Sig SP2022 vs M&P9

[heavydluxe]

Hi all...

I'm about to pull the trigger on my first handgun purchase... My budget is somewhere around the $500 pricepoint. I've handled both the Sig SP2022 (aka the Sig Pro) and the S&W M&P - both in 9mm.

I'm interested to see if any of you have shot the two guns together and have any thoughts for someone comparing them. I'm not apt up here to have a chance to shoot them side by side, and, besides, I'm such a newb that I'm not sure I'd have enough discernment to know what I should like or shouldn't.

Both feel great to my hand, though I'll admit a slight preference for the Sig. FWIW, I recognize the functional differences between the two guns (hammer vs striker) and some of the construction differences. But, I'm a little less clear on factors I ought to be thinking of that would make me lean one way or another other than ergos.

So, interested in some thoughts and impressions from the experts.

Thanks.

 

[Big Shrek]

Given the massive recall on the M&P line, I'd go SIG...

 

[mesinge2]

Given the massive recall on the M&P line, I'd go SIG...

IIRC, that was only the Shield and the issue was limited and it has already been corrected.

I, myself, am a big fan of the M&P Series. And for the record my Shield did not have the issue for which the recall was issued.

 

[Captcurt]

I have had several 2022's come thru the shop and have never had a complaint. They are a Sig. Nuff said.

 

[sigarms228]

I own the SP2022 and have shot a M&P Pro.

They are both excellent pistols and both are known to fit a wide variety of shooters as the M&P has changeable backstraps the SP2022 has changeable grips though usually the SP2022 comes with only one grip.

As you mentioned they are different in operation and it is user preference that dictates which works best for a user.

I'm not apt up here to have a chance to shoot them side by side, and, besides, I'm such a newb that I'm not sure I'd have enough discernment to know what I should like or shouldn't.

That is an excellent point. I highly recommend that you get some professional training on using a pistol including safe handling. Usually you can find such at the local range/gun store for not a lot on money for at least one session that will show you the basics of stance, grip, trigger control, and sight alignment. A good instructor will be able to show you such and then watching you in action help you make corrections. If you can do that BEFORE you make a choice in a pistol you will be able to determine much better what fits you best.

Good luck!

 

[Kahr33556]

I have a 40 shield, would I buy it again ? probley not.
Its just ok,grip a little thin, it effects my trigger pull.Trigger pull too hard and I dont like the smith safe action trigger.
Also sights pressed on to tight, can't tap them to move them.

Good SD gun only,
500 + flawless rounds, I trust it to cycle every time, thats about all I can give this gun.

 

[ritepath]

I've owned an M&P 9c and Shield, great pistols for me 100% reliable. I've shot a buddy's 2022 and it's a great pistol also. I like the feel of the M&P line more than any of the big 4 or 5. I'm currently in the market for a new 40 since I ditched my 229 a few weeks ago for a 220. I may wait for a p320 but if I come across a M&P 9 or 40 (pro, core, standard) before it comes out I'll probably go Smith again.

If you're looking for a great conceal carry pistol you can't go wrong with the shield. Accurate, Reliable, and easy to conceal.

 

[9mmepiphany]

If you can do that BEFORE you make a choice in a pistol you will be able to determine much better what fits you best.

I think this is excellent advice. I've had a couple of clients take lessons with me before buying their first handgun and it made selection much easier for them.

However, but to the OP.

I've had quite a bit of experience with both the 2022 (in both 9mm and .40) as well as the M&P (in 9mm and .45)

The 2022 is comparable to the SIG 229 is size and is an excellent value...owing to the R&D cost being covered by their French contract...as well as having outstanding accuracy. The 2022 had the best DA trigger on the whole SIG line until the introduction of the SIG 250. If I was looking for a new duty gun, I'd give serious consideration to a 2022 in 357SIG

I use a M&P9 as my IDPA pistol and would have no reservations carrying it for defensive purposes. However, before I'd be willing to do that, I'd have to install an Apex Tactical Specialties Action Enhancement Kit, because I am a bit demanding about my triggers

 

[wally]

Whenever I take friends out to try a variety of pistols before they buy, the SIG P226 is almost always the first choice until I have them decock and experience the DA/SA transition, that and the price.

So with the 2022 vs. the M&P it boils down to do you do better with the DAO of the 2022 or the partially cocked striker of the M&P.

I'd recommend rentals if a friend with examples of each is not available.

 

[basicblur]

I'd say you need to learn / play with the operating system of both to see what you're comfortable with.

