I’ve owned a SIG P-210 Legend Target for over two weeks now and have had several opportunities to get to the ranges. I hesitate to call this thread a “range report” because I really don’t feel all that qualified to review this fine pistol. So look at the following as my impressions and accept that they are the product of a relative newcomer to the shooting preoccupation.
BACKGROUND
The SIG P-210 really deserves a look at its historical development to appreciate the full importance and relevance of the design. I will keep my introduction very brief as there is a huge amount of knowledge to be explored with a few Google clicks. Be forewarned that doing so may consume an evening or two as I think it would be safe to say that the SIG P-210 is the European equivalent of the American 1911 and has been discussed at length for decades. I found it interesting to learn that some features of the pistol were based on the designs of John Moses Browning. Like the 1911, the P-210 was designed to be a military sidearm and gained a very respectable reputation in the service of several countries as well as many Law Enforcement agencies in Europe.
The design work began in the early to mid forties and continued to 1949 when it was first introduced into service with the Danish Military as the Pistole 49. It continued in production in around ten variations until 2005 when it was replaced by the SIG 220 aimed at the same market. By that time, the pistol had become too expensive to produce and there was a demand for a higher capacity firearm.
There are more than a few parallels with the 1911 one of which was the adoption of the pistol for recreation and competition. Its accuracy still makes it the choice of a large number of competitive precision shooters. The pistol has a following not unlike the 1911 and it brings about some of the same passionate enthusiasm as does the American handgun. It also holds its value and is very much in demand by both shooters and collectors. Recently, a P-210 produced in 1952 was put up for auction for the significant sum of over $8000.00. That was the asking price and I have no idea if it sold.
For those interested in learning more about this firearm, Google will get you a virtual library of articles. Look for those written by Michael Zeleny who is one of the foremost sources of all things SIG P-210. A search of the threads on the SIG Forum will also result in volumes of interesting and in depth material on the pistol and its qualities. I’m grateful to many of the contributors that made my research both interesting and productive.
My interest in the P-210 resulted from the research I did when purchasing my first ever handgun at the ripe young age of 65. I chose the SIG X-Five for several reasons including the quality of that firearm. As is always my pattern, I began to read everything I could on the SIG line and joined the Sig Forum where I’m still active. On a regular basis, I kept seeing references to the P-210 either as to the qualities of this then discontinued pistol or comments relating to the poster’s lust to own one. After reading several quotes referring to the pistol as one of the finest or the finest ever produced, I had to have one for my small but respectable fleet. I didn’t want to deal with the short comings of the Swiss pistols as reported by many, so it was a new German made Legend for me.
THE REVIEW
SIG reintroduced the P-210 in the “Legend” series in 2010. There are three variations at this point; the fixed sight model, a target version with adjustable sights and a few cosmetic differences and the “Super Target” with an extended barrel and different controls that resemble those of a 1911. They are manufactured in Germany whereas the home of the original pistols was in Switzerland. I purchased the Target Model as I wanted adjustable sights and I like the other subtle differences in the way the frame is finished notably the checkered front strap in lieu of the serrations on the fixed sight edition.
To my eye, the pistol is visually stunning. While others may have the knowledge and experience to disagree, I think the fit and finish is impeccable. I have yet to find any sort of flaw or tool mark and that includes the internal finish. Every part of the gun is crisp, polished and coated with what SIG calls Nitron. As near as I can determine, Nitron is a form of IonBond, AKA Diamond Black and other similar commercial variations. All the surfaces that have been coated/treated are a dense blue-black which give the effect that the gun was machined out of a block of graphite. As with any finish, the results are proportional to the surface preparation and clearly the machining and polishing are of very high quality.
Adding to the visual impact of the firearm are the NILL walnut grips. Not only are the grips beautiful but they are fitted so closely that considerable care must be exercised when removing or replacing them. They snap on the frame so tightly and precisely that the screw used to joined the halves is really unnecessary. I’m sure that the tolerances in the intricately carved shapes on the inside of these grips are stated in micro millimetres.
