The
SIG P220 is a semi-automatic pistol designed in
Switzerland
by Swiss Arms AG
(formerly SIG Arms
AG, distributed in United States
by SIG Sauer).
It is
manufactured in Eckernförde
, Germany, by J.P. Sauer und Sohn GmbH. It uses the
Browning linkless
cam short recoil action of
self-loading.
History
The SIG P220 was developed for the
Swiss
Army as a replacement for the
SIG P210,
which had been developed during World War II; in service it is
known as "Pistole 75" (P75). For development of the P220, SIG
collaborated with
J.P. Sauer & Sohn of Germany, thus, the P220
and all subsequent pistols from SIG are properly known as SIG Sauer
pistols. The P220 operates by the locked breech short-recoil method
pioneered by
John Browning.
In 1975, Switzerland became the first nation to officially adopt
the P220 as the "Pistole 75" (P75) chambered in 9 mm Parabellum.
Other
nations to adopt it for military use include Japan
and Denmark
though only
to special forces. It was succeeded by the
SIG Sauer P226.
Upon completion of their military service, the officiers of the
Swiss armed forces can obtain
ownership of their P220 service pistols by paying an administrative
fee of thirty
Swiss francs.
Variants
The original SIG P220 had a 'heel-mounted' magazine release located
behind the magazine well, but a design revision on newer SIG P220s
moved the magazine release to the left-side of the grip, behind the
trigger. The P220 was then later modified again with a redesigned
slide, grips, and other minor changes to the frame. Even more
recently was the addition of a Picatinny rail to the dustcover as
standard.
The SIG P220 also comes in P220R and P220ST versions. The base and
R models have an aluminium
alloy frame with a
stainless steel slide (if made by
SIG Sauer in the US; German made versions still use a blued,
stamped
steel slide); the ST model has a
stainless steel frame and slide. The
R and ST models also have a
Picatinny
rail, beneath the slide and barrel, allowing for fitting of
accessories such as lights or
laser sights. The P220 was
initially imported to the United States as the
Browning Double Action (
BDA) and then as the P220. It was offered for
sale in
9 mm,
.38
Super (a rare model), and
.45 ACP.
However, all modern P220 variants are only available in .45
ACP.Until recently, all SIG P220s were DA/SA and featured a
de-cocking lever (and no external safety) just forward of the slide
catch.
This has changed with the introduction of DA only, DAK, and SA only
models. The DA only and DAK models do not have a de-cocking lever
or safety, and the SA only models only feature an
M1911 style external safety. SIG has also introduced
the SAS (SIG Anti-Snag) model - which is dehorned, has no accessory
rail, and is designed for
concealed carry - and
the Elite model, which includes the new short-reset trigger, a
beavertail grip, front strap grip checkering, and front slide
cocking serrations.
P220 Rail
The P220 Rail (or P220R) is effectively the same as the P220, but
it has a Picatinny rail on the dustcover. The P220R usually
represents the more recently produced P220s, and has now become the
standard P220.
P220 Carry
A new P220 with a shortened barrel (3.9") and slide, but a
full-sized frame. It is available in double action/single action
(DA/SA), single action only (SAO), and DAK double action variant.
All models with the exception of the SAS concealed-carry version
come with an accessory rail.
P220 Compact
A new P220 variant recently released. It comes in four versions:
Blued with beavertail, stainless (two-tone) with beavertail, blued
with rail (no beavertail) and stainless with rail (no beavertail).
It features a shortened slide, and a compact frame and has a
capacity of 6+1. It is possible to use the 8 round magazines of the
P220 Carry which will give it an 8+1 capacity. Adapters are
available to cover the portion of the magazine which protrudes from
the bottom of the grip. It is essentially a replacement for the
discontinued P245, and is meant to address complaints about the
P220 Carry's full-size frame in a concealed carry pistol.
P220 Combat
The two "Combat" models, the P220 Combat and P220 Combat TB
(Threaded Barrel), are available in DA/SA or DAK. Their frames are
colored "Flat Dark Earth" in compliance with the
Combat Pistol program. The Combat model
comes with night sights, a Nitron-finished slide and barrel,
phosphated internals, and a
Picatinny
rail. The TB model features an extra 0.6" on the barrel, and
external threads to accept a
suppressor.
