III. Firearm Information by Type
C. Self Loading Pistols
2. Models and Manufacturers
q. Sig Sauer
9. SP 2340: Polymer Sig Pro - A Personal Review
by Peter Jordan
What does a polymer Glock fan, think of the new polymer
Sig Pro, also known as the Sig SP 2340? Let's find out.
The Conflict:
It's fairly common for new models to get snubbed by
consumers. After all, it took time for some of our most
highly respected pistols to be accepted, such as the
original Colt 1911, as well as the early Glocks and
Classic Sigs, etc.
Apparently there are two main Sig camps: the
Traditional/Classic Sig Fans with their fancy decocking
lever, and the new Polymer Sig Rebels. Some people
actually think that durable polymer pistols are just
plain crap. Well, let's set some things straight.
First of all, whether some people like it or not, there
is a very strong mass appeal for well made polymer.
Just look at Glock history for an example.
Second of all, unless the Sig traditionalist wants a
beloved *antique* from a company that is no more, then
he/she better start supporting Sig's decision to market
both the classic and new polymer models. It's a vicious
competition war out there.
Therefore, next time someone expresses an interest in
polymer, despite all of your classic Sig logic to the
contrary, then graciously point to the Sig polymer
line! Get it!
Sig Arms picked up a healthy SP2340 Federal contract
with the DEA, which could have piggybacked to the FBI
Glock order if they had wanted to. Other agencies are
also beginning to use the new kid on the block. So the
Sig future is looking promising.
A Touch of Personal History:
Since 1993, I've been a big Glock fan. I've also
dabbled in other brands and models before and after
this date. For example: Sig P229, HK USP 40/45, Beretta
Brigadier 96, various Colt 1911 models, Ruger, AMT,
early S&W 9mm autos, etc.
When the Sig Pro first came out, I wasn't impressed and
ignored it. Even the Sig-l Internet group knocked the
new polymer kid on a regular basis. I slowly started
hearing a few people say some good things about the Sig
Pro. At any rate, I decided to take another look.
My corroded Glock mind thought, "Obviously, I like
polymer based pistols, since they hold up better than
alloy frame pistols in general. And they can be a lot
lighter, as well as less expensive." Polymer pistols
may tend to feel slightly top heavy when compared to
all-metal pistols. But that's very easy to get used to,
especially when you find out how well they function.
The Examination:
So I went into one of my favorite gun shops and fiddled
with a Sig Pro. The sales person let me disassemble it;
he looked pretty bored with me as a customer.
The Sig Pro felt good in my hands, and it really looked
good.
I especially liked the modular grips for various sized
hands. The rubber grip felt too big in my hand. I can
see that pistol grip manufacturers may have fun with
this model. Both grips felt very solid and unless you
knew it, the grip felt like a permanent part of the
frame. By the way, I had to use a wide slotted
screwdriver to pop the grip off; that grip is made to
stay on once you install it.
When I disassembled the pistol, I was pleasantly
surprised. Everything about the pistol is beefed up,
like the pins and springs, and it has tight tolerances.
The rails are down right awesome; one writer stated
that you could hold up a bridge with 'em.
Sig SP2340 Specifications:
Overall length: 7.36"
Overall height: 5.67"
Overall width: 1.34"
Barrel length: 3.86"
Rifling Lead: 14.96/.40 S&W; 15.98"/357 Sig
No. of grooves: 6
Sight base: 5.90"
Weight including magazine: 30.2 oz.
Trigger DA pull: approx. 9.5 lbs.
Trigger SA pull: approx. 4.5 lbs.
Magazine capacity: 10 (12 for Law enforcement)
No Manual Safety on the Sig Pro:
With the 1911 single action style pistol, a manual
safety is a *requirement* to carry it safely. With
newer types of pistols like Glocks and Sigs, the built
in safeties render a manual safety unnecessary. If
there were a law to require a manual safety on a Glock
or Sig, it would be the height of naivete, and
actually, very embarrassing.
