Czechnologist
Concerned Citizen
- Mar 9, 2016
- 6,531
During the late 80's and early 90's, the bulk of my collection consisted of N-Frame S&W revolvers and Sig P-series pistols. The S&W's I used for hunting and IHMSA competition; the Sigs, for bowling pins, home defense, carry and general range fun. I had a couple of P220's, P226's and a police surplus P6 that I got pretty cheap.
I always appreciated my Sig pistols for their accuracy and reliability and because, back then, almost nobody gave them a second thought. They mainly appealed to geeks, like me. Most people I knew were instantly turned-off by their all-business, stamped-metal Teutonic industrial design and Sig Sauer wasn't exactly the household name that it is today, either. Prices on them were still pretty reasonable.
When the P228 came out in 1988, though, it was a game-changer. Sigarms Inc. went from being a company that almost no one had heard of or cared about in the USA to becoming an overnight sensation and prices dramatically increased on their entire product line thru the late 1980's and early 1990's. The P228's success was probably one of the reasons Sig invested millions into building a North American manufacturing facility in Exeter, NH. Everybody I knew wanted a P228 and after being a day late and a dollar short several times, I finally got my hands one one and paid for it dearly.
But just like my tastes in food, music, politics and cars change over the years so do my preferences in things I shoot for enjoyment. I go thru my cycle of 1911-crazes, bolt action-rifle obsessions, and Colt revolver-kicks before realizing that what I really enjoy taking to the range the most are the things I'd use to protect myself with in a defensive situation...and how satisfying it is to own something that shoots every bit as well as things that cost me 2-3x more.
I recently got interested in Sigs again after shooting a friends P226 Legion SAO. That thing really impressed me with how well it performed and I told myself that if Sig ever made a P220 Legion SAO, resistance would be futile.
I finally got around to picking-up a P220 Legion SAO last month and it was pretty much everything I expected it would be, performance-wise. It had an excellent trigger, was superbly accurate and ran like a champ. Problem was, the PVD coating flaked-off the front of the frame after just 200 rounds.
I didn't even notice it until I went to put in my range bag and I was like, "Uh-oh, how'd that happen?" It isn't even in a spot normally subject to wear aside from holstering. I didn't own a holster for it (yet) but I knew immediately that Sig would be reluctant to approve a warranty claim on that type of damage and that I'd better have solid proof of purchase to back it up. I called Sig the next day and they were pretty cool about it, though. The first rep I spoke with, Stuart, was kind of a tool but he offered to e-mail an RMA shipping label. A week later, I got a call from Mike at Sig Customer Service and after I provided copies of my original sales receipt, credit card receipt and had the seller call him to confirm everything, he offered me several options to consider:
1) Replace it with a new P220 SAO, ETA: August
2) Replace it with a new M11-A1, ETA: Immediate + $300 sigsauer.com store credit.
3) Replace it with a P210, ETA: July
4) Replace it with a 1911 (not sure which model), ETA: June
Sig customer service was actually great to deal with. When I asked, "Why can't you just fix MY gun?" they told me that it would take several months longer and they couldn't guarantee an ETA on when it would be ready but, if that's what I wanted to do, they would be happy to do it.
I chose Option #2. I blew the $300 store credit on ammo and extra mags. I always liked my P228's and thought the M11-A1 was more or less the same but, that's where I was wrong. The M11-A1 is more like a P229 without a rail than a P228 with a fatter grip, better trigger, and milled (vs stamped steel) stainless steel slide. It's a little heavier but, damned if it doesn't shoot every bit as good.
I decided to save my 124gr 'Match' ammo for a match (if we ever have one this year!) and use some Federal 115gr FMJ that I had on hand for general plinking fun. That's the first 10 shots at 7 yards at my local indoor range with very dim lighting. Don't get me wrong. I'm glad they've reopened but, I don't think it would kill them to use brighter bulbs on the range. It's all my 61 year-old eyes can do to see my sights in that place.
I put up a fresh target and shot another 20 at the same distance with the same ammo. Not bad! I mean, with the exception of the one flyer to the left, that's about as good as I shoot any pistol at 7 yards on an indoor range that needs better lighting.
I shot another 70 rounds of the 115gr Federal without any issues and was impressed with how well the M11-A1 shot it. My CZ's don't really care for 115gr at all. I always get tighter groups with 124gr. I brought a box of Federal 124gr because I intended to shoot my CZ 75 but, was having so much fun with the Sig M11-A1 I didn't want to switch!
And I like to mag-dump every bit as much as anyone so here's 30 rounds at 10 yards (basically) pulling the trigger as fast as I could. Yeah, I need to practice that more. The M11-A1 seems to enjoy it and the SRT trigger makes it all too easy. And for a gun that's factory fresh (build date 5/27/20), the M11-A1's trigger is quite good. SA is probably somewhere between 4-5 lbs. and DA pull around 10 lbs. It has very little take-up and a nice, clean predictable break with some slight creep. I'm probably going to send it to Robert Burke, the Sig Armorer, for some trigger work and other goodies because the gun is definitely a keeper.
But, is it a P228 by any other name? It really isn't but, it shoots like it is, if that makes any damn sense? I think if you ever owned a P228, the M11-A1 will remind you of it a lot. It's just a little heavier and a little chunkier.
