Aaron
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Post by Aaron on Feb 16, 2012 23:58:34 GMT
Hey guys, I'm getting ready to purchase my first pistol soon. It's not the first pistol I've owned but it will be the first one I will purchase on my own. I wanted a compact 1911 as that's what I'm most comfortable shooting, but since this will also be my CCW I don't want to risk carrying a SAO until I feel I am more experienced. I've been shooting for years but I would rather err on the side of caution with a DA/SA. The top contender as it stands is the SIG P220 Compact SAS: www.sigsauer.com/CatalogProductD ... gen-2.aspx I was wondering if any of you guys had any experience with it? I've heard great things about the 220 series but for the Compact there seems to be little in the way of reviews. I've got a pretty slight frame, but I can conceal my brother's P250 Compact fairly well IWB on my back, and it's slightly larger than the 220 (though not by a large margin). I haven't had the chance to handle or shoot the P220 Compact since I haven't found a local distributor that has it, and I won't buy one until I have at least handled it. Just wondering if anyone had any thoughts or perhaps any suggestions on a better CCW? Not interested in the Glock 30 or 36, though they're nice guns. The HK USP Compact is another I would consider, but I've never liked the ergonomics of the full sized USP and I'm not sure how much they changed in the Compact. Aaron
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Aaron
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Post by Aaron on Feb 17, 2012 17:23:09 GMT
Well I've eliminated the USP Compact from my list. The gun felt great but the trigger was appalling. No luck on the P220 Compact as of yet.
Edit: Called four more places, none in stock. Not sure why this handgun is so elusive. It's not rare, it's not discontinued, the 220 series is popular and well-received so it's not a crappy gun that just doesn't get sales...I don't get it. I would think that the guns are just selling soon after getting them in, but all the places are saying they haven't had any for months...
*sigh*
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Post by Odingaard on Feb 17, 2012 21:37:28 GMT
I know nothing about this particular model of Sig personally. Nice looking P220 though, especially with the melt treatment. I like the two-tone model.
McGowan Firearms in Atlanta Beach, FL has one in stock. Their number is (904)372-0770.
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Aaron
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Post by Aaron on Feb 17, 2012 21:47:31 GMT
Thanks for the heads up, Jonathan. I'll give them a call and see what they want for it. They're out of driving distance for me, but if it's a good price, it may be worth it to just bite the bullet and take a chance with it. I'd really prefer to get a feel for one first but we'll see how it goes.
There's a gun show here in town next month, I may have to wait for that.
This may be a relatively new model, most of the places I called hadn't even heard of anything smaller than the Carry in the P220 line. That would explain the lack of info and availability, for sure.
Thanks again.
Edit: He doesn't have one, but he can order one for me for $860. It's the standard model with the rail, not the SAS, but that's still the best deal I've found on one. Told him if I can handle one and I like it, I'll be giving him a call to order it. Big help with that info, Jonathan.
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Post by Odingaard on Feb 17, 2012 22:00:26 GMT
You should join AR15.com. I've been a member there for many years, and anything I have ever asked about firearms in typically answered within 5-10 minutes. They have over 250,000 registered members, and at any given time, there are 10,000 people on-line. It works really well when looking for reviews or products. It's a great resource, and if you can deal with occassional troll, you'll get alot out of that website. I've been referred for many guns and accessories there, good business everytime.
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Aaron
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Post by Aaron on Feb 17, 2012 22:13:24 GMT
Just submitted my registration, I've seen you mention the site before but never made my way over.
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Post by Arwyn on Mar 30, 2012 5:10:11 GMT
Did you wind up picking up a Sig, or did you go with something else?
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Aaron
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Post by Aaron on Mar 30, 2012 8:03:28 GMT
I still couldn't find one in stock anywhere within reasonable driving distance to me, so I've had a wonderful 6 weeks to wait for the local gun show. Which happens to be Saturday. I'm still looking to pick one of these up, given the gun doesn't feel horrible and I can get a price that isn't astronomical.
I will probably be picking up the standard railed model instead of the SAS, however. I'll make a post if I buy it/something else.
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slav
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Post by slav on Apr 11, 2012 0:51:56 GMT
Let me jump in and put in a vote for the HK USP Compact.
I love the functionality of the USP, but like you, I also do not prefer the ergonomics of the full size USP at all....however for some odd reason the USP Compact is PERFECT for me. Like it was made for my hand by God himself. Regarding the trigger, it is very easy to improve by leaps and bounds by doing a self-polish job on all the trigger components. There are a couple good tutorials out on the net. There is also a match trigger available for not too much money. Just throwing that out there...