But a second reason for the manual safety has arisen.
There have been times when a manual safety has saved
someone's life from a perpetrator who pulled the
trigger and nothing happened. Then again, there are
known cases where a manual safety has gotten a person
in trouble because he/she forgot to take the safety
off.
If you want to think of a manual safety as a security
lock, fine. Just remember that it is a simple toggle
switch, which can be figured out pretty easily. Are you
willing to gamble your life and possibly others, that
someone who takes your gun won't know the simple
combination to your toggle switch, also known as a
manual safety? The better technique is to develop
excellent retention and storage skills.
1911 fans have to remember to thumb the manual safety,
and Sig owners have to remember to decock the hammer
before reholstering. On the other hand, Glock owners,
as well as all pistol owners for that matter, must keep
their finger off the trigger until they are actually
going to shoot, otherwise there are bound to be
unintentional discharges.
What does all this mean? Training!
When you get right down to it, none of these trigger
systems is better than any other. There are still other
trigger styles that I haven't mentioned here. One
particular trigger system might seem better to someone
simply because of personal preference. But the bottom
line is that you have to train accordingly with the
particular type of trigger system you choose.
You'll find pistol experts in each of the above
mentioned trigger disciplines.
Personally, I like double action systems because they
are the easiest to use, for me, under stress. My
favorite double action tools are the 3-point safety
system Glocks and the 4-point safety system Sig Pros.
My favorite DA/SA tool is the Sig Pro. My favorite SA
tool is the HK USP since it incorporates 1911 style
features, such as the frame mounted manual safety, etc.
The main things all these models have in common is that
they're well made, they're polymer, and the price is
right.
The Barrel:
Wow! The barrel is fully supported. For a .40 fan, this
is fantastic news. I measured some fired Sig Pro brass
(from my initial break-in session -- see below) and was
pleasantly surprised that the brass expanded to around
.427 to .428, which is fairly close to some of the
match barrels I've used in other pistols. As a
comparison, my HK USP40 expanded the brass to around
.429 to .430 (a little sloppier, but not bad). But my
Glock was just plain bad, as in literally bad -
expanding and trashing the brass to .431 to .432 or so;
that's twice as much as the Sig Pro, assuming that new
brass measures around .422.
A reloader like myself doesn't want to see over-
expansion of the brass, since the brass won't last as
long and can be downright dangerous to use, as in kB!
(that's kaBoom! or Case Failure in glock-eese; a word
coined by the Dr. of Gun World Intelligencia, Dean
Speir, famous Gun Magazine Writer and the primary
author of the famous Glock kB! Faq). Frankly, even a
person that just shoots factory ammo shouldn't want to
take a chance with over expanding the brass in a sloppy
unsupported chamber; Buyer Beware!
Collage:
The Sig Pro appears to have an excellent positive slide
lock-up. You should not see off center primer strikes
or have problems firing out of battery with this model.
In fact, the disconnector prevents an out-of-battery
discharge.
This pistol is really built solid. The Sig Pro has
fewer parts, long lived and flexible polymer, removable
one piece fire-control unit for easily switching
between DAO or DA/SA, four point safety system,
reversible magazine release, modular grips, integral
accessory rails, non snag design, beefed up pins,
beefed up springs, beefed up slide rails, etc. This
pistol is built to be tough, long lasting, and have low
maintenance.
The new Nitron impregnated stainless steel slide seems
to be a lot better than my old P229 setup. The fact
that the Sig Pro costs an average of $200 less than the
P229 doesn't hurt either In Fact, My Sig Pro and
Glock 35 purchase prices were within $20.00 of each
other.
Since Sig wanted to create a new generation polymer
pistol, they couldn't just clone their P229, using the
same mags, etc. Compromised creations seldom excel! I
believe Sig did the right thing to make the best of a
new breed. In fact, when you look at the Sig Pro, it is
not immediately evident that it is even a polymer
pistol --- Yes, it really looks and feels that good.
