SIGPro SP2340/2009/2022

     Notes: This weapon marks SIG-Sauer's entry into the polymer-frame market. It is basically a development of the P210, with new calibers, a polymer frame and grip, fewer parts and simpler construction, optional SA/DA or DAO operation, and a decocking lever with firing pin lock that eliminates the need for a manual safety.  It was chosen by several police departments in Western Europe and the US.  The standard SP2009 and SP2340 has a rail molded into the frame for a laser pointer or other accessories.  Operation is by falling barrel locking, with the movement of the barrel and locking block precisely controlled by internal rails.  Firing is selective SA or DA, and there is no manual safeties; the SIGPro uses several passive internal safeties and a slide lock. A lever near the middle of the slide also moves the hammer to a half-cock position.  Magazines are made by Mec-Gar in Italy, and have a floorplate extension. The frontstrap and backstrap have a pebbled surface, and the front of the trigger guard is grooved. Several grip outserts are included for larger hands.

     In late 2005, the SP2022 was introduced to the SIGPro line.  This version has a MIL-STD-1913 rail under the dust cover, and several internal changes.  The foremost of these is a powerful extractor, similar in concept and partly similar in design to Para-Ordnance’s Power Extractor; unfortunately, the claw of this extractor that it usually puts a large dent in the empty cases, making reloading virtually impossible.  The SP2022 comes with two interchangeable grips for its polymer frame, one for large hands, and one for small ones. 

     Twilight 2000 Story: This weapon does not exist in the Twilight 2000 timeline.

SIG-Sauer 1911

     Notes: Though all based on the iconic M1911A1, SIG-Sauer’s iteration comes in a wide variety of versions.  Most are distinguishable from other SIG-Sauer 1911s by their finishes, which include Nitron (frame and slide) with checkered wood grips, a version of the Nitron with a MIL-STD-1913 rail under the dust cover, a version with a stainless steel finish for the slide and frame with black checkered hard rubber grips (and a version with a rail under the duct cover), one with an XO Black finish, one called the TTT with a black slide and a bead-blasted stainless steel frame, the STX with smooth wooden grips and a TTT finish, and the Platinum Elite with a Nitron frame, a matte stainless steel slide, matte stainless steel controls, and textured aluminum grip plates with a matte stainless steel finish (the Platinum Elite also has an adjustable rear night combat sight).  Even under the finishes, the SIG-Sauer 1911 uses a stainless steel frame and slide, and they are machined to exacting tolerances and have hand-fitted parts.  Most interior parts are match quality, as is the barrel and hammer/sear.  The rear sight is a Novak low-profile night sight, and the front sight is a low-profile blade with a tritium insert.  Frontstraps and backstraps are checkered, 25 lpi on the front and 20 lpi on the back.  The frame and slide are dehorned as much as possible, including lower-profile slide locks, and loop hammers; however, the manual safety is extended.  The grip safety has a bump to ensure positive engagement. It is essentially an M1911A1 built better.

     Those are the “base” versions.  The 1911 Target Stainless’s barrel is a bit above match-quality, and the other match-quality parts help in this.  It has a matte stainless steel finish, custom black wood grips, adjustable target rear sights, and a dovetailed squared front sight blade.  The Target Nitron is identical, but has a Nitron finish, and uses custom walnut grips.  The Carry Nitron and Carry Stainless use the same frame, but a commander-length 4.25” barrel.  The RCS Nitron, RCS Stainless, and RCS Two-Tone are similar commander-length 1911s, but are further dehorned with less snaggable corners and projections on them.  The frames of these three are also a little shorter in the grip.  Weight has been decreased radically through the use of this shorter grip and by the use of lighter yet stronger steel as well as an alloy frame. The RCS Nitron is basically a further dehorned Carry Nitron, while the RCS Two-Tone has a Nitron-finished frame and a stainless steel slide, trigger, and hammer. Grips are gray diamondwood on the RCS Stainless, Rosewood on the Nitron, and either/or on the RCS Two-Tone.  The C3 is also similar in design for the most part, and has a two-tone finish like the RCS Two-Tone model; however, the manual safety button, slide lock, and beavertail are of stainless steel, while the front and rear sights are dovetailed in and are of a contrasting black finish.  The internal parts, trigger pack, and hammer are match quality, while the barrel is of heavy profile and match quality.  The grip plates are of rosewood with a custom cut design in them; the screws holding them on are finished in stainless steel.

     Further specializations of the SIG-Sauer 1911 are available. The Tactical Operations has a matte black Nitron finish (except for the trigger, hammer, and muzzle crown, which are bright metal).  Tolerances are tightened even further in the Tactical Operations. Though not as dehorned as the Carry or RCS or C3, the Tactical Operations is more dehorned than the base SIG-Sauer 1911.  The trigger pack has been tweaked to slightly ease the trigger pull weight and make the trigger pull a bit more crisp.  Ergonomics have been somewhat improved, including stippled rubber grip plates (also black), while retaining the checkered frontstrap and backstrap (though both are tightened to 25 lpi). The Tactical Operations uses Novak low-profile night combat sights (both of which are dovetailed in).  The safety/slide lock of the Tactical Operations is ambidextrous, and the magazine well is funneled to aid in quick reloading.  The bottom of the magazine well/grip has been modified to make the shooter’s grip on the weapon surer.  (The entire grip modifications, including the stippled rubber side plates, is called the Ergo XT grip.) Below the dust cover is a short MIL-STD-1913 rail. The 5-inch barrel is of medium weight and match quality, and grants a little more accuracy than the basic SIG-Sauer 1911; the Tactical Operations’s barrel also comes in a threaded-barrel version, and stats are provided below for use of the Tactical Operations with a silencer.  Though meant primarily for police and military use, the Tactical Operations makes a quite able competition pistol.  The Tactical Operations TB is the same pistol, but with a longer 5.5-inch barrel.

