The SIG Sauer P226 was developed explicitly as an entry pistol to compete at the XM9 Service Pistol Trials held by the US Army in 1984 to replace the M1911A1. It was derived from the original P220, which became famous due to its inherent accuracy and has been considered the benchmark for precision testing.
During the XM9 Service Pistol Trials, the P226 battled directly against the Beretta M92F Model, but it lost out due to its cost and durability when compared to its Italian counterpart. The Beretta M92F was granted the US Army contract and obtained the designation that we all know today as the M9. Regardless of the setback, the P226 still made its way to the military and other security agencies. In 1989, the US Navy SEALs (elite operatives) specifically chose the P226 as their service pistol after experiencing problems with the M9. Other agencies like the British Special Forces (SAS), FBI, Federal Marshals, and US Coast Guard also chose the P226 as their next service pistol. Due to its popularity, it was later adopted by many military, police, and security services around the world as their new sidearm.
The P226 MK25 is identical to the pistol carried by the US Navy SEALs. The railed pistol chambered in 9 mm and engraved with an anchor on the left side of the slide is the official sidearm of the SEALs. This firearm is a full-sized combat pistol featuring a DA (double action) or SA (single action) trigger with a decocking lever. The pistol is corrosion-resistant and has a phosphate coating over it.
Being as famous as it is, the P226 isn’t invincible. Upon reading articles online, the most common reported issues are as follows:
1. Magazine Issue
2. Light Strike
3. Extractor Breakage
These problems are rather easy to fix, and they are usually caused by a lack of proper maintenance. It was reported that the magazine can fall by itself while firing or that the pistol won’t shoot (light strike) due to its magazine alignment. It is best to check if the magazine is broken, or maybe it’s time for a spring replacement. A dirty pistol can cause the same failure as well. Properly cleaning and oiling the pistol is recommended. Getting a replacement magazine like Mec-Gar is highly recommended due to their very high-quality products. Extractor breakage is common and should be replaced according to the manufacturer’s recommendation to avoid this problem.
Now that we have all that information out of the way, we can now focus on today’s testing. I have a SIG Sauer P226 MK25 with a Pro-Cut slide and Romeo1Pro on top, a Gray Guns flat trigger, a Wolff hammer spring, and a SIG Sauer short reset trigger kit. I barely upgraded anything because that’s all that this pistol needs. This MK25 has an average trigger pull weight (10 pulls) of 6 lbs. and 8 oz. and 3 lbs. and 4 oz. for double-action and single-action, respectively.
I will be using Atlanta Arms Elite 115GR JHP Match Grade ammunition for accuracy testing. For the reliability test, I will be using Hornady Subsonic 147GR JHP, Hornady Critical Duty 135GR FlexLock, CCI Blazer 147GR TMJ, Winchester Target 115GR JHP, and Federal Champion Training 115GR FMJ.
Just like before, the target that I’ll be using for this test is from T. Rex Arms. It has a 1-inch box in the middle and a 1.5-inch (inside diameter) and approximately a 3.4-inch (outside diameter) box in the top right corner of the paper.
The Range
The temperature here in California is 80 degrees Fahrenheit, with a relative humidity of 45% and an elevation of about 1,053 feet.
During the warm-up phase, I spent over 200 rounds in 2 hours, and that includes zeroing the optic. Moving forward, I shot ten rounds at 10 yards and five rounds at 25 yards for accuracy testing. I prefer Atlanta Arms Elite ammunition because it is very accurate, and I only use it for pistols that can perform well. The whole warm-up/reliability session went smoothly, but I have to admit that my eyes feel tired already, even before I start the accuracy test. Anyway, I did not experience any kind of malfunction or failure during the whole session.
Accuracy Test
I shot ten in the middle of the 1-inch box at 10 yards. Most of them are inside the box, but a few got away from me. The measurement is around 1.9 inches from end to end. Please see Figure 1.2 below for the result.
At 25 yards, I shot five rounds, and all four were in the box apart from one that is a few centimeters below the 3.4-inch box. All-in-all, the measurement comes out to be 1.9 inches from end to end. Please see Figure 1.3 below for the result.