Here is a photo of the left side which provides a general layout of the pistol. Notable is the location of the magazine release which was moved to the side of the frame whereas most of the Swiss models had the release at the butt/mag well which did not appeal to many, particularly participants in the action games that involve frequent and rapid magazine changes. Another relatively minor but important difference from the fixed sight model is the “hook” on the trigger guard. I say important because it changes the way holsters must be molded. While hopefully not noticeable, I have reshaped the grip to the right of the safety control; more on this later.
This view focuses on the beavertail which is a new feature on the Legends, the safety control and the rear of the slide/frame interface. It also shows a close up of the area of the grip that the brave and perhaps foolish writer took his tools to.
Perhaps the most common complaint with the original P-210’s had to do with the tendency of the pistol to redesign the web of the shooter’s hand through “hammer bite”. Since this was an issue with the 1911 as well, it begs the question as to why two brilliant designers created pistols with this “flaw”. The most reasonable explanation that I have read is that the high two- handed grip now common wasn’t used when these pistols were introduced. Most shooting was done with one hand and without the emphasis on the high grip that we routinely use now. In any case, the “beavertail”, addresses that problem in a very elegant way. This statement and others I might make are vigorously disputed by the SIG purists who are cousins to the 1911 traditionalists that are equally passionate about changes to the early designs.
While the exterior safety control appears similar to the originals, its mechanics are very different. The changes make the control much easier to operate but not easy enough for the writer who was spoiled by the control on the 1911 particularly when operating at speed as in the action games and real life. This was my only temporary concern about the gun. It’s not just the operation of the control but its placement which is significantly forward as compared to the 1911. This brought about two brave/foolish moves by the undersigned that thankfully worked out well.
The first “mod” involved careful polishing on the internal part of the safety mechanism to slightly round a lobe between the “on” and “off” positions of the safety. This was done at the suggestion of an experienced P-210 and Legend operator who participates on the SIG Forum. I and others are grateful for the input from “Code33” whose posts and adventures with the platform are recommended reading.
With this delicate task completed, the control “snicked” on and off much more smoothly. However, a little more “redesign” was necessary to bring me to my current state of happiness vis a vis the safety. My problem was that the control doesn’t jut out far enough for my thumb to gain purchase reliably when sweeping the safety 1911 style. My solution was to remove a mm or less of wood from the surface of the grip in a line immediately to the right of the control. This thinned the grip just enough to let the edge of my thumb snag the control just after I clear the holster on the draw. While more practice is required, I can operate the control safely and without reorienting the pistol or regripping prior to taking a sight picture. I’m a happy camper and somewhat proud of my little adventures into the land of pistol design.
This photo also shows the location of a screw on the underside of the beavertail. While yet untried, I understand that removing this screw is part of the procedure followed when detail stripping the gun. Doing so allows the entire fire-control system to be removed in one assembly for cleaning. This is similar to some modern pistols, notably the FN series including the FNP 45 that I recently sold.
Also visible are the ends of the interlocking rail system. The rails on this pistol are full length with the channels cut into the frame on the inside. This is one of the features that reportedly contribute to the extraordinary accuracy of the P-210 pistols. There is no doubt that the design and fitment of the barrel slide interface is the major factor and possibly the most important. However, consistency of the design, engineering and execution on this gun are very much in evidence wherever one may focus.
The pistol breaks down for field cleaning and maintenance without tools and very similarly to the 1911. Once a “feel” is achieved for the proper positioning of the slide, the slide stop is easily removed to expose the components for routine cleaning and lubrication. I’m not qualified to comment at any length about the internal designs, but the quality of machining and fit cannot be missed. The gun uses a similar tilting barrel arrangement to the 1911 and locks in a similar manner. The obvious difference is that there is no moveable link between the barrel and slidestop but rather a cut in the barrel lug that controls barrel locking through a camming action. Even at my rudimentary level, I was stunned by the obvious quality and intricacy of the machining on the internals of the pistol.
SHOOT THE DARNED THANG !!
