SIG P220 .22 Opinions

[VanRaily]

Hello-

Up until now I've been shooting handguns just for the fun of shooting--pulling the trigger, hearing it go bang, that sort of thing. I just completed an NRA basic pistol course and learned that I'm not really that great of a shot. Sure, I can do well when I really try, but I can't do it consistently. Part of this is probably due to having had shot (.22LR, 9mm and .44 Mag) for about a year and a half with no formal training.

Now that I've had such training, I want to focus more on accuracy and technique and really bring those groups to the bullseye. I know that one of the best ways to do this is to practice, practice, practice with a .22LR. My current .22LR "handgun" is a GSG-5P and is ill-suited to this kind of practice, so I've been looking at getting a .22LR in a more traditional semiauto setup.

I know that many people advocate Brownings and the Ruger Mk. series, but these aren't the kind of gun that I'm looking for. I came across a SIG P220 in .22LR yesterday and I really liked it. I also like the fact that I can convert it into a .45 ACP and back with a simple change of the slide and barrel.

So, all that to say, what's your opinion of the P220?

 

[VanRaily]

By the way, there's no .22 conversion kit that I know of for my 9mm (Beretta 90Two), so that's out of the question.

 

[9mmepiphany]

i've shot the 220 with the conversion installed and think it is a great trainer as it allows you to get used to not only the exact control locations, but you're actually training with the identical trigger. i currently own a conversion kit for my 226ST, because i use it mostly for teaching and the 9mm works better for most students. the great thing about the 2-step gun is that it comes with the discount coupon for the CF upper, which makes the conversion kit almost free.

doesn't the .22 kit for the Beretta 92 work on the 90Two?

 

[VanRaily]

doesn't the .22 kit for the Beretta 92 work on the 90Two?

Nope. As per the fine print on Beretta's website:

"...the practice kit cannot be used on models COMPACT L and COMPACT L "TYPE M", and the 90-Two..."

 

[VanRaily]

So I've been digging around for more information and I found more than one person stating that the .22 SIGs need to be cleaned and lubricated fairly extensively (every 200 rounds, according to one person). This isn't a huge deal for me as I almost always clean my guns every time I shoot them, but I was wondering to extent this is true.

 

[9mmepiphany]

my 226ST, with the .22 conversion unit installed, isn't cared for any different that any other Sig. but i should add that i did have the kit fitted when i had them tune the action

 

[TurboFC3S]

My 220 .22LR has been flawless for about 2000 rounds ... and I definately don't clean it often. I was lucky enough to get one when Buds had them for $399 delivered. It's become one of my favorites.

 

[VanRaily]

Well, thanks to everyone's input I picked up my P220 Classic 22 today. Haven't had a chance to shoot her yet, but she seems like a well-built gun. My only real complaint is that the guide rod for the spring is plastic. The spring is already eating up the rod and that's just from working the slide back and forth. I'm going to have to clean plastic shavings out of it after every shooting session.

Also, if I ease the slide forward instead of letting it fly forward it exhibits a tendency to not go fully into battery; there's a slight but visible gap between the chamber and the rear portion of the slide. Hopefully this will work itself out after the gun loosens up.

 

[9mmepiphany]

you shouldn't be easing it forward when chambering a round

 

[MikePaiN]

I had the Sig P220 .22lr classic, it is the one gun I wish I had never sold......I still ask myself what the hell I was thinking .
Anyway, the P220 .22 is good shooter and a great trainer..
enjoy yours....and don't sell

 

[MATTHEW QUIGLEY]

you shouldn't be easing it forward when chambering a round

I'll echo what he said. Some people don't like to let the slide slam because they think it will hurt the gun in some way. It won't hurt it at all. The slide slamming home with full force is what happens each time you pull the trigger.

 

[VanRaily]

I'll echo what he said. Some people don't like to let the slide slam because they think it will hurt the gun in some way. It won't hurt it at all. The slide slamming home with full force is what happens each time you pull the trigger.

I should probably clarify that I don't actually use my guns in this manner (easing the slide forward); I used to when I was new to guns and uninformed but stopped for the exact reason that you mentioned. This is just something that I observed while playing with the slide, nothing more. I realize that the way I stated it may have made it sound otherwise.

On a completely unrelated note, is grease or oil better for the SIG's slide? I've used oil exclusively on my other guns but this came with a small tube of grease.

 

[wild cat mccane]

p22 and a p99. 25% difference in size.
works for me

 

[9mmepiphany]

posted by VanRaily
On a completely unrelated note, is grease or oil better for the SIG's slide? I've used oil exclusively on my other guns but this came with a small tube of grease.

i'll answer as to Sigs as that is what most of my experience has been with. on an alloy framed Sig, when attending a class or long shooting session, you should always use grease on the rails to protect them from the wear of prolonged shooting. to really protect the rails (since alloy is softer than steel), you can also apply a "float" of oil on top of the grease