Sig Sauer P220 Legion: Enhancements Based on the Needs of Professionals

Once famous for making wagons, Sig Sauer has become the best known firearms manufacturer in the world and expanded in to every niche in the industry. Their new Legion line of handguns has produced a new take on the timeless classic P220.  I was able to shoot the P220 Legion at SIG range day and was very impressed. The attention paid to the trigger and the changes to the frame have really paid off. This gun kept the functionality of the classic P220 and added features normally exclusive to custom guns. This is a .45 that hits hard and makes shooting look easy. Home Run.

The SIG Sauer P220 was designed in 1975 by the then newly formed partnership of SIG (Schweizerische Industrie Gesellschaft now Sig Holding AG) and J. P. Sauer & Soh for the Swiss Army. Switzerland officially adopted the P220 as the “Pistole 75” (P75).  The P220 Legion is a modern enhanced version of the gun that started it all.

Like a Swiss watch

In 1853, Friedrich Peyer im Hof, Heinrich Moser, and Conrad Neher started a company to build wagons and railway cars. When the Swiss Federal Ministry of Defense conducted a competition to develop a modern rifle, the Swiss Wagon Factory, as it was then called, designed and built the Prelaz-Burnand rifle and won an order for 30,000 of them.

Because Swiss Wagon Factory looked funny engraved on the side of a rifle, they changed their name to Swiss Industrial Company—Schweizerische Industrie-Gesellschaft, later known to the world as SIG. From there, they changed the history of firearms.

SIGARMS, Inc.

In 2001, the company became SIGARMS, Inc. and expanded into the firearms training market for law enforcement and civilians with the SIGARMS Training Academy in Epping, New Hampshire.

In 2007, SIGARMS changed its name to SIG SAUER and expanded its firearms offerings.  Today, SIG SAUER is an ISO 9001-certified company, with over 800 employees making rifles and handguns for civilians, police, and the military. In response to changing market conditions, they have discontinued their popular line of military wagons. Bad news for horses, good news for shooters.

Sig P220 Legion

Sig has taken the P220 and improved in nearly every way producing a custom shop gun for everyone. They started with the visuals, Legion handguns are finished with a a proprietary “Legion Grey” Physical Vapor Deposition (or PVD) coating. The stocks are custom G-10 grips with a Legion medallion. The stainless-steel slide sports SIG SAUER Electro-Optics X-RAY high visibility day/night sights.

Then they improved the ergonomics. The P220 in DA/SA includes a reduced and contoured Elite beaver tail, which allows for a higher grip and a reduced profile, thus eliminating printing. More aggressive front strap checkering and additional checkering under the trigger guard enhance the grip. An X-Five undercut has been applied to the trigger guard, allowing for a higher grip and greater control.

The P220 Legion also features low-profile de-cocking and slide-catch levers to reduce hangups. The front cocking serrations provide greater purchase for cycling the action, clearing the firearm or conducting press checks.  A solid steel guide rod adds weight up front where it matters most for feel and natural pointing.