     The Nitron Super Target is named for its Nitron finish for the frame and slide, but this finish is over stainless steel, which composes most of the Nitron Super Target.  DeSIGned for competition, it has a wrap-around anatomical walnut grip, a beveled and funneled magazine well, extended controls, and an ambidextrous safety.  The grip safety is raised and flared, and the trigger guard is likewise undercut, allowing for a higher natural grip. The rear sight is fully adjustable, and the front sight is fiberoptic.  The slide is flat-topped and stippled to cut down glare. The barrel is match-quality, has a match-quality bushing, and a polished feed ramp, along with a match trigger and hammer.

     The Traditional Match Elite can be finished in matte stainless or black Nitron, but construction is always for the most part stainless steel. The grip plates are double-diamond checkered wood. It is called Traditional because it is meant for traditional competitions, with standard-sized controls, non-ambidextrous controls, and a skeletonized trigger.  However, the trigger is tuned and match-quality, the grip safety has a palm bump, the barrel is match-quality as is the bushing; the magazine well is beveled and the issue magazines have an extended baseplate in the bottom that further speeds reloads. The rear sights are fully adjustable, the front slide is a blade, and they are in a 3-dot configuration. The ejection port is lowered and flared.  Trigger is match-quality and the hammer is an abbreviated loop hammer.

     The 1911R Scorpion is essentially a base SIG-Sauer 1911 with a rail under the dust cover for game purposes, but has a few interesting wrinkles.  The Scorpion has been designed to operate more reliably in dusty environments, and is finished in Desert Tan Cerekote.  The grip plates have been given a “snake skin/stippled” treatment, called the Hogue Piranha treatment.  The slide lock, manual safety, hammer, dovetailed front and rear sight units, and the grip safety are finished in matte black. The trigger and muzzle crown are in bright metal. The Scorpion uses a grip/magazine well design called the Hogue Magwell Grip Set.  The grip plates, mainspring housing, and funneled lower magazine well are combined into an integrated unit, and the magazines snap in place at the top and the bottom.  This makes for sure magazine insertion and removal.  Under the dust cover is a rail for attachments.

     Though the Scorpion is essentially an M1911 under the hood except for the differences above, there are several versions of the Scorpion. The Carry Scorpion is a compact-sized pistol with a 4.2-inch barrel, though the magazine size remains at 8 rounds.  The sights are low-profile SIGLite night sights.  The Carry Scorpion can fit in any holster designed for the P220 as well as M1911 compact holsters.  (The full-sized Scorpions can use any 1911 holster.) The Carry Scorpion TB is similar, but the barrel is extended and threaded for use with a suppressor.  The Scorpion TB is also similar, but is a full-sized version with a 5-inch barrel extended with threads for the attachment of a suppressor. The 1911 Scorpion is the same weapon, but with no extended barrel.  It should be noted that none of the Scorpions have a guide rod, but do have higher-quality barrels than most of the SIG 1911 line.

     The 1911-22 is meant not only for plinking and pest control, it is meant to be a training counterpart to the rest of the SIG-Sauer 1911 line.  The 1911-22 uses a light alloy slide and frame, but otherwise has the same features and is built to the same dimensions as the standard 1911.  All controls and safeties work identically to the standard 1911.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: These pistols do not exist in the Twilight 2000 timeline.

SIG-Sauer Mosquito

     Notes: This rimfire pistol is basically a smaller version of the P226.  It is still about 90% the size of the P226, but fires the .22 Long Rifle round.  The Mosquito uses a polymer frame with an integral MIL-STD-1913 rail under the barrel for the attachment of accessories.  The grip plates are of composite material.  The slide, barrel, and working parts are of steel, with the slide being blued along with the exterior of the barrel and exposed part of the chamber.  The rear sight is adjustable.  The Mosquito has an automatic drop safety, a manual decocking lever, a magazine safety, and an internal lock that is actuated by inserting a key and totally locks the action.  The Mosquito is a double-action weapon.  Despite the resemblance to the P226, the Mosquito was not intended to be a practice pistol for the P226, but is instead meant for recreational shooting and light self-defense.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: The Mosquito was not introduced until 2005 and is not available in the Twilight 2000 timeline.

SIG-Sauer MPX-PSB

     Notes: This is a pistol-sized semiautomatic version of the MPX submachinegun.  Unusually for such a small 9mm system, it uses a gas recoil system short-stroke piston instead of straight blowback; this drives a rotating bolt. This causes less felt recoil than a straight blowback system (though not enough difference in game terms). It has (obviously) no bolt buffer tube and spring; instead, it has dual springs attached to mounting rails for the bolt. The controls are designed to mirror those of the AR, including the charging handle and magazine release, though the internals they actuate are much different from an AR. These controls are finely serrated. The trigger is a bit heavy and gritty at 7.5 pounds, not really suited to a pistol, even a long pistol; it is a submachinegun’s trigger (and the MPX-PSB is based on the MPX submachinegun). There is a long 14-inch Picatinny rail above the handguard (on the 8-inch-barrel version; other barrel lengths have correspondingly shorter rails) and receiver and a shorter one below the handguard, and these are removable.  The top rails have folding BUIS based on the M16A4s BUIS, but modified for the weapon and ammunition. It has an attachment point for a single-point sling. The barrel length is 4.5, 6.5, or 8 inches, tipped by an AR-type flash suppressor, and barely protrudes from the handguards (which are different lengths depending on the barrel length).