The SIG has a decocker, is DA/SA, etc - the M&P is pretty much trigger only (unless you get a model with a safety).

Can't help you on side by side, although I own and have shot both - I'm not particularly recoil sensitive.

An SP2022 replaced an old S&W Sigma as my bed gun - liked it so much I bought another, although by the time I bought my second, they had dropped it from 3 magazines to 2, and included only 2 backstraps instead of 3 - both still had night sights.

I'd also wager the SP2022 is slightly bigger than the M&P, although you didn't specify which M&P.

I wear a Shield on my ankle, and bought a used M&P (full size) in 357 SIG.

 

[19-3Ben]

Given the massive recall on the M&P line, I'd go SIG...

Huh? Massive recall? Methinks you may be overstating the situation slightly.

 

[GZOh]

Owned the 2022 and have shot the M&P9 extensively...
Both are excellent shoots but with a slightly different 'hand-feel' (the SIG feels 'thicker')...
My 2022 was a flawless, dead-accurate shoot. When I bought it, it was selling for $325 (a great deal NIB for a SIG) so I jumped on it...
I think the prices on both are now about the same (in the $400-450 area) with the M&P maybe slightly higher.
I'm not sure about any 'problem issues' with the M&P but S&W is an excellent company to deal with and have always made great pistolas!!
Good advice to see/touch/feel/handle both... and if you can, shoot 'em. Which feels right for you is the key...
Don't think you'd go wrong with either!!

 

[Kahr33556]

Sig
I have a M&P

 

[Jenrick]

I am issued and carry a M&P in .40 S&W currently, and have used a 9mm conversion barrel extensively in practice with my duty pistol. I also have done a decent bit of shooting with the 2022 and most of the Sig lineup.

The M&P platform has never been know for gilt edge accuracy. Sigs on the other hand are usually considered to be very accurate. Most people feel that the M&P's stock trigger leaves a lot to be desired. Sigs on the other hand are usually considered to have very good triggers out of the box.

With that said, the M&P particularly in 9mm is very controllable and has a light recoil impulse. The SF system has basically one trigger pull, that out of the box can range from reasonably light to very heavy for SF pistol (9+ lbs is the worse we've measured at work) depending on if you get a good one or a bad one from the factory. The gun is ergonomic for most people and the interchangeable grips allow it to fit most hands these days.

The Sig 2022 is also very controllable with a light recoil impulse in 9mm. Additionally unless you got one built on a bad day at the factory, it will be capable of as much accuracy as you ammunition choice will allow. The DA trigger will most likely be reasonably smooth, and have a clean pull through and sit around 9.5-10lbs. The SA pull will range from 4-4.5lbs and will have a small amount of take up, with a good break. I have yet to find a "bad" trigger from Sig, which is impressive. The pistol also has interchangeable grips like the M&P.

There is a very large market for aftermarket parts for the M&P platform so you can do all sorts of parts swapping to get the gun how you like it. With that said, a lot of those parts exist because people are not happy with the trigger or accuracy of the pistol out of the box. The 2022 on the other hand does not have a large aftermarket presence, so you're kind of stuck with what's available through Sig. On the other hand that means a lot of people like how the pistol out of the box.

If I had been given a choice I would carry a Sig over an M&P every time, and this is coming from someone with over 150k rounds through a G34. I'd be much happier shooting the Sig TDA over the M&P SF, even with that much time and practice on the SF system.

The M&P trigger, even the newer version S&W is putting out, is just not that good compared to a lot of service pistols out there. The aftermarket triggers out there can fix that problem however, and give it a very nice trigger if you're willing to pay for it. Secondly on accuracy, very few M&P's will shoot to the capability of the cartridge they are loaded with. This usually doesn't matter as most people can't do it either. It is frustrating though at the 50 yd line to not know if it's you or the pistol. I've never had that problem with a Sig, I know it's me and not the pistol.

-Jenrick

 

[5-SHOTS]

I like the trigger and safety setup better on the SP2022. The M&P is more comfortable in the hand but I'd take the SIG.

 

[powder]

SIG.

Have had (4) M&Ps and sold/traded them all. Hate that trigger and the need to drop more $$$ on APEX kits for this and that problem...