My first excursion with the gun was to my regular IPSC practise session. This was obviously not the best way to experience a new and unfired pistol but this was my first opportunity for an outing and it was with friends that would accommodate my fumbling. This was prior to my modifications and as expected; I fumbled with the operation of the safety. I was running at about 25% of my normal speed which is close to stopped but my focus was on staying safe.
Once out of the holster and on target, the reason for all of the superlatives I have read became clear. The gun shoots like the proverbial laser and is so well mannered that my comparison was initially to a high quality .22. Obviously there is more recoil and flip, but not much! At one point, I knocked down six bowling pins and finished with a shot to the “A” zone of a standard IPSC target. I could not have been more precise in placing that last hole had I used a pencil and ruler to mark the spot.
I left the range elated but worried about my options with respect to the safety control. One option I wanted to avoid was having an extension made for the control. These had been available for the original models but they wouldn’t fit the Legend. Also the cost likely would have been at least $250.00 and more important, I didn’t want to change the lines of the pistol with something that didn’t look like it belonged. This brought about a PM to our friend Code33 after which he produced a photo that helped give me the confidence to proceed. It would take a few more days of working with the gun and pondering the changes to the grip I thought would work, to cause me to break out some tools and fine abrasive papers. Happily I was able to raid my wife's supply of nail-care files and they worked beautifully in removing material at a very slow rate until I was happy with the new profile. Eventually I was down to very fine polishing sticks and with a drop of wood oil the job was done. I’m now confident that I can operate the Legend safety and with a measure of competence.
My next trip to the range was at a quiet time and so I was able to shoot about 200 rounds at my leisure. I didn’t keep the targets but I assure you, the results were the best that I could possibly achieve shooting offhand. I ended up shooting with other members and so had to maintain the same distance of about 15 yards but one shot after another went through the same ragged hole and the ones that didn’t resulted from me losing focus.
This shot presents a view from behind the rear sight. I’m sure this has been done on other pistols but I’m impressed with the construction of the adjustable sight and the manner in which the moveable element is imbedded firmly in the slot milled into the slide. I would expect this design to be very stable and durable. So far I have used the pistol set up as received. I think the sights are zeroed for 25 metres as suggested by the test target. Note as well the fit at the slide and frame interface. The line between the two grip panels cannot be seen in the photo; nor can it be seen with the naked eye. As noted earlier, separating the grip panels is somewhat of a delicate task. I pry them apart carefully at the mag well and then use a credit card to widen the gap until one panel pops off.
The sight picture is extremely sharp with black and black sights. I have since added a white dot to the front sight to make target acquisition faster for IPSC and IDPA. The pistol will also likely be my choice for centre-fire Steel Challenge when I return to Texas in the fall. To me, the trigger is the equal of my NHC 1911 despite a longer reset and different feel. I won’t repeat the usual clichés but will say that every shot is released with perfectly predictable crisp accuracy. Overall, I can’t really comment all that intelligently other than to say the pistol does what it is supposed to do over and over with almost boring repetition. It’s close to humbling as it is so very clear that lesser results are always the responsibility of the operator.
There is something that I add with a bit of hesitation as it sounds a bit far out. I’ve cleaned the Legend a few times and am always amazed that the internals don’t seem to get the usual level of dirty. The visible powder residue is tightly concentrated around the chamber and on the feed ramp. The rest of the gun doesn’t seem to be affected. I’m guessing that the pistol is so tight that most of the gases exit via the muzzle. I’m going to try going 400 rounds without cleaning to see if this changes.
The other night, I was fortunate to get some coaching from the owner and operator of a local shooting academy. At one point I had him shoot a few rounds with my Night Hawk Custom 1911. His reaction was unusual to say the least, with his language including some undisguised ###ual innuendo. I didn’t think he could handle the excitement of trying the Legend after that experience so I saved giving him a run with the P-210 until the next time we meet.
The gun ships in the standard SIG plastic case with two magazines, a sight tool and a tube of SIG branded grease. I bought ten additional magazines directly from SIG and a very well made holster from Kramer Leather. The first holster shipped configured for the rounded trigger guard on the fixed sight version of the P-210. A quick email had me returning the holster for remolding. Kramer was a pleasure to work with and in my opinion, the holster is first class.