     Shooters describe the felt recoil as minimal (and indeed, it has the minimal recoil possible in the Twilight 2000 v2.2 game).  It is based on an AR-15/M16-type mechanism, though of course is uses blowback and not gas operation, as most pistol-caliber carbines do.  Fit and finish are excellent, with no wiggle between the metal of the receiver and barrel and the polymer parts like the pistol grip, handguards, or the polymer Picatinny Rail at the end of the pistol, used to attach an arm brace (or stock). The magazine well is flared to facilitate loading as well as allowing ejected magazines to fall away cleanly from the MPX-PSB.  BUIS simply flip upwards and lock; stowing them requires only folding them back down, with a detent keeping them in place either way.

     The MPX-PSB comes from the dealer with an arm brace of the type that will attach to the rear Picatinny Rail section. When attached, it can be folded to the right. It also comes with a QD single-point loop sling.

SIG-Sauer P210

     Notes: This is an updated version of the World War 2 era Model 44 series, and has also been known through the years as the Model 47/48, Model 48, Model 49, and the Neuhausen.  “P210” is the pistol’s factory/civilian designation. It was the standard service pistol of the Swiss police and military forces for decades, being replaced by the P220 and later SIG-Sauer designs in the late 1980s, and many P210’s can still be found today.  In addition, the P210 was very popular with worldwide police forces and with civilians during its production run, and thus examples of it can be found around the globe.  The P210 is a reliable and robust weapon that can be fire three calibers by simply changing the barrel, recoil spring, slide, and magazine.

     The P210 is considered an “Improved Browning” design, but has several departures from Browning pistols of the period.  The most obvious is the action: like the Tokarev TT-33 and most pistols made by Radom, the P210’s action is contained in a single modular package and can be removed and replaced as one piece. The trigger pack is also a single modular pack.  This means that P210s are very easy to update as new developments come along that may benefit the weapon, repairs can be made quickly even if the pistol’s action or trigger pack are fatally damaged, and the P210 can be kept “fresh,” in a marketing sense.

     The P210-1 version is the standard model with wood grip plates; production stopped in 1994.  The P210-2 is the military version with a matte finish and plastic grip plates.  The P210-3 is basically a P210-1 with a chamber loaded indicator.  The P210-4 is a P210-2 manufactured for the West German Border Guards, but otherwise identical; production stopped in 1994.  Another version, the P210-5, is a target pistol with a 6-inch or 7-inch extended barrel.  The P210-6 is also a target version, but built to more exacting standards; it has a micrometer adjustable rear sight, and either a 4.75” or 6” match barrel.

     Larry Vickers made an improved P210, differencing primarily in its higher trim levels.  However, the magazine release is moved from the bottom of the magazine to the top of the frame, This meant that the magazines had to be modified Luger magazines.  The hammer bite was taken out. The sights were changed to be more ergonomic. For game purposes, however, it is identical to the P210 in 9mm

SIG-Sauer P220

     Notes: The P220 was designed as a mechanically simpler alternative to the P210.  In development since the late 1960s, the P220 was introduced in 1974, and almost immediately was adopted by the Swiss Army as the P75.  The P220 were built in 4 calibers, but the 7.65mm Parabellum chambering was discontinued in 1992, and the 9mm Parabellum chambering in 2001.  The .38 Super chambering was always limited-production, and production was discontinued in 2003.  The .45 ACP version (designed specifically for the US market, and at first marketed as the P220 All-American) remains in production.  A kit to convert the P220 to fire .22 Long Rifle ammunition is also available (from several companies, including SIGArms). 

     The main design simplification of the P220 is in the locking and unlocking system – the cam system for lowering and raising the tilting barrel is almost identical to that of the P210, but the chamber is essentially a single squared block that rises into the ejection port for extraction.  The P220 also uses a combination decocker/safety similar to that of the Sauer Model 38H.  The P220 can be fired in single or double action mode, and it uses a modified Browning action with numerous internal safeties.  The barrel is 4.41 inches, making the P220 a mid-size pistol, and uses a light alloy frame combined with other parts that are primarily of steel.  The P220 is available with a wide variety of finishes and grip plate materials.  .45 ACP and .38 Super models, since they were meant for the US market, have their controls placed a bit differently – especially the magazine release, which is a button behind the trigger guard instead of a catch on the heel of the butt. sights are normally high-contrast three-dot types, but tritium inlays for the sights are an option.  In addition, magazines are available with an extension of hard rubber shaped to improve the user’s grip on the pistol. (The .45 ACP models will also accept any magazine that can be used with an M1911A1.)

     In the 1980s, the modern proliferation of weapon equipment rails began in earnest.  The P220 has such a version, the P220R.  This rail is under the dust cover, and is similar to a Picatinny Rail.  However, the slots on the P220R’s rail are not quite the same width as a Picatinny Rail of the time.  (This has been corrected in later-production P220Rs, from about the early 1990s onward).  Accessories meant to be used on a Picatinny Rail in about 1985-1993 have a 20% chance of not fitting on a P220R’s rail of that time period.  Strangely enough, modern devices (from 1993 onward for game terms) will all fit on the older P220Rs’ rails, as they are more tolerant to variations in slot width and lock down better.  If you have one of the older P220Rs, it will cost 0.7% more than a standard P220, and be 0.01 kg heavier.  Newer rail-equipped P220Rs will be 1% more expensive, and also weigh 0.01 kg more.  P220Rs shoot the same as P220s for game purposes.

