VADavid

Thanks for the new topic area. I'll paste a little background info and see if we can get this rolling. I see very few Sigs at the matches I go to, so always interested in hearing from others. I'll post a bit of background then later talk about training and competition experiences.



I shot my first competitive match last December. It was a falling steel match, and I used my carry weapon, P239 9mm. As an aside, the only other Sig I saw there was another P239! I was limited by the 8 round capacity, but I carried plenty of mags. Changing mags when changing shooting boxes helped. Often there were six or less shots between positions. Of course, the 32 round stages from just one or two positions proved interesting! Besides my main goal was to stop shaking!



In the Spring I picked up a P226 E2. At that point I knew I wanted to compete in IDPA, USPSA, as well as the steel matches. The 226 seemed a good choice. I was a Sig fan, and didn't (still don't) care for the look or feel of the Glocks that are so popular at matches. Shot a few local IDPA matches and some more falling steel before I learned about a local USPSA match. I shot two of those and then signed up for the USPSA Area 8 championship. THAT was a blast. I did well, considering. Interestingly, the P226 E2 was so new, that when I shot my first USPSA match, the gun had not been approved for Production class. So I shot Limited 10. The day after that match, USPSA approved the gun for Production, which is where I want to shoot. The 226 is handy, since I can load 15+1 for the steel matches, and 10+1 for USPSA Production and IDPA.



I'm a 'D' classified shooter, so I have a long way to go. My goal is to make C in 2011. Scheduling prevented me from getting to many matches the second half of 2010, but I do get to the range weekly. I've started dry firing almost daily and my range sessions are more focused on a specific skill. (Although I still make time to simply throw lead downrange for fun!)



Looking forward to hearing from others.

Hoytshooter

I was going to start shooting competitively this summer but due to health problems and one of the hottest summers on record didn't get too. When I do get started, possibly indoors this winter my gun of choice will be my P220, that is unless I decide I can afford a Sig 1911.



I think the reason you don't see many Sigs is; 1. They don't advertise as heavily as some of the other makes do, 2. They are looked upon as an elitist, and therefore expensive, gun, 3. Glocks are cheap.



I think another reason you see a lot of Glocks is because that is what most local PDs use and that is what most local dealers are going to stock, especially in smaller communities. In larger communities and in matches that draw from a wider area you'll see a bigger variety of guns but the majority will still probably be Glocks.

amhaynie

Ill add one to the above list. The DA/SA scares a lot of people who want a consistent trigger pull every time. I think this is the MAIN reason you don't see them in competition very often

VADavid

AZ Sig,



I've heard that, but I've just never been able to buy the idea that the different trigger pulls are an issue. I'm not saying that folks don't claim it's a problem, just that I think it's a false fear. Maybe it's because that's pretty much all I've shot. I honestly don't notice the difference. Maybe those folks need to practice more. :-)

amhaynie

I agree it is unwarranted. With practice it is just as fast if not faster. My advanced students tell me however that is why people are afraid to use Sigs . . . then I giggle and make them look bad with my P226 anyway!

xmortor66

Thinking about getting into some IDPA/USPSA events this year and I was wondering if anyone could chime in and help me out...



1. Is 9mm an good choice of caliber for these matches? If not what is the caliber of choice by most?



2. What is the standard barrel length for the matches? Do some compete with a 4" or do most go with 5"?



3. Holsters and Mag pouches? Im guessing injection molded or kydex quick draw style holsters and mag pouches (comp tac/glaco matrix) styles are best? How many magazines is a good choice to carry on your belt to compete?



Any help would be greatly appreciated.

col132

I've taught both Glock and Sig separately, and in open classes, and both guns have their merits. Living near Crane Supply Depot, I have had some very special gentlemen attend a few of my classes. They can do drills with a P226 that most competitive shooters can't do with a 1911. They can clear their Safariland 6004 drop leg holsters and put rounds on target so fast that you would never know that the first round was fired DA. I have also seen them do the same with their P239's.



They also shoot more rounds in a year than some will shoot in a couple of lifetimes. As has been stated it all comes down to practice, practice, practice.

