P226 or P320?

September 29, 2017, 12:48 AM

iron chef

9mm W German P226 owner here...

I was interested in getting the P320 until the Voluntary Recall. The recall tells me Sig hasn't worked out all the bugs yet. The classic series 226/228/229 are tried and true and have endured some of the toughest conditions you can subject a pistol. If it is/was good enough for Navy SEALS, FBI, USSS, TX State Troopers, IDF, etc, then it's good enough for me.

September 29, 2017, 01:31 PM

Anubismp

Definitely 226. The 320 is fine but I personally do so well with the 226. Each one I've shot is as accurate as I am, reliable and very smooth. Its my "one gun". They can be carried if you have the right build, especially IWB.

September 29, 2017, 03:53 PM

vinnybass

Disclosure: I have an unabashed 226 bias.

My neighbor brought his P320 TACOPS Full over the other day for me to fondle.

Observations: The weight difference is dramatic, downright svelte compared to any of my 226. Very nice.

The trigger pull was nowhere close to what I enjoy in SA. I imagine it will smooth out over time. The reset wasn't enough to sway my bias.

I'm still bugged they don't use the same mags. How hard could it have been?

P226 all day. Like I said, I'm biased. JMHO.

October 01, 2017, 07:33 AM

jljones

My bias here shows but I'll roll with it anyways.

I like both. But, to me the 226 in traditional DA/SA outshines the P320. Some will disagree with me, I know. Once you learn the P226 on the first shot, it is a much more forgiving gun to shoot at speed. I taught an Advanced Pistol Marksmanship course yesterday and 3/4 of the pistols in attendance was DA/SA. I made the comment on how forgiving the DA/SA guns were over the striker fired guns and all the DA/SA guys agreed. They also stated that without taking the training they would have never believed it. Once you understand the DA shot, especially at distance, the P226 shines.

We shot bullseye as the standard for yesterdays course, and the high scores were all with DA/SA guns. To include a 293/300 that was shot with a 229. (Great job Ethan).

I'm a big fan of the P226, and always will be.

October 01, 2017, 12:40 PM

ArLEOret

When I went to work for the SO we had to provide our own weapon. I bought a new 226 WG in 9 and carried it. It was a little big for my scrawny butt so I later got my first 239. Still have them both as well as my first Glock.

October 02, 2017, 07:07 PM

goforbroke

I’ve owned both(sold the P320)the P320 doesn’t hold a candle compared to the tried and true P226 platform. In the long run you’ll probably buy both of them just to scratch that curiousity itch.
If you have the chance rent them both and gather your answer from there.

October 02, 2017, 08:11 PM

LtJL

If you like Glocks, or other striker-fired pistols, the 320 is as good as, or better than most. If you want the handgun SEALS, Marine boarding parties/Swat teams, and thousands of cops love (myself included) get a 226. get 2 226s, Hell, get three or four.

October 02, 2017, 08:19 PM

Bulldog7972

Aren't the SEAL using the G19?

October 02, 2017, 08:48 PM

andronicus

226 in 9mm. I have a 320 Tacops and like it a lot. But the 226 is just a gem. Especially if you can get a nice West German with the old style grips. That being said, I will be picking up a couple more 320s when they get the drop issue resolved. I really want the compact model in FDE, and not because the military adopted it. It just feels nice in the hand.

Word of warning about 226s. They tend to multiply. And then get 228/229 siblings.

October 03, 2017, 07:17 AM

jljones

quote:
Originally posted by Bulldog7972:
Aren't the SEAL using the G19?

Yes and no. Right now there are a mix of 226s and G19s in the field. But, for quite some time, there has been a mix of 226s and G19s in the field.

That's the really funny thing about gun boards and gun rags. There is the headline "SEALs choose the Glock 19" which really should read "SEALs are part of SOCOM and SOCOM has standardized on the Glock 19 so the SEALs are not taking a line out of their own budget and just going with the Glock 19 to which they have had access to for a while now" (I guess that is too long for a headline).

Glock has done a great job on this. Each time that a unit under the SOCOM umbrella runs out of their pistol contract, Glock issues a presser saying that that unit "selects" the Glock like it was some type of arduous process. When in fact, they got the choice of getting Glocks for free under the SOCOM contract, or buying something else out of their own budgets. They of course went with Glocks. SOCOM has a great supply chain with the Glock.

Now, there is nothing wrong with the Glock 19. Most people don't realize that most of the units under SOCOM view the pistol to be a 5 yard, secondary tool. But, it isn't the romanticized "SEALs choose Glock", and magically all of their 226s get sucked into the atmosphere. Just guessing by what I am being told, the 226 will be in service for another 10 years, or maybe longer.