     A number of specialized versions of the P220 have also been made.  The P220ST (Stainless Tactical) has a stainless steel frame and slide, Hogue wrap-around rubber grips, and is equipped with a tactical rail under the dust cover. (The P220ST is normally sold in an aluminum case with a padded interior, two magazines, and a SIGArms Tactical Knife, but these are not included in the price below.)  The P220 Sport has a frame and slide of stainless steel, and has a match-quality 5.5-inch barrel tipped with a stainless steel compensator and a counterweight.  (A less common version of the P220 Sport uses a 4.75-inch barrel, but does not have the muzzle counterweights.)  The P220 Sport was produced until 2003 and then discontinued.  The Hogue grips are made of black hard rubber and have a stippled texture.  The operation is still DA/SA, but with a much lighter pull weight.  The sights are target-style and the rear sight is adjustable.  As with the Elite, the finish may be in black Nitron or matte stainless, but no two-tone versions are available. The limited-edition P220 Langdon Edition has a match-quality 4.41-inch barrel, checkered high-quality wood grip plates, a checkered frontstrap, an adjustable rear sight and a front sight with a fiberoptic inlay, a trigger with a shorter pull length and lighter pull weight, a slightly larger magazine capacity, a tactical accessory rail under the dust cover, and a two-tone finish featuring a blued slide.

     The P220 Elite has a stainless steel slide and frame, both finished in black Nitron (over anodizing, for the frame); it was designed for those who want the P220, but don’t like alloy or polymer frames. (Needless to say, it is considerably heavier than the standard P220.)  Other finishes include polished stainless, matte stainless, and two-tone, whether with the slide is in black Nitron or the frame is in black Nitron. It has the standard 4.41-inch barrel, and the barrel is also stainless steel, finished in polished stainless.  The controls, hammer, and trigger are finished blued, regardless of the pistol’s finish. Grip panels are stippled and of laminated rosewood.  There are cocking serrations front and back.  SIGLITE night/high contrast sights are used, with the wide rear notch being framed with white/tritium, and the front ramp sight having a dot on the rear. The Elite uses a partial “melt,” including on the sights, and the Elite is well-dehorned.  The ejector is well-engineered, having a flared and lowered ejection port, and an external ejector on the left side. The grips are wider than on a standard P220,and can take double-stack or single-stack magazines; the grips are wide enough that those with small hands may have problems reaching the trigger. The frontstrap is checkered, though the backstrap is smooth.  The trigger guard is widened for use with gloves, and the front is checkered. The trigger is an SRT. Operation is DA/SA.  Under the dust cover is a short Picatinny Rail.  The Elite does have a large beavertail; this is not for a grip safety, but to help spread out recoil forces and eliminate hammer bite.  There is also a special version of the Elite in 10mm Auto: The Match Elite, with a 5-inch match-quality stainless steel barrel, two-tone finish, black G10 Piranha grips, and adjustable match sights.

     The P220 Carry is a shorter version of the standard P220, designed for self-defense carry and undercover police.  It has a much shorter 3.9-inch barrel and shorter slide, but the gripframe is full-sized and the P220 Carry uses the same magazines as the P220.  The P220 Carry can be had with DA/SA, SAO, and DAK operation.  They may be equipped with Picatinny Rails under the dust cover at the buyer’s option; P220R Carry models will be 0.01 kg heavier and 1% more expensive.  They shoot the same as P220 Carrys for game purposes.  The P220 (and P220R) Compact is similar to the Carry, but has a shorter grip and uses smaller-capacity magazines.  The P220 Carry and Compact were discontinued in the early 2000s, but there are still plenty of them available from various gun shops, both new and used.  Most of the internal parts are also stainless steel, again finished polished.

     Two versions of the P220 Combat are produced: The standard P220 Combat with a 4,41-inch hard-chromed stainless steel barrel, finished in black Nitron, and the P220S Combat, with a 4.9-inch threaded barrel built to the same specifications.  The P220 Combat was initially built for the US Combat Pistol competition of the 1980s (it lost early on to the most of the other candidates), and is therefore compliant with US military specifications or the time.  This includes passing the military’s accuracy tests after 20,000 rounds had been fired with only cursory cleaning; the salt/spray 240-hour test, and other general test, such as being thrown in various examples of dirt, water, and mud, then tested immediately to see if it will fire. In addition, the P220 Combat has an alloy frame finished in Flat Dark Earth Cerekote with hard coat anodizing underneath, and a slide and controls of stainless steel finished in black Nitron.  Both have phosphate coatings to further increase resistance to wear and corrosion, as do the internal parts and surfaces. The P220 Combat requires no tools to field-strip. The P220 is designed to be well-balanced and has improved ergonomics over other P220 designs to increase natural pointing qualities. The P220 Combat also had something that most of the other candidates did not have: a Picatinny Rail ahead of the trigger guard.  The sights used are SIGLITE night/high-visibility low-profile sights.  The US military’s objections to the P220 Combat included the caliber and corresponding lower magazine capacity (the US military was really looking for a design firing 9mm Parabellum), an alloy frame which at that part of the testing the US military perceived as “weak”; the lack of a manual safety; problems with cracks appearing at the top of the original 8 and 10-round magazines (long since corrected); and less-then-desired results of the various mud/dirt/water tests.  However, the P220 Combat sold well to civilians and some police departments, and the P220S Combat is still produced today, with SIG calling it simply the P220 Combat, and the original P220 Combat no longer being produced after the early 2000s. The current P220 Combat has an external extractor, something not found on the original P220 Combats.

     Not simply a .22 Long Rifle version of the P220 (though these do exist), the P220 Classic 22 is a standard P220 re-engineered from the ground up to be a .22 Long Rifle pistol rather than a smaller version of a larger pistol.  It is a large-framed pistol in a rimfire caliber, and its frame is the same size as the standard P220.  They use the same safeties as most of the other P220s – decocker, automatic firing pin safety block, safety intercept notch, and trigger bar disconnector. The stainless steel barrel is 4.5 inches long.  The frame and slide are of alloy, and finished black anodized.  The grips are of black polymer, and the frontstrap is serrated.  The front sight is adjustable for drift; the rear sight is adjustable for windage and drift.  Operation is DA/SA, and most of the internal components are the same as larger-caliber versions of the P220, with only a few modified for the .22 ammunition. The Classic 22 has a Picatinny Rail forward of the trigger guard.  Though a popular plinking and training firearm, the Classic 22 is no longer produced.

