Top Categories

SIG P224 Initial Thoughts

At Shot Show 2012, SIG SAUER will be showcasing the new SIG P224. The SIG P224 is basically a cut down version of the very popular and muy bueno P229. The P224 is a double stack semiautomatic pistol chambered in 9mm, .40 S&W and .357 SIG. It will initially be offered with SIG’s own double action only trigger system, the DAK (Double Action Kellerman), which is excellent.

I am a big SIG SAUER fan. SIG has a much deserved reputation for being absolutely reliable, deadly accurate, and for making all around rock solid pistols. My first gun was a SIG P228 that I still own and have yet to have a single problem with and after thousands and thousands of rounds. But the P224…I’m not so sure about.

Now don’t get me wrong, I’m sure it will be a great shooting, reliable pistol, like most SIG’s. But this gun is clearly aiming for the concealed carry market, and in that regard, I don’t see it being that successful in the civilian market. To me, it has a few disadvantages.

Weight

Being an all steel pistol, the SIG P224 weighs over 24 ounces, which in my opinion is quite a lot for a pistol being sold as subcompact. Having said that, a lot of people interested in the P224 don’t mind the extra weight in order to get an all steel frame.

Dimensions

In my opinion, the two dimensions that matter most in concealed carry are height and width (length, to me, matters very little). In these dimensions, the P224 is much larger than the competition.

Using the very popular Glock 26 as comparison, the P224 is 4.7 inches compared the 4.17 inch height of the Glock 26. Width, same story. The P224 is 1.3 inches wide, and the Glock 26 is 1.18 inches. Same number of rounds.

Price

SIG SAUER Guns is reporting that the MSRP of all P224 models are over $1,000! Now I understand that it will sell for quite a bit less, but even in the $800 range, it’s going to have trouble in a market with less expensive, lighter and smaller pistols.

Wrapping Up

In my opinion, most people would be better suited with a high value single stack pistol for concealed carry like the excellent Kahr CM9 we recently reviewed. But if you’re looking for an all steel concealed carry pistol, and can afford the high price tag, the P224 should be excellent.

, ,

4 Responses to SIG P224 Initial Thoughts

  1. JM January 3, 2012 at 12:29 pm #

    People keep saying that it’s a chopped-down version of the P229, but the slide is actually more akin to a P226/228.

    • Brandon January 3, 2012 at 12:51 pm #

      Yeah, true, a 229 without the rail or a 228. Good point!

  2. TrngCop January 18, 2012 at 9:52 pm #

    This is just my personal opinion, but I think there are a couple flaws in the logic of this as it is presented. The additional height may well make it significantly smaller than the G26. Most of the people I know who have gotten the 26/27 for off duty do so because of the smaller size….then they add the baseplate with the finger groove. This makes it roughly the same size (height) as the 19/23 and the 224. The added thickness is about that of a tongue depressor, and for all but the thinnest of us, not really an issue. I see people shooting the 27 and realize they really need the extra finger groove to help them handle the pistol, while the 224 with the added height and weight will probably serve them better, particularly if they shoot as little as most people do.

    On the other hand, that msrp is absolutely ridiculous and will help Sig right out of the market, especially with the tight budget reality of the times. The choice between one Sig or one Glock/Kahr/M&P and one or two thousand rounds to actually learn the pistol with is a no-brainer and no matter what we like, is often the tie breaker (part of the reason I don’t own a P7).

    While I think the 224 is a great idea and certainly something I would like to carry, I can’t imagine buying one solely for the economic consideration.

    These are just my opinions, get something, practice often, and carry it legally…. If there was one perfect pistol for everyone, there would only be one pistol.

    • Brandon January 18, 2012 at 10:20 pm #

      Thanks for the comments! I agree with you that the size isn’t a huge difference from the G26, but it is taller and thicker (and heavier) than a lot of the competition including the G26. I chose the G26 because of its popularity. We’re on the same page on the MSRP…I love SIG, but their prices are a bit ridiculous IMO.