Sure, it's expensive at over 1,000 USD, but anyone who knows guns and who is worth their salt will tell you it's worth the price- simply fabulous in every sense, it is used by both individuals and organizations worldwide and is one of the most well-known and beloved handguns in history.
DISCLAIMER: Article contains affiliate links
Introduction and background
If you've read many of our other articles, you'll know by now that older, "classic" guns are our predilection.
We love those timeless models that continue to serve admirably today, decades (in some cases a century or more) after they were first made by some brilliant minds somewhere in the world.
SIG Sauer, like many of the names you'll see featured here, represents longtime veterans of the industry, and they have produced more than their fair share of excellent firearms over the years (and this isn't even just handguns- for example, they recently made the U.S Army's new service rifle for frontline troops as of 2023- the XM7).
While so many of their handguns are iconic and well-renowned for their reliability, quality of craftsmanship and extremely classy and "sophisticated" feel even when compared to some other classic "wonder nines" like the Beretta 92FS, we'd have to give the firm the most credit for their P226 model line- put simply, this 9mm pistol (other calibers are available, however) outshines everything else they've made, and is among my favorite guns of any kind.
It's basic history alone is quite telling. As with many great guns, it had its origins in a request for a new firearm by a nation's military. In this case (and in many others, obviously), it was the United States military- who, after more than 70 years of outstanding service- needed to replace the venerable but legendary Colt 1911 pistol.
The trials- organized in 1984 under the guidance of the Joint Service Small Arms Program (JSSAP)- where designed to find a suitable replacement for the 1911, and 24 top-tier manufacturers- drawn by the prospect of winning an enormously lucrative contract with the world's most powerful military- worked tirelessly to produce a handgun that could meet the standards set forth by the testing committee.
The tests included- among other things- the functioning of the candidate pistols in adverse conditions (e.g. firing after being buried in dirt, dust, sand, snow etc.), ballistics, overall reliability, shot-to-shot accuracy, resilience to physical abuse (such as being dropped on solid concrete) and saltwater corrosion tests.
Of all the models submitted, only the Beretta 92FS (designated the M9 by the military) and the SIG Sauer P226 successfully completed the trials laid out before them after months of rigorous testing- only when it was found that the 92FS was ultimately the less expensive option did the U.S military announce the winner, but despite this, the P226 did not fade into obscurity, as so many other pistols in this situation eventually would.
Instead, it grew in popularity rapidly- before long, it was in service with police departments in its native Germany, and quickly found its way into military service as well- not only in its home country but around the world. Indeed, to this very day, it is still used in some form in over 30 countries by both military forces and police departments alike.
If this history alone tells us anything, it's this: the SIG Sauer P226 has to be a truly great pistol to be where it's at today (and indeed it is quite possibly one of the greatest of all time, in my personal opinion).
In this week's review, we will be delving even deeper. We'll get into the nitty-gritty of this gun- why it's as good as it is, what goes into it, what you can expect out of it, why it costs as much as it does, and much more!
Features and hands-on experience
Picking it up- how it feels and handles:
I first encountered the SIG Sauer P226 several years ago, at a gun store I frequent. The exact model I used was, I believe, a used MK25, but all models have the same basic size and weight. Picking it up for feels, you'll notice (possibly to your disappointment) that this is a metal frame gun- and so, it definitely weighs more than a polymer-framed pistol like a Glock.
However, it feels like a gun should- it feels "solid" and like a tool more than a toy, while at the same time not being prohibitively heavy for EDC (although it'll still weigh in at around 34 ounces, which is only ever so slightly more than the weight of a Beretta 92FS).
The grip on the base model is a bit wide (1.5 inches) but shaped in a way that makes it feel natural and comfortable, so most users should be fine with it, unless they have really small hands. Because of this it also balances well despite having a long barrel and should prove to be quite ergonomic to most who use it. From both a practical and sensory standpoint, it's just a physically very good gun to hold.
All the controls from the magazine release to the decocker to the takedown lever are easy to operate and are neither too stiff nor too loose- they all feel just right, and certainly won't ding up your fingers or anything.
