The SIG Sauer P226 SAO – elite even among Legions.
Buy a SIG Sauer Legion on GunsAmerica
I almost feel bad for those who have spent years, maybe even a lifetime, in search of the perfect handgun. Imagine how King Arthur would have felt upon finding the Holy Grail. Elated, at first – and then despondent perhaps when considering that this means his quest has ended. Is the SIG Sauer Legion series truly that good, or is this just the fanciful writing of an imaginative and perhaps enamored gun reviewer? Well, there is a bit of the latter, I confess – but I do think the Legion is a bit of a Holy Grail for true handgun aficionados. Poor King Arthur would either have to turn over his beloved chalice to the church or perch it on some high shelf under heavy guard – but the owner of a Legion, however, gets to take this prize to the range and shoot it – as often as desired.
Unless you’ve been living way off the grid for the past year, you have no doubt heard of the SIG Sauer Legion series of handguns. Currently available in the P226 and P229 DA/SA (double-action/single-action) and P226 SAO (single-action-only), the latter of these seems the rarest – and more Grail-like. This review is of that pistol. Despite the lofty title, I personally hope that the search for perfection in firearms never ends because I want to see manufacturers always striving for it. But I do think the Legion is about as close as I’ve ever seen a production gun come to it – so let’s talk about why.
Specs
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Attainable
Legion: The exclusive club that regular people can join.
First and foremost, the Legion is an attainable gun, and I think that is crucial to qualify as a Holy Grail. You can throw ten grand into a 1911 if you want, but you’ll be in the 1% for sure. I didn’t say it’s cheap, and the word ‘affordable’ is subjective. But even if you have to save up for a while, you can buy a Legion pistol somewhere beneath its $1,428 MSRP (prices in the $1,200 range are not uncommon). Perhaps the title should read, “Production Perfection”, because unlike custom built or specialty shop handguns that can cost $4,000 and up, the Legion is a production gun. That’s not to say that SIG Sauer doesn’t treat them well when they build them and that they don’t have excruciatingly tight tolerances that must be met – but frankly I think every gun SIG makes fits that description. This is a high-end handgun, there is no denying that, but one that most budgets can make room for if the desire is there.
Proven Reliability
There are not too many handguns that have had more test rounds through them than the SIG Sauer P226 series. Carried for years by demanding law enforcement and elite combat units, the P226 is literally a battle-proven gun. In fact, these same elite forces and sworn officers had a lot to do with the features that make up the Legion Series – but more on that in a bit. I have a number of SIG Sauer handguns, and I’m at a loss to say if any one of them has ever malfunctioned. Ever.
Best-in-Class Quality
Building on the P-Series platform is a pretty good starting point. The entry level SIG pistols are far higher quality in materials and workmanship than most competitors can even offer in their premium suite. And it only goes up from there in terms of available finishes, grips, sights, triggers, etc. SIG Sauer has more SKUs of the P226 variants than many companies offer in total. This means that SIG Sauer is a company that not only listens to customer suggestions and requests but is willing to offer dozens of variations of a single model to satisfy those needs and wants.
At the heart of the Legion is the battle proven design and quality of SIG Sauer.
Why Legion?
What’s so special? My first thought when I saw the very first press release for the Legion Series was that this is a gun designed by the marketing department. Add in the Legion fanboy club membership and branded swag (more on this later), and it certainly looks like the ads were printed before the gun was designed. But the more I read and studied, the more I came to think that might not be so. First off, I don’t consider a marketing-driven product line to be a bad thing. Smart people make a lot of money by being keenly attuned to the marketplace and filling in the holes created by consumer demand. And bless them for their work, because we have more products to choose from than ever before. So, whether it was the egg or the chicken that came first, in this case, it doesn’t matter – the end result is the SIG Sauer Legion Series.
SIG tells us that the Legion was built based on numerous requests and observed modifications among the user base. In other words, build a gun the way serious shooters want it after they are done customizing it.
I think most everyone will consider each of the Legion upgrade components to be preferable to the stock part – maybe with the exception of sights (which can vary greatly in personal preference). Here’s a tour through those extras:
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Legion puts the most popular upgrades on right from the start.
Frame enhancements that include subtle changes to the Elite beavertail, a deeper cutout beneath the trigger guard, and exceptionally good checkering – all work together to make this gun feel like it melts into your hand. I enjoy the ergonomics of the P-Series in general, and these details make me love it. The checkering on the bottom of the trigger guard is a new touch. It is intended to give more traction to the index finger of your support hand and further shorten follow-up shot split times. I honestly was not aware of the checkering while shooting the gun. That’s mostly a good thing because it means it was not aggressive enough to be irritating to my skin. I think it might benefit a gloved hand more.
- Operating parts – the guide rod and trigger group are greatly enhanced in the Legion SAO. The trigger is a flat target-style trigger from the SIG Master Shop, and it breaks light and crisp no matter where you place your finger. Further enhanced by the legendary SRT (short reset trigger) system, the mechanism reaches full reset before you realize you’re letting it off. I have joked with others that just your pulse will reset this trigger – but I’m only half joking! The solid steel guide rod adds slightly more weight out front to better balance the pistol and reduce muzzle flip.
- The X-RAYTM sights may not be everyone’s favorite, but I like them very much. I have installed very similar sights on several handguns – especially those I wish to shoot competitively. The bright glow of the lime green ring on the front sight is ideal for rapid acquisition, while the minimalist dots in the anti-glare serrated rear sight do not compete for your attention. Yet, in full darkness, all three dots glow brightly via their Tritium inserts. The sights are steel and traditional SIG size and shape, and can easily run the slide in one-handed situations.
- Last – but most certainly not least, is the pair of G10 grips. Far more than just a cosmetic element, these grips offer slip-free hold wet or dry and without feeling overly aggressive or irritating to the skin. Combined with the 25 LPI checkering on the front strap, this handgun has the grip of a true battle weapon.
Cap those elements off with the exclusive “Legion Gray” PVD finish and the antiqued bronze Legion medallion in the grips, and you have a pistol that is like the Indy Pace Car edition of your favorite muscle car. So, to answer the most common question I’m asked about the Legion: “Is it really worth the extra money?”- Yes. For me, it is well worth it because I appreciate the value added by each element that SIG included making the Legion a Legion.
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The superb checkering has been expanded to include a section on the lower face of the trigger guard.
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The solid steel guide rod of the Legion (left) adds weight and rigidity out front versus the standard P226 hollow steel rod (right).
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The sights on the Legion Series are both tough and very functional. The minimal dots in the rear don’t distract the shooter in daylight.
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The author has never felt any grips better than the G10s on the Legion.
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Safe Queen or Range King?
When I brought the Legion P226 SAO home and admired it for the first time, I decided right then that this was not going to be a safe queen – despite its beautiful appearance and above average price. I shoot competitive sports – mostly IDPA, and while I’m a middle-of-the-pack level guy, I have many friends and acquaintances that are quite serious sponsored shooters, and I know what kind of money can be invested in a match pistol. I considered the Legion P226 SAO and realized that right out of the box, it has just about everything you can add to a handgun to make it rock in the IDPA world. So then why not fire the very first rounds during an actual IDPA match? That’s just what I did. Not a single practice shot (though I confess I did some dry fire practice). If this gun was going to sink or swim it was going to do it in a timed and scored match with people and cameras watching. No pressure.
