The SIG P227 made a welcome appearance at the 2013 Media Day event ahead of the SHOT Show.  Like several of the other guns you’ll see here, we were able to spend some time shooting this gun and talking to the SIG Sauer reps about the pistol.  I’ll save you the suspense in this review:  this gun is a winner.

The concept of the P227 was to put the big bore .45 ACP cartridge into the same size gun as the company’s very popular P226.  The P226 is a duty size pistol with double stack magazines chambered in 9mm, .40 S&W and .357 SIG.  SIG Sauer already makes a number of .45 caliber handguns, including the classic P220.  But none of them are the P226.  This pistol is an attempt to match the cartridge to that gun.  Presumably to avoid confusion, the company elected to use a new model designation.

The P227 maintains the same size and overall layout of the P226, but manages to pack ten rounds of the classic round into each magazine.  Extended magazines that hold 14 rounds will also be available for sale.  By comparison  most of the P220 pistols only hold eight rounds.  I did get to see the extended magazines, which add about an inch to the bottom of the gun.  They did not alter the grip.  Unfortunately I did not get to shoot a P227 with them.

I did, however, get to shoot a P227 that was equipped with a threaded barrel.  A threaded barrel option is not currently listed in the SIG Sauer catalog, but expect to see it offered soon from the company.  The gun I shot was the traditional double-action/single-action pistol.

The gun shot very well and was very accurate.  I found that recoil was slightly more than the duty P226 I am issued in .40 S&W, which surprised me a little bit.  However, it was still very controllable.  Bullets went right where I aimed the pistol.  I always thought the .40 recoiled more compared to a .45 in the same type of pistol.  To me, this did not appear to be the case with the P227.

The trigger pull was what I have come to expect from SIG’s DA/SA guns. The first trigger pull is relatively long and heavy, but very smooth and easy to master.  The subsequent, single-action pulls are short and crisp.  There were no surprises here.

I shot a few of the standard magazines through the gun, and watched as others did the same.  I neither experienced nor observed any malfunctions with the gun.  Although this is exceptionally good, it is what I have come to expect out of a SIG Sauer handgun.

The P227 is made with the E2-type enhancements that were introduced to the P226 a few years back.  That means reaching the trigger is easier than on the older generations of P226.  I first wrote about the E2 enhancements here in 2010.  I later did a follow up review of the P226 with the same enhancements here.

Ultimately, the P227 doesn’t offer any surprises.  If you like the P226, you should like this gun.  If you don’t care for the P226, you are not likely to want one of these.  It appears to be a high-quality firearm, chambered for the .45, yet will fit the majority of existing holsters designed for the P226.

MSRP will run from $993 to $1,125 depending on the version and options ordered.  Street prices should be much lower.  I hope to get a P227 for a more in depth review later this year.

Ed. Note – Later during the SHOT Show, I got to the SIG Sauer booth and found the threaded barrel P227 being marketed with an extended magazine as a Tactical model.  This version is still not listed in the company’s catalog, but will likely be a popular choice for anyone who would like to protect their hearing or has a need for more stealthy endeavors.  I could easily see a phosphate coated version being sold to the US Navy SEALs.  It would be an easy transition for them from the P226, and would get them a .45 caliber side arm.

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