SIG Sauer P226 | |
---|---|
Type | Semi-automatic pistol |
Place of origin | Germany |
Service history | |
Used by | See Users |
Production history | |
Designed | 1980-1983 |
Manufacturer | SIG Sauer |
Produced | 1983-present |
Variants | See Variants |
Specifications | |
Weight | 964 g (34.0 oz) (w/ magazine) |
Length | 196 mm (7.7 in) |
Barrel length | 112 mm (4.4 in) |
Width | 38.1 mm (1.50 in) |
Height | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
|
|
Cartridge | 9×19mm Parabellum, .40 S&W, .357 SIG, .22 Long Rifle (Classic 22 model only) |
Action | Mechanically locked, recoil operated (DA/SA or DAO) |
Feed system | 10-, 12-, 13-, or 15-round magazine (.40 S&W, .357 SIG); 10-, 15-, 17-, 18-, or 20-round magazine (9×19mm Parabellum); 10-round polymer magazine (Classic 22 only) |
Sights | Iron sights |
SIG P228 & P229 | |
---|---|
![]() SIG Sauer P228/M11
|
|
Type | Semi-automatic pistol |
Place of origin | Germany Switzerland |
Service history | |
Used by | See Users |
Production history | |
Manufacturer | SIG Sauer |
Variants | See Variants |
Specifications | |
Weight | 825 g (29.1 oz) (P228) 905 g (31.9 oz) (P229) |
Length | 180 mm (7.1 in) |
Barrel length | 99 mm (3.9 in) |
Width | 38 mm (1.5 in) |
Height | 137 mm (5.4 in) |
|
|
Cartridge |
9×19mm Parabellum (P228 & P229) .40 S&W, .357 SIG (P229 only) |
Action | mechanically locked, recoil operated (DA/SA or DAO) |
Feed system |
|
Sights | Iron sights |
The SIG Sauer P226 is a full-sized, service-type pistol made by SIG Sauer. It is chambered for the 9×19mm Parabellum, .40 S&W, .357 SIG, and .22 Long Rifle. It is essentially the same basic design of the SIG Sauer P220, but developed to use higher capacity, double stack magazines in place of the single stack magazines of the P220. The P226 itself has spawned further sub-variants; the P228 and P229 are both compact versions of the double stack P226 design. The SIG Sauer P226 and its variants are in service with numerous law enforcement and military organizations worldwide.
Schweizerische Industrie Gesellschaft (SIG) is a Swiss company, now known as Swiss Arms. In 1975, SIG entered into an agreement with German gun manufacturer J.P. Sauer & Sohn to develop and market a new handgun which became the P220. The P220 was the first SIG Sauer handgun sold in the USA. It was marketed initially by Browning as the Browning BDA. The SIG Sauer P220 is a refinement of the Petter-Browning design used in the SIG P210. The locked breech design is very different and was pioneered by SIG Sauer. See also The first SIG Sauer Handgun.
The P226 was designed for entry into the XM9 Service Pistol Trials (see also Joint Service Small Arms Program) that were held by the US Army in 1984 on behalf of the US armed forces to find a replacement for the M1911A1 and 24 other makes of handgun in US military service. Only the Beretta 92SBF and the SIG P226 satisfactorily completed the trials. According to a GAO report, Beretta was awarded the M9 contract for the 92F due to a lower total package price. The P226 cost less per pistol than the 92F, but SIG's package price with magazines and spare parts was higher than Beretta's. The Navy SEALs, however, later chose to adopt the P226 as the P226 MK25 with special corrosion protection.