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I was browsing the Sig Sauer website a little bit ago, in response to something posted in another thread, and I was just "window shopping" their handgun line. Right off the bat, I started looking for models with left-handed controls for the left-handed shooter, and I could only find one model that fit the bill. That was the P250 line, of which the Compact with the Nitron finish interested me the most. So the more I looked at it, the more I had questions, and I decided to bring them here because I figure I'll get the straight poop here instead of a bunch of fanboy nonsense.

So, in no particular order of preference, here they are.....

• Am I right that, outside of their 1911 lineup, only the P250 is ambidextrous?
• If there are other lefty friendly non-1911 models, what are they, and are any of them available in .45 ACP? (I'm only asking because their website doesn't seem to make it apparent).
• Are any of these guns which might be lefty friendly available with a DA/SA trigger? (the P250 seems to be DA only)
• Have you enjoyed the ownership experience of your P250, or would you have chosen a different model if you could have a "do-over?"
• In real world performance, how has your P250 performed, particularly if you can compare its performance to other pistols in class in the same caliber, in terms of accuracy, reliability, manual of arms?
• The website says the trigger pull is 5.5-6.5 lbs, but how does it actually feel? Is it long and gritty, short and crisp, an even pull or a pull that stacks up noticeably, etc., etc.?
• If you also own other models of Sigs for comparison purposes, is there a difference in build quality between the P250 and your other models, given the affordable price of the P250?

If there are other questions I didn't think to ask but that you think are relevant to other things I've raised here, please feel free to throw it into the mix.

I find that as much as I like my M&P (and I will definitely keep it and continue to carry it), I miss having a hammer fired compact pistol which is not a 1911. I used to own a USP Compact .40 which I sold. I loved the gun, but hated the caliber. If I had purchased it in .45 ACP, I'd have never let it go; but I was experimenting with .40 cal and thought I might like having a gun in that caliber. I never did get used to it, and I wanted to simplify my ammo picture, so I sold it and bought the M&P instead.

I might even see if I can't pick up a used USPc in .45, but I'm also looking at Sigs because they kind of fill that same market niche. I can't afford a brand new HK at those kinds of prices, but the $521.00 MSRP for a NIB P250 with night sights makes it very attractive.

So what do you guys who own these things think of them?

I have the 250 compact with around 15k rounds through it, my favorite gun by far. I also have the 239 with the DAK trigger, first let me say that I will only own double action guns, just my preference so I am biased towards them. The 250 trigger is long but smooth as glass and can easily be staged after a few trips to the range as it breaks in the same spot everytime. It is actually smoother than Sig's DAK. I also have the 250 subcompact that I use as a demo gun. If you want to meet at Denton County Sports sometime you can shoot them both. I know the safety can be swithed to the other side for lefties although I have not tried doing it yet.

The Annoyed Man wrote:I was browsing the Sig Sauer website a little bit ago, in response to something posted in another thread, and I was just "window shopping" their handgun line. Right off the bat, I started looking for models with left-handed controls for the left-handed shooter, and I could only find one model that fit the bill. That was the P250 line, of which the Compact with the Nitron finish interested me the most. So the more I looked at it, the more I had questions, and I decided to bring them here because I figure I'll get the straight poop here instead of a bunch of fanboy nonsense.

So, in no particular order of preference, here they are.....

• Am I right that, outside of their 1911 lineup, only the P250 is ambidextrous?
• If there are other lefty friendly non-1911 models, what are they, and are any of them available in .45 ACP? (I'm only asking because their website doesn't seem to make it apparent).
• Are any of these guns which might be lefty friendly available with a DA/SA trigger? (the P250 seems to be DA only)
• Have you enjoyed the ownership experience of your P250, or would you have chosen a different model if you could have a "do-over?"
• In real world performance, how has your P250 performed, particularly if you can compare its performance to other pistols in class in the same caliber, in terms of accuracy, reliability, manual of arms?
• The website says the trigger pull is 5.5-6.5 lbs, but how does it actually feel? Is it long and gritty, short and crisp, an even pull or a pull that stacks up noticeably, etc., etc.?
• If you also own other models of Sigs for comparison purposes, is there a difference in build quality between the P250 and your other models, given the affordable price of the P250?

If there are other questions I didn't think to ask but that you think are relevant to other things I've raised here, please feel free to throw it into the mix.

