Notes: The P-220 was designed as a mechanically simpler alternative to the P-210. In development since the late 1960s, the P-220 was introduced in 1974, and almost immediately was adopted by the Swiss Army as the P-75. The P-220 were built in 4 calibers, but the 7.65mm Parabellum chambering was discontinued in 1992, and the 9mm Parabellum chambering in 2001. The .38 Super chambering was always limited-production, and production was discontinued in 2003. The .45 ACP version (designed specifically for the US market, and at first marketed as the P-220 All-American) remains in production. A kit to convert the P-220 to fire .22 Long Rifle ammunition is also available (from several companies, including SiGArms).

The main design simplification of the P-220 is in the locking and unlocking system – the cam system for lowering and raising the tilting barrel is almost identical to that of the P-210, but the chamber is essentially a single squared block that rises into the ejection port for extraction. The P-220 also uses a combination decocker/safety similar to that of the Sauer Model 38H. The P-220 can be fired in single or double action mode, and it uses a modified Browning action with numerous internal safeties. The barrel is 4.41 inches, making the P-220 a mid-size pistol, and uses a light alloy frame combined with other parts that are primarily of steel. The P-220 is available with a wide variety of finishes and grip plate materials. .45 ACP and .38 Super models, since they were meant for the US market, have their controls placed a bit differently – especially the magazine release, which is a button behind the trigger guard instead of a catch on the heel of the butt. Sights are normally high-contrast three-dot types, but tritium inlays for the sights are an option. In addition, magazines are available with an extension of hard rubber shaped to improve the user’s grip on the pistol. (The .45 ACP models will also accept any magazine that can be used with an M-1911A1.)

A number of specialized versions of the P-220 have also been made. The P-220ST (Stainless Tactical) has a stainless steel frame and slide, Hogue wrap-around rubber grips, and is equipped with a tactical rail under the dust cover. (The P-220ST is normally sold in an aluminum case with a padded interior, two magazines, and a SiGArms Tactical Knife, but these are not included in the price below.) The P-220 Sport has a frame and slide of stainless steel, and has a match-quality 5.5-inch barrel tipped with a stainless steel compensator and a counterweight. (A less common version of the P-220 Sport uses a 4.75-inch barrel, but does not have the muzzle counterweights.) The limited-edition P-220 Langdon Edition has a match-quality 4.41-inch barrel, checkered high-quality wood grip plates, a checkered frontstrap, an adjustable rear sight and a front sight with a fiberoptic inlay, a trigger with a shorter pull length and lighter pull weight, a slightly larger magazine capacity, a tactical accessory rail under the dust cover, and a two-tone finish featuring a blued slide.

The then-West German police were not one of the agencies that wanted the P-220; in their minds, the P-220 was simply too big a pistol for their needs. In addition, the Swiss police had a similar opinion. To satisfy the requirements of the West German and Swiss police, SiG scaled down the 9mm Parabellum version of the P-220, producing the P-225 in 1975. Mechanically, the P-225 is almost identical to the P-220, but the P-225 relies almost entirely on its double-action operation for safety features. The dual DA/SA operation was dispensed with for the P-225, though the passive firing pin safety was also improved. There is no manual safety on the P-225, though the decocker was retained. The barrel is shortened to near compact dimensions (3.86 inches), the grip reshaped somewhat, and the entire design more balanced. The standard sights are the same as those of the P-220, but they are dovetailed in and replaceable. Most parts of the P-225 can be interchanged with those of the P-220, and many can also be used in other SiGArms 9mm Parabellum pistols. The German military also uses the P-225 in small numbers, and the German and Police call it the P-6. That said, the P-225 is no longer in production, having been superseded by later SiGArms pistols.

SiG-Sauer P-226

Notes: The P-226 is a highly-modified version of the P-225, designed specifically for the US XM-9 competition. The P-226 lost that competition in a very controversial decision – there was widespread agreement among the all branches of the US military that the P-226 was the superior pistol, and SiGArms’s bid per pistol was in fact slightly lower than Beretta’s bid per M-92 pistol. The problem, according to the bean-counters in the Pentagon and Congress, came down to the cost of spare parts, magazines, and periodic manufacturer maintenance; Beretta’s bid for these items was much lower than SiGArms’s bid. Therefore (once again), US troops were bitten by the old military adage, "your weapon was made by the lowest bidder."