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The author put the first 250 rounds through the Legion in actual competition.
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Double-taps are a piece of cake with the Legion P226 SAO.
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The Legion performed flawlessly during the IDPA match, and during the “hey, mind if I try that?” session afterward. So, the next morning I got up and took it to a Steel Challenge match, where once again it performed perfectly (much more so than yours truly). The incredible trigger in this gun is match-ready, the sights are fast-acquisition, and the ergonomics are superb. My draws were intuitive and fluid and I did not have to adjust my grip once I pushed out to the target. Being more accustomed to striker fired guns in competition, I did have a few hiccups where I was slow to disengage the safety – stupid user error. Muzzle lift is minimal with the 9mm competition loads I was shooting and double taps were not only easy, but some of them produced “one-hole” results. Those two matches accounted for the first 250 rounds fired through the pistol – without a single hiccup. It won’t be the last time I step up to the firing line and make ready with this gun. That’s a promise.
Accuracy
The P226 SAO Legion was tested at 25 yards from a rested position, and yielded good but certainly not surprising results. SIG Sauer’s Elite Performance ammo accounted for the two best groups by a significant margin, with the FMJ edging out its sibling JHP for top honors. Remington UMC produced the next best group, with Speer Gold Dot bringing up the rear.
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The Legion prints at point of aim elevation at 25 yards and less. The SIG Sauer Elite Performance ammo produced the two best groups. Coincidence?
The Fanboy Legion Club
Legion ownership also endows the buyer with membership in SIG Sauer’s exclusive Legion Owner’s club (no, you don’t get a fez) that gives you access to a Legion-only section of the online SIG Store, where you can purchase specially branded accessories like holsters, flashlights, knives, and swag. It also puts you on a mailing list for Legion owner email updates. It requires you to register your serial number on the SIG Sauer website. Yeah, I took pause at that too – but SIG Sauer assures us it is a warranty registration only and is strictly private. The instant you complete the simple registration process you are rewarded with a discount code worth 20 percent off a SIG Store purchase. Save this code and use it! I recommend waiting until you have a few items to buy because the discount is applied to a complete order (not just individual purchases).
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The Legion case is well made and lockable. It could use a handle.
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The case is custom fit to each model and has a place for the coin and available knife.
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Once you register your Legion pistol you will also receive (in a week or two) a free custom storage case for your gun and a Legion challenge coin. The case has high-quality foam that is custom cut to fit your handgun, two magazines, a knife, and the challenge coin. It’s a nice quality case, but would be 100% more useful if it had a handle of some sort. As of this writing, there is no Legion holster available for the P226 SAO, and the ones for the DA/SA variant will not work. When I asked about it, I got two different answers varying from “it’s in the works and should be available soon”, to “no idea, they may not be offering one for the SAO”. Time will tell – but lucky for me, my P320 full-size holster (the one provided with any P320 purchased) worked pretty well and I’m still using that one.
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All of the familiar SIG looks are there, but in Legion Gray finish.
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The SAO is absent the decocking lever and has a very nice ambidextrous thumb safety. Slide stop is not as easy to operate as on models without the safety lever.
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Conclusion
Legion Gray looks its best in sunlight. All the more reason to get it out of the safe and take it to the range!
The SIG Sauer Legion Series isn’t for everyone, and it’s not intended to be. Not everyone who loves the BMW 3 Series wants an M3, but those who do won’t settle for less. I think the Legion Series will have a similarly dedicated customer base. Put my name on that list. I think the P226 SAO is elite even among Legions because it is an even further reduced segment of SIG lovers that choose the single-action-only variant of the handgun. Don’t dismiss the Legion Series as marketing hype – you will cheat yourself out of one of the best handgun experiences there is. Word has it that the series will soon expand to include the P220. I’m drooling already.
The magic of the SAO Legion is without a doubt the Master Shop flat trigger. Measured pull weight was under 4 lbs., and reset is almost too short to measure.
Great review! As a Glock guy I admit that the 1st time I shot my buddy’s Legion I fell in love! Lol. It’s everything I could ever want in a range gun. So I bought the Legion SAO yesterday! Had I bought the DA/SA version I would’ve made it a carry gun. Most of my guns have no manual safety. SAO will be my prized range toy.
Just bought one – it’s amazing how well the gun shoots. I’m retiring my P226 Enhanced Elite for this for my EDC. Outstanding all around. Worth every penny.
Additional comments on the P226 SAO Legion…..I have to tell the story about how I acquired this firearm….My dear wife was having a bad day, as I was chasing her all over the country for parts for jobs we had stacked up in our shop. She stopped at one of the local casinos for some lunch and a rest stop. She donated a small amount in a gaming device, and won enough to buy this for me for my bday! I guess it was meant to be. After a few months of training and shooting this model, I can still attest, for me, I can shoot it faster with more accuracy, and acquire the sights faster, than any of our other firearms. If anyone gets a chance to shoot it, take that opportunity!
I am a Glock guy, however, P226 SAO Legion is the most incredible firearm I have shot!!! I have shot this Sig and my Glock G17 side by side, the Sig is more accurate and I can acquire the sights quicker. The Sig fits my hand way better. The trigger and reset is unbelievable! I don’t shoot competitive, but for defensive training, drawing, and firing, and firing double tap, this is an incredible firearm! Let me back up a little, we live in the country and have our own firing range, and train weekly, shooting 500 or more rounds a week, between my bride and I. Yes, it is little pricey, but this firearm has become my everyday carry. I would recommend everyone to shoot this, or at least put it in your hand, and see the difference!! Am waiting for more calibers in the P226 SAO Legion!
I was really impressed by a P226 I held at a local gun show a couple of years back but I’m not a 9 mm guy. When SIG first came out with the P226 in their Legion Series it stirred those memories of that first one I held. So, now they’ve released one in SAO and I’m wracking my brain as to how to fit this into my budget.
I don’t need another pistol as my SIG 1911 Nitron Carry (the BEST pistol I have ever owned!!!) and FNS-40C fulfill my self-protection requirements but I WANT this P226 Legend SAO. And wouldn’t you know it? There is a gun show this weekend! Coincidence?
Semper Fi.
SIG 228, used cop gun in police supply, $350 9mm and nearly new looking, my buddy bought 2 228’s that day and another fiend hand loader and I loaded jacketed and cast bullets, many different loads and all shot as the 226 did or better, one least expensive jacketed bullet shot 2.5″ at 25 yards and the 228 is my favorite 9mm of four 9mm pistols I have. I don’t think anyone can wear one out, same as a Glock 21 bought 5+ years ago and a Colt GI 1911 c. 1918 I’ve had since 1965, just 500+ year handguns vs. Smith & Wesson and Colt revolvers that do wear some parts and I have plenty of those.
