Unless you have been living under a rock, you’ll know Sig Sauer has been making some of the most sought-after handguns in the world. Until they made the Sig SP2022, the handgun that some refer to as the P226’s bastard child. But is it really deserving of that name? Is the SP2022 any good?
The Sig Sauer SP2022 is a great choice for a handgun. It’s an affordable, polymer-framed, double-action / single-action pistol that very closely resembles the world-renowned P226. The SP2022 truly is a high-quality pistol that lives up to the Sig Sauer reputation.
The Sig Sauer SP2022 has some awesome features that you would not expect from an entry-level handgun. It comes standard with Sig night sights, two magazines., great ergonomics and controls are very intuitive and easy to use. The trigger is pretty much as good as it gets for the money, and it sure looks the part.
If you want to join the Sig Sauer Snob Club, then the SP2022 might be your chance, hear me out.
| “If you’re a striker-fired loyalist who thinks hammer-fired guns have gone the route of antiquity, then go buy the P320 and be done with it. Just know that you’re passing up what I believe to be the gun world’s best-kept secret, that everyone knows about but ignores.” Colion Noir – Sig Sauer SP 2022: Back Then They Didn’t Want it |
Ergonomics and Features of the Sig Sauer SP2022
THE TRIGGER ON THE SIG SAUER SP2022 IS PRETTY DARN GOOD
The double-action trigger pull is smooth with a weight of 10lbs and the single-action trigger has a crisp clean break at around 5lbs. It is worth noting that the trigger reset feels a bit squishy, but you’ll get used to it after a few rounds. Actually, according to Colion Noir (and some other respected firearm enthusiasts), the trigger on the SP2022 is comparable to the triggers on the other high-end Sigs, such as the P229 and P226, with the exceptions of the SRT of course.
THE BORE HEIGHT TAKES SOME GETTING USED TO
Another feature of the SP2022 that I am not a big fan of is the bore height. I have shot Glock a lot before buying this Sig, and it feels quite awkward. The lower bore of a Glock results in a flatter recoil impulse, whereas with the Sig, you’ll notice a much more pronounced “muzzle flip” effect. With that said, I found that the sight picture returns instantly after the recoil impulse. With some more time behind this gun, I am sure you could completely eliminate this effect.
THE GRIP ANGLE AND TEXTURE
The grip angle points like a 1911, a slightly more vertical grip angle than a Glock. I personally find that the Glock points more naturally, but this will vary from person to person.
The grip texture really helps to make the pistol feels like part of your body. Even sweaty hands will get a tight grip.
THE CONTROLS ARE WELL POSITIONED
All the controls are easy to use without having to adjust your grip. However, I do find myself accidentally holding down the slide release lever with my thumb, preventing the slide from locking back on an empty magazine. If this was my every-day-carry gun, I would probably have made an effort to train around this by now.
The magazine release is easy to engage, and the magazine falls freely from the handgun without any assistance. Reloading with the SP2022 is fast and easy.
THE MAGAZINES ARE NOT PERFECT
The magazine design is interesting, and I am left wondering why there is a hollow pinky extension where they could have made space for an extra round or two. I see this as wasted real estate, and I have sanded it down on my carry magazine so that the gun prints less when I am carrying concealed. I get that it gives more area to grip for guys with bigger hands, but it is a missed opportunity for more ammo.
ACCESSORIES
Picatinny rail. I really liked the fact that the Sig Sauer SP2022 comes with an actual Picatinny rail instead of a proprietary rail like the Glocks and some other handguns. I have found that you can mount just about any light or laser combination effortlessly.
Size, Weight, and Concealability
The size is comparable to the Glock 19, however, the controls are quite large, the external hammer slightly increases its length, and the unnecessary pinky extension adds extra height to the pistol. For these reasons, it is not an ideal conceal carry a gun. The Glock 19 is far easier to conceal, especially when carried inside the waistband.
THE SP2022 IS NOT GREAT FOR CONCEALED CARRY
The SP2022 is a great gun to carry on the hip outside the waistband, and you can always keep it concealed under a loose jacket if the weather allows it. But, if you are looking for a handgun that is easy to carry concealed in all weather conditions, the SP2022 is not for you. The Glock 19 has a slimmer profile and has fewer protrusions making it a better option for concealed carry.
Despite being a polymer frame, this handgun is on the heavy side, around 100 grams heavier than a Glock 19. This helps a lot with the shoot-ability of the handgun but it makes it difficult to carry concealed every day.
