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US made P226 X-Five STAS vs the German X-Five Facettes - Part 1 // *Update* - Part 2 (11/11/22)- Shooting report in OP

This topic can be found at:
https://sigforum.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/430601935/m/9440087594

October 28, 2022, 11:18 AM
Pipe Smoker
US made P226 X-Five STAS vs the German X-Five Facettes - Part 1 // *Update* - Part 2 (11/11/22)- Shooting report in OP
Thanks for the good descriptions and photos Q. I was surprised by the greatly different safety detent mechanisms of the DE and US guns.

The safety of my DE X5 is vey crisp and positive in both positions, yet can easily be flicked to either position without shifting my grip. How is it on the US gun?



Serious about crackers.
October 28, 2022, 11:23 AM
Pipe Smoker
quote:
Originally posted by David Lee:
<snip>
You know what one of the harder things to find on the web is? Ransome resting a X gun. I know they shoot as well as the most expensive 1911s. Maybe Accuracy X could lock up a X gun for us.

Years ago a member created a thread to report the results of Ransom Rest tests of several Swiss and German P210s and one P226 X5. With photos.

Several 5-shot groups with each gun. At 50 yards as I recall. Results were similar enough that there was no clear winner. But the best single 5-shot group was produced by the X5.

In those days SIGforum threads would expire after a certain interval with no new posts. I sure wish that I’d bumped that thread from time to time.



Serious about crackers.
October 28, 2022, 11:33 AM
Nick B
The photography is outstanding.
October 28, 2022, 05:15 PM
David Lee
quote:
Originally posted by Pipe Smoker:
quote:
Originally posted by David Lee:
<snip>
You know what one of the harder things to find on the web is? Ransome resting a X gun. I know they shoot as well as the most expensive 1911s. Maybe Accuracy X could lock up a X gun for us.

Years ago a member created a thread to report the results of Ransom Rest tests of several Swiss and German P210s and one P226 X5. With photos.

Several 5-shot groups with each gun. At 50 yards as I recall. Results were similar enough that there was no clear winner. But the best single 5-shot group was produced by the X5.

In those days SIGforum threads would expire after a certain interval with no new posts. I sure wish that I’d bumped that thread from time to time.
You've prompted me to snoop around a bit on line and I found a test shot by Members bac1023 and Yuns, of various high end pistols for accuracy. Not all those tested were intended to be target guns. I believe the test was performed over a rest but not locked into a Ransome rest. Various Swiss Sig built P210s, Smith & Wesson Performance Center guns, a P226 X5 Enhanced, Benelli .32 S&W Long full wad cutter and a P240 in the same chambering. All pistols it seems were metallic sighted except for the X5 which had a red dot. The X5 in the end printed the most accurate groups in their test. Did my best here not to involve reloading to improvement. If anyone might be interested in reading the article, The Firearms Blog. Testing the worlds most accurate pistol is what to search. Cannot post links on my dumb smart phone.
October 29, 2022, 11:24 AM
monoblok
Q, appreciate your in-depth analysis. I seriously doubt that I'll ever choose to buy one since I like my Germans so much and there are other pistols that I'm far more interested in acquiring, but this fellow in me does have a habit of never saying never.


-MG
November 02, 2022, 03:30 PM
DanH
How do you take the rear sight off to mount an optic? Are there screw holes under the slide to take the plate off? And do you have to remove anything in the slide to get to them like the P320 X Five?
November 02, 2022, 06:45 PM
12131
quote:
Originally posted by DanH:
How do you take the rear sight off to mount an optic? Are there screw holes under the slide to take the plate off? And do you have to remove anything in the slide to get to them like the P320 X Five?

Two screws under the slide hold the rear sight in place. Nothing else. I know nothing about the P320 XFive, but on this one, there is nothing in the way, so all you do is unscrew those 2 screws.


Q






November 03, 2022, 07:05 AM
DanH
Cool. On the P320 X5 you have to take out the back plate and remove the striker assembly to get to those two screws under the slide.
November 03, 2022, 10:05 AM
Ronin101
quote:
Originally posted by DanH:
Cool. On the P320 X5 you have to take out the back plate and remove the striker assembly to get to those two screws under the slide.


and if you aren't careful you can lose the spring in the striker assembly. I learned the hard way. Never taking that romeo off again lol
November 04, 2022, 06:58 PM
patw
Congrats on the new gun. I always liked the way they did the designs of the guns. I really like that German model with the different way they made the slide/frame at the front.
November 05, 2022, 05:24 PM
huskerlrrp
Thanks for reviewing this. What do you think compared to the Gen 1 X Fives?


