I have two X5s, a Level 1 with the standard slide lock lever and a competition that has an extended slide lock lever. I very much prefer the extended slide lock lever on the competition. I've been searching the internet to try and get just the extended slide lock lever but no dice. I was taking a closer look at it and wondered: is it possible to just bend the existing slide lock lever so it "extends" out more?

I have tempered the steel around the radius of the old style and then bent it outboard like the XFives and Sports. You might shop around for a surplus lever and give it a try.

the one time I tried to do this it broke.... you might be able to heat it up and bend it but what ever you do don't try to do it with a cold one. The good news is I had ordered an extra one from Sig and that is the one I broke and so no great loss.

Now I will say this, the reason I wanted to do this was I was having a problem with the malfunction part of a class I take and thought having a slide lock that stuck out further would help me with this, specifically locking the slide back to clear a jam. What I finally figured out somewhere around the time I took the test the 5th time is it ain't the pistol, it's me that is the problem.

I can access the lever from the side on competition model. With the Level 1 the only way I can press it is coming over the top of the manual safety. If I try accessing it from the side, the precision required is not something I would feel comfortable relying on for a reload that matters.

I have a 9mm P226 X5 Competition, but was unaware that its slide latch was different than that on other P226 X5 models, so thanks for that info. Yeah, I don’t think that I’d like one that was less “extended”.

My X5 Comp also had the extended mag release button, but I didn’t like it, so I replaced it with a standard P226 mag release button.

P. S. – I wonder if the slide latch of the new US-made P226 X5 might be more “extended”, and, if so, would it fit your X5.

I have no experience with the two models discussed but I know when I first looked at the specs on a P226 legion I did not like the idea of a recessed slide lock lever.... now that I have two I really don't have a problem with them.. but I do need to clarify that I don't do competitive shooting where this could be a problem or feel a need to worry about reloading in a crisis... since I don't carry either. Holder's comment about the 'manual safety' threw me and just shows even more I know nothing about this pistol.

quote:

Originally posted by Pipe Smoker:

I wonder if the slide latch of the new US-made P226 X5 might be more “extended”, and, if so, would it fit your X5.

As do I. I'll call Sig next week to see what they say.

Here's the L1 vs Competition comparison:

^^^^^^^^
Thanks for the excellent photos Hildur.

My pleasure pipesmoker. I called Sig today and got some good and bad news. The bad news is that the new X5 parts are not compatible and that there is no old stock for the original German X5. I asked him about the heat treatment hack (proper usage of hack by the way) where some gunsmiths have had mixed success heating the slide lock lever and bending the tab upwards. At best, it'll work and be discolored. At worst the lever might break and there's no replacement parts. It's for that reason Sig highly recommends not doing that (and I won't) because if it breaks there is no way to fix or replace it.


The good news is that Sig might be remaking the original X5 that came from Germany. He doesn't know if it'll be made to the same spec or backwards compatible but there are plans to offer an X5 without the rail and billboard on the slide possibly in the future.

You might try emailing Armory Craft. They've been able to get a hold of some older X5 parts and they've also manufactured some of their own parts.

quote:

Originally posted by DanH:
You might try emailing Armory Craft. They've been able to get a hold of some older X5 parts and they've also manufactured some of their own parts.

Thanks for the tip! I just got off the phone with the owner. Holy shit does that guy know his stuff. He also offers some pretty interesting upgrades for the X series. I might have to get this for my X5 Competition. Apparently it offers quite the advantage when controlling recoil.


That said, he claims that the German Mastershop P226 X5 uses the same slide lock lever as the standard P226 (along with many other parts). So I might be better off buying a standard slide lock lever and having someone heat treat and bend it so the one that came from the factory will always be available if the bent one breaks.

I got the previous model for my P320 and my X5 I sold and loved them. The type 2 looks to be the same dimensions except with more material carved out. Looks a lot like this:

The SIG "Sport" models also had this bent upwards slide release...if it helps in your search.

Got the Armory Craft takedown level and finally got around to putting it in last week. Install was a piece of cake. Kudos to the owner Milos who took the time to explain all the features and benefits of products that he offers for our pistols. He was also kind enough to send along the links to do the install and gave me a great tip about heating the kydex holster accommodate this lever. It's been pretty wet here in the Northeast so I haven't had a chance to take it to the range to try it out but boy does it feel amazing with a thumbs forward 2 handed grip. 1000% improvement over the factory take down lever.