I have an opportunity to get a crazy good deal on a P226. I'm eyeballing the Elite w/the E2 grip, but it looks like the Legion has the same frame (though I hate the ceracoat). What is the better pistol/value? It looks like the Legion comes with trigger upgrades? And I could add the E2 grip to a Legion if it's the better pistol.
ETA: Just saw the P226 X5...SAO and the grip looks pretty huge.This message has been edited. Last edited by: c_zielsdorf,
Disabled combat vet
July 12, 2025, 12:10 AM
MacGyver
Other than the Legion being available as an SAO, its only “advantage” over the Elite is the Legion name and marketing. I’d get the Elite.
July 12, 2025, 12:32 AM
bczrx
I have medium palms but fingers that are about 95% of normal length.
I never felt comfortable with any Sig P22x series UNTIL I tried one with E2 grips. They were tolerable then.
However, the E2 grip with the short reach trigger FINALLY made it worth buying for me!
I now have a P220 Carry in .45 and a P220 full size in .38Super, with a P226 in 9mm- all with E2 grips and short reach triggers.
I would do a bunch of research on the perceived difference in the short reach trigger vs the factory Legion trigger.
I seem to recall that I bought the short reach triggers [short triggers] as no one else made a trigger with a shorter reach.
I can now pull the trigger smoothly in DA mode and then transition to smooth control in SA mode without having to shift my grip.
If I didn't have these combos installed I wouldn't own Sig P22x series handguns.
As to the other parts in the Legion series, I didn't take the time to read up on them.
I am in California where we have VERY limited options. At the time I was buying the P226 Nitron was one of only 3 options for me, and it came with the E2 grip.
I went that route and put in the SRT setup Plus the short trigger [short reach trigger].
MY P220s were picked up at local gun shops' consignment racks so I could find other cool stuff.
I hope this gives you at least a couple more pieces of useful knowledge in your decision making.
Sigs and Non-Sigs: I enjoy having options!
July 12, 2025, 12:35 AM
12131
quote:
Originally posted by MacGyver: …I’d get the Elite.
Yup. The Legion name, to me, is a negative.
Q
July 12, 2025, 01:06 AM
Mustang-PaPa
Do you still get a coin with the Legion?
July 12, 2025, 01:17 AM
MacGyver
quote:
Originally posted by 12131:
quote:
Originally posted by MacGyver: …I’d get the Elite.
Yup. The Legion name, to me, is a negative.
Same here.
July 14, 2025, 03:15 PM
JDG
The under cut frame on Legion and Elite is nice, and personally, my Legion is about as perfect as they get for my hands. The E2s are a bit smaller, but they also move. I had them on my 228, then put the slabs back on. A short trigger, on a standard P226, with G10 grips is pretty tolerable. Then you can forgo the gay beaver tail that Sigs don’t need.
July 14, 2025, 04:47 PM
c_zielsdorf
quote:
Originally posted by JDG: The under cut frame on Legion and Elite is nice, and personally, my Legion is about as perfect as they get for my hands. The E2s are a bit smaller, but they also move. I had them on my 228, then put the slabs back on. A short trigger, on a standard P226, with G10 grips is pretty tolerable. Then you can forgo the gay beaver tail that Sigs don’t need.
Yeah, I'm not a fan of the beartail either, but I don't think there is an elite cut frame without it, is there?
Disabled combat vet
July 15, 2025, 12:21 AM
MacGyver
Correct. All Elite frames have some kind of beavertail. It was more pronounced on the older models though. Current models have a more subdued tail (except for P226-XFIVE and the newly-released P226-X and P226-XCARRY). I prefer no beavertail as well, but the current Elite frame doesn’t bother me.
July 15, 2025, 08:50 PM
iron chef
quote:
Originally posted by Mustang-PaPa: Do you still get a coin with the Legion?
Don't forget the Legion carrying case.
July 16, 2025, 06:57 PM
FPNunes
The day I walked into my LGS determined to buy a P226 Legion DA/SA they had an Elite sitting on the same shelf. I tried them both and the Elite had a better trigger and sold for almost $400 less. Easy decision...
It does have the shorter beavertail and I would never part with that gun. Try both if you can but I don't think that the Legion is worth the extra coin.
Save the whales. Redeem them for valuable prizes...
July 16, 2025, 08:14 PM
Austin228
Only real bonus to buying one legion is then you get better deals on SIG's webshop from "Legion Access".
Other than that I hate the color and the whole legion/symbol/"challenge coin" thing is just dumb.
While I'm at it, I also dislike whatever marketing genius's has decided that putting "Elite" "GTO" "COMBAT" "Tactical" behind names of guns is a good idea.
It's far too tacti-"cool", I guess the basement ninjas won that one