I have carried a P228 since the early 90’s and stopped counting at 10K rnds in 1995. I would guess I have 25K+ rounds through it with zero malfunctions. Finally got new sites and a tune up from SIG last year. Great gun and although I have been tempted to get into a new one, I have yet to find anything that returns to target as easily and quickly as the P228. I just might get a Legion SA/DA and retire it at some point.
I have a Sig P-220 Carry that I’ll match against any .45ACP on the market right now. Has all the benefits of your P-229 and none of the drawbacks–and it is 1/2 inch shorter.
I have had a P226 da/sa 9mm that is probably my best semi auto shooter and recently bought a P226 DAK ,40. I didn’t realize what the DAK was when I bought it then I found it was double action only with no decocker. I was sort of down about the
DAK that I wouldn’t like it and I read that Sig makes a da/sa conversion kit for it. I thought that might be for me.
After getting and shooting this P226 DAK I was so loving the trigger that I no longer wanted the changeover kit. This gun is just as accurate for me as the SA/DA 9MM. The trigger is very smooth, no stacking and very controllable. Sort of like my LCR trigger.
I sort of wonder about the Legion having a light SA trigger but not having a safety. I imagine if I got to shoot one I probably would also like it as I like my other Sigs. I have shot a Sig 238 and wow was I surprised what an awesome 380 that gun is.
I was so lucky to get each of my two used Sigs that are in great condition for around $350 each.
If you have never shot a P226 then you really don’t know what you are missing.
Kimber Very pretty. Look good in shadow boxes hanging on the wall or on the coffee table. I like the pretty guns.I shoot the ugly black ones. I can depend on the quality of the HK-SIG-SMITH-WESSON-COLT to put the money in those that are made to shoot, not look pretty. And yes there are others out on the market as well. Find what works for you and practice.Keeping in mind to get one with the quality you can depend on.
Having carried Sigs as a Contractor during Astan & Iraq conflicts ; Amazing reliability & Quality . Most if not all LEO & private concerns just simply will not allow the SAO fire arms to be carried . So the SAO Club limits this to Recreation crowd . And a SAO in 9mm ? Gotta love the Sigs ! I’m a life time fan !
While I hate putting a damper on any high quality, near perfect (not lefty friendly) firearm, the only problems with this beauty are caliber and price. I don’t understand a 35oz, difficult to conceal, holster only, 9mm? Only advantage, capacity.
While I don’t mean to compare in anyway my S&W Shield to this far better Sig, when you take into account they are both 9mm, the Shield will shoot 5″ 25 yard groups all day with Federal HST’s, weighs nearly half, gives up 100 fsp at most, slips into my levi pocket, and costs 1/3rd, other than for completion or military…..why? Legion should be a 45acp. Respectfully, Jim
i don’t know where all of these Kimber inserts are from, but after owning hundreds of handguns and shooting more than most i have to admit. Kimber started out making very good handguns and have gone downhill ever since. [i have owned a dozen or so and each new model was of lower quality than the one before.] Sig on the other hand has kept their quality to today and i like then almost as well as their original P-210 [which is probably the best quality handgun ever made.] don’t get me wrong, i loved my Ed Brown 1911 and top of the line CZ’s and Wilson Combat, but Sig in my opinion can’t bet beat dollar for dollar by anyone. hit what you aim at and you should be as happy as you can be.
SIGs are great, I have two P226 models, a 9mm and a 40 S&W. Both are fantastic. I am also a Glock owner too, so I do have some experience in comparisons.
But I recently ran across something to turn my head. The AREX Rex Zero 1S. And after seeing a torture test comparison with a SIG Legion, I had to get a Rex Zero 1 on order. Check out the You-Tube vids on them. And then I ran across a consecutive 1000 round shoot of the AREX, and was totally blown away. So while I’ll never get rid of my SIGs, I sure am looking forward to the AREX..
https://youtu.be/LuPOqDlaX6U
OK, have many firearms, but never owned a Sig pistol. (Have 5 other brands though) So, a great article, but could not find mag capacity listed anywhere. Guess if I was serious about spending that kind of money I could find out, but it was glaringly missing from the article. Just a footnote, love your articles.
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If only the axis of the bore were not so high.
If only the silly hook on the trigger guard was gone.
If only the trigger were curved instead of flat.
Then, it might approach perfection.
Then you have not shot a flat trigger. It sits the same on your finger every time so it improves trigger pull and accuracy.
If only there were not so many Glock fools around…just too many of em’. Seems like none of them knows much about quality firearms.
I have been wanting to make a few comments about the P226 SAO Legion, since I got one for my 61st birthday. I have been a Glock fan as I have an amazing Glock gunsmith not far from where we live. I have a G19 and a G17, my wife shoots a G43, 2 Kimbers, and a HK VP9. Each has pros and cons, and each has to fit the hand of the shooter. My wife doesn’t like the P226 as too big for her hand, although she likes the trigger. After shooting the P226 SAO I am definitely impressed, and will continue to carry concealed, and train. Let me back up a bit here, since we live in the country, we have our own shooting range, and moving target system, along with steel and such, to shoot and train, as we do weekly. We teach and train others on a limited basis as well. I am not a pro shooter, just a guy and his wife having a for a passion of shooting and training. Back to the P226 SAO, what an amazing firearm! I think the Legion name is a selling gimmick. The reviews on this firearm are all true, the trigger system is unbelievable! When I received this as a gift, I had to step out to the range, in the dark, and fire all three magazines, therefore, the accuracy as claimed is true. To go on, this firearm fits me, but I will not give up my on my G17, which also fits me. I wish we had a perfect world where we could all shoot, all of these firearms manufactured, and see which ones fits us all. I must go on to say, we had a problem with a Kimber, and the factory took care of it expediently, with a fast turn around. My wife loves her Kimbers! I know there are many more amazing firearms, but if anyone gets a chance to shoot the P226 SAO, take that opportunity. Maybe I might be a good candidate for a Sig convert!
I used to have a 220 elite and 226 elite along with a x5. Great shooters all, but in the end too bulky and heavy to remain in the collection. I have 1911’s for that.
There have been numerous problems with the finish on the Sig Legion. The finish has been flaking off. I had my sights set on purchasing one last month until I read about this latest development. I won’t purchase a $1,200 pistol that won’t hold up. I bought an Arex instead….for half the price and it’s a better handgun.
I find that very hard to believe as we have 9 Legions and not a one has had ANY problems with any thing.Stick to your Glocks.,
To the fellow that committed on Kimber and the Custom Shop You need to take a trip to the Kimber factory.The Super Carry, Raptor and more are produced in the custom shop. My brother in law’s father works for Kimber that was my first question when I met him, is there a true custom shop. His answer not one but two and they are produced in that department, while checking fit and finish. As far as 9mm VS 45 cal for protection keep the 9mm.