More Eye Candy:
Thank you for your patience as I took my time producing this follow up to my original thread.
Gord
BACKGROUND
The SIG P-210 really deserves a look at its historical development to appreciate the full importance and relevance of the design. I will keep my introduction very brief as there is a huge amount of knowledge to be explored with a few Google clicks. Be forewarned that doing so may consume an evening or two as I think it would be safe to say that the SIG P-210 is the European equivalent of the American 1911 and has been discussed at length for decades. I found it interesting to learn that some features of the pistol were based on the designs of John Moses Browning. Like the 1911, the P-210 was designed to be a military sidearm and gained a very respectable reputation in the service of several countries as well as many Law Enforcement agencies in Europe.
The design work began in the early to mid forties and continued to 1949 when it was first introduced into service with the Danish Military as the Pistole 49. It continued in production in around ten variations until 2005 when it was replaced by the SIG 220 aimed at the same market. By that time, the pistol had become too expensive to produce and there was a demand for a higher capacity firearm.
There are more than a few parallels with the 1911 one of which was the adoption of the pistol for recreation and competition. Its accuracy still makes it the choice of a large number of competitive precision shooters. The pistol has a following not unlike the 1911 and it brings about some of the same passionate enthusiasm as does the American handgun. It also holds its value and is very much in demand by both shooters and collectors. Recently, a P-210 produced in 1952 was put up for auction for the significant sum of over $8000.00. That was the asking price and I have no idea if it sold.
For those interested in learning more about this firearm, Google will get you a virtual library of articles. Look for those written by Michael Zeleny who is one of the foremost sources of all things SIG P-210. A search of the threads on the SIG Forum will also result in volumes of interesting and in depth material on the pistol and its qualities. I’m grateful to many of the contributors that made my research both interesting and productive.
My interest in the P-210 resulted from the research I did when purchasing my first ever handgun at the ripe young age of 65. I chose the SIG X-Five for several reasons including the quality of that firearm. As is always my pattern, I began to read everything I could on the SIG line and joined the Sig Forum where I’m still active. On a regular basis, I kept seeing references to the P-210 either as to the qualities of this then discontinued pistol or comments relating to the poster’s lust to own one. After reading several quotes referring to the pistol as one of the finest or the finest ever produced, I had to have one for my small but respectable fleet. I didn’t want to deal with the short comings of the Swiss pistols as reported by many, so it was a new German made Legend for me.
THE REVIEW
SIG reintroduced the P-210 in the “Legend” series in 2010. There are three variations at this point; the fixed sight model, a target version with adjustable sights and a few cosmetic differences and the “Super Target” with an extended barrel and different controls that resemble those of a 1911. They are manufactured in Germany whereas the home of the original pistols was in Switzerland. I purchased the Target Model as I wanted adjustable sights and I like the other subtle differences in the way the frame is finished notably the checkered front strap in lieu of the serrations on the fixed sight edition.
To my eye, the pistol is visually stunning. While others may have the knowledge and experience to disagree, I think the fit and finish is impeccable. I have yet to find any sort of flaw or tool mark and that includes the internal finish. Every part of the gun is crisp, polished and coated with what SIG calls Nitron. As near as I can determine, Nitron is a form of IonBond, AKA Diamond Black and other similar commercial variations. All the surfaces that have been coated/treated are a dense blue-black which give the effect that the gun was machined out of a block of graphite. As with any finish, the results are proportional to the surface preparation and clearly the machining and polishing are of very high quality.
Adding to the visual impact of the firearm are the NILL walnut grips. Not only are the grips beautiful but they are fitted so closely that considerable care must be exercised when removing or replacing them. They snap on the frame so tightly and precisely that the screw used to joined the halves is really unnecessary. I’m sure that the tolerances in the intricately carved shapes on the inside of these grips are stated in micro millimetres.
