By R.K. Campbell | Contributing Editor
It is amazing how much stretch a truly great design may have in it.
The 1911 has been going for more than 100 years and the Colt Python more than 65, with improvements of course.
Likewise, the SIG P210 has a good 70 years of service and is still going strong. The original service pistol is renowned for accuracy, reliability, and handling. But it wasn’t perfect and nothing is. The safety locating in front of the trigger guard isn’t very combat oriented and neither is the magazine release. SIG elected to Americanize the pistol and make it less expensive to manufacture a few years ago. Today, the P210A is a great handgun in every way. Recently SIG introduced the P210C, the first compact version of the P210.
The most noticeable difference between this handgun and the original is that the pistol is slightly shorter. The P210C also used an aluminum frame resulting in considerable weight savings.
The SIG P210C features SIG X Ray three dot night sights. The grips are well designed G10 types with a good balance of abrasion and adhesion, and checkering is complimented by front strap checkering. The front strap may not be custom grade but the borders are consistent and even and the feel is excellent.
SIG P210 handguns are famed for a superb trigger action, and this pistol is no exception. The trigger breaks clean and crisp at 4.0 pounds.
Since the slide rails are reversed with the slide riding inside the frame rather than on the frame the bore axis is lower than most pistols.
In some ways the P210C has a lot in common with a Commander 1911 pistol. The P210C is a fast handling pistol with much to recommend. The slide and magazine release are positive in operation, and the pistol features a simple take down lever, the same system used in SIG P series pistols for generations. Two eight-round magazines are supplied with each pistol.
Firing the P210C has been a joy. Everything I have fed the pistol including FMJ, JHP and a variety of +P loads have fed, chambered, fired and ejected normally. Recoil is straight to the rear and the low bore axis results in very little muzzle flip. As a result, this pistol is among the easiest of 9mm handguns to keep on target during a firing string. Double taps, hammers, and controlled pairs were easily carried off. There simply isn’t a pistol in the league with the single action P210C in its weight class. The SIG stays on target and delivers. Fire, allow the pistol to reset during recoil and control recoil and get the sights re-aligned and you have a hit.
The pistol is fast on target and fast to follow up hits. Due to the aluminum frame, the pistol recoils a little more than the P210A but nothing with which a trained shooter will have a problem.
When it comes to absolute accuracy the pistol showed its lineage. Firing from a MTM K Zone rest I took every advantage for accuracy. I used some of the most accurate modern service loads including Winchester’s 124-grain USA Ready +P and the Federal 124-grain HST.
Most any load will group five shots into 2.0 inches at 25 yards. When I concentrated on the grip, trigger and sights to the best of my ability I managed a couple of groups of well under 2.0 inches including a singular 1.5-inch group. That is outstanding for any handgun.
The SIG P210C is a single column magazine pistol with a single-action trigger. It bucks the trend of polymer framed high capacity pistols. For those wanting the utmost in accuracy and reliability the pistol is the ne plus ultra of 9mm pistols. Fast handling and accurate the SIG P210C is a formidable defensive handgun. I have a great deal of confidence in this compact sidearm, and you will as well.
Holsters
There are not many makers up and running with molds for the P210C. I don’t recommend carrying a handgun in a holster that wasn’t designed for that particular pistol, so I was surprised to find that the SIG P210C is a perfect fit for holsters designed for the 1911 Commander, so long as they are not molded too tightly. A hard Kydex holster may not be workable but leather holsters such as the Galco Summer Companion are a good tight fit with a good balance of speed and retention. I have used the Galco StoNGo holster for concealed carry with good results.
P210 Carry Pistol Specifications
- Caliber: 9mm
- Overall Length: 7.75 inches
- Overall Height: 5.63 inches
- Overall Width: 1.44 inches
- Barrel Length: 4.1 inches
- Sight Radius: 5.6 inches
- Weight (w/magazine): 29 oz.