Despite having lost the XM-9 competition, many police, military, and government agencies around the world had been watching the XM-9 competition, and also knew the P-226 was superior to the Beretta M-92; in fact, a lot of these agencies and military units were in the US. SiGArms had enjoyed lots of sales to police departments around the world, as well as some government agencies in various countries; the P-226 is also quite popular on the civilian market. The P-226 is one of the service pistols used by the FBI, Secret Service, ATF, and the US Marshal’s Service; reportedly, the CIA has also acquired an unknown number of P-226’s. The British and the Australian SAS are known users of the P-226, along with New Zealand’s Army and Navy, the Japanese Self-Defense Forces, the French GIGN, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. The P-226 is also said to be popular with many other special operations units in the world. Since Swiss law can be extremely restrictive with regard to the export of firearms (particularly for the civilian market), many P-226s (and other SiGArms weapons) are exported through the German company of JP Sauer & Sohn. More recently, SiGArms has also been able to avoid Swiss export laws by manufacturing many of its weapons in its facility located in Exeter, New Hampshire in the US.

The basic P-226 is mechanically almost identical to the 9mm Parabellum version of the P-225. Differences include a reversible magazine release and a slightly wider grip to allow the use of a double-column magazine that nearly doubled the magazine capacity compared to the P-225. (Extended magazines are also available.) Barrel length remains at 4.41 inches, though the composition of the steel in the P-226’s barrel makes the barrel somewhat stronger than that of the P-225. Early versions of the P-226 had problems accepting some aftermarket grip plates; these problems were quickly traced to the screws that came with some of these aftermarket grip panels, which put undue pressure on the magazine housing and/or firing mechanism, and SiG quickly corrected this problem. Regardless of the caliber or intended market, the magazine release is found on the frame behind the trigger guard instead of the heel. The sights are derived from the P-225, though they have a more high-contrast design; tritium inlays are also an option. Originally, a MIL-STD-1913 rail under the dust cover was also an option (with those versions being designated the P-226R); since 2003, the rail has been a standard P-226 feature and the P-226R designation is no longer used. Factory-installed Crimson Trace Lasergrips have been an option since 2004 (this version of the P-226 is called the P-226 Crimson Trace). Original production P-226s used standard double-action lockwork, but the P-226 is now available in both DA and DAO versions. The P-226 was first offered only in 9mm Parabellum, but .357 SiG and .40 Smith & Wesson chamberings were later added in 1996. The basic P-226 models may be had with alloy or steel frames.

The US Navy SEALs are notable users of the P-226; the SEALs (particularly what was then called SEAL Team Six, and now called DEVGRU) became disenchanted with the M-9 almost immediately. Like most special operations units, the SEALs conduct large amounts of live-fire training, and in the space of six months after they were issued the M-9, three slide fractures occurred in training (not simply cracks, but actual breakage of the slides into pieces), resulting in serious injuries to the shooters (two requiring facial stitches, and one that required facial stitches and considerable dental work). In the same time period, Army special operations units were reporting repeated slide cracking and fracturing as well. The SEALs were not about to send their operators into combat with a pistol that might blow up in their faces, and they insisted that their M-9s be replaced by P-226s. The P-226s used by the SEALs had slight modifications – special aftermarket ergonomic grips, a phosphate-based corrosion-resistant coating on the exterior and internal parts, high-contrast sights with tritium inlays, and a MIL-STD-1913 rail under the dust cover. They are identical to the 9mm P-226R for game purposes.

Variants include two sporting versions of the P-226, both in 9mm Parabellum. The P-226 Sport II (The P-220 Sport is considered the "Sport I") appeared in 1998 and has an alloy frame and a stainless steel slide. The P-226 Sport II uses a stainless steel bull barrel with lengths of 4.41, 4.96, and 5.47 inches (though the 4.96-inch barrel version was discontinued in 1999), and adjustable target sights. In 1999, the P-226 Sport II SL was introduced. The original P-226 Sport II SL uses a stainless steel slide and frame, a 4.41-inch bull barrel, adjustable target sights, extended controls, and a barrel weight under the muzzle similar to that of the P-220 Sport. Many shooters disliked the barrel weight, which prompted SiGArms to make a P-226 Sport II SL version without the barrel weight. In 2002, a version with a 5.47-inch barrel was introduced (both with and without barrel weights); Aristocrat long-range target sights were also made an option at this time.