Here is a photo of the left side which provides a general layout of the pistol. Notable is the location of the magazine release which was moved to the side of the frame whereas most of the Swiss models had the release at the butt/mag well which did not appeal to many, particularly participants in the action games that involve frequent and rapid magazine changes. Another relatively minor but important difference from the fixed sight model is the “hook” on the trigger guard. I say important because it changes the way holsters must be molded. While hopefully not noticeable, I have reshaped the grip to the right of the safety control; more on this later.
This view focuses on the beavertail which is a new feature on the Legends, the safety control and the rear of the slide/frame interface. It also shows a close up of the area of the grip that the brave and perhaps foolish writer took his tools to.
Perhaps the most common complaint with the original P-210’s had to do with the tendency of the pistol to redesign the web of the shooter’s hand through “hammer bite”. Since this was an issue with the 1911 as well, it begs the question as to why two brilliant designers created pistols with this “flaw”. The most reasonable explanation that I have read is that the high two- handed grip now common wasn’t used when these pistols were introduced. Most shooting was done with one hand and without the emphasis on the high grip that we routinely use now. In any case, the “beavertail”, addresses that problem in a very elegant way. This statement and others I might make are vigorously disputed by the SIG purists who are cousins to the 1911 traditionalists that are equally passionate about changes to the early designs.
While the exterior safety control appears similar to the originals, its mechanics are very different. The changes make the control much easier to operate but not easy enough for the writer who was spoiled by the control on the 1911 particularly when operating at speed as in the action games and real life. This was my only temporary concern about the gun. It’s not just the operation of the control but its placement which is significantly forward as compared to the 1911. This brought about two brave/foolish moves by the undersigned that thankfully worked out well.
The first “mod” involved careful polishing on the internal part of the safety mechanism to slightly round a lobe between the “on” and “off” positions of the safety. This was done at the suggestion of an experienced P-210 and Legend operator who participates on the SIG Forum. I and others are grateful for the input from “Code33” whose posts and adventures with the platform are recommended reading.
With this delicate task completed, the control “snicked” on and off much more smoothly. However, a little more “redesign” was necessary to bring me to my current state of happiness vis a vis the safety. My problem was that the control doesn’t jut out far enough for my thumb to gain purchase reliably when sweeping the safety 1911 style. My solution was to remove a mm or less of wood from the surface of the grip in a line immediately to the right of the control. This thinned the grip just enough to let the edge of my thumb snag the control just after I clear the holster on the draw. While more practice is required, I can operate the control safely and without reorienting the pistol or regripping prior to taking a sight picture. I’m a happy camper and somewhat proud of my little adventures into the land of pistol design.
This photo also shows the location of a screw on the underside of the beavertail. While yet untried, I understand that removing this screw is part of the procedure followed when detail stripping the gun. Doing so allows the entire fire-control system to be removed in one assembly for cleaning. This is similar to some modern pistols, notably the FN series including the FNP 45 that I recently sold.
Also visible are the ends of the interlocking rail system. The rails on this pistol are full length with the channels cut into the frame on the inside. This is one of the features that reportedly contribute to the extraordinary accuracy of the P-210 pistols. There is no doubt that the design and fitment of the barrel slide interface is the major factor and possibly the most important. However, consistency of the design, engineering and execution on this gun are very much in evidence wherever one may focus.
The pistol breaks down for field cleaning and maintenance without tools and very similarly to the 1911. Once a “feel” is achieved for the proper positioning of the slide, the slide stop is easily removed to expose the components for routine cleaning and lubrication. I’m not qualified to comment at any length about the internal designs, but the quality of machining and fit cannot be missed. The gun uses a similar tilting barrel arrangement to the 1911 and locks in a similar manner. The obvious difference is that there is no moveable link between the barrel and slidestop but rather a cut in the barrel lug that controls barrel locking through a camming action. Even at my rudimentary level, I was stunned by the obvious quality and intricacy of the machining on the internals of the pistol.
SHOOT THE DARNED THANG !!
My first excursion with the gun was to my regular IPSC practise session. This was obviously not the best way to experience a new and unfired pistol but this was my first opportunity for an outing and it was with friends that would accommodate my fumbling. This was prior to my modifications and as expected; I fumbled with the operation of the safety. I was running at about 25% of my normal speed which is close to stopped but my focus was on staying safe.
