Retro SIG - the SP 2022

[m4brian]

Recently a friend got me thinking about DA/SA again. I started there 15 years ago, but the P01 grittiness turned me off. I went SAO, then SF with a G19 and MP, and those are fine. But as my carry gun is a PM9, I respected the DA and having DA/SA got me thinking again. Also, hammer fired guns like the 92 and P series had decent OTB triggers. So, off I went. I had owned a P226 WG that was nice, but I prematurely sold it off over a year ago. I was not yet ready for the DA. Then my buddy put the bug in me again. So, I looked over Beretta and SIG again. The Berettas frustrated the daylights out of me with poor model selection, and the SIGs seemed to have a better DA trigger - to me the most important shot - your first. Then I stumbled on threads touting the poor SP 2022. Plagued by a bad moniker (SigPro - really? Kinda like "grip zone" on the XDM - plain stupid), I had overlooked them years before as 'cheapo' and likely not as good as a 'real SIG'. Then I read on. Before long I ordered and FDE one, taking some risk, having never held one.




Then I hit the range as fast as I could. The thing shoots accurately and easily. It returns to POA naturally - I don't feel like its bore axis is too high. Sights are SIGLITES and not bad. I have no trouble riding the slide stop, as I taught myself to bring my right thumb wide over my support hand. It IS accurate. Putting 10 rds through one hole off-hand at 7 yards is easy. The DA is butter smooth and getting better after a bunch of dry firing and over 500 rds. If you know what you are doing, putting the DA/SA in the bullseye fast at 10 yard is doable. This thing is a sleeper for sure. The barrel to slide fit on this is bank vault tight. I had looked at the P07, en excellent gun, but like this trigger more, liked having more sight options, and the mags are a bit cheaper. Oh, and this gun is extremely robust. It is a tad heavier than the P07, and the rail system and locking block show this. The hardened steel slide rides on steel inserts not alloy like the P series. No, the trigger will not match a tuned P series with SRT, but OTB the DA is better, and the SA is still VERY good. Reset for me is fine, and tactile.

Pros:

Accuracy like a P series
Reliability like good P series
Build quality
Trigger
Trigger guard and standard trigger make using gloves VERY easy.
Controls like a P series
(maybe) Mag bases can vary from flat - good for carry; to extended for 17 rd; or the finger shelf for max grip but a short rear butt [some don't like not using P series mags]
Steel on steel rail ride
Sig Sight options
Durable polymer frame that makes it more carry-able than the 226.
Excellent track record (hundreds of thousands fielded and no reports of crapping the bed). During the bad SIG years many on this site swore SIG off - these were still going strong then.
The grips DO change the whole feel - they are not just backstraps. The grip texturing is very well done - aggressive, but not stupid
NO hump. the left side by the decocker is flat - I think this is a tad better for carry and ambi-grip.
Price: OTD less than $500 with 2 mags and night sights. LE/MIL is about $425 with 3 mags. (Over a year ago, there were smoking deals for less than $400 OTD).

Cons:

Doesn't take P series mags
No SRT
Large grip MAY be being discontinued for those with very large hands
Take down is NOT as easy as a P series - (but easier than a 1911)
Accessories not as abundant as a P series.

If you wanted an excellent, accurate, reliable pistol for you and your children - this would be the one.

[ChaseN]

I had one for a while when I worked at an agency entrenched in the legacy Sig DA/SA design. Though overlooked, the SP2022 is IMO the best Sig DA/SA you can buy. The trigger out of the box is like nothing else, and it is quite light (in comparison to a P229 or 226). I sold mine when I left that agency and was no longer required to carry a DA/SA Sig, but if it is that format of pistol you seek, you can't beat the SP2022. Good choice!

[m4brian]

Glad these are not popular. May want to purchase more cheap.

[Tomac]

The SP2022 is my 2nd favorite SIG after the P320 Compact.

[m4brian]

I m amazed at the DA trigger. It just gets smoother with use.

Plenty of testimonies from SIG owners who own many SIGs and say that the SP2022 is their equal in shooting.

[Vincent317]

The SP2022 was my first Sig purchase back in 2008. Many Sigs later & I still have to say that the SP2022 trigger is the best, non SRT, trigger out of the box.

[fmiq]

Funny, I purchased a very nice used SP2022 and a P320c in 9mm a couple days apart just recently. I have about a dozen P series pistol that I really like but don't carry for protection normally. Finally got to the range and shot both, I shoot these better off handed than any of my other P series. They have really grown on me, and what a value

[brickboy240]

My cousin bought a 2022 Sig Pro back when local Academy stores had them at bargain prices. I think they were around 375 brand new.

I have borrowed his 2022 many times and put several boxes through it.

Yes, they are good shooters! Accurate and totally reliable in my experiences. It is a tad large but a soft shooter and a real bargain for what he paid for it.

if you like it, I totally understand why. For the money, they are really a great deal and seem pretty well made.

[m4brian]

It is a tad large but a soft shooter and a real bargain for what he paid for it.

They are truly a tween or midsize. Slightly larger than the P229, but definitely smaller than the P226.

[GregP220]

These things really fly under the radar. I have to confess that when I was pondering a TDA polymer pistol for AIWB carry I forgot about them altogether.
I really like the CZ P-07 I selected, but this looks to be another solid choice.

Sig just doesn't seem to have a clue about how to market these. They do sell for a good bit more $ now than just a couple years ago. Maybe demand is rising?