One thing a new user will readily notice is that it has an unusually high bore and a tall slide accompanying it- while this gives more real estate for gripping the slide properly, this also results in a somewhat high center of gravity and more "muzzle flip" when firing (which we'll talk about later), but this doesn't significantly hinder accuracy, I'd imagine.
Another notable handling characteristic (that is even better on some models) is the trigger. It feels incredibly crisp, easy to pull and has a solid wall, break, reset- the whole bunch. While there are aftermarket triggers available, I don't see any reason why you would get one, as the stock trigger (at least in my opinion and apparently many others opinions' as well) is already pretty damn good even on the base model.
Overall, it just FEELS really good. Nothing about it except the weight bothers me, and that's a distinction I can only give to a handful of guns I've worked with- usually there's some control that's out of place or is too stiff or the grip is too wide etc., but with the P226, everything seems to fit and function more or less just right for my liking. Just don't buy one and expect to have a perfect pistol for concealed carry.
Function and features:
Being a hammer-striker fired pistol, it should come as no surprise that the P226 is a double-action/single-action gun (some people hate them, others love them).
In layman terms this means that, upon inserting a magazine into the magwell and racking the slide to chamber a round, the gun will have a relatively light trigger pull on the first round fired (which, I believe, is around 6 foot pounds on the base model, but I haven't measured it directly in years), as well as on every subsequent round, unless you decock the pistol- in which case the pistol will fire the first round with the heavier double-action pull.
Speaking of, like other DA/SA pistols, it has a (particularly satisfying and extremely easy to use) frame-mounted decocker- and even with the heavier pull, the trigger still feels pleasant, and it shouldn't hinder accuracy much to shoot the gun in DA, given that the trigger pull weight feels remarkably consistent.
It's also worth noting that although this may put off some, it also may make for a safer pistol to carry with a round in the chamber, as you are less likely to accidently actuate the trigger due to the increased weight of the DA trigger pull... However, it's important to note that models with different trigger configurations and trigger pull weights are also available, so you aren't left with limited options in that department, either.
The sights on the base model are the fairly standard three simple posts- two in the rear and one in the front. They don't glow or anything special like that, but they're perfectly adequate- I've never had any trouble with them, and their visibility is just fine even in low-light conditions.
Aftermarket sights that are of usually better overall quality and may offer additional features (such as being adjustable for windage) exist, however, and you can get models with "upgraded" sights (e.g., the "Legion" series has a tritium front sight) installed from the factory as well.
Additionally, some models also have red dot sights installed from the factory. The point here is I wouldn't worry about the sights on this gun- even the stock sights are fine, and with plenty of options out there to choose from, you'll probably have a harder time choosing the best sight than finding one that suits your needs.
While it may be secondary to some, the frame finish and materials are all clearly of very high quality (I word it like this because I am unsure of the exact materials and manufacturing processes used in models I've fired)- after all, this pistol has been shown to have a service life of tens of thousands of rounds if you treat it well, and even if you don't, it'll run like clockwork anyways under most circumstance.
As a testament to this, one trial it was put through during military service trials (that we previously mentioned) involved repeatedly dropping one onto concrete and it was still able to fire even after literally being put through sand, dirt, mud, snow and more. While most quality pistols can do this, the SIG Sauer P226 seemed to perform exceptionally well, even if it wasn't the one that was ultimately chosen (and again, this was due to cost alone).
Even if something in the gun does wear out or break, spare parts for SIG Sauer pistols are out there in abundance.
Another notable feature (that is absent on older models) is a picatinny rail running under the slide of the gun. Again, there are an enormous number of aftermarket goodies available to put on it- from lights, lasers, to laser/light combos etc. If you need such a device on your gun, or if you just want to be "tacticool"- rejoice, for the P226 has you covered there, as well.
Some other notes:
One other thing I love about the SIG Sauer P226 is the finish- not just for its toughness (I mean, come on- it was tested thoroughly for saltwater corrosion resistance by the military for months), but also for the options available in that regard- everything from the grip panels coming in myriads of different color patterns and schemes to different frame finishes and materials exist, and while none of this obviously affects the functioning of the gun, it gives a huge array of cosmetic options to choose from.