     The then-West German police were not one of the agencies that wanted the P220; in their minds, the P220 was simply too big a pistol for their needs.  In addition, the Swiss police had a similar opinion.  To satisfy the requirements of the West German and Swiss police, SIG scaled down the 9mm Parabellum version of the P220, producing the P225 in 1975.  Mechanically, the P225 is almost identical to the P220, but the P225 relies almost entirely on its double-action operation for safety features.  The dual DA/SA operation was dispensed with for the P225, though the passive firing pin safety was also improved.  There is no manual safety on the P225, though the decocker was retained.  The barrel is shortened to near compact dimensions (3.86 inches), the grip reshaped somewhat, and the entire design more balanced.  The standard sights are the same as those of the P220, but they are dovetailed in and replaceable.  Most parts of the P225 can be interchanged with those of the P220, and many can also be used in other SIGArms 9mm Parabellum pistols.  The German military also uses the P225 in small numbers, and the German Police call it the P-6.  That said, the P225 is no longer in production, having been superseded by later SIGArms pistols.

     One of the newest iterations of the P220 is the P220 Super Match, which, as the name suggests, is designed for IPSC Competition as well as some other competitions.  The Super Match uses a match-quality cold-hammer-forged 5” barrel and has its front and rear sights spaced as much as possible on the slide to lengthen sight relief and increase accuracy.  The rear sight is micrometer adjustable and match-quality; the front sight is also match-quality (though not adjustable). Instead of the DA/SA trigger action found on other P220s, the Super Match uses straight single action.  The slide/barrel combination are also engineered to contribute to muzzle control, as does the slide’s long-track recoil.  The grip safety is an extended beavertail, which also protects from the hammer bite that would otherwise be caused by the long-track slide. The grip is designed for natural pointing qualities and to guide the hand almost automatically to the correct firing position.  The Super Match has a two-tone finish, with a black hard anodized aluminum frame and a matte stainless steel slide. Grips are of hardwood, properly checkered and shaped for a sure grip.  There is no frontstrap or backstrap checkering, and the wood is a wrap-around grip.

     The P220 Legion is an “enhanced version of…the P220” according to SIG’s website. The finish is in what SIG calls “Legion Gray,” which medium gray, but a shade and a half lighter.  However, Legion Gray is not just a finish, it is a coating that makes the Legion extremely weatherproof and wear-proof.  The Legion uses a P-SAIT trigger which is adjustable and has a light, smooth pull as it comes from the SIG factory.  It is also an SRT (Short-Reset Trigger). The front of the trigger guard is flat and curved outward a little, to allow the user to stabilize the pistol when using two hands. The low-profile sights are fixed three-dot-types with luminous dots, called “X-Ray3” sights by SIG.  The grips are G10s with molded-in pebbling.  The controls are low-profile also, and in fact, the entire Legion is dehorned as much as possible.  The Legion is about medium range for the P220 in the weight range.

     The P220 Hunter features a 5-inch stainless steel match-grade barrel; however, it’s most obvious trait is the “Kryptek” camouflage finish for the slide and gripframe (the pattern looks like a lizard’s skin, complete with a scale pattern to it).  Under the Krytek finish is stainless steel. The grips use black pebble-textured G10 panels, and the sights, controls, trigger, and hammer are also finished in matte black (using a version of the Legion’s finish). Designed to be used for short-range hunting (without being too overpowering to the shooter), it has a fully-adjustable rear sight with tritium inlays and a fiberoptic front sight, and its own tritium dot for night use. Under the dust cover is a full-length Picatinny Rail.  The trigger guard is lightly curved inward and flattened, allowing the shooter to better stabilize the Hunter, and the action is SAO, unlike most P220s.  Formerly, SIG produced a version of the Hunter, called the Hunt Ready; it is similar to the Hunter, but has G10 Piranha grips, front and rear cocking serrations, and a ROMEO1 mini red-dot sight, installed at the factory.

     SIG’s site describes the Elite Stainless as a “fully-enhanced P220.” Construction is indeed almost totally stainless steel, including the slide, gripframe, controls, and barrel.  The beavertail itself is extended, with a smaller-then-normal hammer, totally eliminating handbite; the gripframe and beavertail design combine to allow a high grip on the frame and give the Elite Stainless natural pointing qualities.  The trigger is wider than normal, and is an SRT trigger; the front of the trigger guard is very slightly curved and checkered.  The Stainless Elite has front cocking serrations (a lot of people like those, but I never used them, even when present), and the frontstrap and backstrap are serrated.  The walnut grips are also checkered.  The barrel is the standard 4.41 inches, but is made of stainless steel and is match-quality, along with a match-quality bushing.  The rear sights are fixed and have a luminous dot on either side of the sighting notch; they are not adjustable, but are dovetailed in.  The front sight is also dovetailed in; it is a reverse ramp with a luminous dot at the rear. Under the dust cover is a short section of Picatinny Rail, machined into the frame.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: The Super Match is not available in the Twilight 2000 timeline.

