RAL
M Y G U N S
|
Anaconda Links  - New
|
SIG-SAUER P226 is now officially . . . (May 14, 2004) part of My Guns |
 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
   |
Inspite of several SIG gbb models available, I never thought of getting one as none were available from the brand that often I opted for. �However, this SIG is by Tokyo Marui and I had to make an exception again. The steel equivalent looked interesting too. �It comes from a quite long series of the P2xxx family and almost beat the chosen brand/model when the US armed forces and some police agencies decided to shy away from the 1911 type of or select another side-arm. �I came across an article that said it �lost in the �accessories� category only.� A loser? �I wouldn�t say that since some police agencies choose the SIG P226 for a good number of reasons. �Even the US NAVY SEALs is reported to have used this sidearm. Why TM choose to make the SIG P226 - that I do not know nor do I have a wild guess except that it could have been used by �movie SEALs.� �Anyhow, the box cover says �Sidearm of the special forces U.S. Navy SEALs. �Provides the To Hell and Back Reliability that has made SIG so famous.� Wasn�t that the title of a movie by Audie Murphy, the most decorated US ARMY WWII soldier? �I have a clip of that movie and lots of pix afterall, it was also the very first movie that my Dad took me to. �Excellent movie: showed lots of M1 garand, M1 Carbine, M1A1 Thompson and the 50 cal mg used to mow opfors. (It�s my dad�s birthday today and decided to visit me.� As I am uploading this stuff, he noted the title too in the TM box.) Is the US Navy SEAL using �To Hell and Back,� an ARMY movie title, as a battle cry? �Could be a TM concoction only so next time, I wouldn�t be surprised if they had �Between Heaven and Hell.� hehehe.   IDENTITIES
| The box and contents is very much that of Tokyo Marui.� Nothing spectacular specially since I�ve seen this kind of box from my first TM gbb.� It�s only now though that I noted there were 5 target practice sheets.� (To think that my favorite expensive brand has one only � huh?)� Or, does that translate to using 5 target sheets before I get a good grouping? TM must have had a compromise with SIG.� If you look at the gbb�s left side, all the markings indicate a steel equivalent � the slide visibly shows the label �SIG SAUER P226 followed in smaller text �STAINLESS.�� �HuH?� I thought the term �stainless� was something close to silver or chrome � hehehe. The lower part of the slide contained �SIGARMS INC� and �EXETER-NH-USA� on another line. �P226� is (slightly) diagonally etched on both sides of the grip with a friendly finish, i.e., the grainy finish is well done that it will not cause any problem to my �sensitive� palm. The other side,� hardly indicates a gbb specially if I take out the red & black TM sticker.� The cover of the ejection port has the �9mm PARA� (is that to remind users to watch out for ejecting 9mm emptied shells?). Then beneath the slide, on the lower frame are the usual gbb trademarks and that of ASGK followed by U 658 921. The top and under sides does not have any markings but the mag is well labeled on 3 sides: bottom has the TM name, LH is marked diagonally �SIG SAUER and 9mm� on a second line; RH says �Made in Japan.�� OK, so I won�t use 9mm ammo but 6mm only.  