I have a 250 set up in 9x19. I acquired it so I would have a true DAO handgun to practice my double action trigger press with (or that's the excuse that I am using). I don't know if Sig makes anything that is lefty friendly besides it and their 1911 line. I know the mag release on most my P226 (I understand this is true on most in-house sig designs) can be reversed, but the decocker stays right where it's at (I know that this doesn't help you one bit). The P250 is a true DAO, no single action mode and you can press the trigger as many times as you want and the hammer moves each time. I shot the gun I now own before the previous owner purchased it and I purchased it for training purposes, as a gear guy I am highly interested in the adaptability of the platform as well. I can compare the P250 to a three other double stack 9mm guns and my order of preference for carry with them is: P226, M&P9, P250, Gen G19. Performance wise it seems to be as reliable as my P226 and my M&P as all three have had no malfunctions. I would say that the trigger pull on mine is closer to 7lbs, smooth but long (its a DA) as you can see in this quick video (http://gaheath.com/gallery/displayimage ... play_media. My P226 has a stamped slide with a pinned breech block while the P250 slide is made on a CNC machine. The grip frames are entirely different and can not honestly be compared, but the P250 trigger assembly can be completely removed from the frame (as seen below) for switching to a different configuration (grip size, slide/grip configuration, or caliber change).

I'm not sure what the difference between the DAK and the DAO is.

So, in no particular order of preference, here they are.....

(the P250 seems to be DA only)
Yes the P-250 is DA only


[*]Have you enjoyed the ownership experience of your P250, or would you have chosen a different model if you could have a "do-over?"

I bought my wife a 9mm and liked it so much I bought myself a 40, This is my primary carry gun, I have been very happy with it

[*]In real world performance, how has your P250 performed, particularly if you can compare its performance to other pistols in class in the same caliber, in terms of accuracy, reliability, manual of arms?

I have two of the early modals that had known extracter issues, i sent my 40 back to sig to have the extractor replaced also some mags caouse failure to lock back after the last round. All the newer modals have had fixes incorporated.
I find the gun very accurate, Myself not so much. With such a long trigger pull it tales a lot of practice not to jerk the gun during trigger pull.
The gun has been very reliable since.


[*]The website says the trigger pull is 5.5-6.5 lbs, but how does it actually feel? Is it long and gritty, short and crisp, an even pull or a pull that stacks up noticeably, etc., etc.?

It is long, that is what makes this gun a love or hate gun, I like the long pull as this is the only safety. There is a tendancy to stage the trigger but after practice a long quick pull thru works best. even the haters agree the trigger is one of the smoothest triggers around. There is no grittyness and very little stacking if even noticible stacking and very little take up slack with a vey crisp predictable break. This is not a short reset trigger, dont be confused by the short trigger option which is for reach only and does not shorten the reset.

If there are other questions I didn't think to ask but that you think are relevant to other things I've raised here, please feel free to throw it into the mix.

On the up side: As a byproduct of being designed for exchange kits the Fire Control Unit (FCU) is completly removable which makes cleaning a breeze. A full cleaning takes no longer than just cleaning the slide, barrell on most guns. In addition the gun is very easy to take down.
With the right size grip frame this gun is very egronomic. i find the mag release very well located. easy to release but have never had an accidental release.
I find very little differance in felt recoil between the 9mm and 40 cal, just more muzzle flip.

The down side: very few holsters for it, I have a Cross Breed and a MTAC IWB. Exchange kits and diffeant grip sizes are somtimes hard to come by. The gun comes standard with a medium grip frame. My wife and i use the small grip frame.
Sig seems to anounce new Xchange kits before their ready to ramp up production.
The grip frames for the newer generation fit all callapers from 9 to 45, the older gens have a differant grip frame for 45 so you need to make sure you have the newer mags style if purchacing additional mags (base plate change, so if you buy older mag style you can get Sig to send you newer base plate)
I believe the sub compact grip has a differant shape trigger guard and wont fit Cross Breeds compact and full size holster.
over all i am very happy an dwould recomend the P-250.
There are several forum sites t learn more from.
http://www.sigforum.com click on the pistol link and there is a p250 sticky on top (warning 151 pages long)
http://www.p250sig.com Thsi forum is broken down by calipers

Also a sig dealer and active on the P250 sticky on the Sig forum is Jerry at Ordnance Outsellers. http://www.ordnanceoutsellers.com He i svery knowledgeable on whats going on with the P250.
http://www.topgunsupply.comis also a large deale for Sigs and very competivly priced.
Warning, There might be some older style P250's floating around, not a problem but be aware because then you have to know what mags to get with what grip frame style. Also they com with and with out night sites.