Torture Testing:
I heard from one gun writer that the Sig Pro held up
very well with some European torture testing.
Mike Boyle mentioned that the DEA tested three SP2340
pistols and fired 10,000 rounds through each one. The
SP2340 was subsequently approved for use by DEA
agents.
Holsters:
Since the Sig Pro was introduced in June 1998, there
has been enough time for a number of holsters to be
made available. I'll mention the only ones I'm familiar
with at the moment, but please feel free to contact
your favorite holster company for inquiries. In Mike
Boyle's article, he mentioned using the Alessi CQC-S
(Close Quarters Covert-Snap) belt holster and the Super
Slide from FIST. I'm using the Blade-Tech belt holster
as well as their new UCH IWB (Ultimate Concealment
Inside-the-Waist-Band) holsters.
I have found the SP2340 to be quite easy to conceal
with various holsters, whether it's IWB, shoulder rig,
or even a t-shirt holster. If you want something to fit
in your pocket, then the SP2340 is not the pistol for
your purpose. But it is an excellent pistol for almost
any kind of holster you can imagine.
At the Range:
I took the Sig Pro to the range to shoot 250 break-in
rounds. The gun functioned flawlessly with 0 failures.
Just make sure the pistol is cleaned and properly lubed
before firing it for the first time.
Accuracy:
I frankly couldn't believe it. Even with its short
sight radius, compared to my Long Slide Glock 35, it
shot just as accurately, maybe even better. It was
common to share the same ragged hole in the target
within 21 feet.
Sig Bar/Dot sights:
I've been using 3-dot sights for years and the Sig bar-
dot/dotted-I sights bothered me when I first got my new
SP2340. After giving it a fair chance for a few weeks,
I grew to like the doted-I style the best. In fact, I
found that I had less of a problem shooting with both
eyes open since the eyes don't have to triangulate on
three dots. I just ordered a Trijicon front night sight
so I can shoot better in low light situations.
The Trigger:
As a comparison, I like the double-action 'safe action'
trigger system on Glocks. But once again, I was
pleasantly surprised with the Sig Pro. The first
double-action trigger pull seemed light, smooth, and
crisp, approx. 9.5 lbs. When the adrenaline hits the
blood stream, I can't tell the difference between a 2-
lb. trigger pull or a 20 lb. one. The single-action
trigger seemed light and crisp, at around 4.5 lbs.
The initial Glock trigger pull has a lot of slack until
you get to the tension point; From there, it feels
pretty much like a single action trigger. With its
short trigger reset, you don't have to let the trigger
out very far to squeeze off the next shot.
In contrast, the Sig Pro has a nice smooth double
action trigger pull that is very easy to master. The
single action mode feels fairly similar to a Glock, in
the sense of having a short trigger reset. In other
words, Sig did a great job.
Trigger Lubrication Tip:
I noticed that my .40 2340 had a very crisp trigger
while my 357 Sig 2340 trigger felt a little gritty and
stacked up at the end of the trigger pull. I took the
grip off to see if it looked dirty. Nope. (If it were
dirty, I would have swished the frame around in some
paint thinner, dried it, and relubed it.) So I pulled
out some Tetra Lube, which penetrates very nicely into
the surface. I lubed up everything in the grip area as
well as the long trigger bar. I put the pistol back
together and the 357 Sig 2340 now has a nice crisp,
trigger pull.
Timed Double-Taps:
Mike Boyle timed some double taps at an IPSC target set
at seven yards. The goal was to shoot as fast as
possible and still get the rounds into the coveted A-
zone. Mike shot ten double-tap pairs and was able to
fire from Weaver Ready in .85 of a second, with a .21-
second split between shots on the average. Performance
was equal or superior to other pistols chambered for
high performance cartridges.
