1911 or Sig P220?

Am Shooting Journal ^ | 12/6/2019 | C Cocole

[w1n1]

There is always this never-ending 1911 vs Glock argument. The two guns are as different as night and day. It’s time to look at another popular debate. Which is better, the 1911 or the Sig P220? Right off the bat most gun advocates in the shooting crowd that are not die-hard 1911 users have recognize the Sig P220 taking the lead on this. Yet, there are still debates among the hard core users.

The short answer why Sig P220 trumps the 1911:

• Reliability
• Simple operation
• Only one company builds Sig P220s (but, TJ is the man that can customize to your needs)
• You don’t need to mess with a Sig P220
• Disassembly is a Breeze

Here's the long version of this bickering:
Reliability - If you were in a situation where you knew people would be shooting back at you, and you could only choose between a Sig P220 or a 1911, both loaded with modern hollow point defense ammo, which would you grab? I know that P220 would be in my hand faster than you could say, "tap-rack-bang."
I can tell you from extensive experience with both platforms that the Sig P220, no matter its vintage, will run pretty much whatever ammo you can put through it like greased corn runs through a goose. The 1911 can be… well, "finicky."

Simple Operation - Some might argue that a 1911 is as simple as it gets, with one trigger pull to master. I see your one trigger pull, and I raise you the the two separate external safeties (grip and thumb) that must be correctly actuated for a 1911 to go off, plus the need to carry "cocked and locked" (hammer back on a loaded chamber, thumb safety engaged) for the pistol to be truly combat-ready. Read the rest of 1911 vs Sig P220.

[Seruzawa]

I would only carry double action autoloaders now. 1o11s are nice pistols. I just won’t carry single action with one up the pipe.

[Manly Warrior]

Curious, why?

[Who is John Galt?]

"WHY NOT BOTH?"

That would work, for lots of folks. Given that there are a lot of decent handgun designs from which to choose, another alternative might be "NEITHER!"

;^)

[Tijeras_Slim]

I really like my P220s, functional and reliable. It was because of SIG’s quality in them that all the 1911’s I own are SIGs as well.

They make the only .38 Super guns I’ve owned that cycle everything.

[Paal Gulli]

Considering it’s Am Shooting Urinal, the only thing stupider than the question ... is what those morons try to pass off as the answer.

[Seruzawa]

I don’t trust safeties.

[Manly Warrior]

Interesting. But a non issue. Even if the Safety lock is off, the grip safety is on, unless in the ha d, and if dropped, the original half cock notch on the sear/hammer is available and on later versions, the FP safety is on unless trigger is pulled. BTW, the SIG P220 has several safeties too.

But I hear you, one must be proficient with the operation of the firearm in hand.

I find myself either with a passive safety only handgun ( Glocks) or a positive/active safety handgun(1911).

I have not encountered a time in routine daily carry or match conditions where I confused what was in my hands vice what was on my mind.

While I never had real world experience in combat with either of those patterns, just the awful M9 of recent military issue.

[gundog]

You’ll be putting gun ‘riters out of business. And the answer is...30-06.

[Manly Warrior]

One more point- SIGs are right handed guns. Decocker sucks.

While one can operate ( shoot) one left handed, making one safe is a fumble prone operation require digital gymnastics or two hands...

The CENTCOM Forward armorer tried to issue me an M11, (P226) a long time ago. Had to take an (sorry excuse for a handgun) M9 instead.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Hadn’t considered that... must be my “right supremacy” ;)

[MileHi]

Hey, T_S, long time.

Hope yer good.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Good. Nice and dry on a rainy Sunday.

[MileHi]

Good. We’re currently between blizzards.

[Manly Warrior]

Indeed, but as a lefty, I use my “right” mind...

Granted, I have to add an Ambi safety lock to my 1911s, but I can, whereas the SIG family basically only a stock option....

Then again, my Glocks are ambi...

[lurk]

You live in a bubble. ;)

[misanthrope]

The 1911 is available in a 14+1 rnd variant. For a guy with really big meat hooks, this affords a pretty substantial advantage. Heavy as hell fully loaded, but the extra weight is ammo 😊‼️

[gundog]

And in that bubble, the 30-06 and 1911 reign supreme.