I shot with some guys from 5th Group recently. They still have some Berettas in service.

October 03, 2017, 07:34 AM

07AMF

P226. The 320 is a good gun, but it is just another polymer striker fired handgun. Get the 226 and add a short reset trigger, and Houge G10 grips. As others have said, it is hard to beat the prices on the 40S&W models.

October 03, 2017, 07:42 AM

Bulldog7972

quote:
Originally posted by jljones:
quote:
Originally posted by Bulldog7972:
Aren't the SEAL using the G19?

Yes and no. Right now there are a mix of 226s and G19s in the field. But, for quite some time, there has been a mix of 226s and G19s in the field.

That's the really funny thing about gun boards and gun rags. There is the headline "SEALs choose the Glock 19" which really should read "SEALs are part of SOCOM and SOCOM has standardized on the Glock 19 so the SEALs are not taking a line out of their own budget and just going with the Glock 19 to which they have had access to for a while now" (I guess that is too long for a headline).

Glock has done a great job on this. Each time that a unit under the SOCOM umbrella runs out of their pistol contract, Glock issues a presser saying that that unit "selects" the Glock like it was some type of arduous process. When in fact, they got the choice of getting Glocks for free under the SOCOM contract, or buying something else out of their own budgets. They of course went with Glocks. SOCOM has a great supply chain with the Glock.

Now, there is nothing wrong with the Glock 19. Most people don't realize that most of the units under SOCOM view the pistol to be a 5 yard, secondary tool. But, it isn't the romanticized "SEALs choose Glock", and magically all of their 226s get sucked into the atmosphere. Just guessing by what I am being told, the 226 will be in service for another 10 years, or maybe longer.

I shot with some guys from 5th Group recently. They still have some Berettas in service.

I was at the range Saturday. You are right, there is nothing wrong with a Glock. Great gun, I shot about 200 rounds through mine. But then I shot my 226 which is my everyday carry at work and soon about to be my edc period. IMHO and YMMV and all that, there is no comparison between the two. IMHO. I'll take my 226 everyday and twice on Sunday. YMMV.

October 05, 2017, 02:57 PM

adrian.gordon

quote:
Originally posted by egregore:
... The 320's trigger is easier for me to manage than that of the long reach 228, which made me have to hold the gun crooked. I wear a medium glove size. The 320 has been 100% reliable thus far. ...

+1. I have both. Truth is that the P226 is too large for my hand and because of this my grip is always cocked on it and I don't shoot it well.

October 05, 2017, 03:03 PM

sns3guppy

quote:
Originally posted by iron chef:
9mm W German P226 owner here...

I was interested in getting the P320 until the Voluntary Recall. The recall tells me Sig hasn't worked out all the bugs yet. The classic series 226/228/229 are tried and true and have endured some of the toughest conditions you can subject a pistol. If it is/was good enough for Navy SEALS, FBI, USSS, TX State Troopers, IDF, etc, then it's good enough for me.

Voluntary upgrade. Not recall.

The P320 is good enough for the US Army.

It's also good enough for a number of law enforcement agencies.

October 05, 2017, 03:10 PM

226

October 05, 2017, 06:07 PM

iron chef

quote:
Originally posted by sns3guppy:
quote:
Originally posted by iron chef:
9mm W German P226 owner here...

I was interested in getting the P320 until the Voluntary Recall. The recall tells me Sig hasn't worked out all the bugs yet. The classic series 226/228/229 are tried and true and have endured some of the toughest conditions you can subject a pistol. If it is/was good enough for Navy SEALS, FBI, USSS, TX State Troopers, IDF, etc, then it's good enough for me.

Voluntary upgrade. Not recall.

The P320 is good enough for the US Army.

It's also good enough for a number of law enforcement agencies.

100% of those military and LEO P320s are being voluntarily upgraded. Civilian owners are currently twiddling their thumbs waiting on their shipping labels from Sig.

I'm still interested in getting a 320, but I'll wait until after they're shipped to market already upgraded.

October 05, 2017, 06:33 PM

45_Auto

I have both, a MK25 226 and a 320c. I love the 226 for it's beauty and tradition, however I shoot the 320 much better. I was always a DA/SA guy and have many Sigs in that configuration.
I was able to get a smoking deal on a 320 (my buddy works at SIG) I was skeptical at first because it was my first polymer and striker fired pistol, all of my pistols are metal framed. But after shooting it, I have become very proficient.

Based on the fact that the one you choose will not be an EDC weapon, but mostly as home defense, then weight and size does not become an issue. If it were me in that situation I would get the 226.
But...save your money up to add a nice 320 to the stable in the future and believe me you won't regret it.

Whatever you decide on you can't go wrong, you have picked two great pistols to pick from.

Good luck with your choice!