Thumb Placement:
If you are used to riding your thumb high, you'll have
to change your style when shooting the Sig Pro. The
thumb should ride below the slide stop and decocking
lever so you don't gouge yourself, or cause a jam.
Perceived Recoil:
I was amazed again. The felt recoil was less than my
Glock 35, even though they weigh roughly the same. The
Glock felt like it had a bit more vibration and twist
during the firing sequence. On the other hand, the Sig
Pro felt very solid and had a bit more muzzle rise,
although it returned to position instantly. So in this
case, I'd say that the higher bore axis of the Sig Pro
is a moot point.
Sig Pro in 357 Sig Caliber:
From another perspective, Mike felt that the 357 Sig,
which averages 38,000 psi, is no more abusive than the
.40 S&W. He qualifies the report as sharp, somewhat
similar to a 38 Super, but not quite as distracting as
a .357 Magnum revolver. Mike also felt the SP2340 will
prove to be one of the better bullet launchers for this
round.
If you're not a dedicated pistolero, or don't want to
put up with the extra 357 Sig full power jolt, you
might just want to look at the new Sig Pro SP2009 in
9mm Luger format. Or, and I think very importantly, you
can also use lightly loaded 357 Sig rounds, which I
often do at the range, to emulate the mellow 9mm Luger
round, for the purpose of saving my hand from getting
sore from shooting a few hundred rounds.
Yeah Baby! The extremely efficient, bottlenecked 357
Sig is so "flexible" that it can be downloaded to feel
like a typical 9mm round or it can be juiced up to a
357 Magnum equivalent, according to exterior
ballistics, using bullet weights from 90 grains to 150
grains!
Some typical Full Power velocities using one of my
favorite 357 Sig powders, Alliant Blue Dot, from a 4"
barrel (barrel measurement includes chamber):
Bullet gr. Velocity Power Energy psi.
Factor ft-lb
90 JHP 1690 152 570 35,300
115 JHP 1495 172 572 37,400
124 TMJ 1405 174 541 36,900
147 XTP 1205 177 471 35,800
(Obviously, a longer 5" barrel or more, can increase
velocities substantially. Maximum SAAMI psi for the 357
Sig is rated at 40,000. Since the case is more beefed
up than the .40 S&W case, the maximum pressure is not
an issue.)
If you would rather compare pistols, then Mike said the
SP2340 can produce slightly tighter groups with less
perceived recoil than the P239, and is just as accurate
as his P220 in 38 Super.
Mike sums it up nicely: "Even when firing the high
energy .357 SIG, felt recoil was negligible. You know
you're shooting something with a little more pizzazz
than a 9mm, but when one considers that external
ballistics are on par with a .357 Magnum, felt recoil
transmitted to the shooting hand is mild indeed. In
fact, push is definitely less than our P239 .357 SIG we
used for comparison. There is a more pronounced muzzle
flip than a 9mm for example, but this is easily
managed. With a proper grip and stance, this should not
prove to be much of a handicap to a seasoned shooter."
The SP2340 Magazine:
The first generation SP2340 magazine had a tendency for
the base plate to come off. Sig fixed this problem. The
second generation magazine holds together nicely and
that's the current version as I write this review.
The magazine is labeled for both .40S&W and 357 Sig. An
empty magazine drops free very cleanly. But, if you
load up the magazine and rack the slide, the magazine
is no longer drop-free in the strict sense of the word.
Reason: the next round on top of the magazine "can"
slip forward slightly. It doesn't matter if you bang
your loaded magazine to seat the rounds first. I called
Sig Arms and they bluntly told me this is an engineered
feature. It does not adversely affect the cycling of
the Sig Pro.
For an IPSC shooter, not using a drop free magazine is
anathema. The Sig Pro is not a true IPSC pistol with a
2-3 lb. single action trigger pull housed in a
lightning fast trick holster. While IPSC isn't great
for learning life saving tactical skills, it is good
for practicing speed and accuracy, as well as having
lots of fun.
