Would you rather have a P 226 Legion in 40 cal or a Springfield Echelon in 9 mm?

Lot of contrasts there:

• .40 vs 9mm
  
• metal vs polymer frame
  
• hammer vs striker
  
• proven track record vs early adopter

You didn't mention anything about prices, but if they were the same price, say $600, I'd get the Legion and spend extra for a 9mm conversion barrel, recoil spring, and mags.

PS: you need to change your thread title to something more descriptive of your topic than "Opinion".

Tough call.

The hammer fired traditionalist who values track record and reliability very much I want to say P226. I also am one of those weirdos who likes the .40.

Conversely I am a shooter’s shooter gun geek and new shiny is always exciting so the Echelon intrigues me.

So my answer is this. If I am buying a defensive “weapon” and it’s my only defensive “weapon” I am going SIG P226. If I am mainly looking for a new toy I am going Echelon (not that I think the Echelon wouldn’t make a dandy defensive option it just doesn’t have the cred yet and I like DA/SA for defensive stuff.

226 all day

I can’t foresee ever needing or wanting a forty cal. Just me.

The Legion is the better and more valuable gun. That being said, the Echelon is an interesting gun with a lot of great features. I am “mildly” interested in getting one. Modular, appears to be a great optics host, slide “ears”, great factory sights, 320 like but with a dingus, I would get one, I think.

quote:

Originally posted by lblanch40:
Would you rather have a P 226 Legion in 40 cal or a Springfield Echelon in 9 mm?

Neither. Don't care for the .40 and would not buy a Springfield.

Legion, but then I would convert to .357SIG.

quote:

Originally posted by flesheatingvirus:
Legion, but then I would convert to .357SIG.

I'd go this route as well, if they were both available in hand, at the same price.

A Springfield Echelon in 9 mm, since I don't need either.
Because I've already owned a P226 I didn't need (in .357 SIG)
That's me.

Why those two guns?

^^^That would be my first question as well.

I still shoot a decent amount of .40 but I'm getting to the point of winding it down. That said, a P226 in .40 shoots pretty soft compared my usual Glocks in the same caliber. However if you're yearning for P226 of ANY type in the caliber, you're either buying used or out of a dealer's new old stock since SIG isn't building and shipping .40s, and really haven't for a while now.

As for the Echelon, the design of the gun IS intriguing to me but its importer Springfield Armory is too much like the shysters that own Liberty Safe for my liking to ever want one myself. The Liberty debacle served as a reminder to me to never forget or forgive as long as the people who caused the problem remain in and call the shots for the company. So no Echelon for me, regardless if it's good or not.

Head to head I suppose I would choose the SIG if I had to pick between the two. I'm not keen on the whole Legion marketing ploy, but under all of that schlock it's still a SIG and a pretty damn good firearm. While I don't have a clue as to your motivation for narrowing down to these two, you must have your reasons for this particular final pair. But again unless you already have a line on the SIG it might be more of a challenge to find, at least when comes to sourcing a new example.

I have the Sig and don’t really care for the 40 cal. Saw the Springfield and liked it. I have a 365, 320 and MK 25, as well as an STI, all in 9mm. As some suggested, I could get a conversion kit and keep the Legion. I was just wanting to get opinions on this situation. Thanks for all that have responded.

P226 9mm slides can be found pretty easily as people upgrade to optic ready slides. I’m all for having multi caliber guns, just in case we get another run on ammo.

Springfield Armory Inc is a terrible company that I will not do business with.

Another vote for the P226 only I would add a 9mm conversion barrel as well as a .357 Sig barrel.

quote:

Originally posted by reluctantpaladin:
Another vote for the P226 only I would add a 9mm conversion barrel as well as a .357 Sig barrel.

I concur ... have no experience with the Springfield but that is what I have in both the P226's, One is a legion and also P239's.

Convert the legion to 9mm, and keep the .40 barrel to shoot what I have left in .40

I'd get the legion in .40S&W
More part & accessory support is available.

The P226 in .40. Keep the slide and pick up either a 9mm barrel or complete slide, that way when the next ammo panic happens, you can at least shoot the caliber that disappears from store shelves last.

You're making a choice between a design that's forty years old and has about that much in proven record, aftermarket and used parts and support vs a new, unproven design that has none of that. It isn't even a close choice for me, and I say that as a Glock fan who keeps a P226 in the safe just because it's that good.