Review of the SIG 2022: The Redheaded Stepchild

Summary

If you are wanting a high quality, no BS firearm you can bet your life on under even the most adverse conditions, and you only have about $500, buy the SIG SP2022.

(Note the large slide release, decock lever, and triangular mag release button)

Intro

There’s something about the SIG 2022 that just confuses me.  It has a reliable, proven design, is one of the most commonly issued pistols in Europe, it’s accurate, it’s moderately light weight (compared to the P-series), and it comes in the 3 very popular calibers for law enforcement and military use, and it combines a John Moses Browning design with that of SIG, and Sauer & Sohn.  You would think this would be a slam dunk, right?  Yet, with all of that said the gun is almost unacknowledged by SIG USA, seldom if ever seen in the gun rags, few reviews exist online for it, and even though it is incredibly priced for the quality you get, it seems to remain largely unknown by most shooters.  The term “redheaded stepchild” comes to mind anytime I think of the SIG 2022.  But as to “why?”  I simply do not know.

SIG USA has spent untold dollars and advertising resources to push their ill fated P250 series and now their striker fired P320 series.  It would seem that SIG USA is attempting to tap into Glock’s market share with a polymer framed pistol, and using a striker firing mechanism to lower the bore axis of the gun (presumably) while retaining the handling characteristics and reliability that made SIG famous in the first place.  The confusion sets in when I think of all the time and money doing this, when SIG so obviously has a proven winner already in the bullpen just waiting for the support it needs to get out of the gate.  Maybe the reason why this unsung talent remains “on the shelf” from a sales and support standpoint is in the details.  So let’s take a closer look at the SIG P2022 9mm.  Click here for a review on the SIG Pro 2340 vs the P229.

(The SP2022 and Sig P229 are very similar in size)

A Brief History

The SIG P2022 started off life as a SIG Pro in designation SP2009 (in 9mm variant) and SP2032 (in .357 SIG and .40 S&W variants).  The gun was designed as a joint venture between two very famous (and deservedly so) companies that were known at the time as SIG (Switzerland) and Sauer & Sohn (Germany).  The gun used a proprietary magazine design and proprietary accessory rail and was offered as a budget alternative to the much more expensive (and famous) P-series line by SIG.  Although no aspects of the design were “revolutionary” the design was a combination of some of the worlds best firearms architecture ever to grace blueprint.  To start off there was the John Moses Browning cam operated locking system as seen on the ever famous Colt M1911 and later the Browning Hi-Power.  Add to that legacy a proven, robust design of the SIG slide design (the Pro series strongly resembles the P-series slides) and a unique design in the frame which includes interchangeable grips (over a decade before Glock got the idea), a stainless steel reinforced frame, and slightly modified version of the famous SIG Sauer decocking mechanism.  The trigger?  I’d call it a “new take on an old friend.”  Anyway, that’s all history right?  The point is the gun combines innovation with combat proven designs in a way that should whet the appetite for any knowledgeable gun aficionado.  For a more detailed breakdown, you should visit LundeStudio.com.  

The Modern SIG Pro

The SIG Pro went through a midlife crisis when failing to set the market on fire.  Although the gun was adopted by a few military and law enforcement agencies there were several aspects of the design that needed to be rethought.  First, the accessory rail did not fit anything commonly available on the market and this obviously limited its application.  So they ditched the proprietary design and gave it the much more common Picatinny rail which not only upgraded the utility of the gun, but should also pique the interest of any mall ninja looking for something that looks more “tactical” or menacing.  Second, the rounded trigger guard was scrapped in favor of a hooked design, favored by many European shooters and professionals (to say nothing of those within the US).  There were a few other minor changes, such as moving away from the line/dot configuration sights to the three dot sights (at least of the US market) and the addition of a lanyard hole, and completely unnecessary loaded chamber indicator.  That said the new design is much more usable simply by the changes to the trigger guard and accessory rail.