My drop-free Glock magazines are more like drop-slow
magazines. So I usually reach up and rip the Glock
magazine out when I press the magazine release. Because
of the Sig magazine feature mentioned above, you have
to rip the Sig Pro magazine out as well.
For IDPA tactical shooting, you usually shoot until the
slide locks back or you do a tactical reload. In this
kind of defensive practical/tactical shooting, a drop
free magazine is not critical.
Maintenance Take-Down:
After breaking in the Sig Pro at the range and breaking
it down for cleaning a few times, it becomes a lot
easier to work with. The pistol is kind of tight when
you first get it. I have to admit that I sure miss the
traditional takedown lever of the classic Sig's.
Apparently, because of the mechanics of how the barrel
cam works, Sig engineers opted to use the more common
slide catch lever takedown method used by many other
auto pistols.
In order to take down the pistol for maintenance, you
have to take the magazine out and lock the slide back.
This pretty much forces even the most dense owner to
look into the chamber to make sure it's empty --- I
like this safety feature a lot.
Decocking Lever:
Another complaint from the Traditional Sig owners is
that the decocking lever on the Sig Pro isn't as nice
as the one on the classic models. Well, "I know you
are, but what am I?" Classic or not, the Sig Pro
decocking lever works fine, especially after it is
broken in. In fact, the Sig Pro may be a little more
snag free because of its recessed decocker and slide
catch lever.
Chronograph Data:
I don't have any chronograph data on the Sig Pro yet.
So I'm quoting from Sig Pro SP2340 articles written by
Walt Rauch and Mike Boyle. In Walt's article, his last
paragraph states: "Both calibers [357 Sig and 40 S&W]
performed at a high accuracy level as shown in the
accompanying tables and were very pleasant to shoot. In
fact, I found the .40S&W version to be the most
accurate polymer-frame handgun in .40 caliber that I've
shot to date."
.357 Sig (by Walt Rauch)
Ammunition Velocity Group
Size
Speer Lawman 125-gr. TMJ 1299 2.0"
Remington 125-gr. JHP 1305 2.25"
Federal Premium 125-gr. JHP 1361 2.0"
Federal Premium 125-gr. FMJ 1278 1.75"
Cor-Bon 115-gr. JHP 1489 2.50"
.357 Sig (by Mike Boyle)
Ammunition Velocity Group
Size
Triton Hi-Vel 115 JHP 1414 2-7/8
CorBon 115 JHP 1494 2-3/4
CorBon 125 JHP 1375 2-1/4
Remington UMC 125 FMJ 1319 2-5/8
.40 S&W (by Walt Rauch)
Ammunition Velocity Group
Size
Black Hills 180-gr.FMJ 921 2.5"
Cor-Bon 135-gr. JHP +P 1283 3.25"
Federal Personal Defense
135-gr. JHP 1177 3.50"
Hornady 155-gr. XTP 997 2.5"
Remington Golden Saber
165-gr. BJHP 1075 3.25"
Speer Gold Dot 155-gr JHP 1188 3.00"
Winchester 165-gr. SXT JHP 1074 3.25"
(Charts Note: 5 shot groups at 25 yards)
Competition Shooting:
As an aside, I may eventually order 5" - 5.25" 357
Sig/.40 S&W barrels, so the pistols will just barely
fit into the IPSC box. Then I can more easily make
Major Power Factor with lower pressures. A Bar-Sto rep
told me that he already is working on prototype Sig Pro
barrels in standard and extended lengths --- expect Sig
Pro barrels from Bar-Sto this summer, '99.
If I understand the current IPSC rules, I'd have to
shoot the 357 Sig in the Minor Power category for the
Limited Class. But If I can make Major in the Open
Class, I'm good to go. Currently the only exception I
know of is that the 357 Magnum can shoot Major Power in
the Limited Class, even though it's smaller than the
minimum 10mm size bullet. Since the 357 Sig has the
external ballistics of the 357 Magnum, then maybe,
eventually ..... :)
Summary:
Why consider a Sig Pro:
1. Highest quality polymer frame, producing excellent
damping characteristics.
