US v German Sig's

HKfan

HKfan

Regular
EE Expired
Rating - 100%
5   0   0
I was wondering if anyone could comment on the differences in finish, durability and overall quality between US and German made Sig's. Specifically, I am wondering whether to get an older German P226 or a newer P226R made in the USA.

Thanks, help a HK man get more into Sig's! :D
 
I would pick the newer one. The slides are made from a solid bar of stainless, vs the german ones are rolled sheet steel, with a pinned in breach block. Imho the new all stainless steel guns, frame, and slide are probably the way to go for lots of shooting. But personaly I think rails on these guns look ugly.
 
The German ones are better, but that has more to do with my preference for the sheet steel slide than the quality of manufacture. The guns with the aluminium frame and the stainless steel slide are too top heavy, IMO. If you get one with a stainless steel slide, I'd recommend getting one with a stainless steel frame.

I have to say at this point I did have a P226 that had a German-made frame and a US made slide and it blew chunks, but I have a feeling that was because it was one of the first ones. Given that SIG Arms now makes frames too I wouldn't have thought tolerances were a problem anymore.

If Australia is anything like Europe, you shouldn't have to get an old German one, you can get a new German one, Sauer still supply them to the European market. They import the slides from the US but I think the rest of the gun is still made in Germany. I always used to find the quality of the German assembled P229s was a bit better than the ones assembled in the US. Two reasons; the people assembling them were more experienced and they have to pass the German proof test. It's a very marginal difference but if you're an experienced pistol shooter you notice that the lock up is a teeny weeny bit tighter and the slide movement on the frame is a bit smoother too. At least with the P229s it was.
 
My 220, issued to me in `85, is so old, it's marked W. Germany. After more than 75,000 rounds, it still shoots as well as the day it was issued.

I have had to replace recoil, trigger return, and decocker springs.

John
 
Last edited:
I have run both types on the range. No real noticable difference in quality. The old style slides are lighter, but the finish on them is not very durable. The new style slides are more robust and the finish is MUCH more durable. I don't know if the new slides will last longer, still have to wait at least 2 years to find out. All the P226 guns last a very long time on the range.
 
Just a personal prefererence, but I prefer the way the German version with the rolled steel slide feels.

The finish is not as good as the American slide, since you can see some of the tool marks etc. But then you get the test target, German proof marks and nicer manual.

Also the German one doesn't have the annoying rail and has the larger trigger gaurd.

I have both, and prefer my German SIG, but as mentioned before as far as functional, reliable combat pistols gom you can't go wrong with either.

Cheers,
Henry
 
If you have a look at www.sauer-waffen.de it says in the P226 section that all models are available with and without the rail. I did find a production schedule in some obscure part of that site a few months ago that indicated all current production was with the rail only. It seems to have disappeared off the site now though. Even the P228 was listed as coming with the rail. I think the P228 is one of the best pistols ever made, however Canadian and Australian law don't allow it. :rolleyes:
 
Last edited:
cybershooters said:
If you have a look at www.sauer-waffen.de it says in the P226 section that all models are available with and without the rail. I did find a production schedule in some obscure part of that site a few months ago that indicated all current production was with the rail only. It seems to have disappeared off the site now though. Even the P228 was listed as coming with the rail. I think the P228 is one of the best pistols ever made, however Canadian and Australian law don't allow it. :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Hi,

From what I've been told. I'm hoping some dealers here can correct me, all the SIGs currently being imported into Canada are coming from SIGarms in Exeter NH, USA.

SIGarms in the US is now only producing railed guns. - http://www.sigarms.com/Products/ShowCatalogProduct.aspx?categoryid=7

The American guns don't come with a test target or proof marks and have the pamphlet owners manual as opposed to a proper book.

Some more things come to mind, which may matter if you're a collector. The German SIGs have the serial number etched on the frame, slide and barrel, however the American SIGs only have it on the frame.

Cheers,
Henry
 
henryhyde said:
Hi,

From what I've been told. I'm hoping some dealers here can correct me, all the SIGs currently being imported into Canada are coming from SIGarms in Exeter NH, USA.

SIGarms in the US is now only producing railed guns. - http://www.sigarms.com/Products/ShowCatalogProduct.aspx?categoryid=7

The American guns don't come with a test target or proof marks and have the pamphlet owners manual as opposed to a proper book.

Some more things come to mind, which may matter if you're a collector. The German SIGs have the serial number etched on the frame, slide and barrel, however the American SIGs only have it on the frame.

Cheers,
Henry
Click to expand...

Not entirely true. The majority of the guns coming into Canada do come from the US. Some of them are made in Germany, especially the high end types. However there are still many standard guns that were made in Germany, for example all of the CPO guns I just sold off were all German proofed and serialized. They were also effectively new.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom