Professional Soldiers ® - View Single Post

**Razor** · 10-17-2005, 15:58

IIRC, the P225 was the 'daddy' of the P226. It was being used by European police and some military units in the 80s. When the US Army put out its requirements for a new standard issue pistol, it stipulated that the weapon have a 15rd capacity (hence a double stack magazine) and a western-style mag release button. Thus, SIG built the P226 to be a larger, wider P225 that could carry the requisite number of rounds, and had a mag release button near the trigger as opposed to a European release near the magwell. Having a longer slide, and hence a longer sight radius, might make it a bit easier to aim accurately at longer distances, but as they're both handguns, that's a relative comparison. The longer barrel and slide also add a little more weight towards the muzzle, which can lessen muzzle flip by a fraction, but in 9mm its pretty much moot.

Because the P225 is shorter and thinner than a P226, its a little easier to carry concealed. However, a P228/229 is dimensionally similar to the P225 (the P225 is a fraction of an inch slimmer), and provides you with increased magazine capacity (both in standard capacity mags, and the ability to use P226 mags), and in the P229 the ability to carry a larger or hotter round (.40/.357 SIG). When in doubt, buy a Powerball ticket and buy one of each when you win!

Edited to add: I was reminded to mention that P225s built for export to the US featured a western-style mag release, while those kept in Europe retained their butt-centric (go figure, huh) button design.

10-17-2005, 15:58	#90
Razor Quiet Professional Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Colorado Springs Posts: 4,549	IIRC, the P225 was the 'daddy' of the P226. It was being used by European police and some military units in the 80s. When the US Army put out its requirements for a new standard issue pistol, it stipulated that the weapon have a 15rd capacity (hence a double stack magazine) and a western-style mag release button. Thus, SIG built the P226 to be a larger, wider P225 that could carry the requisite number of rounds, and had a mag release button near the trigger as opposed to a European release near the magwell. Having a longer slide, and hence a longer sight radius, might make it a bit easier to aim accurately at longer distances, but as they're both handguns, that's a relative comparison. The longer barrel and slide also add a little more weight towards the muzzle, which can lessen muzzle flip by a fraction, but in 9mm its pretty much moot. Because the P225 is shorter and thinner than a P226, its a little easier to carry concealed. However, a P228/229 is dimensionally similar to the P225 (the P225 is a fraction of an inch slimmer), and provides you with increased magazine capacity (both in standard capacity mags, and the ability to use P226 mags), and in the P229 the ability to carry a larger or hotter round (.40/.357 SIG). When in doubt, buy a Powerball ticket and buy one of each when you win! Edited to add: I was reminded to mention that P225s built for export to the US featured a western-style mag release, while those kept in Europe retained their butt-centric (go figure, huh) button design. Last edited by Razor; 10-17-2005 at 19:14.
Razor is offline