By R.K. Campbell | Contributing Editor
One of the wonders of modern manufacture is that classics of the past are easily duplicated with precision CNC machinery.
Often the price is high, other times the firearms are surprisingly affordable. Resurrection of the Colt Python was big news. Close copies of the GI .45 are readily available.
And now, SIG SAUER has introduced a new version of the vaunted SIG P210 9mm pistol. The P210 is a classic in every way and a desirable handgun. It has been in and out of production for decades and prices have been just shy of $2,000 for some time. The new P210 Standard is a remarkable pistol with updates that make it a pistol for shooters not collectors. I am firmly in the shooter side of the world.
The first P210
The original P210 was adopted for the Swiss military about 1948. SIG licensed several features from the Petter-type pistols. The Petter designed French 1935 is an underrated handgun. While the long .30 cartridge isn’t very powerful it is way ahead of the .32 ACP. The 1935 resembles a small size P210.
With good quality ammunition the 1935A is a very accurate handgun. An outstanding feature of the Petter fire control system is that it is a self-contained unit. The hammer, mainspring, and sear are contained in a single group. Replacement is quite easy. A drawback to most of us is a safety located in front of the stocks. The pistol features good sights, excellent workmanship, and perhaps the finest accuracy potential of any factory 9mm pistol. The P210 served the Swiss until 1975 and by all accounts still serves reserve units.
The P210 has simply been too expensive for most of us. While a fine target pistol, Americans could not warm up to the safety location. The new American-made SIG P210 Standard is an answer to those wanting to own and use a P210 and for a shooter the better pistol. Handgunners are conservative and slow to admit that any new handgun is better than the original. Sometimes the new product is cheapened. Sometimes it is improved.
The P210 Standard is more affordable due to American manufacture and less import costs. But there are changes in the pistol as well.
The new SIG uses the P 220 type barrel lockup. The barrel hood butts into the ejection port for locking and the lower locking engagement is an angled camming surface. The thumb safety is an American version. The new safety is much easier to manipulate. The slide lock is superior as well. The American type magazine release is easily manipulated. There are target versions while the standard version, my favorite, has fixed sights. The frame rails ride inside the frame in true Petter/P210 style. This makes for excellent frame to slide contact.
The new style grips are wrap around types. Since the P210 is a single stack magazine pistol the grip frame is very comfortable. The front of the grip is nicely checkered. The pistol is tight, very tight, with minimal play in the slide to frame fit. The pistol is machined from stainless steel. The frame and slide are finished in the remarkably tough and durable Nitron. I think a stainless steel version would be pretty interesting – but we will have to wait and see. The SIG P210 Standard 9mm is supplied with a locking hard case, a gun lock, cleaning rod, and two magazines.
After the initial external inspection, the internals were examined. The extractor is high grade steel. There are no tool marks and the parts are nicely finished. The cocking serrations are nicely done.
The CZ 75, another pistol with reversed frame rails, is sometimes difficult to rack as the slide rides low in the frame, while the P210 features a tall boss on the slide that aids in grasping and racking the slide. The slide is nicely done without an array of billboard markings. The barrel is five inches long, an ideal balance for accuracy and velocity while compact enough for easy carry. This ramped barrel supports the cartridge case head fully. The trigger feels different than most single action types. The trigger pivots rather than moving straight back. This is an excellent trigger action, free of creep, grit or backlash. Disassembly is similar to the CZ 75. Move the slide to the rear slightly and take out the slide stop. The slide runs off the frame. The recoil rod and spring assembly lift out, then the barrel.
This pistol is very comfortable to fire as you would expect from a steel frame 9mm. The white outline sights are properly regulated for the six o’clock hold with most loads. The pistol’s crisp four-pound trigger is a joy to use. The SIG is smooth.
Most of the ammunition used was the Black Hills ammunition 115-grain FMJ, an affordable but accurate and clean burning load. I also used a variety of hollowpoint loads and handloads with excellent results. After six months and more than 1,200 cartridges the pistol has proven reliable and more accurate than expected. Firing from a solid bench rest and concentrating on accuracy I have fired several 1.5 inch groups.
The single most accurate loading has been the Black Hills Ammunition 124-grain JHP but the overall standard of accuracy is outstanding. The pistol is a good choice for target shooting or simply pride of ownership, as well as small game.
My zone of perception centers on personal defense. I have dealt with dozens of criminals. Most have a mental process that is half fried and the other half on vacation. They are dangerous and I firmly believe the first few shots are the most important. High capacity is fine but a superbly accurate pistol with light recoil is a fine defensive pistol in my opinion. For those carrying a 9mm in the field or when hiking the pistol makes a lot of sense. The SIG P210 Standard is a class act well worth its price.
SIG Sauer P210 Standard Specs
Type: Self-loading pistol
Caliber: 9mm Parabellum
Capacity: 8+1 round
Barrel: 5″
Length: 8.4″
Height: 5.3″
Weight: 37 oz.
Trigger: 4 lbs.
Finish: Nitron
MSRP: $1,319.00- usual counter price $1200
Contact: SIG Sauer; (603) 610-3000; SIG-Sauer.com
Image Captions
2 The pistols new and improved safety is a good feature.
3 SIG’s factory fixed sights are excellent.
4 A target version is also offered.
5 The pistol proved brilliantly accurate with Black Hills Ammunition. Bottom of Form