SIG-Sauer P226

     Notes: The P226 is a highly-modified version of the P225, designed specifically for the US XM9 competition after the P220 Combat was rejected.  The P226 lost that competition in a very controversial decision – there was widespread agreement among the all branches of the US military that the P226 was the superior pistol, and SIGArms’s bid per pistol was in fact slightly lower than Beretta’s bid per M92 pistol.  The problem, according to the bean-counters in the Pentagon and Congress, came down to the cost of spare parts, magazines, and periodic manufacturer maintenance; Beretta’s bid for these items was much lower than SIGArms’s bid.  Therefore (once again), US troops were bitten by the old military adage, “your weapon was made by the lowest bidder.”  (The P226 did gain acceptance with several US government agencies, however.)

     Despite having lost the XM9 competition, many police, military, and government agencies around the world had been watching the XM9 competition, and also knew the P226 was superior to the Beretta M92; in fact, a lot of these agencies and military units were in the US.  SIGArms had enjoyed lots of sales to police departments around the world, as well as some government agencies in various countries; the P226 is also quite popular on the civilian market.  The P226 is one of the service pistols used by the FBI, Secret Service, ATF, and the US Marshal’s Service; reportedly, the CIA has also acquired an unknown number of P226’s.  The British and the Australian SAS are known users of the P226, along with New Zealand’s Army and Navy, the Japanese Self-Defense Forces, the French GIGN, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. The P226 is also said to be popular with many other special operations units in the world.  Since Swiss law can be extremely restrictive with regard to the export of firearms (particularly for the civilian market), many P226s (and other SIGArms weapons) are exported through the German company of JP Sauer & Sohn.  More recently, SIGArms has also been able to avoid Swiss export laws by manufacturing many of its weapons in its facility located in Exeter, New Hampshire in the US.

     The basic P226 is mechanically almost identical to the 9mm Parabellum version of the P225.  Differences include a reversible magazine release and a slightly wider grip to allow the use of a double-column magazine that nearly doubled the magazine capacity compared to the P225.  (Extended magazines are also available.)  Barrel length remains at 4.41 inches, though the composition of the steel in the P226’s barrel makes the barrel somewhat stronger than that of the P225.  Early versions of the P226 had problems accepting some aftermarket grip plates; these problems were quickly traced to the screws that came with some of these aftermarket grip panels, which put undue pressure on the magazine housing and/or firing mechanism, and SIG quickly corrected this problem.  Regardless of the caliber or intended market, the magazine release is found on the frame behind the trigger guard instead of the heel.  The sights are derived from the P225, though they have a more high-contrast design; tritium inlays are also an option.  Originally, a MIL-STD-1913 rail under the dust cover was also an option (with those versions being designated the P226R); since 2003, the rail has been a standard P226 feature and the P226R designation is no longer used.  Factory-installed Crimson Trace Lasergrips have been an option since 2004 (this version of the P226 is called the P226 Crimson Trace).  Original production P226s used standard double-action lockwork, but the P226 is now available in both DA and DAO versions.  The P226 was first offered only in 9mm Parabellum, but .357 SIG and .40 Smith & Wesson chamberings were later added in 1996.  The basic P226 models may be had with alloy or steel frames.

     The US Navy SEALs are notable users of the P226; the SEALs (particularly what was then called SEAL Team Six, then now called DEVGRU, and now has no official name) became disenchanted with the M9 almost immediately.  Like most special operations units, the SEALs conduct large amounts of live-fire training, and in the space of six months after they were issued the M9, three slide fractures occurred in training (not simply cracks, but actual breakage of the slides into pieces), resulting in serious injuries to the shooters (two requiring facial stitches, and one that required facial stitches and considerable dental work).  In the same time period, Army special operations units were reporting repeated slide cracking and fracturing as well.  The SEALs were not about to send their operators into combat with a pistol that might blow up in their faces, and they insisted that their M9s be replaced by P226s.  The P226s used by the SEALs had slight modifications – special aftermarket ergonomic grips, a phosphate-based corrosion-resistant coating on the exterior and internal parts, high-contrast sights with tritium inlays, and a MIL-STD-1913 rail under the dust cover.  They are identical to the 9mm P226R for game purposes.

     Out of the SEAL variant of the P226 grew what would become the Mk 25.  Though the Navy and some other US military units have been using the Mk 25 for some 25 years, it has only since late last year that the US military has given SIG the OK to offer it to civilians. The Mk 25 has SIGLITE 3-dot night sights and a MIL-STD-1913 rail under the dust cover.  (SIG first put a proprietary rail on early Mk 25s, but outcry from the users and supply personnel got them to change to MIL-STD-1913 rails, as well as send out retrofit kits.) The grip is highly ergonomic, as are the controls, some of which are also ambidextrous. Slides are machined from stainless steel, and have an external extractor.  Finish for the aluminum frame is black Nitron, and the slide in black phosphate.  Most internal parts are nickel-plated or phosphate-finished, and are largely carbon steel.  The barrel and firing pin are made from stainless steel. The Mk 25 is now manufactured in SIG-USA’s plant in Exeter, New Hampshire.

     Variants include two sporting versions of the P226, both in 9mm Parabellum.  The P226 Sport II (The P220 Sport is considered the “Sport I”) appeared in 1998 and has an alloy frame and a stainless steel slide.  The P226 Sport II uses a stainless steel bull barrel with lengths of 4.41, 4.96, and 5.47 inches (though the 4.96-inch barrel version was discontinued in 1999), and adjustable target sights.  In 1999, the P226 Sport II SL was introduced.  The original P226 Sport II SL uses a stainless steel slide and frame, a 4.41-inch bull barrel, adjustable target sights, extended controls, and a barrel weight under the muzzle similar to that of the P220 Sport.  Many shooters disliked the barrel weight, which prompted SIGArms to make a P226 Sport II SL version without the barrel weight.  In 2002, a version with a 5.47-inch barrel was introduced (both with and without barrel weights); Aristocrat long-range target sights were also made an option at this time.