I sure got a kick out of reading all of these comments, good review of the new 226. I was amused about all of the folks that had to stir the pot with their 45 vs 9mm stories….what a waste of time, If you want a 45 I would suggest that you go shoot a 227 sig, equally impressive gun. I love my 1911s and my 45s, I do carry a XD 45 single stack, and 1911s in a 9MM, for concealed carry, the larger sigs are too large to hide, also carry 238s, 239s, nice and small and work great if you keep them cleaned and oiled. I try to shoot three times a week with the handguns, and once a week with the skeet league, I do shoot 9MM most of the time because of the cost of the ammo, with all of the shooting I do I don’t have time to reload. the cost of the 9MM is half of the 45s, so I shoot more for less with the 9MM. Yes I have a Glock set up in a 23C, I have a 40, 357 sig, and 9 barrels for it and it has never once failed to work. I have CZs, and kriss sphinx, another very good gun. All of these guns shoot well, my favs are always going to be my 1911s, but if I was going to a gun fight, and I could pick one to go, it might be between my 226, or the sphinx, and if the possibility that the court would keep my gun, then I would use the Glock…I have no problem with defending myself with the 9MM with the ammo that is available, the new hollow points work just fine.
Just like Jap cars – no character. They all look the same these days.
Sig collector here, mostly full stainless models. If you scan the Sig forums such as Sigtalk you will see lots and lots of finish complaints on the Legion. This alone has kept me from adding one to the collection.
The finish is not the gun. I have lots of guns that are worn from holster work. Who cares as long as they run and shoot accurately?
Thanks for the article. How did you manage to shoot in an IDPA match as the Legion SAO is too wide for the ESP box. Other forums have mentioned shaving off some of the safety.
Thanks again.
And all these guys who claim a 45 is better because “it’s bigger” need to do some research on the wound damage from handgun rounds in general. It’s FAR more important to put rounds on target, than to have a precious 1911 over everything else. People have died with just about every handgun round in existence, and they’ve also survived them, several of them…including 45 acp. I had an uncle who was shot 9 times in the back with a 45 acp, and guess what? He lived to tell the story.
Is your uncle 50 Cent? Didn’t he get shot 9 times in the back too?
Effective rounds on target do matter. But what might matter as much as that is ammo selection. Your uncle, Mr. Jackson, was probably shot with ball ammo. I even saw a guy come in my store and wanted to show me his gun. So he removes the magazine and takes the round out of the chamber. Ball ammo.
Guys in the military talk about how underpowered 9mm is because in Nam they shot some VC several times with a 9mm and they just kept coming. Pretty sure they had to use ball ammo too (and the VC guys might have been on drugs).
That’s also why departments are finally going full circle back to 9mm. It’s the fact the ammo has improved. That’s also why people are opting for GOOD ammo, and 16 rounds versus 8 rounds of very good 45 ACP.
As for “precious 1911” though, it’s more than just the caliber. I love my 1911. Don’t think I’d be such a fan of a Shield in 45ACP. I shoot the 1911 much better. As you said, effective rounds on target matters. If I can shoot a 1911 more effectively, then isn’t that better?
Yes you are completely correct about the ammunition being critical to knockdown/stay down power. The FBI Recently studied ammunition again and switched back to 9mm from 40’s. If you carry CCW, spend 20-40 bucks and buy some ammunition, I mean it’s only your life your talking about. Hornady Critical Duty, Sig sauer are both good brands.
Shot in the back with .45acp? Hmmm.. and what pray tell was he running from his own post possibly?
I’ve owned various Sigs since 1991. In all the years of shooting, probably in excess of 50,000 rounds between all of them, I recall just two malfunctions; both with cheap steel-cased 9mm after a long range day. I currently own four, including a 226 purchased in ’91 that is simply a tack driver. With just about any ammo. In fact, its the reason I sold ALL my other semi-auto pistols with the exception of a old Ruger 22 and bought more Sigs. In addition to the 226, I own a 220, 228 and recently purchase the 229 Legion in 9mm. I love them all, especially the 228, but this 229 Legion is simply perfect. The trigger and sites alone are worth the premium. The grip and minor cut out under the trigger guard allow it to recoil straight up and drop straight down, right on target. No torque, no twist. It shoots phenomenally well for me and everyone who’s tried it.
I have a P220R that I acquired in Sep 2007 that is a Legion version. It is marked as a special edition version that was made for members of the 5th Special Forces Group. The top of the slide is marked Legion with the SF Crest.
Holy Grail please! Buy a Kimber Super Carry Pro I know its not a SAO the fit and finish is far from the sig and it comes from the custom Shop right at the same price.
Kimber… do you really believe Kimber has a custom shop? Like, a shop where they have gunsmiths doing custom stuff to guns? If so, follow the next rainbow you see and there will be a leprechaun waiting for you to pick up your pot of gold.
You need to follow the rainbow then there are 2 custom shops at Kimber. And as Kimber being a piece of junk you have no idea what your talking about the complaints that come in about jams is always an aftermarket mag. As soon as a Kimber mag, Wilson are used it doesent happen any longer. Kimber Junk????????????? when you can afford one then tell someone who dont know guns Junk they might believe it.
The “fit and finish” on a Kimber is nice, but it’s not even in the same ballpark as this Sig Legion And as an added bonus, the Sig actually feeds hollowpoints and it still fires when it’s dirty. Did I mention that it holds more than 7 bullets, also?
I’m not a Kimber or 1911 hater by any stretch. I love 1911s. But I think people need to understand that Kimber is not the be-all and end-all gun for people considering the higher end of the production gun spectrum.
I’ve heard more opposition on Kimber than any other gun. Either people are fanboys and anything not a Kimber is crap, or they hate it. I’ve had more people in my store complain about a Kimber from experience than any other platform. Maybe that’s because their expectations are higher or maybe they like to complain more, but I haven’t had nearly as many complaints about any other platform…from Hi Point to Nighthawks and everything in between.
I had a Legion SAO in the store for about a day. It felt amazing. I was going to keep it for myself but a customer walked in and bought it. I’m in the selling business, not the collecting business. But I haven’t had my hands on one since. And haven’t ever shot one. The trigger felt as good as the reviews say, though. I went from carrying a Glock to carrying a 1911 in large part because of the trigger. Never wanted to like 1911s. Thought it was just a cult thing. But I’ve really learned to love them. And it fits my hand much better which has a lot to do with it.
I own a Kimber Ultra Carry and it’s the most accurate handgun I have ever shot by far. I also own Glock, and Sig Sauer and would depend on any to save my life. Interesting the Navy Seals just switched to Glock from Sig Sauer. If I had to confidently shoot a terrorist in the eyeball, like holding a hostage situation, I know I could make that shot with my Kimber. That’s saying something. To me I don’t think you can go wrong with any of those brands.
How would it compare to the earlier and widely heralded Sig Sauer p210 ? Which to my memory was considered one of the most accurate pistols being produced or of all time. Please comment. Thanks
Two guns I regret selling: One was an HK-91 I bought way back when for $365 and a Sig P-226. It was sans rail (back in the ’80s) and had the dot and post sights which I think were the best combo, IMO. The gun was dead-nuts on and had the sweetest double-action trigger of any semi-auto handgun. I have very XL hands and the Sig just feels great in every way. I’m going to see if Sig offers the Legion in a .45 platform. Nothing against Glocks—I carry a G43 in the summer—but the Sig is iconic. I’m saving my pennies.