With these design changes and reportedly extensive testing (firing over 400,000 rounds...and no I cannot find an original source to link), the French government decided to adopt the SIG 2022 to replace the sidearms of all of their law enforcement and military collectively.  Okay, okay, before the French jokes start flying about “never fired, dropped once” kind of BS, let’s remember the famous French Foreign Legion is also part of the French military for what that’s worth.  Anyhow back to the review.  The French contract alone resulted in an order of over 250,000 sidearms to be fulfilled by year 2022 (thus the name designation) but they weren’t alone; the United States Army also ordered a comparatively paltry sum of 5,000 units from SIG USA.  The SIG 2022 is also commonly available in the US to anyone with around $500 burning a hole in their pocket and I recommend it as a “highest value” offering.    

(A SP2022 and Sig P229 side by side, note the rails of each)

My Personal History with the SIG Pro

I owned the original SIG Pro in .40 S&W several years ago.  At the time I was shopping for a .40 caliber SIG that was lighter to carry than my issued P229.  I found two weapons that fit my need, one was the SIG P239 which had a capacity of 7 rounds a weight of close to 28 ounces and to my hand, an awkward grip which was just short enough to be uncomfortable but not so short as to be much more concealable than the P229.  I promptly sold my P239 in favor of a SIG Pro 2340 and had enough cash left over to buy a lot of ammo and magazines.  After carrying this gun for a few years I finally exited my career in law enforcement and decided to “thin the herd” of firearms I had accumulated over the years.  The SIG 2340 was one of the ones I sold off since I had an opportunity to sell it for basically what I paid for it in the first place.  Shortly after the sale I regretted my decision.  That gun fit my hand like a glove, was reliable to a fault, had NEVER malfunctioned on me after around 4,000 rounds fired, and had proven itself worth keeping.  Live and learn I guess.

Fast forward to 2012.  As I walk through an Academy Sport & Outdoors one afternoon, looking for a new handgun, I lay my eyes on a SIG 2022, the modern version of my long lost friend.  Here’s the kicker, the gun came with 2 different grips, and 3 magazines (worth about $40 to $50 each) and all for $399.  Yeah I bought that sucker on the spot, okay...actually I bought 2 (but don’t tell my wife).  Since that time I have put about 2,500 rounds through  one and about 250 rounds through the other.  I also made a point to carry this pistol concealed, every day, for one year before writing this user review to get a good feel for both the gun and its utility among everyday CHL holders.  If you are the kind of person just looking for a gun to shoot and for home defense, and you’re set on a 9mm handgun, let me save you some time, just buy this pistol.  If however you ever intend on carrying this weapon for any length of time, concealed or otherwise, keep reading.  

(Note the rails of the SP2022, there are 4 contact points unlike the P229 which is full length, the difference is the rails of the SP2022 are steel, not alloy, and have slightly looser tolerances)

Shooting the 2022

After purchasing the 2022 I remembered I prefered the large grips for this gun, yet mine came with only the small and medium sizes.  After scouring the internet for hours I finally gave up finding them (they are as rare as hen’s teeth) and called SIG Arms.  The customer service rep was actually surprised they had them in stock saying “I’m surprised we have these, we normally don’t stock them because nobody ever buys them.”  Sad news I guess, life’s hard for guys with big hands.  Anyhow I promptly added the new grips and took the gun to the range, it was like an old friend coming home after many years away.  I was so happy.  I shot the crappiest ammo known to man since this was at the height of the ammo panic following the presidential elections.  It was steel cased Russian junk yet the 2022 ate 400 rounds of it in one go without so much as a hiccup.  It was more accurate than I was, easily within the same ballpark as Glock or my SIG P229 and though i did not bench test the gun, I was able to shoot the middle out of a common silhouette at ranges of 20, 35, 50, and 75 feet.  The thing that amazed me most is the recoil, or more specifically the lack of it.  With the large rubberized SIG Pro grips on this gun, the perceived recoil is less than that of a Glock 17 or SIG P226 (both of which I consider very light recoiling guns) making rapid fire laughably easy.