FEATURES   Looking at its front, there seemed to be a provision for a slide guide laser. Why not? Lasermax has one but �am not sure if it will fit the TM version; There is also a grip version laser from CTC that I am pretty sure would fit as I have a CTC laser that fitted well the grip on one of my 1911 types. TM must have had a compromise with SIG.� If you look at the gbb�s left side, all the markings indicate a steel equivalent � the slide visibly shows the label �SIG SAUER P226 followed in smaller text �STAINLESS.�� �HuH?� I thought the term �stainless� was something close to silver or chrome � hehehe. The finish is flat, i.e., all the parts are aligned, unlike in other pistols where the muzzle protrudes a bit beyond the slide.� The muzzle dia does not depict a 9mm �bore (unless my eyes are joking on me) but the inner barrel show one for 6mm.   Topside, the front and rear sights are well marked with friendly white dots to assist in target acquisition specially with poor ambient lighting.� The sights are kind of low and that means � friendly when holstered.� The whole length of the top is of smooth finish. The serration (towards the backend of the slide) to assist in pulling the slide back has 10 diagonal indentations. The underside has the rail with 3 slots, the trigger guard with a slight front overhang to stabilize left hand assist in aiming and a solid DA trigger, The LH side has the slide retaining pin lever (that I�ll have to learn yet how to operate); the decocker ([b]it works!!![/b]) and the slide release lever that is conveniently placed just above the grip and thus easily operated by the thumb � friendlier than the 1911 specially for guys with smaller hands like me.  Below and aligned with the trigger is the round mag release button, partly covered to prevent unintentional release of the magazine.� Safety.� What safety? The hammer is well recessed to avoid getting entangled with anything but �am not sure what the half-cock is for as it still enabled me to squeeze the trigger with some effort but completely effortless with the hammer cocked all the way back. Safety.� What safety? The RH side does not have anything to be operated on.� I noted though the large dia end for the slide retaining pin; an equally large opposite end of the mag rel button that didn�t protrude nor move when the mag rel button is pushed (neat!) Safety.� What safety? Dang �am too fixed on the 1911 that comparisons are basically made versus the 1911.� I keep forgetting that this is a SWISS (Switzerland, Europe) SIG-SAUER pistol P226. Anyway, here�s how it matches in size vs some other gbb�s And thus, the P226 can easily slide into most holsters. Oh, it also has a lanyard ring (or where a lanyard can be slipped into).� I wouldn�t recommend a lanyard though for the P226 as I am not sure how sturdy that ring is (two-piece? split in the middle?) unlike the Beretta M9�s ring.
(Why don�t people use lanyards for their pistols?� Movies are filled with �dropped� and �difficult� to recover pistols.� If one checked the webs, it can be said that they are fashionable too.)� Here�s a bit of lanyard history ->
TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION
|
INITIAL PERFORMANCE
Observation:
Sliding the mag from its well was without effort.� It dropped by itself as I push the release button. | Loading bb�s into the mag manually should be a breeze, i.e., if it were my favorite brand; but this is a TM.� If TM farmed out their mags production to a third party, I�d say that it was made by the same entity that manufactured the mags for the G26c Advance � you�d have to push the bb�s in with the same heavier effort.� Pushing the bb�s into the tac m or M9 are the same but slightly lighter than getting these white balls into the P226 gbb. Three models can�t have the bb simply drop in except the WA SVI mag (older ver).� The new SVI mag has a plastic end and allows easy insertion of bb. I puff less of my cigarette as it stayed mostly in the ash tray.� Good.� I get less prone to cancer. I then turned the mag upside down, aligned the r134�s can into the mag nozzle and injected gas until it hissed.� No biggie.� A cans nozzle does not need to be extra long nor an extension is needed. I re-inserted the mag into the P226, aimed at my almost 20 feet target and fired off the whole mag.� That was music to my ears � no falters, no misfeeds nor double feeds. I went through the loading, firing cycle with 3 mags and after the last rd, I felt that it can take another magful of bb�s but I did not.
The rating of RW has been questioned by others and as usual, I forgot to have it chronoed by my favorite shop, so I�ll just have to rely what RW said � 275 fps.� Whatever disparity there is in the coke can test and a chronometer, I am quite satisfied with what it did to the can � no hole in the side skin but a big dent.
|
|
 
In removing the slide, it�s a bit similar to the M9. CONCLUSION
|
I guess TM has outdone itself again. This is the reviews page.
On upgrades, I�ve checked two HKG sites but those available are intended for other brands and I do not know if these are applicable also to the TM SIG P226.� Nevertheless, there is presently no published �metal slide� even for the other brands.� Knowing third parties, however, it will probably be not too long before upgrade parts become available. UPDATES - updated jun 06 (May 14)
update 1
That�s 22 days since I�ve started using the TM SIG P226 and at 2 mag full per day (50 bb�s) , I�ve gone over a thousand bb�s and there�s been no notable malfunction except in the mag. There were two instances when bb�s got stucked in the channel but that nothing that silicon wasn�t able to fix. I inspected the channel for possible growth but there wasn�t any so I presumed it was merely dirt/dust that caused the jam.
update 2
Earlier, I presumed that it maybe difficult for left-handed people to operate the controls. I�ve been shooting the P226 with my left hand for the last two weeks. I initially had doubts that I might drop it.
update 3
I recently checked a website and saw the following upgrades specific to the TM SIG P226:
NINE BALL 6.03mm Inner Barrel for Marui SIG P226
I doubt if any will change to a 6.04mm inner barrel as the price difference to a 6.03mm is only usd3. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