If you read through this the author mentions that Sig is making the P220 LEGION next, which is a .45
I loved that dot and post site set up as well. Dont know why they dropped it. It was fast also.
A SAO Sig is a great idea. I carried personally owned Sig P220’s and 226’s for over 25 years on duty. I moved to the Dept. issued Glock solely to save wear and tear on them. My Sigs did not malfunction. They did not rust, they did not wear out and they did not break- I never had to replace any parts either. Cisco has strong opinions about issues he may have ‘heard’ about re: Sigs. He is entitled to them. I did not find Sigs to be an inferior product in any way. For years Colt made a non-competitive (to my mind inferior) product with their 1911’s. I don’t know if that changed with the advent of the excellent 1911’s from Sig, Kimber, Springfield, S&W, Ruger and others? I do know that now I don’t have to spend an additional $1500-2000 on top of $1000 to make it reliable, accurate, and ergonomic. I can spend $800-1400 and go shooting using a pistol with superior sights that goes bang every time… and that $1500 can buy a LOT of ammo…
Good on Sig. What the world needs is more qulity SAO autos. A pistol of Sig’s quality, carried with a round chambered and on half cock, is as safe as anything in existence. And learning to have the hammer on full cock by the time its on target, as an automatic part of your draw, is very easy. Then you have the most accurate first shot you can get due to the very light trigger pull. And being a SA auto, that holds true for every subsequent shot, unlike with a DA or a DA/SA.
Unfortunately, as the man said, “affordable” is relative, and a Sig just plain isn’t, not for me. The other problem is that it’s a 9. I just don’t feel that a 9 has sufficirnt hitting power for a self defense weapon. While it can accurately outrange many .45s, the typical gunfight just isn’t distant enough for that to even matter one bit. And 2 or 3 .45ACPs center of mass at maybe 30 feet on even a bad guy with class III body armor is going to at a minimum disrupt his aim, not true of a 9. That’s all just my opinion, but it’s from an ex-combat soldier and an ex-fairly large East Coast city cop. And yeah, I’ll admit that as a rookie I carried a .380 off duty, but that was a matter of money. In 1975 we got a total uniform & equipment allowance of $300 (or maybe it was $350), and had to buy every single piece of our uniforms, service revolvers, and equipment, including ammunition, ourselves. The only things the city gave us were our shields and IDs.. An off duty weapon was actually a luxury, even though you were required to be armed at all times when within the city limits, and for a while, before I could even afford the .380, mine was a Model 10 S&W (my duty revolver) with the grips removed.
My ideal carry weapon? (NOT recommended for compertition) An identical to 1945 MILSPEC 1911A1 .45ACP with 2 spare mags. The big advantages I see to that weapon, besides the caliber, are that it’s an SA, more than accurate enough for typical gunfight ranges, but loose enough that a little dirt or something in the wrong place isn’t going rto screw it up. Like the Energizer Bunny, it just keeps going. And you can get a good one without a lot of money. For example, an Auto Ordnance. Just make sure it ws made either bedfore or after Numrich owned them, when QC was pretty poor. And be aware that being a “bump and jump feed “, SOME 1911s, won’t reliably feed anything but ball, so make sure what you get is a quality firearm.
My alternate, when a shoulder holster isn’t feasible? A Glock Model 27 with the magazine extender which, besides an extra round, gives you a place for your last finger, with 2 Glock 23 mags as spares. Easily concealed, plenty of ammo, and almost as much hitting power as a 45. I’d had a .45 Taurus millenium, and I’d been saving for a G30, when a friend offered me a Gen2 27 for $325, so I grabbed it, figuring I wasn’t losing a whole lot of hitting power compared to a G30.
But if I liked 9s, and had the money. I’d grab a Sig P226SAO in a heartbeat. If not faster.
The pistol seems very nice and SIG has always been a premium gun maker in both quality and price. However, If I want a single action SIG I would opt for one of the 1950’s all steel models that were issued to the Swiss border patrol. They were truly tack drivers at 75′ or 25 meters, if you prefer. The out of the box trigger pull was only three lbs. and crisp. They were over $600 new in the ’50’s which is actually more than the Legion in terms of dollar buying power. None-the less, they were far more meticulously machined and fitted than today’s crop of Sigs.
I am not fond of 9MM in general for either defense or target. They were all the rage in 1898 when they came out. Essentially, they are a FMJ .38 special. The FBI learned how effective they were in their gunfight in Florida. The tissue damage they do is minimal and hollow points do not open in humans. I know because I have done autopsies. There have been improvements in ballistics and today a handful of bullets actually expand in humans such as Hornady’s Critical Defense and Zombie ammo.
With all that said, at $1200 to $1400 I expect better accuracy and less than a 5.0 lbs. trigger pull. For this style of pistol, I would choose a CZ 75 or the Tanfoglio clone. They are half the price and the CZ gives equal accuracy. The Tanfoglio offers better accuracy, almost a dozen different versions, including serious target pieces, and offers 9MM, .40 S&W, .38 Super, 10mm, and .45 ACP. Either make can be carried DA/SA or SA only. For $1400 I can get a Kimber custom shop Gov’t. Model clone and it will have a trigger pull half that of the SIG Legion. Some people just have to have the latest product to have it. I want something that has all the attributes that I want and is cusomizable if desired. It doesn’t have to be new. Why did the Colt Government/1911 last this long in overwhelming popularity? Because it was a great design that works and still does.
I carried a Sig for 10 years as a duty pistol. Top notch product. A single action Sig is a fantastic concept. I’ve been wanting to pick up the SAO version for over a year. Good stuff!
For us older WWII guys, who always knew what kind of ammo we needed, would you be so kind as to share the caliber of this wonderful piece? I guess it might be 9mm Luger, but I couldn’t find it in your worshipful article.
Besides; it won’t hit as hard as any of my Colt Single Action Army revolvers which never go out of style
Looking at the first picture in the Conclusion section, the barrel says 9mm Para.
It is listed in the SPECS section, near the top of the article. 9mm is correct. Nope – it won’t knock ’em down like the .45 Colt, but it won’t break the bank like ’em either!
Neither will a .45ACP 1911, unless you insist on a Colt, Ansd there are plenty of quality 1911s that are just as good as the US MILSPEC 1911Colt out there, some for way undert $1K. if what you need is a reliable self defense weapon, not an “all the latest stuff on it” match grade pistol.
If your fighting for your life you won’t be worried about breaking the bank
You do realize that 45 acp isn’t the most advanced round available anymore, right? You stick with what you knew in your day. We will stick with ours. And guess what? Research shows that it doesn’t matter what round you use. What matters…is where the round lands.
