SIG Sauer X-Series pistols

[Crosswind]

Does anyone here own a P220/226 X-5/6? Anyone every handled or shot one before?

Are these guns only designed for static precision target shooting? How effective are they in IPSC? Realistic military/police duty use?

I shoot a P226 in IPSC Production class. Eventually this gun will have to retire after long use. So I've been thinking about a successor.

The P226 X-Five Allround claims to be built for competitive shooting in many disciplines, but would it really be that much better than a basic P226 in IPSC Production class?

Some of my concerns are the weight and the reliability.

The X-Five is all steel, it's longer and bulkier; does this affect your draw speed and movements? Does it's weight make you fatigue faster? Does the weight steady your aim and reduce recoil so well, that it overcomes the disadvantages?

The regular P226 was designed for high reliability for military/police; does the X-Five possess the same level of reliability? Or will the X-Five experience all the same types of malfunctions of other finely tuned custom handguns? When I shoot IPSC, sometimes guns, magazines, and holsters will get dirty (e.g. shooting prone in the rain). I want to be able to shoot in dusty/dirty conditions and drop magazines freely into mud without hesitation.

On paper it seems like there isn't much to gain from paying 2x the price for a minor gain in performance. Then again, I've never even seen an X-Five in person before, so maybe my opinion will change when I do.

Look forward to hearing from other peoples' opinions.

 

[hercster]

I have a regular P-226 on order and shot quite a few different models last winter so that is my experience base on the P-226. I bought an X-Five Allround and am very pleased with it. I am a new Black Badge and the X-five is my first pistol. I think it's a wonderful gun and most of the guys that have tried it would agree. It is heavier but that tames recoil and muzzle flip with my .40 and so that is an advantage in IPSC as recovery is quick. I have several pairs of grips and so use NILLS extended grips for Bullseye. These are very comfortable. When I compete in IPSC, I qualify for production as long as I go with the original plastic plates. Here is a "first day" shot of my gun with the NILL extended grips.

 

[RT]

I have both an X5 allround and an X6. I shoot PPC with them, I drop mags in the sand and shoot in the rain without problem...cleaning is of course required. Weight dosnt seem to be a fatigue issue for me with either one. Reliability has been perfect...the only issue I would mention in regaurds to reliablitiy is that the X6 with its longer heavier slide/ barrel seems to prefer to be lubricated with oil when shooting in cooler temps, say below freezing, when it warms up I prefer grease. The longer barrels and sighting plane realy enhance accuracy, 50 yd accuracy is incredible. As for being bulkier, there is no difference in width, just length due to the barrel/slide. It would be nice to have some other grip options for the X6, the wood grips are nice however they dont seem to fit my hand as well as Id like! I have put a rubber grip sleeve on for abit better grip.

Here is a 50yd target off a rest.

X6 and X5 allround

 

[Crosswind]

Thanks for the helpful info and very nice pictures!

Just a couple of other questions I forgot to ask: how good are the sights with regards to IPSC shooting? Are they easy to pick up for fast sight pictures? Or are they very fine as is usually the case for target pistols?

And are the internals of the same layout as the regular P226? I just don't want to be surprised when I disassemble a gun for the first time and then find out that there's lots of nooks and crannies that I need to pick at before the gun can fit back together properly.

Thanks,

 

[RT]

The X series frames are basically the same as the 22x frames, except longer to accomadate the longer slides. Intenals on the allround are the same as da/sa 22x pistols, with the exception of the spring buffer on the guide rod, mags, grips, other internal parts are the same. SA X5/6s are different in the trigger compoments, otherwise the same.

Both my X pistols came with LPA sights, I personally dont find any problem getting the proper sight picture, but I do shoot PPC and not really familiar with IPSC sights

 

[simar]

you can get a fiberoptic front sight if you find the stock sights dont work for you.

 

[hercster]

I find the sights fine and more experienced shooters who have tried my gun didn't comment. There is a difference that was not mentioned in that my gun has an internal extractor. I can't say for my self but I have been told there are other differences. I do know the barrel is different as I just ordered one from Barsto and they told me the 22x barrels are different beyond just the length. I compared my gun with a P-226 Elite side by side as I was going to buy P-226 aluminum grips if the fit. They are different particularly in the area of the beavertail. I didn't want to lay out that kind of cash on Sig Aluminums and not be sure. Also, NIL has different models for the P-226 and the X-five so while they may or may not be interchangeable, they are not identical.