisely adjust or remove front and rear
sights. At around $100, it's an expensive addition to your shooting bag.

SIGs and Left Handed Shooters

All SIGs (except the P230) have an external slide catch lever located on
the left side which may not be reversed. All non-Double Action Only SIGs
have the decocking lever on the left side which may not be reversed. Most
left handed shooters use the tip of their trigger finger to depress the
decocking lever. A lucky and coordinated few are flexible enough to use
their index finger between the second and third joint to depress the lever
downward.

The magazine release button on all SIG-Sauers (except, of course, those
with European, heel-mounted magazine releases) may be switched to the right
side of the frame. Shipping the gun to SIGARMS is strongly recommended, as
incorrect reassembly may render the gun unable to retain a magazine.
Further mucking about often damages the frame beyond repair; and SIGARMS
does not replace the serial-numbered frames.

SIG-Sauer Grips

All SIG-Sauer guns come with serviceable and tough plastic grips. Many
shooters prefer a grip with a non-skid "rubber" feel. I use Hogue Grips
(Phone: 1-800-GET-GRIP) on my P220 and P228 and like them very much.
Warning: Unlike the factory grips, they've only got a cutout on the left
grip for the magazine release, so don't buy them if you are left handed and
have switched the magazine release button to the right.

Others shooters prefer wooden grips: SIGARMS sells walnut grips and Hogue
sells various exotic wooden grips.

Whichever style and brand you choose, shoot the gun a lot to make sure it
still functions reliably. Some grips can interfere with proper functioning
of the gun by, say, rubbing against the mainspring reducing the power of
the hammer strike, possibly causing misfires. I've had no problems with the
rubber Hogues.

Whenever you remove the grips, make sure you use an appropriately sized
screwdriver to remove the grip screws. Using an incorrect width or length
screwdriver blade will wear the screw slot or gouge the grip panels leaving
what armorers call "idiot marks." The correct tool for the grip screws on
all SIG-Sauers is a "#17 Hollow-Ground screwdriver" (Stock Number
080-451-017) available from Brownells (Phone: (515) 623-5401.) At $5.92,
it's comparable in price to a few successive sets of grip screws and far
less hassle to obtain. While you have the grip panels removed, take care
not to remove, nick, damage, or otherwise molest the decocker spring
(double-action/single-action models only) or trigger bar spring normally
concealed by the grips.

The SIG Short Trigger

SIGARMS sells a "short" trigger for their double column guns which reduces
the distance between the backstrap and the front of the trigger. It is
ideal for those with small hands who find themselves stretching to reach
the trigger, or shifting their grip on the gun so that the backstrap rests
more on the thumb than on the web between thumb and index finger.

The smooth, non-serrated short trigger (part number 260206) is designed for
use on any of the SIG-Sauer double column guns - the P226, P228, and (is
standard equipment on the) P229. It costs about $35. Installation is
relatively easy.

Can I Dry Fire my SIG?

Dry firing is the simulated shooting of an unloaded firearm for the purpose
of helping the practitioner master fundamental shooting skills like trigger
squeeze and sight picture without the distraction of recoil or the
necessity of traveling to a range.

Dry firing is an acceptable and excellent training technique taught at
SIGARMS' own law-enforcement only school, the SIGARMS Academy. If you are
going to engage in huge amounts of dry firing, (like dry firing while
watching hours of television) then snap caps or empty cartridge cases are
recommended. For the vast majority of users who dry fire only to improve
their shooting and not to do strength training on their index fingers, this
will be an unnecessary precaution. (Private communication with SIGARMS
Academy instructor.)

Care and Cleaning

SIG-Sauers are extremely durable firearms which require only reasonable
maintenance to keep them functioning. In the November 1994 issue of
Shooting Times, Wiley Clapp reported excellent results from a 10,000 round
torture test he performed on a .45 ACP P220, cleaning it only every
thousand rounds.

Despite this, I recommend cleaning all guns every time they are fired;
especially those that are carried for self-protection. When carried on the
person, weekly inspection/cleaning is in order - just being carried around
exposes your gun to dirt and salty perspiration. Do not store your gun for
long periods in a holster, as moisture and leather tanning chemicals may
damage firearms.

Field strip as detailed in your manual and clean and lubricate each of the
three main parts: frame, barrel, and slide. SIGARMS discourages further
disassembly except by Armorers, but you may wish to remove the grips to
clean the frame areas they conceal. Be sure to use the right-sized
screwdriver to remove the grip screws, and while the grips are removed, do
not remove, nick, damage, or otherwise molest the decocker spring or
trigger bar spring normally concealed by the grips. Carefully note their
position in case they are somehow knocked loose while the grip panels are
removed.

   * Frame: Clean and lubricate the frame rails well with a cotton swab
     ("Q-tip"). A happy coincidence: the cheaper the swab; the fewer cotton
     fibers seem to get left behind on the gun. Clean the ramp on the
     locking insert - it is integral to feeding. Clean the top of the
     locking insert as well; an excessive buildup of unburnt powder may
     deny the barrel enough room for proper unlocking. Clean and inspect
     the ejector (it may feel slightly loose - not to worry). Lastly, if
     cosmetics concern you, be sure to clean and lubricate the grip screw
     heads, since they are exposed to perspiration and tend to be the
     worst-blued part of any firearm.