The P220 Combat is only chambered in
.45
ACP, and is supplied with one 8 round magazine and one extended
10 round magazine.
P220 ST
A version of the SIG P220 handgun made by SIG Sauer with a
reversible magazine release, stainless steel slide, and stainless
steel frame. Changing to a stainless steel frame from the lighter
alloy frame normally used is meant to reduce felt recoil. The ST
models are typically bare stainless (all "silver"), though SIG
Sauer has produced Nitron finished (all "black") ST versions for
police department trial and evaluation (T&E) guns.
P225/P6
The SIG P225 is a more compact version of the SIG P220. When it
became apparent that the Swiss Army was looking for a new pistol,
plans were set into motion. The SIG P210 was just too costly to
manufacture, and the Swiss Army wanted a cheaper semi-automatic
handgun, but it still had to provide excellent functionality and a
double-action trigger. SIG, in cooperation with a German arms
company, J.P. Sauer & Sohn, developed a new pistol. In 1975 the
A75 (as it was known in the Swiss Army service), or 9mm SIG-Sauer
P220, debuted with various new and inventive features. It utilized
a single column magazine holding eight 9 mm rounds and had a 3.9
in. barrel. A new German police standard, in the mid-1970’s,
prompted SIG-Sauer, Heckler & Koch, and Walther to develop new
pistols that met the standard: the Walther P5, the SIG-Sauer P225
(known as the P6) and the Heckler & Koch P7. (In addition,
Mauser had a design that never went into full production). Each
German state was free to buy whichever pistol it wanted to. The
SIG-Sauer P225 was the least expensive (due mainly to the inventive
design) and received the majority of the orders. To be able to
manufacture that many handguns, SIG acquired a controlling interest
in J. P. Sauer & Sohn in Eckenförde, Germany to manufacture
parts for the P220. This is also where all P225s were manufactured.
Many Swiss police forces also use it, as well as the Swedish
Police. Also, it is the main sidearm carried by boarding parties in
the Canadian Navy. Some Swiss police pistols have a different
magazine release, similar to that from the P220. A new police
standard was adopted in Germany in 1995, and the P225 is in the
process of being replaced. German police pistols can be identified
by the hammer, which has small 'ear' or 'hook'. According to
section 7.7 of the German manual, the cutout is the
Deformationssporn, which means “deformation spur.” This was a
requirement of the West German Police for all their pistols,
regardless of manufacturer, to alert police armorers if the pistol
was dropped on its hammer. Many of these surplus German police
pistols have been imported into the U.S. recently. Although most of
the imports show exterior holster wear, they usually tend to be in
excellent mechanical condition.
P245
The SIG P245 variant is chambered only in
.45
ACP (hence the name) and was developed primarily for the US
market as a civilian's concealed sidearm, or as a police backup
weapon. The SIG P245 has a reversible magazine release giving the
user the choice of operating it with their left or right thumb. It
normally takes 6 round magazines, but can also accept the 7, 8, or
10 round magazines designed for the P220. A grip extender is
available for use with these longer magazines.
The P245 is no longer manufactured by SIG, having been replaced by
the P220 Carry and, more recently, the P220 Compact.
Users
- (Canadian Forces
Military Police and Naval Boarding Parties)
- : Standard service handgun, designated Pistole
75.
- : UKSF
- : Various Law Enforcement Agencies
- : Swiss Guard
Images
Image:Pistolet-SIG-p1000491.jpg|The P220, like this Swiss military
model, does not feature an external
safety.Image:Pistolet-SIG-p1000504.jpg|Firing of a military
P220
References
- P220 page from 'www.sigsauer.com'
- http://x-grips.com/products/sig2.html
- P220 Combat page from 'www.sigsauer.com'
- P220 Combat TB page from
'www.sigsauer.com'
- Personal Correspondence, Ray Carter, Sig Arms, inc.,
11/14/08.
-
http://www.lba.admin.ch/internet/lba/de/home/themen/ausrue/pers0/bewaffnung/pist75.html
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