My SIG P250 Review Part One

Finally got my filthy hands on my precious "SIG SAUER P250 Compact (Special Configuration)", which is what the label on the case says about the unit.

'First Impressions'
The gun is handsomely blocky, typical of SIGs, and the lower receiver is gorgeous to look at, just as it is on the picture. The grip is not so wide, perfect fit for my hand. The checkering on the front and back strap, along with the polymer material, is very nice to feel.

The front and rear sights are large and easy to align, and they have the three-dot sighting system. The dots are also luminescent, so you can easily see them under low light or under a dark environment.

Slide spring when cocking back seems relatively light, compared to my Norinco Model 59 (Makarov copy), or that of an M1911.

When the magazine is removed, my little finger loses an area to grip on to.


The carrying case, while with that nice, light blue color, is rather large for a compact gun, over a foot long wide, and about nine inches in height. It looks like a generic SIG carrying case, where other bigger models can fit also.

The manual is colored, comprehensive, and easy to understand (hey, my M59 came with a small, rudimentary manual in black in white).

The blue band around the handle which I thought was just a flimsy paper that could be easily ripped off, turned out to be some sort of resin-impregnated paper, which is quite though, and ended up using a scissor to cut it off.

'Trigger Pull'
The very first time I pulled the Double Action-Only (DAO) trigger pull of the gun to try it out, my first thought was ..... oh my god ..... this is the trigger pull I could bet my life on. I was so happy, I almost jumped for joy.

What makes the double-action trigger so great, are a couple of factors. First, it is very light. Much lighter than on my M59, which I lightened and smoothened up, and even lighter than the Taurus Model 85CH revolver that I modified by dropping in light, custom springs from Wolff. The specs say it is only 5.5-6.5 lbs., and I can believe it.

The second factor, is that while the trigger pull length is longer than a single-action trigger, it is shorter than comparable double-action triggers. I estimate it to be only about 3/4 as long as that of my Norinco M59 and my previously owned M85CH.

A third factor, would be the fact that the trigger pull itself is mostly constant all throughout the range of motion. This is unlike my M59, which sorts of like is light at the start, then gets heavier in the middle, before slacking off after the trigger release.

With the M59, when I pull the trigger, the sights sorts of drifts upwards and the left before settling back in place before the release. On the SIG P250, all you have to do, is make a constant force when you pull the trigger, and the front sight wobbles only very, very slightly before settling back in place.

And the fourth factor I think, is the shape of the trigger itself. Unlike most double-action triggers which are mostly curved, this one is mostly straight, but at an angle, and curved towards the end. This I feel is giving the shooter a bit more leverage when pulling the trigger.

In short, the trigger pull in lighter and shorter than other double-action triggers, very smooth, requiring only a constant force, and the trigger gives some leverage advantage.

I absolutely love it. Its not as fast as a single action trigger, but it is safer, and I feel I can shoot very well with it indeed.

'Dissembly and Assembly'
The first thing I wanted to know about the gun before heading off to the range, was how to disassemble and assemble it. This is my first SIG, and I am surprised first how easy it is to disassmble. Pull back the slide, engage the slide stop, and then turn clockwise the disassembly lever (not easy to turn, a bit heavy), pull it out, and that's it.

Similar to the M59, and much easier than the M1911, where you have to align slide notch under the pressure of the spring, then try to pry it out. If you don't have a recoil spring guide rod on your M1911, then the spring would end up flying out.

Another surprise, was how everything was modular, and can be easily be disassembled. The magazine can be disassembled, so can the trigger system, the magazine release, etc. without the help of any tools. You would need a special tool to do that on the M59, and a little bit of hammer tapping on the M1911 to do something similar. With the SIG P250, it is much simpler.

(End of Part One)

--> My SIG P250 Review Part Two