VADavid

I shoot 9mm in USPSA. That's probably the most popular caliber in the Production class. There's no major power factor so everyone is even. Id be willing to guess 40 S&W is most popular overall. In Limited and Limited10, power factor comes into play. those shooting higher PF, like 40, can score more points for non-A hits. Make all your hits and it doesn't matter though. :-)



I like 9mm because I can shoot A LOT more rounds for the price. Different Divisions in USPSA allow different holsters. Check the rules at http://www.USPSA.org/rules/2010Handg...sProof3web.pdf

Hoytshooter

Question for those of you shooting the Sigs in competition. I like my P220, not being bothered by the DA/SA at all. However I group much better with a 1911 and I'm wondering how much effect the beavertail on most present day 1911s has in making my grip more consistent. I had a Colt Series 70 years ago and though I shot it a lot I don't remember being able to group with it nearly as well has I do with any of the 1911s I've shot in the last 4 - 5 years, all of which have had beavertails.



What I'd like to know is are most of you shooting Sigs with the standard grip or do you prefer the Elite series guns with the beavertail?

JackSauer

I'm not sure about competition rules but is it acceptable to cock the hammer before the first shot?



I love DA/SA for the ability to fire single-action. I could never warm up to the half-cock striker double action of Glock and others. To me nothing can beat a good single action trigger system, and I feel that the trigger pull on the Sig is definitely up there. Not to mention I like the extra degree of safety with the ability to drop the hammer and lock the trigger into a heavy double action pull. I'm getting the custom shop short-reset trigger installed on my Sig, and I can't wait to try it out when I get it back. I feel like this setup should be perfect for anyone who might want to compete, dare-i-say better than any striker system.



So to all the critics who want "the same trigger pull everytime", for my purposes I would simply cock the hammer before my first shot and have a crisp single action everytime with minimal reset. Although I am not a competitor and I don't know if the rules prohibit you from doing that.

VADavid

In USPSA at the "load and make ready" command, the gun must be put in it's regular ready position and holstered. For a Sig that means a round in the chamber and the gun decocked, using the decocking lever. I do not think there is any prohibition against cocking the hammer after the start signal.



That said, one might consider the "why?" That applies to both a game where time matters, and self-defense where time matters even more. When you draw the gun from your holster, your hand and fingers should have the proper shooting grip, and are quickly met by your support hand. Drawing the gun, manually cocking the hammer, then regaining the proper grip takes time. Learning to shoot with both the double- and single-action pulls is the best way, and not that hard. If you are not competing, and preparing strictly for self-defense, you certainly want to be able to shoot accurately with both the first DA shot and the subsequent SA followup shots. Like JackSauer I appreciate the safety of the DA, and the speed of NOT needing to flip off a safety. That's why getting comfortable with the DA/SA transition is important. Don't offset that convenience by having to manually cock the hammer. And if the situation demands that you only have the use of one hand, either strong or support hand, it matters even more.

Myers

Local news came out to our steel challenge match, and interviewed one of our top local competitors, and got me in at the end shooting the 226. Wish you could see the gun, but it's there none the less! Gun is still running like a champ, and i'm prepping to shoot in the Mississippi Classic in mid May.

ga100n

My experiences with 226 X-Five Allround (IPSC matches) http://www.youtube.com/user/ga100n?feature=mhum



Jakub (Czech republic)

Myers

Some of my videos from this years Mississippi Classic. I had some good stages and some ok stages. Had one miss on the weekend, so I was pleased with that. This was my first large scale match. Gun is the same Sig 226 navy model I have had. I did add a bedair stainless steel guide rod about a month ago.



http://www.youtube.com/user/ltmyers?feature=mhee

Doug Clark

Great shooting Justin!

guyfromohio

I'm considering doing some IDPA with my carry 239. I'm being told by those in-the-know that the 10-round magazines would be necessary. Does anyone have experience with the 239 9mm 10-rounders? Solid function? Fit ok in the IDPA box?

acmagnum

I don't shoot competitively but a friend of mine does and he loves Sig's but for comp he would like a consistent trigger pull not da sa. So now he shoots a P226 DAK , had a trigger job and action job done gets the same consistent trigger pull all the time, loves it and is doing well with it. I think if more Sig fans try that format for comp they will do better.

JGus

I'm shooting a Sig P226 X-5 Competition .40s&w in USPSA Limited. I've got an aftermarket magwell and extended basepads that get me to 18 rds of .40s&w.

I also plan to eventually start shooting my Sig P226 Diamond Plate 9mm in Production division soon.

highpowerman

I shoot my 239,228, and 226 in IDPA matches and my 228 and 226 in Steel Challenges. The Sigs are better than I am ... never had a problem with them.

Beau

After shooting IDPA with my S&W 686 revolver I'm now using my Sig SP2022 9mm.