Once out of the holster and on target, the reason for all of the superlatives I have read became clear. The gun shoots like the proverbial laser and is so well mannered that my comparison was initially to a high quality .22. Obviously there is more recoil and flip, but not much! At one point, I knocked down six bowling pins and finished with a shot to the “A” zone of a standard IPSC target. I could not have been more precise in placing that last hole had I used a pencil and ruler to mark the spot.
I left the range elated but worried about my options with respect to the safety control. One option I wanted to avoid was having an extension made for the control. These had been available for the original models but they wouldn’t fit the Legend. Also the cost likely would have been at least $250.00 and more important, I didn’t want to change the lines of the pistol with something that didn’t look like it belonged. This brought about a PM to our friend Code33 after which he produced a photo that helped give me the confidence to proceed. It would take a few more days of working with the gun and pondering the changes to the grip I thought would work, to cause me to break out some tools and fine abrasive papers. Happily I was able to raid my wife's supply of nail-care files and they worked beautifully in removing material at a very slow rate until I was happy with the new profile. Eventually I was down to very fine polishing sticks and with a drop of wood oil the job was done. I’m now confident that I can operate the Legend safety and with a measure of competence.
My next trip to the range was at a quiet time and so I was able to shoot about 200 rounds at my leisure. I didn’t keep the targets but I assure you, the results were the best that I could possibly achieve shooting offhand. I ended up shooting with other members and so had to maintain the same distance of about 15 yards but one shot after another went through the same ragged hole and the ones that didn’t resulted from me losing focus.
This shot presents a view from behind the rear sight. I’m sure this has been done on other pistols but I’m impressed with the construction of the adjustable sight and the manner in which the moveable element is imbedded firmly in the slot milled into the slide. I would expect this design to be very stable and durable. So far I have used the pistol set up as received. I think the sights are zeroed for 25 metres as suggested by the test target. Note as well the fit at the slide and frame interface. The line between the two grip panels cannot be seen in the photo; nor can it be seen with the naked eye. As noted earlier, separating the grip panels is somewhat of a delicate task. I pry them apart carefully at the mag well and then use a credit card to widen the gap until one panel pops off.
The sight picture is extremely sharp with black and black sights. I have since added a white dot to the front sight to make target acquisition faster for IPSC and IDPA. The pistol will also likely be my choice for centre-fire Steel Challenge when I return to Texas in the fall. To me, the trigger is the equal of my NHC 1911 despite a longer reset and different feel. I won’t repeat the usual clichés but will say that every shot is released with perfectly predictable crisp accuracy. Overall, I can’t really comment all that intelligently other than to say the pistol does what it is supposed to do over and over with almost boring repetition. It’s close to humbling as it is so very clear that lesser results are always the responsibility of the operator.
There is something that I add with a bit of hesitation as it sounds a bit far out. I’ve cleaned the Legend a few times and am always amazed that the internals don’t seem to get the usual level of dirty. The visible powder residue is tightly concentrated around the chamber and on the feed ramp. The rest of the gun doesn’t seem to be affected. I’m guessing that the pistol is so tight that most of the gases exit via the muzzle. I’m going to try going 400 rounds without cleaning to see if this changes.
The other night, I was fortunate to get some coaching from the owner and operator of a local shooting academy. At one point I had him shoot a few rounds with my Night Hawk Custom 1911. His reaction was unusual to say the least, with his language including some undisguised ###ual innuendo. I didn’t think he could handle the excitement of trying the Legend after that experience so I saved giving him a run with the P-210 until the next time we meet.
The gun ships in the standard SIG plastic case with two magazines, a sight tool and a tube of SIG branded grease. I bought ten additional magazines directly from SIG and a very well made holster from Kramer Leather. The first holster shipped configured for the rounded trigger guard on the fixed sight version of the P-210. A quick email had me returning the holster for remolding. Kramer was a pleasure to work with and in my opinion, the holster is first class.
More Eye Candy:
Thank you for your patience as I took my time producing this follow up to my original thread.
Gord
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