The P-226R DAK is a fairly-new redesign of the P-226 pistol to incorporate new features and some other calibers. The most obvious redesign is the trigger mechanism; the P-226 retains its DAO (Double-Action Only) configuration, but the trigger pull is greatly lightened to allow quicker first shots and follow-up shots. It also allows for a smoother trigger pull when aiming, especially when a careful aim is important. SiG did this primarily by adding leverage to the trigger system. An additional refinement was the addition of an accessory rail under the barrel (it’s short, considering the size of the pistol, but it is useful for some light accessories). Improvements in reliability and extraction has also been made. The DAK series was first seen at the Trexpo-East Law Enforcement Exposition in August of 2003, but the first large-scale orders were not made until a year later, when the US Department of Homeland Security chose the DAK series (as well as the P-239) as its standard sidearm, placing an order for nearly 65,000 pistols. (For game purposes, the P-226R DAK shoots the same as a standard P-226.)

Introduced in 2005, the P-226 X-Five is a P-226 redesigned as a competition pistol. The first noticeable modification is the weight; the frame is of stainless steel instead of light alloy, to increase weight and therefore reduce recoil and barrel climb. The magazines are high-capacity, larger than those of the P-226. The magazine well is large and beveled to facilitate quick reloading, and the magazines have a base extension which ensures proper seating of the magazine. The magazine release is extended and grooved; there are some complaints that it is too sensitive and positioned in such a manner (directly behind the trigger on the left side) so that it can release a magazine by accident. The barrel is lengthened to 5 inches and is of match-quality. The grip is designed to virtually force a high grip, which is best for accurate pistol shooting and is more comfortable for prolonged shooting matches; the grip plates are of specially-shaped high-quality Nill wood. The trigger guard is squared off for those who like to put a finger of the off-hand there. The rear sight is, of course, fully adjustable; the front sight is an undercut post, but has none of the "sighting dots" that other pistols have, though it is black in color. It is also dovetailed. The trigger is also fully adjustable, with a very light pull. The slide has front cocking serrations added to it. The P-226 X-Five Competition is a variant that was designed specifically for IPSC competition; it does not come in a .357 SiG chambering. The barrel of the P-226 X-Five Competition is also 5-inches long and match-quality, but it is also cold hammer-forged; the trigger action is single-action instead of double-action, which made a manual safety button (on the frame behind the trigger guard) necessary. The grips are of black polymer and have a more ergonomic shape than those of the standard P-226 X-Five. The P-226 X-Five Tactical is available only in 9mm Parabellum; the 5-inch barrel is also match-quality. Under the dust cover is a MIL-STD-1913 rail. The trigger action of the P-226 X-Five Tactical is also single-action, but the manual safety is ambidextrous. Sights are of the 3-dot type and are high-contrast. The grips are polymer and stippled to allow the shooter a better hold on his weapon. The finish is of black Ilaflon. Standard magazines for the P-226 X-Five Tactical are of different capacities, but other 9mm Parabellum P-226 series magazines are also useable.

The P-226 Tactical is an updated version of the 9mm Parabellum P-226 model that was submitted to the US military’s XM-9 competition. Changes include a 4.41-inch barrel with the muzzle protruding from the end of the slide and having threading for the attachment of a silencer. Under the dust cover is a MIL-STD-1913 rail. The sights used are special low-light combat sights called SiGLight Night Sights. Balance is improved, the grip has a bit of a more ergonomic shape, and the grip plates, frontstrap, and backstrap are stippled. The finish is black Nitron. The P-226 SCT is similar, but is chambered for 9mm Parabellum and .40 Smith & Wesson, and the front sight is a Truglo TFO and the rear is a SiGLight Night sight. The P-226 SCT’s barrel does not protrude from the slide and is not threaded, and the weapon is designed for SiG’s newest high-capacity magazines with a finger extension at the bottom of the magazine. (Other P-226-compatible magazines of the appropriate caliber are also useable.) For game purposes, the P-226 Tactical and P-226 SCT shoot the same as a standard P-226 of the appropriate caliber.

Other versions of the P-226 differ other versions of the P-226 primarily in the materials used (and all use only steel in their metalwork), sights, finishes, chamberings available, and other relatively minor details. For game purposes, the Two-Tone, Elite Two-Tone, and Elite Stainless are identical to the late-production P-226s. The Equinox identical to the late-production P-226 for game purposes, except that it is chambered only for .40 Smith & Wesson; the Navy is also identical except that it is chambered only for 9mm Parabellum.

Twilight 2000 Notes: The following models of the P-226 do not exist in the Twilight 2000 timeline: P-226 Crimson Trace, P-226 Sport II SL, P-226 DAK, P-226 X-Five, and the P-226 SCT. In addition, MIL-STD-1913 rails are only found on the base P-226s whose owners had them installed as an option or aftermarket accessory.