Bingo
I have a non-legion P226 Elite SAO. I like it very much. It does not have the fancy legion V on the top of the slide and it doesn’t have the Bruce Gray trigger and several other minor Legion features. However, it does have a standard SIG SRT trigger at 4.5 lbs (in their literature). It has the same sights as the Legion and I have replaced the standard Sig grips with Hogue G10’s in a nice green/gray. It shoots very well in my hand. As a long time 1911 shooter the thumb safety is in the right place and I don’t ever have a problem with forgetting to take it down as, even if I am happen to be shooting a non-thumb safety gun, I always sweep down with my thumb on the draw. Other than the steel guide rod, checkered under trigger guard, and the Bruce Gray trigger, I think I have the same gun at a one third discount. I’m lucky that I have have medium sized hands as the Sig grip width/size seems to fit me perfectly. I can certainly see someone with smaller hands not liking a Sig grip size at all; in my hands they fit PERFECTLY. Like most Sigs, it is a fat gun and is thus harder to conceal. My one BIG gripe is that the thumb safety is ambidextrous. I guess I’m a clumsy guy, but as with an ambidextrous thumb safety 1911, when carrying, I occasionally bump the safety and disengage it. Taking the holster off of my belt and noticing that the safety is off really bugs me. I have stopped carrying the P226 Elite SAO for this reason. I am contemplating removing the thumb safety and grinding down the left side thumb safety to stop this from happening.
As with most new guns on the market, I wish Sig much success with their Legion line. The more the better as far as I’m concerned.
I used a dremel grinding stone to completely knock down the right side of the ambi safety’s wing that sticks out. I had the exact same problem when carrying the SIG P226 SAO; at least once a week I would find the safety off when I went to take it off to go to bed. I never realized that I had accidentally knocked it off. After my dremel work this problem is completely solved. My solution may not be for everyone, but I’m not concerned about the “prettiness” of my day to day guns. I have some really nice 1911’s that I don’t want to blemish, but any handgun on my belt is a basic tool and I’ll modify it and I’ll abuse it in various ways and it needs to persevere and still work flawlessly. I own at least 6 Sigs. All are completely reliable, don’t care if I clean ’em or not and combat accurate.
Which major distributors carry this “SAO” P226 and are there any plans to re-introduce the much more size efficient P-228 into such a lineup. One of my favority carry guns was an older P228 when I wasn’t carrying my Glock.
I am an FFL holder so I would really like to know where I can find this handgun on the wholesale market to stock a few
I agree,love my sig p228,recent found a few,bought 2.retail $1500ea,got them for, $945ea,with decocker,no safety, siglight sights, 3 , 15 rnd mags.NOT CALIFORNIA COMPLIANT! !I ALSO Have 2,p226 40 cal,frames made in Germany, and the p227,14 round 45acp.truly a SIG LOVER,RECON FOR 12 YEARS,21 DEPLOYMENTS, MY SIGS NEVER LET ME DOWN,NEVER JAMMED, MISFIRES, ALL STILL ORIGINAL AND ARE LIKE NEW.NEVER GO BACK TO A GLOCK!!!HAD COLT,KIMBER,GLOCK,SPRINGFIELD, AND A FEW OTHERS, DIE BEFORE I GIVE UP MY SIGS,ONLY ADD TO MY COLLECTION OF THEM,PICKING UP A P220 TOMORROW AND WILL BE purchasing a legion sao,Sig SAUER STANDS,HEAD AND SHOULDERS ABOVE A LOT OF SIMILAR, TRYING TO KEEP UP,HAND GUNS . ACCURATE, DEPENDABLE, CAN’T WEAR THEM OUT!!SIG LOVER,GUNNY!!!
New and flashy but sorry my heart, soul, and safety falls directly in the hands of the .45 ACP. As a former LE firearms instructor I marvel at the attempts to replicate and replace John Brownings 1911 weapon and round. What is good for the Europeans doesnt exactly fulfill the needs of people who make a living carrying a handgun. If its home defense , buy a shotgun. Kimber a US made handgun is my choice.
The author teases about a Legion P220. I may have to acquire one in TDA. If for no other reason than my Dan Wesson V-Bob didn’t come with a challenge coin!
Not trying to be a smartarse. but how is this pistol worth twice as much as a Cz-75? I just can’t see it.
You read my mind!
cos. . cos. . “Legion”! Didn’t you see it? And, and you get a high quality foam box when you register. CZ’s come in plastic boxes, but these have high quality foam for innards. And it says “Legion” on the slide and has a logo.
So. . there ya go!
Sounds like a lot of you are more pissed because you can’t afford it. You don’t buy this gun for the extra marketing crap, you buy it because it has all the features that most people would want on their P226 / P229 / etc. The other stuff is all just fringe.
It’s already been proven that to buy a standard Sig P226 and do all the things that were done to this pistol (after the fact) would end up costing well more than the street price of this firearm. So THAT’S why you buy it. IF you want a CZ then buy one. Don’t get your panties in a jealous bunch because others might want THIS one.
I bought a CZ 75-01 Tactical awhile back because one, I liked the feel, two, it is cheap (about $600) and three, I did not own a 9mm. After trying other 9mm’s at my gun club, I found the Sig P226 was even more comfortable in my hand.
Once I had saved enough for a P226 I was ready to buy. Then the Legion came out. Almost the same cost as the “Scorpion” variant but looked better and had a few more bells and whistles. So I took the chance. Damn was I glad I did- my groupings are even tighter with the Legion model. 10 shots, rapid fire, 15′, my groupings are 4-5″ with the CZ. The Legion tightened it to 2″. Handling is more comfortable. Not to mention field stripping and cleaning is easier with the Sig.
The Legion extras didn’t matter.
You just have to decide if a $600 increase in cost is worth it.
It was to me.
I never have been a fan of guns with aluminum frames. Few people bother to look at the underside of the aluminum frame rails. You must turn the gun upside down with the slide off to see this. What you will see is wear on the aluminum frame rails even if you do lube the heck out of it with grease which most people do not even bother to do which only hastens frame rail wear which helps to deteriorate accuracy. Frame cracking will eventually result as well especially with hot calibers like the .357 Sig and the 10mm. I also dislike the el-cheapo stamped sheet metal roll pins which should be replaced if you ever remove them. Even the roll pin punch does not do much to preserve the existing pins. I also dislike the newer MIM cast parts now being used in the Sig which are known for high and early failure rates. At least Sig quit using the delicate stamped sheet metal slides that they used to use.
Justin: You should have mentioned Bruce Gray’s input on the Legion line. Specifically on the trigger and guide rod components. Great review. I own Legions; a 226SAO and a 229 in 357 SIG. Both are excellent production pistols, with which I am very pleased.
I purchased the Sig Legion and it is all that it claims to be. I am atonal Sig fan.
I own 3 Sigs and love them. But after reading this review here my 2 cents worth. First I hate the massive 1.6″ grips. I have an average size hand and just wish they would take that into consideration when making a new line. Second, I called the factory and they use the same exact barrel in this new line as their other lines. They could at the very minimum have installed a “Custom Bull Barrel”. That is also very dissapointing. Not really sure if Iam gaining all that much by getting one.
Behind the times. Needed a threaded barrel and raised sights. Silencer use is here !
Ah, the “Perfect” gun! Yayyy!
That is of course, until the NEXT “Perfect” gun comes along.
But then, if anyone expects Perfection to exist in ANY pursuit of man, one is very silly.
Makes for good articles to attract people to a website (store, venue, magazine, etc.) though, eh?