Performance
This pistol is simple to shoot. The recoil is easy to handle. The accuracy still puts a smile on my face. The trigger is very smooth, and I like how the DA trigger pull feels. It is distinctive and slick from the beginning until the end. The SA trigger pull is polished, and it almost feels the same as my custom P320 pistol. The decocking lever is a great addition, as I can safely decock the hammer without exerting any effort or focusing on pulling the trigger and hammer simultaneously to decock it slowly. The grip provides a lot of traction, and I cannot ask for anything else. The accuracy is outstanding. Every time I shoot this pistol, it gives me constant gratification because my groupings are always great from the get-go. This pistol is effortless to use and accurate. I have had this pistol for over a decade now with more than 6,000 rounds through the barrel, and the precision is still the same. The only thing that I replaced in 10 years was the recoil spring because it got too soft for my taste. The slide, trigger, hammer spring, and SRT were recent additions, and they were mainly due to my curiosity. The bottom line is that this firearm will never let you down!
Ergonomics
The SIG Sauer P226 MK25 has a great feel to it. The grip is perfect for my big hands. It provides me with a lot of traction, especially when I changed the grip to “legionize” the pistol. The simple frame cutouts were surprisingly good. I did not feel any discomfort at all, and I always had very good control of the pistol. Adding a light attachment is easy, and I can simply reach the controls without breaking my grip. The same can be said when using the decocking lever or slide release lever.
Appearance
The appearance is a mixture of modern and classic. That combination alone made the pistol look more unique and appealing. It’s not often that you get great looks when you combine two periods into one with less modification.
Customization
There are a few dependable companies out there, so you need to do your homework before installing any aftermarket parts. Gray Guns is synonymous with SIG Sauer pistols, and you cannot go wrong with them.
Conclusion
The SIG Sauer P226 MK25 earned a deserving grade of 9.5 out of 10. This pistol is easily in my top 10 for a production pistol. The performance and intrinsic accuracy of this handgun are outstanding, and I can see why the US Navy SEALs chose this pistol. This MK25 is well-built and will function whenever you want it to, regardless of the realistic condition it is in.
The hefty price tag might be off-putting for a lot of people, but this pistol is the real deal. You are essentially paying for the great workmanship that comes with it. Simply put, the special forces around the world won’t be using it if it’s not that impressive. There is a reason why it was chosen by the Navy SEALs and was almost exclusively in use for nearly 30 years. So, is it worth the price tag? Yes! There are only a few production pistols that can give me the same satisfaction every time I shoot them, and the P226 MK25 is one of them.
TEST RESULT
Reliability: 10/10
I did not experience any failures after using multiple different brands of ammunition in both the reliability and accuracy tests. This pistol has been shooting great for over a decade now, and it only had roughly three FTFs early on, and it was because of the ammunition and not the pistol. So to be fair, I am not deducting anything because of that since this should be about the pistol and not the ammunition.
Accuracy: 9.2/10
The P226 MK25 full-sized pistol is very accurate considering that I only changed the slide, trigger, and hammer spring, and added an SRT. Since everything else is stock, it is safe to say that this production pistol exceeded my expectations. It is very easy to hit the bulls-eye with this pistol, and I am not exaggerating. The score would have been a tad higher if I hadn’t thrown away a few rounds at 10 yards. That was my own doing, and not the pistol's. But since the result needs to reflect the score, I will give this a respectable 9.1.
Performance: 9.3/10
With minimal upgrades, this firearm performed above my expectations. You can tell that the manufacturer did a very good job when all you have to do is change little things, and it still performs great compared to its upgraded competitors. Since it is using a stock barrel, the left, and right, and front and back deviations from the barrel-slide fit are noticeably big.
Ergonomics: 10/10
This grip gave me a lot of traction, and it felt really good in my hands. There is ample space for your left hand and a nice place for your left thumb when managing the recoil. The simple cutouts are very even and well thought out, and I did not feel any discomfort while shooting.
Appearance: 9.3/10
For an old pistol, the MK25 can still go head-to-head with modern handguns. The combination of modern and classic looks makes this pistol even more appealing.
Customization: 8.7/10
Several companies are selling aftermarket parts for the P226; only a few are reputable. Honestly, if you can’t find what you want on the SIG Sauer website, your best bet would be Gray Guns and Meg-Car.
Overall Score: 9.41/10 ★
★: HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. EDITOR'S CHOICE.
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