Pm me and I will give you my phone number if you would like to discuss more in detail
Happy gun hunting

G.A. Heath wrote:I can compare the P250 to a three other double stack 9mm guns and my order of preference for carry with them is: P226, M&P9, P250, Gen G19.

As the owner of an M&P45 myself, I am curious to know why you place your M&P9 ahead of the P250 in that lineup, since that might affect my own decision to buy a P250 in .45.

The DAK (Double Action Kellerman) trigger is a DAO (Double Action Only) trigger as well, but has an odd reset (Well two actually). A DAK trigger has an "intermediate" reset point where the trigger pull is actually heavier than if you go back to the full reset point. As a result I do not care for DAK triggers. The reason I prefer my M&P9 over my P250 is that the ergonomics fit me better with the M&P. Overall, in my opinion at least, the M&P may be the most ergonomic polymer handgun on the market.

G.A. Heath wrote: As a result I do not care for DAK triggers. The reason I prefer my M&P9 over my P250 is that the ergonomics fit me better with the M&P. Overall, in my opinion at least, the M&P may be the most ergonomic polymer handgun on the market.

Economics is one reason I chose the P-250 with the small grip frame

I own a P250 9mm Compact and like it. Overall, it just has the feel of a quality handgun. As others have said, it has a l-o-n-g trigger pull but very smooth. Racking the slide is also as smooth as glass.

That said, I prefer the shorter pull and overall feel of my XD9-SC for daily carry. I've half toyed with the idea of selling my P250 to help fund a 1911.

Ergonomics and trigger are the reasons I chose the M&P45 over a XD45. On the DAO trigger, how long is "l-o-n-g?"

The Annoyed Man wrote:I'm not sure what the difference between the DAK and the DAO is.

unless im missing something DAK is the DAO variant for what would typically be their DA/SA line up, I think the DAK triggers are suppose to have a little shorter reset then the DAO setup in the p250, they are both DAO but they are not the same trigger, if that makes sense

I don't own a P250 but for those who are thinking about buying one and carrying it, understand that it was rejected during ATF contract testing for reliability issues. The one gov agency that did adopt it, the Federal Air Marshals, subsequently recalled it from service.

There are a lot of P250s for sale at pretty cheap prices these days. For a fun range gun, I'd say go for it. For a carry gun, you couldn't give me one.

Gringop

TAM,

I would think (but obviously don't know for sure) that the left-side controls on Sig DA/SA pistols wouldn't be much of an issue.

Takedown lever - Only used for disassembly.

Slide release - This would be tough to operate with your left hand, but a 1911 guy like yourself should be used to slingshotting the slide anyway.

Decocking lever - Can be worked with the left index finger, but you have to adjust your grip. I have to adjust my grip to use it with my right thumb, so little (if any) difference.

Magazine release - It's in the same place you find it on a 1911. Even so, it is reversible on most Sigs.

What am I missing?

gringop wrote:I don't own a P250 but for those who are thinking about buying one and carrying it, understand that it was rejected during ATF contract testing for reliability issues. The one gov agency that did adopt it, the Federal Air Marshals, subsequently recalled it from service.

There are a lot of P250s for sale at pretty cheap prices these days. For a fun range gun, I'd say go for it. For a carry gun, you couldn't give me one.

Gringop

I saw that earlier this morning, and now I'm leaning toward a P220 variant. Unfortunately, unless I can find a CPO version of it, I probably can't afford one.

The Annoyed Man wrote:On the DAO trigger, how long is "l-o-n-g?"

On my stock P250 the travel distance of the trigger's tip (from full rest to break/fire) is exactly 1". Total travel is about 1-1/16".

EDIT: My P250 doesn't see as much range time as my regular carry so I never have really gotten used to the trigger. At about 3/4" or so I start wondering if it's ever going to break. That throws my concentration off and accuracy goes down. That may be why I shoot better with my XD. It only has a 1/2" travel before breaking so I don't anticipate it as much.