Since that initial trip to the range I took 2 magazines and loaded them up with ammo, they would stay this way for the majority of the year with rare exception (note these were not my self defense magazines) The only time these two test magazines were unloaded and reloaded was at the range after firing.  I used the same two magazines for range trips for a reason, I suspected that they would be the weak link in the gun’s design (I hate proprietary mags).  I practiced multiple drills with the gun over the course of a year to include rapid fire, double taps, Mozambique drills, combat reloads, tactical reloads, 1 handed reloads, etc.  I would dump the mags empty or even semi-full into rocks, sand, and once the mud, slapping them home in the gun and resuming fire again.  Grit and grime found its way into every corner of the gun and only once did I have an issue (described below).  After each trip to the range I’d wipe the mags down without taking them apart and load them back up making sure the follower functioned appropriately.  

(The underside of the SP2022, note the slide stop pin.  The slide itself strongly resembles that of the P-series SIG pistols)

Finally if Fails

It was a cold, sunny day, the wind was blowing hard and we were in a Texas drought.  As you might guess the dirt was akin to fine sand and blowing everywhere.  I stood on the range practicing a tactical reload (ala Dave Spaulding...see video starting at 1:10 to 1:17).  I dropped a half empty magazine in the dirt as I started to kneel down, retrieved the semi-full magazine, pocketed it, and emptied the full magazine into the target.  I then took cover and reloaded with my semi-empty (the only ammo I had on me) and upon hitting the slide release the top round failed to go into battery and instead the butt end of the round stove piped out of the gun.  It was the weirdest “jam” I had ever experienced and so I had to show it to my shooting partners at which time they all had to have a good laugh at my expense.  

There were a few factors that contributed to the failure.  Upon examination of the magazine, the rounds had nose dived in the magazine due to the impact with the ground when I released it.  The SIG 2022 really kicks the magazines out of the well when you hit the mag release button and they hit the ground with some force.  Whatever “friction free” coating they put on Sig’s magazines really works.  When the rounds nose dived, the follower did not return with full force due to sandy grit that stuck in the magazine.  Finally the springs, after over a year of being compressed, were weakened enough not to be able to overcome the friction in the magazine the grit caused and thus the live rounds just bounced around in the void left over.  It should be noted this was in no way the gun’s fault.  In fact it was not even the magazine’s fault, it was mine.  The lessons learned were threefold.  First, maintaining your magazine is at least as critical as maintaining your weapon, they are a vital part of the system.  Second, dropping a mag you intend to reuse later into the dirt may not be the best idea in the world.  Aside from dirt and grit you might actually break some piece of the magazine or otherwise cause it to disassemble itself should it impact a hard surface like concrete (I have seen this before).  Third, rotate your magazines regularly.  How often is up for debate but I digress.  After swapping out for fresh magazines (and cleaning up the old ones) I have not since had another failure at around 400 rounds fired since.

(A SP2022 9mm magazine and a P229 .40 S&W magazine.  Note the differences in the floor plates)

