Sig Sauer produces an extensive line of pistols in several calibers and sizes ranging from full-size, to compact, to subcompact, to pocket pistols. Though all of them can be carried concealed with the proper holster and attire, I’ll be discussing most of those that fit within the compact and smaller sizes. (Bear in mind that there are no industry standards for the physical dimensions of such pistols and that sizes vary within each category, which may affect mag capacity.) Not that full-size pistols offer advantages that should not be ignored, namely, a longer sight radius for better aiming and hence greater accuracy and longer engagement distance; more control from a larger grip; and greater magazine capacity. Full-size pistols also are made in heavier calibers than pocket pistols.
Classifying Sig Sauer’s line into compact, subcompact and pocket-sized pistols generally depends on width. Sig Sauer’s compact and subcompact pistols are reduced-size versions of full-size pistols. They are shortened at the slide and sometimes also at the grip. Subcompacts are reduced significantly in length and height. Because these pistols share the frame of a parent pistol that usually has a double-stack magazine, they are generally 1.5 inches in width. The calibers are .45 ACP, 9mm, .40 S&W and .357 SIG. Pocket-sized hardware, in contrast, is designed from the get-go to be compact and is about 1 inch wide, has a single-stack magazine and comes in limited calibers: 9mm and .380. Pocket-sized Sig Sauers have many variants with different aesthetics to appeal to a wide range of consumers and some have laser aiming devices.
Besides selecting your preferred size, caliber and capacity, you have several choices of trigger mechanism: double-action (DA), double-action short reset trigger (SRT), single-action (SA) and double-action Kellerman (DAK). Pistols with DA and SRT triggers also have hammer decocking capability. The P250 and P290, however, are the only pistols with a double-action-only (DAO) trigger that do not have decocking capability. Each trigger has a distinct feel when pressed and can affect how well the pistol fits your hand and how well you can shoot. (There are other considerations involving the trigger fit that are outside the scope of this article.) When selecting your Sig, don’t ignore the importance of gun fit. Compacts allow a whole-hand grip, while subcompact and pocket-sized pieces do not. For these, the pinky extends below the grip. All Sig Sauer pistols in this review have night sights of the same design except the Equinox models that use a TruGlo green fiber optics for better visibility in daytime. Though most Sig Sauer pistols are made with an aluminum frame (forged aluminum for many), there are a few polymer-frame models, which may sway your buying decision if weight or cost are the decisive factors. There are also a few higher-cost, heavier, steel-frame versions that offer greater durability and, of course, less perceived recoil…
GET THIS ISSUE NOW! at personaldefenseworld.com/subscribe/concealed-carry-handguns/.
Discussion about this post