   * Barrel: Use a copper or brass brush (no steel!), a good powder
     solvent, and many cotton patches to clean the bore. Run a patch wet
     with powder solvent through the bore and allow it a few minutes to
     soak in and really loosen up the fouling. Clean the feed ramp beneath
     the chamber - I use a copper brush for this. Lubricate the exterior
     near the muzzle (this is a friction point).

   * Slide: Pay particular attention to the bolt face, including under the
     extractor hook. Wooden chopsticks whittled to a screwdriver-like blade
     can be used to root out any clumps of unburnt powder. Avoid stainless
     steel dental tools, so commonly available at US gun shows, as they can
     easily scratch firearms. Do not allow oil to seep into the firing pin
     hole in the breech block or any area so inaccessible that excess oil
     cannot be wiped away. Clean the slide rails well with an solvent
     soaked cotton swab.

   * Magazines: A dirty magazine can easily change your new 15+1 into a 0+1
     at the worst possible moment. Do not neglect to disassemble and clean
     your magazines; I train students to allow empty magazines to fall to
     the ground, so their magazines tend to get wet, dirty, and snowy.
     (Yes, even their precious, irreplaceable high-capacity magazines.)

Ammunition

Presumably for liability reasons SIGARMS does not explicitly endorse the
use of +P or +P+ ammunition; I'm certainly not about to do so! I will say I
have put hot Corbon +P 115gr 9mm rounds through my P228 without difficulty.

In the long run, it is probably unwise to feed any firearm a steady diet of
hotter-than-necessary ammunition. The best analogy is to an automobile: if
you always drove your car at one hundred miles per hour, wouldn't you
expect it to wear out faster? Similarly, once you've established that your
chosen self-defense ammunition feeds reliably in your gun, why accelerate
the wear on it unnecessarily?

As far as practice ammunition goes, I've had never had any problems with
any factory ammunition I've tried to put through any of my SIGs. When first
purchasing any handgun, it's a good idea to buy an array of different
ammunition with a variety of bullet shapes to see which, if any, fail to
function in the gun. This is good information to know with any
semi-automatic firearm.

Other References

As a SIG-Sauer owner and aficionado, I've always been struck by the lack of
books about SIG handguns. There's no good standard reference for
information about these guns, no single place one could go for information
about them.

Finally, Duncan Long has written a book about them: The SIG Handguns (ISBN
0-87947-096-8 $16.95 + $4.50 shipping. Delta Press Ltd. Phone
1-800-852-4445 or (501) 862-4984). Topics include: history, model
information, aiming systems, accessories, care & cleaning, and a list of
"useful" other books and videos.

It's not perfect. At only 126 pages, it is too short despite being
well-padded with full page pictures which most readers will recognize as
SIGARMS advertisements taken from various shooting magazines. It spends a
lot of time on grips, holsters, and how laser sights, flashlights, and
scopes can be attached to the guns. It has parts diagrams for the P220,
P230, and P210, but not the P225, P226, P228, and P229. (Long's book
predates the new P239.)

Summary: it isn't the best value for your money, not well proofread, not as
complete as, say, Kassler's Glock: The New Wave in Combat Handguns. But it
will probably become mandatory reading for interested SIG-Sauer owners.

For the less literary-minded, Pistolsmith Bill Wilson has produced a SIG
related volume of his How to Shoot and Maintain video series ( $20 + $4.50
shipping. Delta Press Ltd. Phone 1-800-852-4445 or (501) 862-4984). Each
video in the series contains identical standard topics: gun safety, how a
semi-auto functions, shooting fundamentals, general gun cleaning, and a
protracted sales pitch for Wilson's Ultima Lube lubricant. The information
unique to the SIG edition is fairly sparse and occasionally inaccurate (a
P228 is misidentified as a "P226 Compact"). The P230 is not addressed.

Summary: the video is aimed squarely at the novice shooter and first-time
gun owner, who is probably far better off seeking qualified instruction
rather than a somewhat sketchy video largely devoted to a lubricant
infomercial.

(Disclaimer: I have no financial relationship with Duncan Long, Bill
Wilson, or Delta Press.)

SIGARMS' Address

For information regarding SIG-Sauer firearms, service, repair, or to order
a catalog contact SIGARMS:

   SIGARMS, Inc.               Phone: (603) 772-2302
   Corporate Park              FAX:   (603) 772-9082
   Exeter, NH 03833

I know of no electronic mail address nor WWW site for SIGARMS.

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Please note: every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the
information contained within, but the author disclaims any responsibility
for the use of this information. Comments and corrections are always
welcome. I am not, nor have I ever been, an employee of SIG or SIGARMS; nor
did they collaborate in the creation of this document.

About the Author: Mike Cavanaugh is Head of Civilian Instruction at
Tactical Handgun Training in Kingston, NY. He is a Certified SIGARMS
Armorer as well as a NRA Certified Law Enforcement Firearms Instructor and
NRA Life Member.

 Mike Cavanaugh (cavan@mhv.net) 1995
Tactical Handgun Training
PO Box 1817
Kingston, NY 12401
(914) 339-3440

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