S.W.A.T. December 2007 - McKeesport Police Department

SIGARMS P220 COMBAT
SPECIFICATIONS,
SIGARMS P220 COMBAT
Manufacturer SIGARMS
Model P-220 Combat
Caliber .45 ACP
Trigger Pull (DA/SA) 10.0 and 4.5 pounds
Overall Length 7.70 inches
Overall Height 5.50 inches
Overall Width 1.50 inches
Weight 31.2 ounces
Barrel Length 4.40 inches
Sight Radius 6.60 inches
Sights SIGLITE® Night Sights
Capacity 8- and 10-round magazines
Grips Polymer, Flat Dark Earth
Finish Nitron/Flat Dark Earth
MSRP $1,067.00
CA Compliant Yes
MA Compliant No
tion that requires an optional suppressor
kit. These same two barrel options are
offered with SIG’s DAK trigger P-220
Combat models. The one I have for testing
has the standard barrel and the DA/
SA trigger.
As with other pistols designed for the
JCP Trails, the P-220 Combat comes in
“Flat Dark Earth” color. This includes
Flat Dark Earth Polymer grips and
Nitron®/Flat Dark Earth on metal. The
combo is actually quite handsome and
blends well with typical ground and
ground cover. To give an idea, when
Nitron parts and Flat Dark Earth
parts have contrasting colors.
I was trying to photograph the P-220
Combat after test fi ring it, I found it diffi
cult to use a fallen tree, the ground, or
leaves as background because it blended
too well for a good photo. Internal parts
are phosphorus coated. The barrel is
hard chromed, then fi nished in Nitron.
Overall, SIGARMS has incorporated a
good durability package.
While the P-220 Combat is a full-sized
battle pistol, it is compact enough that
an operator can carry it concealed when
working in indigenous clothing—an
important consideration in the War on
Terror. Overall length with the standard
barrel is 7.7 inches; 8.3 inches in TB version.
Weight is 31.2 ounces. Barrel length
is still 4.4 inches or 5 inches on the TB
model. I think the P-220 Combat will get
high marks with operators since it will
conceal well or carry comfortably as a
backup weapon.
Among the special features to meet
JCP specifi cations is an M1913 Picatinny
rail with three cross slots. A lanyard pin,
which offers enough room for easy attachment
of a lanyard, is incorporated
into the grip. This is a more important
distinction than it might seem upon initial
reading, since I have encountered
nominal lanyard attachment points that
were virtually impossible to use effectively.
To meet the JCP requirement for
self-illuminated night sights, the P-220
Combat incorporates SIGLITE sights.
Those for the TB version are higher, to
allow target acquisition with a suppressor
mounted. JCP specs call for an
eight-round magazine capacity with a
ten-round magazine available; hence,
the P-220 Combat is furnished with an
eight-round magazine plus a ten-round
magazine with an extension. Specs call
for the JCP to have a double-action trigger
pull between eight and ten pounds
and a single-action pull between four
and six pounds. The P-220 Combat is
rated at ten pounds DA and 4.5 pounds
SA, so it falls within the guidelines. I
should note that, as with most SIG SA/
DA pistols I’ve used, trigger pull is fairly
crisp, though it does stack a bit on DA.
SIG P-220 pistols are well known for
reliability. In fact, I had a friend in the
St. Louis FBI offi ce who carried a P-220
for years. When it seemed as if every automatic
pistol in the offi ce was being returned
to Quantico because of problems,
he retained his P-220. I have also had a P-
220 for ten years or more and have fi red
at least 2,500-3,000 rounds through it. I
cannot remember a single malfunction.
My point is that the P-220 is known for
reliability, and no internal changes were
made to the P-220 Combat. As a result,
there should be few problems meeting
JCP standards for reliability.
When testing the Para-Ordnance Nite-
Tac intended for the JCP Trials (THE
CONTENDER: Para-Ordnance Military
Nite-Tac, June 2007 S.W.A.T.), I found
74 S.W.A.T. » DECEMBER 2007 SWATMAG.COM