November 05, 2022, 05:34 PM
ScreamingCockatoo
When I'm ready to lay down a wand of cash, I want an early X5 or X6.





He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster.
November 06, 2022, 07:14 AM
DanH
quote:
Originally posted by huskerlrrp:
Thanks for reviewing this. What do you think compared to the Gen 1 X Fives?


I’m not sure if the L1 was built any better, but my X5 Allround I sold wasn’t built any better than any other stainless Sig built at the time. You’re not getting hand fitted semi custom 1911/2011 build quality out of the guns, but you are getting the same price or more.
November 06, 2022, 07:28 AM
sigarmsp226
quote:
Originally posted by ScreamingCockatoo:
When I'm ready to lay down a wand of cash, I want an early X5 or X6.


SC - What Is interesting is that in looking at closed GB auctions it seems that the early comparable German X5-P226 pistols are not commanding the prices they did a month ago prior to the launch of this US-X5 model. This may only be temporary, but it seems to be occurring right now….
November 07, 2022, 04:51 AM
huskerlrrp
quote:
Originally posted by DanH:
quote:
Originally posted by huskerlrrp:
Thanks for reviewing this. What do you think compared to the Gen 1 X Fives?


I’m not sure if the L1 was built any better, but my X5 Allround I sold wasn’t built any better than any other stainless Sig built at the time. You’re not getting hand fitted semi custom 1911/2011 build quality out of the guns, but you are getting the same price or more.

I had an 1st Gen X-Five All Around, a Tactical Threaded Barrel, and an L1 X-Five (40S&W). I kept the L1 but sold the rest. I'd say the barrel fitment (lock up) of the XFives were above every SIG P226 I have owned or own (~ a dozen). The slide fit was tighter (on average), but the XFive All Around and Tactical didn't have anything special for action/trigger. 1st Gen supposedly had extractor issues. These new US made models interest me if they prove reliable.


November 07, 2022, 08:26 AM
Just Plain Cliff
OK, Q. When do we get Part 2? Smile


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November 08, 2022, 01:09 PM
jimb888
...all that and world class photography. Thank you for sharing!
November 08, 2022, 08:39 PM
DanH
I picked up my X5 Classic today, cleaned and lubed, and got it ready for tomorrow. As mentioned, if you want to put an optic on this gun, the screw holes under the slide are easy to get to instead of the P320 Legion where you have to disassemble the rear of the slide to get to the screw holes.

Something that is different on the Classic is you don't have the takedown pin like the X5 STAS with the "thumb rest" has, so the takedown procedure is just like any P226.

There is a decent amount of vertical slide motion and barrel wiggle when in lockup. Kind of disappointing. In addition, from memory, I liked the trigger on the P226 Legion SAO more than my X5 as configured. Right now, it's incredibly easy to blow through the wall and drop the hammer. After dry firing a little bit, I think I've found where the trigger wall is, but it's not in muscle memory that I can find it while guns like Staccatos and even the CZ Tactical Sports Orange have very light triggers, but also have discernible wall.

Range day is tomorrow. Depending on how it goes, this might end up in the classifieds.
November 09, 2022, 03:20 PM
DanH
I normally don't play around with adjustable triggers and sights, but this time after watching a video from the Sig Guy on YouTube, who also did a comparison between the US and Mastershop guns, I dialed out a lot of the pre travel while still making sure the trigger, hammer, and safety still function correctly, and I also weighed up the trigger until the adjustment screw began to tighen up. While the trigger is still extremely light, there is now enough of a wall that I can stage it appropriately.

At the range, my brain did a complete 180. I don't have an optic on it yet, but when I did my part, I was tearing holes out of the center targets. I tried my luck at 25 years, but my eyesight just can't do precision that far out. I was about a 2-2.5 inch group, but also low and left of where I was aiming. I really want to see what this bad boy can do when I get an optic on it. I also might try some G10 grips if the previous German ones fit the current US gun as while the Hogue Cocobolos are absolutely stunning, I could use the extra grip that G10s can provide.

But right now, the only thing I can see topping this would be a Wilson Combat Double Stack. Between those two guns, I'm off the 2011 bandwagon unless magazines get to Mec Gar quality and price.
November 11, 2022, 11:06 AM
DanH
Something else fun is Sig is selling 20 round magazines with black or silver baseplates for $60 if anyone’s interested:

https://www.sigsauer.com/magaz...tols.html?model=2932