Here in Khwarazmia, the Khwarazmian Elite Guard Unit prefers pistols with strikers. Although they are impressed with this fine firearm, Walther will remain the Official Armourer of the Khwarazmia Dargoons, my personal guard.
Modern pre-loaded striker pistols like the Walther and Glock have very weak ignition systems as compared to the bone crushing blow of hammer fired pistols. I once did an experiment by seating high primers in empty cases to see if they could be set off. The pre-loaded striker fired pistols like the Walther and Glock failed 100 per cent of the time while over a dozen various hammer fired pistols all were able to set off the primer. This coupled with the fact that these striker fired pistols have open firing pin channels that let in dirt and dust and burnt powder which will also cause misfires coupled with the weak striker system. And to make matters even worse most of the striker fired pistols like Glock and Walther do not have manual safeties which are basically an accident waiting to happen. Accidental discharges are far higher with such inferior designed striker fired systems.
“Accidental discharge”? Since when with a modern firearm that has no mechanical defects? Try “negligent discharge” because folks just can’t follow proper firearms safety and keep their fingers off the trigger until they’re ready to shoot. Go ahead, I’d like to see you blame that on the gun, or would you like the government to mandate guns be made so “safe” they won’t even fire?
You purposely make a round of ammo defective and then complain when a striker fired gun won’t fire it. Amazing. I have two Glocks, each with more than 200,000 rounds through it. If you like Sig buy Sig. If you like Glock buy Glock. I doubt 98% of gun owners will ever shoot which ever gun they choose to it’s capacity. Your complaints, for most people, if not all, are irrelevant. The price tag however is not.
You live in a fantasy world. People are human and they make mistakes and its all too easy with the “unsafe Glock system”. Being distracted for only a second can result in an accidental discharge when handling a pistol like the Glock that is basically at full cock with no manual safety to prevent the light short stroke trigger from snagging and going off accidentally. You also cannot see the forest for the trees in regards to its anemic striker energy. When a gun is subjected too extremes of fouling, lint, dirt, excess lube or lube that is not extreme low temperature lube coupled with extremely cold weather you need all the striker energy you can get and the Glock just does not have it compared to the bone crushing blows of a hammer fired system.
I have Glock and a few other firearms for a while. I shoot them. Glock is one of the most reliable pistols in the market. I had 0 issues over 5 years.
I shy at rave reviews of pricey items and me too posts .. what I have works for me so all that coin can go for the maintenance and feeding that makes me proficient
Justin, great review! I have had my Legion P229 since the day my distributor got one for me. It became my favorite pistol (of the 2 dozen or so I own) on day 1 at the range. It lives in a safe next to my sleeping head every night. I cannot find a single fault in the Legion, and believe me I have waited months and at least 5,000 rounds to find one. The Grayguns medium reach trigger is the key to this gun. No other Sig has this specific trigger. The SRT trigger is great, but the Legion’s Grayguns SRT Trigger is perfection, period, end of story.
Best Review I\’ve read on a Legion Pistol.There have been rumors of the P220 being added to the line up since Shot Show 2015. Any Idea if they will release it in SAO as well.
Great review. Sig guns have some kind of magical power that draws some of us in. I liken it to being taken over by a magic spell cast by a wizard. The craftsmanship, reliability, accuracy, and reputation along with Sig Sauer\’s move to making them right here in the USA. This is a great company that listens to it\’s most experienced operators, and applies them to the market when they can for the rest of us to employ. I\’ve been hearing rumor of a Legion P220 since the Legion product line unveiling at Shot Show 2015. Any Idea if the P220 will be offered in in SAO as well. It\’s what I\’m holding out for.
Holy Grail gun used in the title I was expecting some unusual rare gun one buys for their collection. Good review of a current production gun but not Holy Grail to me.
Sounds great but the likely hood of me trading my Sig Stainless Elite Series P-226’s (both 9mm and .40 cal) for one is slim to none. The only advantage I can see over the Elite Series is the SAO.
Had me convinced all the way up to the stat “9mm”. Like my daddy said (Vietnam Vet) and many other experienced war vets, “.45 ACP, because shooting twice is just silly”. Why is this still debated? Give every experienced combat vet a choice..99% will choose a .45, the other 1% can’t shoot.
Scottgunn, the most lethal armed forces in the world all use 9mm. They are issued 9mm, they practice with 9mm, and they are deployed with 9mm into active warzones. The Navy Seals carry the non-Legion version of the Sig 226, also 9mm. The FBI has moved back to 9mm.
I’m so tired of the “it’s what seals use” or its what cops use, mentality, as though they were using the best weapons, ( they are not) the ones i’ve talk to use a 40 cal or a 45 cal. Moving to 9mm was only done to save money, the gov. decided that it saved so much money over the .45 and the 10mm, and that since it was “almost” as capable it was deemed ok for the troops. and the desk jockeys making the decision, aren’t the ones doing the shooting. or shooting multiple rounds at the same bad guy before he goes down.
and the fbi had to many limp wristed weaklings who couldnt handle the 45 or the 10 mm. and couldnt qualify with their weapon, so they made it easier by going to the 9mm.
if they chose the 380 you would be making the same uninformed argument, so lets hear how the 380 is just as effective as the 9mm, and why our armed forces should carry those instead.
bigger guns have bigger bullets, when you need more stopping power you dont buy a smaller gun, you get a bigger gun!
I’ll take 230 gr. over 115 half the size bullet anytime.
funny how its always 9mm guys who want to claim they’re just as good as a 45, but then say the 380 is to small and can’t be compared to their 9mm. that’s when they brag about the 115 gr, but using twice the size in a 45 is barely different?
when they know they cant win the argument, you start hearing about twice the mag. capacity. duh… your bullet is half the size, of course theres more room for bullets and it needs them all because it has less stopping power!
Totally untrue all the way around. Metallurgical makeup and advancements have made it unnessessary to use 40 or 45. Those who insist that these two are still better are relying on outdated testing and myths perpetuated from more than 50 years ago.
Spoken like a true party apparatchik!
There are more than a few of us with real life experience, and others that didn’t fall off the watermelon truck yesterday. There is nothing wrong with the 9×19. I carry one daily. It is my floor, and it enables a really small, concealable platform. But, in the big scheme of things, the is no substitute for horsepower. Metallurgical makeup and advancements also apply to 40S&W and 45ACP. When it comes to deadly force more is always better.
The bias about .45cal is based on old information. The reason that “war vets” poo-poo 9mm is that when most of them served (20+ years ago), 9mm ammo was indeed much less effective than it is now. Modern 9mm HP ammo (e.g. Speer Gold Dot, Win Ranger, Fed HST, Hornady XTP, etc, even the new non-HP Ruger ARX) does a LOT more damage than “your father’s” 9mm FMJ. 9mm is easier to get back on target, and you can carry more rounds. And in a home-defense situation with others (e.g. kids) in the house, there is NO WAY I’d want to be using .45, due to severe over-penetration. (not to mention that 9mm rounds are about half the cost of .45, so most of us can get in a lot more range time with them)
.45cal is a great round, but 9mm can now also stand proud as an effective defensive round.