     The P226R DAK is a fairly-new redesign of the P226 pistol to incorporate new features and some other calibers.  The most obvious redesign is the trigger mechanism; the P226 retains its DAO (Double-Action Only) configuration, but the trigger pull is greatly lightened to allow quicker first shots and follow-up shots.  It also allows for a smoother trigger pull when aiming, especially when a careful aim is important.  SIG did this primarily by adding leverage to the trigger system.  An additional refinement was the addition of an accessory rail under the barrel (it’s short, considering the size of the pistol, but it is useful for some light accessories).  Improvements in reliability and extraction has also been made.  The DAK series was first seen at the Trexpo-East Law Enforcement Exposition in August of 2003, but the first large-scale orders were not made until a year later, when the US Department of Homeland Security chose the DAK series (as well as the P239) as its standard sidearm, placing an order for nearly 65,000 pistols.  (For game purposes, the P226R DAK shoots the same as a standard P226.)

     Introduced in 2005, the P226 X-Five is a P226 redesigned as a competition pistol.  The first noticeable modification is the weight; the frame is of stainless steel instead of light alloy, to increase weight and therefore reduce recoil and barrel climb.  The magazines are high-capacity, larger than those of the P226.  The magazine well is large and beveled to facilitate quick reloading, and the magazines have a base extension which ensures proper seating of the magazine.  The magazine release is extended and grooved; there are some complaints that it is too sensitive and positioned in such a manner (directly behind the trigger on the left side) so that it can release a magazine by accident.  The barrel is lengthened to 5 inches and is of match-quality.  The grip is designed to virtually force a high grip, which is best for accurate pistol shooting and is more comfortable for prolonged shooting matches; the grip plates are of specially-shaped high-quality Nill wood.  The trigger guard is squared off for those who like to put a finger of the off-hand there.  The rear sight is, of course, fully adjustable; the front sight is an undercut post, but has none of the “sighting dots” that other pistols have, though it is black in color.  It is also dovetailed.  The trigger is also fully adjustable, with a very light pull.  The slide has front cocking serrations added to it.  The P226 X-Five Competition is a variant that was designed specifically for IPSC competition; it does not come in a .357 SIG chambering.  The barrel of the P226 X-Five Competition is also 5-inches long and match-quality, but it is also cold hammer-forged; the trigger action is single-action instead of double-action, which made a manual safety button (on the frame behind the trigger guard) necessary.  The grips are of black polymer and have a more ergonomic shape than those of the standard P226 X-Five.  The P226 X-Five Tactical is available only in 9mm Parabellum; the 5-inch barrel is also match-quality.  Under the dust cover is a MIL-STD-1913 rail.  The trigger action of the P226 X-Five Tactical is also single-action, but the manual safety is ambidextrous.  sights are of the 3-dot type and are high-contrast.  The grips are polymer and stippled to allow the shooter a better hold on his weapon.  The finish is of black Ilaflon.  Standard magazines for the P226 X-Five Tactical are of different capacities, but other 9mm Parabellum P226 series magazines are also useable.

     The P226 Tactical is an updated version of the 9mm Parabellum P226 model that was submitted to the US military’s XM9 competition.  Changes include a 4.41-inch barrel with the muzzle protruding from the end of the slide and having threading for the attachment of a silencer.  Under the dust cover is a MIL-STD-1913 rail.  The sights used are special low-light combat sights called SIGLight Night sights.  Balance is improved, the grip has a bit of a more ergonomic shape, and the grip plates, frontstrap, and backstrap are stippled.  The finish is black Nitron.  The P226 SCT is similar, but is chambered for 9mm Parabellum and .40 Smith & Wesson, and the front sight is a Truglo TFO and the rear is a SIGLight Night sight.  The P226 SCT’s barrel does not protrude from the slide and is not threaded, and the weapon is designed for SIG’s newest high-capacity magazines with a finger extension at the bottom of the magazine. (Other P226-compatible magazines of the appropriate caliber are also useable.)  For game purposes, the P226 Tactical and P226 SCT shoot the same as a standard P226 of the appropriate caliber.

     The new P226 TACOPS (TACtical OPerationS) features a much larger beavertail, allowing for better balancing of the pistol in one’s hand, and also making the P226 more friendly to smaller hands.  The redesigned magazine well allows for a larger magazine while still allowing the P226 TACOPS to sit better in a smaller hand despite the use of large-capacity magazines.   The P226 TACOPS has front cocking serrations, a black hard-anodized aluminum frame, a stainless steel slide (also finished in matte black), fiberoptic inlays for the front and rear sight as well as tritium dots inlays, the SRT (Short Reset Trigger), and a threaded muzzle to allow the mounting of a suppressor (though the threading is under the end of the slide, allowing SIG to keep the barrel length down and not have to extend the barrel). Under the dust cover is a MIL-STD-1913 rail.

     Other versions of the P226 differ other versions of the P226 primarily in the materials used (and all use only steel in their metalwork), sights, finishes, chamberings available, and other relatively minor details.  For game purposes, the Two-Tone, Elite Two-Tone, and Elite Stainless are identical to the late-production P226s.  The Equinox identical to the late-production P226 for game purposes, except that it is chambered only for .40 Smith & Wesson; the Navy is also identical except that it is chambered only for 9mm Parabellum.  The P226 E2 has improved ergonomics, with a reduced-circumference grip, reduced-reach Short Reset trigger, snap-on grip size units, and grips with an improved-grip texture.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: The following models of the P226 do not exist in the Twilight 2000 timeline: P226 Crimson Trace, P226 Sport II SL, P226 DAK, P226 X-Five, P226 E2, and the P226 SCT.  In addition, MIL-STD-1913 rails are only found on the base P226s whose owners had them installed as an option or aftermarket accessory.