It's just a cool thing to have- Indeed, the P226 comes in so many models (my personal favorite is either the Navy SEAL's MK 25, or the Legion) that choosing one you like could be hard, unless you have something very specific in mind.
Shooting it
How it feels to shoot:
Let me begin this segment by saying that, in addition to being a joy to hold, it is a joy to shoot as well- the recoil is exceptionally soft due to the gun's weight, and although there is a bit for "muzzle flip" due to the unusual barrel height-over-bore, it's still plenty accurate and pleasant to shoot.
I should also mention that the solid handgrip we mentioned earlier in particular will leave you feeling very satisfied as well- it seems to manage recoil well, and the way it's shaped makes it feel naturally contoured to fit the human hand like a glove.
Reliability:
Reliability wise, no problems- I've lost count of how many rounds I've shot over the years through this gun, but I've not had any problems with reliability even with low-quality ammunition.
As a testament to and as an example of this, on a recent weekend trip to the range, I rented a P226 that the rangemaster stated had been there for 11 years (this would mean since 2012) and still was running fine- I shot ~300 rounds (give or take) of some generic Fiocchi 115 grain 9mm ball ammo out of this gun given much fun for me it is to get behind, and while this is obviously just one manufacturer and does not give a particularly good estimate to the gun's overall reliability, I had no problems- no stovepipes, double-feeds, short strokes etc.
Accuracy and recoil:
It's accuracy, while I haven't studied it much in detail or tested it personally, is said to exceptional- it can apparently put 5 shots in a 3-inch circle dot at 25 yards from a standing position (according to a friend who does competition shooting with his- which is a "Legion" model).
That's pretty accurate for a handgun, and more than enough for pretty much anything you could conceivably use it for- except maybe for shooting at coins you've thrown up into the air or something.
Recoil wise... it's flippy, like you probably read earlier. This is due to the disproportionate height-over bore of the gun (basically, the tall slide and high barrel are to blame), and although it's more noticeable than many other pistols, it's in no way uncomfortable and even when firing rapidly you can still stay on target reasonably well.
Pros and cons:
Pros:
-It's incredibly tough and durable. We've already covered this, but I feel like we can't say it enough
-Its reliability will hang with the best of them- it always goes bang, as it should
-Comes in a great many different configurations, color schemes etc. The base model isn't the only option (will definitely be a perk for some)
-Everything about the controls is easy- they are all easy to use and feel great (plus, it looks stunning)
-The P226 has, despite its size, some of the best ergonomics in a firearm I've ever seen
-Quite the little sharpshooter
-Huge variety of aftermarket parts available (owing to the pistol's continued popularity)
Cons:
-It's heavy. Not unbearably so, but heavy nonetheless
-The price point, at over 1,000 dollars for the base model, will be off-putting to some degree
-Muzzle flip is a bit pronounced (not even a huge con)
Final thoughts, best deals and gun stats:
Well, there you have it. The SIG Sauer P226- one of the greatest handguns of all time, and certainly one of my personal favorites.
From its ease of use to pleasant feel and appearance, to its reliability and toughness only a select few handgun families are well-known for, the P226 just checks off all the marks. It is in many ways a perfect pistol in my book- not for everyone or for every situation, but overall, it's a tool to put your faith in if ever there was one.
Don't let the price point discourage you, though- this is one gun you probably won't ever regret buying.
And if you are so inclined, feel free to check out current online availability and prices below! As always, we have put links directly to our favorite sellers- Palmetto State Armory and Brownells- to make it easy for you!
Gun stats:
Note: Stats are for the base model only
Caliber | 9x19mm parabellum (several other calibers including .40 S&W are also available, however) |
Action | Semi-automatic, DA/SA short recoil |
Height | 5.5 inches |
Barrel length | 4.4 inches |
Overall length | 7.7 inches |
Width | 1.5 inches |
Weight | 34 ounces |
Magazine capacity | 15+1 |
Safety | None (manual frame-mounted decocker) |
Comments