I refer you to the FBI’s latest ammo power & penetration tests.
I have to laugh at you girly-men and your .45 ACP ‘one-shot’ stop BS. Elmer Keith said, any man, LEO or civilian, who carried a handgun for social purposes ought to be packing a full-house .41 or 44 magnum…in the latter, 250 grain Keith bullet over 22 grains 2400 if they want arguments to end with one trigger pull. Can’t handle the recoil? Take an extra dose of Midol. Trouble with follow-on shots? Learn to reload and go to the range more than once a year.
Ridiculous arguments? You bet….just a little context to this never-ending and always-goofy 9mm vs 45 debate.
Didn’t mean to start a argument over caliber, .45 is just what I prefer personally. I prefer a heavy, slow moving projectile that will transfer all energy on target without passing through. Each caliber has its advantages, I feel more comfortable with my .45.
I could be wrong here, but the information I have read states that 9mm is much more likely to over penetrate that the .45. Smaller projectile moving a whole lot faster will go through walls much easier than a large projectile moving slowly.
No dog in the fight here, as I’ve come to accept that in some circumstances I might be “forced” to use a 9mm vs. .45, .357, etc…, but how many shoot-outs have you guys found that implicated “friendly fire” kills due to over-penetration in any statistically significant context, beyond anecdotally? I’ll be looking online, but I will admit that I haven’t really done any leg-work on this. And I’m not a huge FBI gel test believer. If the government can waste the hell out of my, and your, tax dollars, as they do now, I’d like to see some penetration tests on sides of beef, pork, or otherwise, that would justify the conclusions that are currently traded in comment sections these days. In cases where each bullet penetrates to the same extent, and there is only a fraction of an inch difference in expansion, I question the significance of these arguments. If there are cases compiled of real-world confrontations where the modern expanding rounds with similar energy coefficients differ in a meaningful way, I’d like to hear about those. I would like actual data before I start swinging a hammer in this debate. Things change. Modern ammunition has changed somewhat, but what preponderance of facts fuels this debate, or contrarily, allows it to continue without conclusion? Gel tests are good for some things, but obviously have not put this to rest.
That said, if I had it in my budget at the moment, I wouldn’t be averse to buying this gun, regardless of whatever “facts” were put forth. I find it appealing at a gut level, for better or for worse. I own several other guns that were bought under that questionable premise and have no desire to part with them. Best regards.
I am a vietnam combat vet. Over 6 months in numerous firefights and never saw a 45 being used. M16’s, M79 grenade launchers and M60 machine guns. Who are all these vets who shot a 45 in combat? MP’s carried a 45 but how often were they in combat? Even the line officers carried a 16 (actually a CAR if they could get them). Nobody shoots once in combat. You shoot numerous magazines of 18 bullets each.
What IDPA Divisions would The Legion be accepted in?
SSP (Standard Service Pistol) would be your best bet!
It can’t be accepted into any Division at a sanctioned match because the ambi-safety makes it too wide. I know two people that got DQ’ed because of this. Also, under the present rulebook, a SAO pistol is not accepted in SSP. This Sig would be in the ESP Division if it met the width requirement of 1.625 inches.
Great looking and this Video makes me want to see if my local gun shop has a rental to try it out !! I was recently at the range and the guy next to me he was all over the paper and I noticed he had a Sig. I was shooting my new Glock 26 Gen 4 !! I asked the gentleman would you like to shoot my glock and let me shoot your Sig he said sure So we change lanes for one magazine full and the trigger on that Sig was so good. At 7 yards you could have covered the mag full of ammo that I shot into the target with a quarter !! I never really looked at the model number of the firearm but I just knew it was a Sig that much I paid attention to. With that and watching this video yes I’m going to check and see if my local gun shop has one and I will rent it and that will seal the deal if I buy one !!
knowing very little about Sig Pistols, it is never stated or printed what the capacity is?
i watched the video and finally found a couple of 15 shot groups, so i am thinking it is 15 shots.
i think this is a top 3 consideration in purchasing a pistol, it is however a real looker, and will investigate them in future.
Charlie – shame on me, and mistake noted. I apologize if I didn’t make that information clear. Problem has become that so many states have “capacity” laws that you have to add a caveat of some sort. But assuming you haven’t been unduly infringed upon in that regard – 15 is the standard capacity for SIG P-series 9mm’s.
The Legion review has inspired me to want one! It will be my next purchase.
Each to his own. Personally, I find the girth of this gun, at 1.5″ thick, overlarge for my medium sized hands, and more difficult to conceal. I have never shot one with this particular single action only trigger; it seems to fall into the same class as a 1911 trigger. The DA/SA triggers, in my minimal experience, are pretty mushy in single action mode. I’ve never considered a Sig for three reasons: price, a poor experience with the accuracy and ridiculous complexity of the Mosquito (this may be a California only issue: not only is there a decocker and a LCI, there is a mag disconnect and a manual safety. Sometimes it is hard to figure out how to get the dang thing to shoot!), and a dislike of decockers.
Many consider the Mosquito the worst gun Sig ever made, so it might not be just yours (though the CA add-on BS certainly can’t help.)
Mosquitoes do suck. I offered mine as a “prize” to my 4-h shooting sports kids. If they could shoot over a qualifying score with it, 110 out of 300, at 25 yards they could have it.3 years, and 3 trips to Sig for fixes, later it’s still in my safe. The others I own have been flawless.
Mark:
Never shot a Mosquito, but have shot several Sigs. I own a P238 for deep carry and a Sig P320. Never a fault with either one.
Hate to see anyone reject SIG out of hand. The 320 trigger is phenomenal. I challenge you to try one.
In Sig’s defense, the Mosquito is manufactured by Umarex, not them. It’s one of those ‘not really a Sig, sigs.’
Our compliments and thanks to you, JO, on your exceptional reviews of an exceptional pistol—complete with precise, clear, and detailed photos!!!! Question—Does the SAO safety lock the slide closed? Or can the slide be racked and a round chambered with the SAO safety on and the hammer cocked?? Thanks again, DMD
DMD – Good question, and sorry I omitted that point. The external safety does not lock the slide (as 1911 does) and it can be racked. However – the safety cannot be engaged with the hammer fully forward (uncocked). So, you’d have to either run the slide twice or pre-cock the hammer before inserting the magazine, though either can be done without much trouble. You can also field strip the pistol with the safety engaged. Hope that helps.
Thanks for the nice article. If possible, for those of us “newer” types, please do take more time to explain the safety/cocking/racking process in detail! The whole SAO/DAO thing is explained so many ways in the web, it’d be better to just see each gun review clearly explain taking the gun from the case and getting it ready to shoot and/or carry!
Thanks again.
Our thanks and congrats to the writer on an excellent review complete with exceptionally precise, detailed, and clear photos–Question—Does the SAO safety lock the slide?? Or can the slide be cycled and the chamber loaded with the hammer cocked and the safety “on”?? DMD
DMD – sorry for the late reply! The slide can be fully manipulated with the safety engaged. You can also field strip the pistol with the safety engaged (which is a good way to prevent the inevitable hammer drop that I always find a way to do when cleaning).