 

[rp_40]

I've owned both, I had a SIG SP2009, then about 4 years later I bought a 2022... I actually preferred the trigger shape on the 2009 better at the time because it was straighter. Then I've recently gotten into the M&Ps, I carry an M&P 40c. Both are excellent, decide if you want a traditional double action or a "safe action" type double action only (don't kid yourself, they're not "safer" exactly). I actually wouldn't give an advantage to either, they're two of the most accurate handguns I've ever owned and I never had a problem with either... I had 2 misfires with my 2009, both using 124-grain ball (back when it cost $9 for Winchester 124-grain), but I shot that gun A LOT, and both misfires, pulling the trigger again fired the round (which is the good thing about traditional double action). So I would recommend whichever action style you prefer, I don't think you're getting any more with an HK or a Sig 226 that cost close to twice the price, I really can't say enough good things about both. Though I haven't had M&Ps nearly as long, but so far they're perfect in my experience.

 

[herrwalther]

I read somewhere that the 2022 and other pistols in the SIG Pro line are the unsung firearms of SIG. They haven't got much fanfare in the gun rags compared to their competitors but after shooting my brother's 2022 I agree with the sentiment. Add in the price point around $400 for one, and they are hard to beat for a full size firearm.

 

[Sauer Grapes]

I have 3 M&P'S. I just like the way they fit my hand. That said, I've shot a couple 2022's and liked them very much. Sig just makes nice guns, period.

As far as the S&W Shield, the one I shot was a disappointment in a lot of areas.

 

[EdLaver]

I've had 3 M&P's fail me, (.40, .45, and a Shield 9) all were new and sent back for repair and failed again or had a totally different feel. Time spent waiting for all to come back was about 6 months (all at different intervals). Safe to say I dont own anymore M&P's. I've owned a 2022, hate I traded it off. That is a great gun, I vote for the 2022.

 

[klcmschlesinger]

I have a 2022 in 9mm and had a M&P in 40. I had some problems with the M&P, it was a very early one, didn't like the trigger much, but did really like the ergomomics. The 2022 is just awesome in my opinion. I love mine, shoot it well, good price point, and a Sig to boot.

 

[ATLDave]

I have little experience with the 2022, but I have an M&P and like it. It's a fun gun to shoot fast in 9mm. The trigger is not great when compared to a SA trigger, but it's loads better, IMO, than most DA triggers - at least in terms of being easy to learn to shoot accurately.

FWIW, there are a decent number of people who run M&Ps in the run-and-gun games. Very few run a Sig.

 

[jjones45]

I think both would serve you well and it's gonna come down to personal preference on the striker vs. sa/da hammer fired system. I will say the m&p stock trigger leaves a lot to be desired for, nicely put. You don't really notice the trigger until you shoot other striker fired guns with really good or decent triggers. My m&p9 has been %100 reliable with every thing I put through it and is accurate even though I have to concentrate a little harder than with my others to achieve good accuracy. With that said I've really been thinking about selling my m&p9 to buy a ppq in 9 to match my ppq 40 which I love and honestly feel is superior in every way except stock sights which are plastic on the walther. Another thing to think about is going to be the warranty, m&p's have a lifetime to original owner, I'm not sure about the 2022. I have literally almost bought the 2022 at least 5 times and always went with other options. I think part of it is it didn't feel like the p229 I had years ago that I kick myself in the butt for letting go still to this day. Really at the end of the day you can't go wrong with either gun, both are really good.

 

[benzy2]

That Sig is a very underrated pistol. It's quite a bargain for what you get. If I wanted something to take out of the box, shoot a ton, and go about my business, I'd probably grab the Sig.

The beauty of the M&P to me is the aftermarket. Want a duty gun? Run it stock or maybe toss in an Apex DCAEK. Want a range gun? Toss in either the duty or target Apex kit. Want to build a full on competition pistol (speed type games)? Not a problem and you can do it at home. You can build a pistol to the limits of practically any class off an M&P.

The Sig is well built and designed from the start. It knows its role and it does it very well. The M&P is a pistol for the masses with great part interchangeability. It can adapt to most any role. I don't see either as a wrong choice, just different. For my use, the M&P is more fun as it fits well and I enjoy the ability to tinker with something like an M&P or a Glock.

 

[David E]

Hold both guns without the magazine in them. Adjust your hand and hold it for a few seconds. Then, slam the magazine home. See if you pinch some skin between the bottom of the frame and the magazine. The Sig is cut inexplicably high and may be a serious problem depending on hand size.

The other dynamic is the DA/SA protocols that the M&P simply doesn't require.

Sig: manage the long, hard DA stroke of the first shot and transition to the short, light pull of subsequent shots. If you're done shooting before running dry, you MUST remember to decock the gun before bringing it off target. I've seen cops holster their cocked Sigs because they forgot to do that extra, mandatory step.

M&P: same pull weight and distance for each shot. Done shooting? Take your finger off the trigger.