My P-225a1 is one of the best pistols I own. I am converting to mostly DA/SA since I’m also moving to AIWB and prefer that system for that application.
I was disappointed that SiG discontinued the P225a1, but not really surprised. Not so much because SiG is largely a Charlie Foxtrot, but because of the mania for large magazine capacity. There are a great many pistols available with a higher capacity in the same form factor, and often lighter in weight.
I’m more concerned with how the gun fits me and reliability. Mine is extremely accurate and reliable. I’ll buy another as a backup when I find one. They seem to be hard to find just now.
Semper Paratus,
Steve
I had also heard about this issue with Sig LE contract vs civilian sales product quality for several years from several unconfirmed sources. Recently a Sig LE sales rep confirmed this and did so without inquiry or solicitation by me. He is a friend and is former LE and, interestingly, not really a gun guy. He was trying to sell me on the LE 320 Pro Compact and advised me if I wanted one to make sure and order through the LE sales as the guns were made differently than the civilian counterparts with higher quality components and assembly.
Not a fan of the 320 design or trigger. Sig took an existing hammer fired DAO model (250) and retrofitted a striker mechanism into it instead of creating a SF pistol from the ground up. As a result, the barrel sits higher than necessary. Just not a well executed design and the whole modularity concept has, after several years of production, never come to fruition. The 365 is an innovative gun, probably where they should have started with SF designs. But, the QC has been horrible with the newly released products which took some time for them to correct and, was ridiculous for a company with their reputation and price levels. I am a big fan of the P22_ DA/SA models.
I know that this was already a known fact, but it always makes me heated. It's just such a shady way of doing business.
To be clear, I have no issue with LE guns have an extra step of quality control at the factory, or special law enforcement guns that are marketed as such like the 870 Police before Remington went to shit. But a gun that is marketed as being the same (Sig extensively markets the P320 as a law enforcement selection) but is in fact quantitatively, measurably different and inferior is so dishonest.
I have used Blue Label to buy a Glock and I've bought commercial Glocks. The only different was an extra mag and the label color.
State Government Attorney | Beretta, Glock, CZ & S&W Fan
Agency sale guns get a few extra QC checks but there is no difference in the parts or production line.
You also need to be specific when talking about “LE” guns.
The guns sold via Blue label/IOP are standard production guns which come with an extra mag and may get an extra QC check or two.
Some large agency contract guns are made to the specifications of the contract such as the FBI/DOJ contract Glock M models and the DHS P320.
I was speaking generally based on blue label and used blue label gun purchases and on the numerous Glocks I have handled over the years that were in LE service. The M model, as you pointed out, was a special contract gun with specific non-standard specs, as were the Gen 5 .40's sold to the Brazilian police. I am aware of them but was speaking generally. Thanks, though, that was a good point.
Wasn't aware of the extra QC checks, but that doesn't surprise me. Glock made their company on US LE sales and service and I have always had good experiences through their LE reps and customer service. I was aware of the extra mag with blue label guns but, as a side note, for some reason that doesn't apply to the G43 and G42, at least not in my experience. Don't know about the 43X and 48.
Thanks
This all is just a damn shame. For those old enough to remember, it would be hard to overstate how reliable, durable and accurate the P series guns were in the late 80's and the 90's. They were, along with the 92, considered the most reliable semi-autos. My off duty gun in the early 90's was a P225 and it was, at least over the 10K I put through it, extremely accurate and one of the most if not the most reliable guns I've owned. It never, not once, malfunctioned. Not even an ammo or mag related malf, and that was with tons of reloads, the majority of which were cheap lead reloads from the LE range, which choked in a lot of other guns. It's replacement, a late 90's P239 has been just as accurate and a very reliable gun. Recently manufactured P series guns that I have handled and shot have been ok, but I have noticed inconsistent triggers and a propensity to have creepy SA triggers which may be due to the SRT parts or just bad QC/manufacturing. The accuracy has been hit and miss as well.