Concealed Carry Utility of the 2022

Here’s where the metal meets the meat.  A gun that is uncomfortable to carry will likely not be carried and the SIG 2022 takes a special kind of user.  It’s physically bigger than the P229, though smaller than the P226.  It’s somewhere in between in both length and height.  The width of the gun is ever so slightly wider in where the grip meets the frame, but for IWB carry is largely inconsequential.  One thing in the 2022’s favor over the P-series is weight.  The gun weighs a few ounces less which while minor, is noticeable when you carry it.  This is not a small gun and as such requires a good belt and a good holster, Uncle Mikes isn’t going to cut it here.  Happily the SIG 2022 will fit most leather holsters intended for the Springfield XD .40 & 9mm (with the 4 inch barrel).  I purchased a Don Hume 721OT which is light, holds the gun tight against the body and is fast on the draw.  With a T-shirt and unbuttoned over shirt, I can carry this comfortably even during a Texas summer.  Since I also have an appreciation for retention holsters, I  carried the gun for about 4 months using a Bianchi Carrylok (made specifically for the SP2022 Size 11B).  This holster carries slightly higher than the Don Hume and holds the gun very tight to the body while keeping it absolutely secured with their innovative Carrylok system (this has become my favorite method of carry).  I also ordered an Old Faithful IWB holster, which I highly recommend if you want to just go with a loose t-shirt.  It should be noted that depending upon your body type and build, the IWB method with a t-shirt may print slightly.  Although the gun weighs over 30 ounces fully loaded, with a good holster and gun belt I consider this to be a very comfortable gun to conceal and carry.  Even though I generally hate proprietary magazine designs which have no aftermarket support, the design of the SIG Pro magazine, offering a finger groove on the front of the gun’s grip actually helps to minimize printing while concealing giving the gun’s butt less of a squared off “I’ve got a gun under my shirt” look (especially if you carry crossdraw).  It offers a full size grip feel while having a more compact gun heel, which I appreciate.  I have also found the finger groove of the magazine provides positive indexing for ensuring the direction of the magazine sight unseen which is handy when performing tactical reloads or reloads on the move.  As a duty weapon or open carry weapon I have no reservations, this gun would be excellent and I would not hesitate to bet my life on it.  

(Another pic of the SP2022 rails.  The red grease is Mobil 1 synthetic ball bearing grease)

Pros

The 2022 has a lot going for it and every potential buyer should be aware of the pros (in no particular order):

• Lighter than a P-Series SIG.
• Reliable to a fault.
• After a little dry firing has possibly one of the best DA/SA triggers available today.
• Soft, soft, soft...as in kitten soft recoil.
• Interchangeable grips (you get a small and medium by default, large can be hard to find).
• Very accurate.
• Metallic sights (as opposed to plastic that come stock on Glock).
• Fits Springfield XD 4 inch leather holsters (which are easy to find).
• Perfect for a duty weapon, pretty good for a concealed weapon.
• It costs around $500 (often times less).
• It carries SIG’s lifetime warranty.
• The sights are interchangeable with the SIG P-series (for nightsights, etc.)
• Anti friction coating positively ejects magazines..
• Large controls on the gun (magazine release, slide release, decock).  
• Excellent grip angle.  If you like the feel of a P-series, you’ll like this gun.
• Proven in the field.
• Accessory rail will fit almost anything Picatinny.   
• Finally, I for one am impressed with the design characteristics of the gun.  

Cons

The SP2022 is not without it’s warts.  Some of the cons of this gun are:

• Almost no aftermarket magazines, only SIG brand aside from an awkward Mecgar 17 rounder.  (Note, the Mecgar 17 rounder does not fit flush to the gun and can result in a painful pinch when firing…it is not recommended).
• Magazines are expensive, especially for what you get.  They are almost twice as much as a Glock magazine.  
• The trigger will need a brief break in period.  Out of the box it does not have the famous “slick as snot” P-series DA/SA feel but will eventually get there.
• I hate 3 dot sights and much prefer the old line/dot configuration.  I realize I am in the minority on this which is probably why the 2022 comes with 3 dots standard.
• There are no replacement parts available for the magazines.  No springs, no followers, no floorplates.  If you break it, you have to buy an entirely new magazine (thanks SIG).  
• High bore axis.  For some people this is an issue, especially Glock guys.  I find the bore axis to be on par with the SIG P-series and because of the light recoil I have no issue with this whatsoever, but a Glock aficionado close to me pointed this out so I thought I’d mention it here (rolling eyes).  

Final Assessment

Overall the SIG 2022 gets a “best value” rating.  By “best value” I mean this is one of those rare times in life where you get more (much more) than you pay for it.  The gun is less expensive than a Glock, much less expensive P-series, and easily within the same ballpark in quality.  Dollar for dollar, there is nothing (in my opinion) in this price range that can match what the SIG SP2022 offers.