SIG-Sauer P228/229/239

     Notes: The P228 was designed in response to requests from users worldwide; they liked the reliability and strength of the P226, but the P226 was too large to easily conceal or for plainclothes carry.  Users include police agencies worldwide, and civilians have also taken quickly to the P228 as a self-defense weapon for concealed carry.  Military use is rare, but the US has type-standardized the 9mm Parabellum version of the P228 as the M-11; it is in use by the criminal investigation divisions of the Army, Navy, and Air Force (CID, NCIS, and OSI respectively, and is also standard issue to US Air Force pilots and Coast Guard personnel.  In addition, many FBI agents carry the P229 in its .40 Smith & Wesson chambering.

     The P228 is mechanically almost identical to the P226, except for the changes necessary for the smaller dimensions.  Barrel length is reduced to 3.86 inches, though the butt is only a little shorter, and the P228 still has a large-capacity magazine.  The P228 can also use 15-round 9mm Parabellum P226 magazines, though they project below the grip.  The frame is of light alloy, and the slide is of stamped carbon steel.  The P228’s trigger guard is curved instead of being squared off like that of the P226. 

     Though parts for the P228 are still manufactured in SIGArms’s US facility, the P228 has been superseded in production by the P229.  The P229 is basically the same as the P228, except for some changes in the slide contours (a flatter top) and having the sights dovetailed in.  .40 Smith & Wesson is considered standard for the P229, but the 9mm Parabellum or .357 SIG caliber is just as common.  .40 Smith & Wesson versions and .357 SIG versions may be converted to one another simply by changing the barrel.  The P229 uses an alloy frame, but the slide is milled from a one-piece solid steel billet for greater strength. 

     Chambered only in .357 SIG, the P229 Sport uses a 4.8-inch match-quality barrel tipped with a muzzle compensator.  The slide and frame are of stainless steel, and the rear sight is micrometer adjustable, with the front and rear sight being dovetailed in.

     The P229R DAK is the P229 counterpart to the P226R DAK, above.  The same sorts of improvements were made to the P229 series to produce the P229R DAK.  The P229 SAS (SIG Anti-Snag) is a dehorned version of the P229R DAK (sharp and projecting surfaces removed as much as possible), with some other improvements, such as a beveled magazine well, low-profile sights, a front sight with a tritium inlay, a grooved trigger, a slightly longer barrel, and wrap-around, extended wooden grips.  All versions of the P229R DAK are identical for game purposes, except for some minor weight differences; also for game purposes, they shoot the same as standard P229s.

     SIG-Sauer makes a rimfire conversion kit for the P229, allowing it to fire .22 ammunition.  It consists of a new slide, barrel, recoil spring, and recoil spring guide.  They also sell the P229 in a base .22 form, which can be converted to centerfire ammunition with appropriate conversion kits.  Barrel length is 4.56 inches.

     The P239 is essentially a version of the P229 designed for smaller hands and for those who need a slimmer pistol; the barrel length is the same, but the grip is narrower, holding a single-stack magazine.  Initially intended only to be built in a .357 SIG model, other chamberings were quickly added due to market demand.  Despite the smaller weight and size, the P239 shoots the same as the P229 for game purposes.

     The P229 E2 has improved ergonomics, with a reduced-circumference grip, reduced-reach Short Reset trigger, snap-on grip size units, and grips with an improved-grip texture.

     The P229 Scorpion, introduced in 2011, is a version of the P229 which is built with most of the same styling as the 1911R Scorpion; it has a light rail under the dust cover has been designed to operate more reliably in dusty environments. It is finished in Desert Tan Cerekote.  The grip plates have been given a “snake skin/stippled” treatment, called the Hogue Piranha treatment.  The slide lock, manual safety, hammer, dovetailed front and rear sight units, and the grip safety are finished in matte black. The trigger and muzzle crown are in bright metal. The Scorpion uses a grip/magazine well design called the Hogue Magwell Grip Set.  The grip plates, mainspring housing, and funneled lower magazine well are combined into an integrated unit, and the magazines snap in place at the top and the bottom.  This makes for sure magazine insertion and removal.  Under the dust cover is a rail for attachments.  sights are SIGLite Night sights.  The barrel length is shorter than its 1911 cousin at 3.9 inches, though it still falls into the Compact category.  Like the 1911R Scorpion, the P229 Scorpion uses a barrel of better quality than other P229s, though this does not always translate into game terms. The Scorpion uses SIG’s Short Reset Trigger; this is because the P229 Scorpion is a DAO pistol, while the 1911 Scorpion is a single-action pistol.  It also has more external safety features, including two slide locks (one manual, one passive/manual), and a standard push-button manual safety.  The styling is like the 1911, though internally the P229 Scorpion is still a P229. 

     Twilight 2000 Notes: The P229R DAK, P229 E2, Scorpion, and P229 SAS do not exist in the Twilight 2000 timeline.  The P239 is a very rare weapon.

     Merc 2000 Notes: All these pistols do exist in the Merc 2000 timeline, but none are built in the US.

SIG-Sauer P230

     Notes: A lightweight, easily concealable automatic pistol, the P230 has found its way into a number of European police arsenals. Some Luftwaffe flight crews also carry it.  Two versions are available, the standard one with a light alloy frame, and a heavier stainless steel model.  The P230 originally came in .32 ACP, .380 ACP, and 9mm Ultra chamberings, but the .32 ACP version was dropped from production in 1994, and the 9mm Ultra version was dropped in 1996.  There is, however, a training version chambered for .22 Long Rifle ammunition.