Finish and Quality of the Sig Sauer SP2022
THE NITRON FINISH ON THE SP2022 IS NOT THAT GREAT
There is a lot of hype around the Sig Nitron finish, but frankly, I am not impressed. In the 4 years, I have has this pistol, the finish on the slide has completely worn down to bare metal where it touches my holster. Compared to the finish on my Gen 2 Glock 19, which has hardly worn at all, the finish on this Sig is really bad. I have also noticed rust can form overnight, even on the parts that are not worn down.
THE MAGAZINES RUST EASILY
The finish on the magazines also seems to rust quickly and needs to be constantly cleaned. I am left disappointed with the finish of the metal, and I would like to send mine in to be Cerakoted to solve the rust problem.
Sure, the finish is not that great, but it has never been a deal-breaker for me. As long as I clean it often, and leave a light coat of oil on the gun, the rust seems to be kept at bay. I would like to eventually Cerakote the metal parts though.
THE SLIDE IS MILLED OUT OF A SOLID BLOCK OF STAINLESS STEEL
Other than the finish, the quality of the SP2022 is really great. The slide is milled out of a single piece of stainless steel. The night sights that the gun comes with are also made out of steel, where competitors’ guns are usually using polymer sights. The rails that the slide connects to are solid, as expected from Sig Sauer.
Specifications
The Sig Sauer SP2022 is a 9mm (but also available in other calibers), hammer-fired, double-action / single-action handgun. It has a manual decocking lever and does not have a manual safety.
| Caliber: | 9mm |
| Capacity: | 15 + 1 (17 round magazines available) |
| Magazines included: | 2 x 15 Round Magazines |
| Sights: | Steel SIG Night Sights |
| Pistol Size: | Carry (Ideal for outside the waistband) |
| Overall Length: | 188mm |
| Overall Width: | 36mm |
| Overall Height: | 145mm |
| Barrel Length: | 3.9 inches |
| Weight: | 822 grams |
| Sight Radius: | 150mm |
| Accessory rail: | 1913 Picatinny |
| Trigger Action: | Double Action / Single Action |
| Grip / Frame Material: | Polymer |
| Barrel Material: | Carbon Steel |
| Slide Material: | Stainless Steel |
| Slide Finish: | Nitron |
Accuracy
This is a difficult thing to assess on a handgun, but as far as I can tell, the SP2022 will be far more accurate than you will be able to shoot it. The three-dot night sights are easy to line up and pointing and aiming is intuitive, even in low light.
I was not sure how to measure this, so the best I could do was try to shoot a 25m group using a gamechanger shooting bag supporting as much of the gun as possible, and with a red dot sight attached. All this was in an attempt to eliminate as much human error as possible. This is what I found…
Reliability
Previously named the Sig Pro, the SP2022 has earned a good reputation as a service pistol with the French Police and has been in service since 2000, and there’s no surprise they have kept in service for that long. In my personal experience, I have fired at least 2,000 rounds through my SP2022 and have never had a malfunction that was not my fault. Despite barely ever cleaning it, it just keeps going.
Aesthetics
In my opinion, the Sig Sauer SP2022 is one of the best-looking guns for the money. It looks almost exactly like other high-end Sigs like the P229, with scores of gun enthusiasts paying college tuition money for them. With the SP2022, you get the look, and in many ways, the performance of many top-tier Sig Sauers on the market for the same price as a Glock.
Frequently asked questions about the SP2022
DOES THE SIG SAUER SP2022 HAVE A SAFETY?
The Sig Sauer SP2022 has internal safety mechanisms that prevent the firearm from discharging when dropped or bumped, but it does not have an external safety that prevents the trigger from being accidentally depressed. As long as the firearm is decocked when it is carried, it is safe to carry because the first trigger press is very heavy and needs around 10lbs of pressure to be discharged.
WHAT YEAR DID THE SIG SAUER COME OUT?
The first generation of the Sig Sauer SP2022 was designed in 1998 and first produced in 1999. I was then released in 2009 as the SP2009. The Second Generation was then produced and issued as a service pistol for the French police in 2002, with the intention of being in service for 20 years before being replaced, hence the name SP2022.
DOES SIG SAUER STILL MAKE THE SP2022
Sig Sauer SP2022 pistols are still in production and for sale according to the Sig Sauer Website.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE PROBLEMS WITH THE SIG SAUER SP2022?
The Sig Sauer SP2022 is a great pistol, however, it is not perfect. The SP2022’s finish is not great and is prone to rust. The slide release level is in an awkward position and most shooters find themselves accidentally holding it down with their thumb, thus preventing the slide from locking back on an empty magazine.
The night sights are great, however, they don’t last long. In the 5 years, I’ve had my SP2022, the one dot on the rear sight no longer lights up at night.