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Aaron
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Post by Aaron on Apr 11, 2012 20:20:58 GMT
I'm aware of the various trigger jobs and it's still a viable option. I handled the Sig at the gun show but did not pick it up (was not the version I wanted). Trigger felt pretty good and overall ergonomics were great. So, while I liked the way the USP Compact felt and I know the trigger can be fixed, the Sig is still higher on my list at the moment.
I also got the chance to check out a few P238's. Very nice little pocket pistol. Felt leaps and bounds better than the Kahr CM9 and the Ruger LCP. Just wish it came in DA/SA or DAO...
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slav
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Post by slav on Apr 12, 2012 2:16:37 GMT
For pocket pistols I like the Kel Tec.
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Aaron
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Post by Aaron on Jun 13, 2012 3:44:12 GMT
Figured I would update this thread. Went ahead and ordered the P220 Compact. Went with the standard railed version. Got it for 640. I'll post some pics when I get it in hand.
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Post by Odingaard on Jun 13, 2012 4:23:04 GMT
Glad you found one. Let us know what you think!
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Aaron
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Post by Aaron on Jun 18, 2012 23:09:47 GMT
Picked up the gun a few hours ago. Haven't done much, out of ball ammo and I took my father out to eat right after I got it. Everything on it is tight, though. And I was surprised that I got an extra mag with it. I know many Sigs only come with one. Here's my terribly hasty and poorly-lit photo I took when I got home: I'm hoping to get to the range in the next couple days, going to be spending the weekend in Alabama so I'll do plenty of shooting up there as well. I'll try to get some thoughts on paper about it afterward.
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Post by Arwyn on Jun 19, 2012 6:35:09 GMT
Congrats on the new iron!
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Post by Larry Jordan on Jun 19, 2012 14:11:06 GMT
What have you trained with? Hour many hours?
I ask because as shooters advance in their skill level there are a handful of weapons that seem to survive to the expert levels--1911s, Glocks and revolvers (S&W 65/19, 686)
Addendum
I see you went with the SIG. Amusing story and true--I observed a student take a beginning DG course with a SIG 229 TDA (traditional double action--first shot DA, subsequent shots SA) with a decocker. He always fired an extra round much to the chagrin of the instructor. He confessed what he was doing--he would fire the first round off target, so as not to be penalized. And now that the weapon was "cocked", he'd shoot the string called for! Saw it happen. Pitty the innocent bystanders down range if he ever has to use his weapon.
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Aaron
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Post by Aaron on Jun 19, 2012 17:07:52 GMT
No kidding? The first shot being DA was one of the selling points for me as a ccw gun. Not much point in getting this type of action unless you're going to train with that DA shot, since it's the one that's going to count the most in a SD situation...
I confess that originally I was planning to stick to the 1911 platform which I am most familiar with. But as a ccw gun, I did not want to deal with external safeties.
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Post by ShooterMike on Jun 19, 2012 17:16:06 GMT
That's exactly the reason for the overwhelming popularity of the Glock, S&W M&P, Springfield XD/XDM series, and an ever-growing plethora of other striker-fired defensive pistols. The trigger pull is the same every time and they don't require any manual safety.
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Post by Larry Jordan on Jun 19, 2012 22:04:49 GMT
All shots are important. The HG is notoriously underpowered. It's not a rifle. We train to fire until the threat is removed. This may be 2, 3 or more shots. In a DGU I will be held accountable for every shot fired. I intend them all be be on target, and not striking an innocent.
In '95 I had many hours in training with TDA's. That first shot, the most critical, was always different than the rest. It often printed alone thanks to the long.....trigger pull. (Fire already!) The remaining shots in the string were suprising/shorter with resulting adjustment required on my part in real time. I could never get used to this. What would happen in a DGU?
Then I bought my first Glock. In time I sold all my TDA's (S&W, SIG, H&K). I wasn't wild about the Glock grip angle with its exaggerated articulation, but I am used to it. There are now other striker-fired pistols with better grip angles (S&W M&P).
Something to think about.
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Aaron
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Post by Aaron on Nov 20, 2012 13:33:27 GMT
I can't believe I never updated this thread....
Anyhow, I've put a couple hundred rounds of Federal Champion 230gr. through the gun over the last couple of months. The gun shoots beautifully, much softer shooting than any full-size pistol I've fired, which surprised me. I've been getting great groupings at 20-30 yards. No pictures of targets since it slipped my mind to update here, but next time I'm at the range I'll be sure to take some. I'm so far from an expert, but I'm a "good" shot, consistently shot ≈4-5" at 20+ yards, ≈2-3" at 25 feet Some fliers and whatnot, but I've been pretty pleased with the guns performance, it's my performance that needs to improve.
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