2. Excellent recoil control with both the 357 Sig and
40 S&W calibers.
3. Efficient, snag free, recessed decocker and slide
catch lever design.
4. Lower cost; the retail price of the SP is $200 less
than the P229.
5. Simplified internal design.
6. Built tough to last.
7. Low maintenance.
8. Hammer-forged steel barrel for strength and
accuracy.
9. Fully supported barrel chamber (especially critical
for 40 S&W pistols).
10. Option of buying an extended Bar-Sto barrel for
greater velocity potential.
11. Disconnector prevents out-of-battery discharge.
12. Interchangeable grips to fit various hand
sizes.
13. Excellent grip angle for quick sight
acquisition.
14. New corrosion-resistant Nitron impregnated
stainless steel slide.
15. Steel to steel lockup of slide and frame.
16. Enclosed slide and grip design to keep out dirt
& grime.
17. Integral fire control unit to easily switch
from DA/SA to DAO.
18. Wide array of sights to choose from: standard
Bar-dot/Dotted-I, 3-Dot, night sights, etc.
19. Integral accessory rails for attachments, such
as the perfectly integrated Laser Sighting System
(developed exclusively for Sig Pro models. Quickly
slides on or off without changing point-of-impact
or requiring special holstering. Waterproof to 10
meters. Day or night use).
20. Reversible magazine release.
21. Non-snag design.
22. Slotted front and rear sights.
23. 4-point safety system.
24. Slide must be fully open for dismantling -
decreases chance for human error.
25. Full functional safety for first shot
potential.
26. Very smooth and easy to master trigger pull for
speed and accuracy.
27. Follow-up shots, in either DAO mode, or SA mode
-- your choice.
28. Excellent short reset in SA mode.
29. Easy to cock hammer to fire first shot in SA
mode.
30. Loaded round indicator.
31. Excellent accuracy.
32. Excellent Sig precision, reliability and
Quality.
33. Excellent customer service and support.
The Sig Pro/Sig SP 2340 is the smallest, big pistol
that you can pleasantly shoot full powered 357 Sig and
.40 S&W ammo through, without being concerned about
recoil, as well as providing excellent accuracy and
durability. I take my hat off to Sig Engineering.
A new generation polymer pistol is here, and it's a Sig
Pro. Sig Arms summed it up well when they said the
following about the new polymer Sig Pro: "It's the only
polymer-frame pistol good enough to be a SIG".
Addendum (SP2340 Versus P229):
I've had two P229's. But I like my Sig Pro better. Why:
1. More efficient, snag free, recessed decocker and
slide catch lever design.
2. Beveled, narrower slide.
3. Less blocky, more pleasant streamlined slide and
frame shape.
4. Optional grips for various sized hands --- great
feature.
5. At least as accurate as my P229's, maybe more so.
6. Less parts.
7. Less maintenance.
8. Less expensive.
9. More durable.
10. Better recoil damping due to polymer frame.
11. 1 piece fire control unit to easily switch
between DA/SA and DAO.
12. Integral accessory rails for light attachments,
etc.
13. Awesome, tough slide rails --- built to last
longer than the Classic Sig models.
14. Excellent over-all pistol balance, as with the
P229.
Yes, I still love the classic, flexible P229 with its
amazing take-down and decocking levers. May the classic
Sigs and Sig Pro polymer line live in peace
-------------------------
References:
Guns & Weapons for Law Enforcement: "New Sig Arms sig
pro .357SIG" by Mike Boyle; 1999 Law Enforcement
Equipment Guide.
1999 Annual Handguns: "A Radical New Sig" by Rich
Savage; magazine displayed until April, 1999.
American Guardian: "Sig Pro SP2340" by Walt Rauch,
April, 1999.
Sig Arms Product Portfolio, 1999.
Version 1.7