Friday, December 14, 2007

All I want for Christmas...

...is a Sig Sauer P220 SAO.

Those who know me know that I have a fondness for firearms with a manual safety that allows for condition 1 carry. It has never made a lick of sense to me to carry a pistol that does not mechanically allow for the easiest reasonable trigger pull available. Most of the double action pistols out there require so much force to compress the trigger to the point of tripping the hammer that, unless one is careful to avoid it, the shot may be "jerked".

Now, don't get me wrong, I can see the use in a double action sidearm for police use. Officers have occasion to draw their firearms in situations where it is not immediately necessary to discharge said firearms. A "touchy" trigger in such a situation could lead to disaster if the officer does not abide by the four rules of gun safety.

For a (hopefully) well-trained citizen who is lawfully carrying, I believe this to be less of a concern. Frankly, there are few situations that I can think of which would require a citizen to hold someone at gunpoint without immediate commencement of firing. Most states, to my knowledge, require the immediate threat to life or of great bodily harm to yourself or another person before the use of deadly force is authorized. And make no mistake, as soon as you point a firearm at another human being, you are utilizing deadly force. Why, in such a situation, would you not immediately act to stop this threat to yourself or another?

Personally, in just such a situation, I would want the best trigger pull reasonable on a dead-reliable pistol that fits my hand well. Enter the P220 SAO.

Sig made a name for themselves by producing reliable firearms ("To Hell and Back Reliability" is their motto) that are ergonomic and durable. Unfortunately for me, their pistol selection was for years plagued by the DA/SA mode of operation wherein the pistol is "made safe" by use of a decocking mechanism. This requires the first shot to be made by pulling the trigger through a long and heavy but smooth double action. All subsequent shots are single action.

The SAO eliminates the need for the double action first shot (and double action capability altogether unless I'm mistaken) and replaces the decocking mechanism with a 1911-esque safety. The safety on the models that I have handled have all been crisp, with positive engagement in both on and off positions. The remaining controls remain unchanged as do the lines of the weapon. Which is A Good Thing (tm) in my humble opinion.

Now the only question is, how do I patiently wait for my tax return with this pistol calling my name so?

3 comments:

Brian Junyor said...

Remember that it is better to give than to receive. With that said I am sure the Bullet Trap can get me one, so send cash. Merry Christmas!

Barrett B. said...

Call me a grinch if you want, but I'm gettin' my own first. Afterward, we can talk.

Brian Junyor said...

Fine, you're a grinch.