My LE agency has decided to stick with the P226 chambered in .40 S&W as our issued duty pistol. We previously were issued non-railed firearms.

Yesterday, I went out to our range to get my new firearm issued. I was pleasantly surprised that the new gun shot better than my previous one, and the light is a long overdue tactical advantage. We were issued Streamlight TLR-1 HL lights as well.

A few things I noticed with the new pistol were:

The recoil assembly has changed to a flat spring and straight guide rod, from the classic multistrand spring over a tapered guiderod.

The anodized finish on the frame is noticeably more chalky feeling. My last pistols frame had a hard black feel to it. I know that description isn't perfect, but you should be able to tell what I'm talking about. Haha

The siglite sights are far better than the ones on my previous 12 year old sig. More contrast for sure. I think the actual tritium is brighter than when I got my previous pistol new. The are noticeably off-center on the slide, but hit dead on accurately.

The magazines were so insanely stiff at first that about half of the 20 people that were out there with me could barely load the 12th round. I could load mine without a loader tool, but they were nearly impossible for the first several cycles of loading. They are mecgars, and one of line had a small spot of rust on the baseplate out of the wrapper. It came off easily, but left a discolored mark on the baseplate.

My pistol had the e2 grip on it out of the box, which I had switched out for standard 2 pice grips immediately. The gun is also equipped with the short reset trigger.

And finally, not Sig related, but the Federal .40 ammunition was dirtier than any Tula steel cased ammunition I have ever fired. It was a real mess.

It’s hard to go wrong with a tried and true platform.

Great up grade and glad to see a department sticking with 40.

I am a 40 fan
I carried the 9mm in LE/Military for years
When I switched from a PD to a Sheriffs Office I was issued a P229 in .40 and I have never looked back.

I think I am more ecstatic that a Dept is sticking with the P226, than I am they are keeping the round.

I know this is becoming old school thinking but I like pistol like the Beretta 92, P229, P226 etc.. for duty.

Yes, the .40 S&W is a fine caliber. I have a P226 R in both 9mm and .40 now, and actually find the .40 to shoot better. Especially with the light on the weapon. The light seems to make the gun perfectly balanced while shooting.

I know the .40 is a bit of a dog in modern gun culture, and I am not one to stick my nose up at 9mm, but the .40 has proven to be an effective round and I am completely confident with it.

I am also happy to stick with the P226 platform. Tried and true. To be honest, any of the big name striker fired weapons (Glock, Smith and Wesson, or Sig Sauer) would make a reliable duty pistol, I'm glad to stick with a hammer fired gun.

Do you have the option of buying your "old" non-railed 226?

quote:

Originally posted by 1967Goat:
Do you have the option of buying your "old" non-railed 226?

We did. We went through the distributor who sold the department the new pistols, instead of buying them directly from the department. We were able to purchase them for $350 (three mags included). Kind of a convoluted process and I have heard some officers waited nearly a year to get their purchased guns from the distributor.

The 226 and .40 are an absolute perfect match. I carried mine in rotation with my 226 9mm and 220 and found it to tame the .40 snappiness in a way the 229 never could.

Ten years ago the sheriffs dept. i was a deputy at switched to Glocks, we had a choice of purchasing ether a .40 Beretta Px4 or a .40 226 from them at a ridiculous price, i hot footed it into that arms room and went to the stack that had never been issued.

quote:

Originally posted by gearhounds:
The 226 and .40 are an absolute perfect match. I carried mine in rotation with my 226 9mm and 220 and found it to tame the .40 snappiness in a way the 229 never could.

I would agree. The 9mm P226 does have slightly less recoil. I also own a p239, p224, and p229 all in .40 and don't find the recoil to be distracting in any of them. I owned 2 .40s that I did find the .40 recoil to be distracting in; the kahr cm40 and a gen 2 Glock 23.

Good deal, the only thing I can add, and it is only from my limited knowledge and prejudice on calibers, is you need buy a .357 Sig barrel.

Congrats on the new issue-gat - like others have said, I’m glad to see an agency sticking with SIG.

I have a 229 in .40 / .357 and it’s one of my favorites. At one time I also had a 226 in .40 and, also as others have said, it seemed to be an ideal union of gun and cartridge. I didn’t try a .357 barrel in that 226 but surmised it would have been a joy, as well - I’m a big fan of the 229 / .357 combo.

You will love that 226 in 40 cal.

On a new Sig magazine, use the maglula UpLULA Universal Pistol Magazine Loader. The 40 cal magazines seem especially stiff when new. Our range officer always recommended to fully load them with the UpLULA loader and leave them that way for several days. You shouldn’t have any trouble after.

This Michigan State Police 100th anniversary P226, SA/DA, in 40 cal will be my ultimate barbecue gun someday.





Trooper Joe