Looking for (un)biased opinions: Sig 226 vs XD - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

JTQ911 · 05-31-2008, 10:52 AM

Hey everyone, I'm considering making my first handgun purchase. Im considering a Sig, most likely 226, and the XD tactical or service in either 9mm or 45 acp. For those who have shot both, which do you prefer and why....obviously they are both great guns, more accurate than I'll probably ever shoot etc... I'm looking for issues such as feel, reliability, trust in the firearm etc. Cost is not really an issue even though I am relativley broke right now, for me, one smart purchase that will last years is worth any extra cost. Thanks everyone.

Jim

R/T Performance · 05-31-2008, 11:13 AM

hahahh you should be posting on the high road or somthing

Xd great you should try and find both or all and shoot them.
not a huge 9mm fan but if you don't plan to relaod stay away from 45.
the best thing you can do is shoot alot.
Muscle memory and learning to keep the gun running is always #1
Good luck
Rt

**1lowlife** · 05-31-2008, 11:14 AM

Well, I owned a Sig P229 40cal & had a 357sig barrel for it.

I loved the pistol, mostly shot the 357sig round thru it.
She was very accurate and pretty reliable.
There were a few brands of ammo she didn't like, I can't remember which ones they were.
Both of my XDs have eaten up any ammo I've ever run thru them, without a problem.
I (this is just me and my opinion) didn't like the single action of the DA/SA.
When the hammer was cocked back the trigger was just too light for my liking.
I didn't feel comfortable carrying it in a CCW situation so it was just a range gun.
I would rather had a consistent trigger pull, like the Glock or XD, for CCW.
The Sig then turned into a safe queen for almost 10 years.
I carried my Glock 26 instead.
I sold the P229 and bought my XD45 compact.
I sold the Glock 26 and bought my XD9sc.
If the Sig would have been a DAO or DAK trigger, I would have kept and carried it.
Although the Sig was heavier than the XD too.
If I ever buy another Sig, it will be one with the double action only.
Also if I ever bought another Sig, it would probably be a P220 or a 9mm of some kind.
But that is just me and what I like in a pistol.
I really don't have a need for safe queens, so I felt like it was a waste to have such a nice gun just sitting in the safe...
I do like my XDs and don't regret selling the Sig.
I may regret it someday, but for now, the only pistols I own are pistols that I can carry for CCW.

Good luck and let us know what you decided on....

samman23 · 05-31-2008, 11:15 AM

they're both reliable. XD is cheaper. They're both well proven. A key difference is that many Sigs are DA/SA and XD is SA only. P226 is metal frame where XD top is metal and bottom is polymer. You may consider the new P250 if you are comparing XD to Sig.

Don't sweat it too much about which one you get. You'll be happy with either or eventually both.

countryrebel · 05-31-2008, 11:23 AM

Either gun is a nice choice. I own the xd9 service and have owned a sig 220 and shot a 226 in the past. A new sig is going to cost more but you can get a sig certified pre owned for much less than a new one. I went with the xd because I like the lower bore and sight axis. You can also setup the trigger very nice on a xd with aftermarket parts. As far as reliability goes I do not think you will have problems with either choice if properly maintained. They both have nice grips IMO and feel they point and aim well. As far as 9mm or 45acp goes it's up to you. 9mm is not as wimpy as everyone makes it out to be in this day and age. Bullet technology is far more advanced today than in the past and this is not the military, we are not packing fmj's in a defensive gun. Now that I have the two xd's in 9mm I want a xd45, its a xd disease. Go handle both and try to shoot them if possible and make your choice. Cannot go wrong with either sig or xd imo.

exdee · 05-31-2008, 12:10 PM

Kind of like comparing an apple to tomato. Both are red and both are good, but very different. One is striker fired and the other has a hammer, one is heavy and one is not, one is expensive and one is not so, either comes in 9 or 40 or 357 and a both are reliable with most any ammo, brand or style of bullet. I've owned both and liked both, but for a carry gun, plastic is going to be lighter, all other things being equal. You probably won't ever wear either of them out so the best thing is to is to try and shoot both and decide which feels best for your hand, but for carry, I'd choose lighter. P250 sig is still heavier than XD and still has hammer rather than striker.

So Flo · 05-31-2008, 12:53 PM

I own both...an HS2000 Gen 1 and an XD 9 and an older (circa 1984) W. German made Sig P226. These are all great guns and I have never had a failure of any kind with either platform.

What do you intend this gun to do for you? Carry, home defense, truck gun, safe queen (j/k), etc? If you think you may carry, then go with the lighter of the two, which would be the XD.

Personally, I shoot much better with the Sig than I do the XD.

As previously noted, there are many differences and only a few similarities between these guns.

I would suggest finding a range that has both and try them out and select the one that fits your hand, your needs, and your budget the best.

As far as caliber, that is always a hotly contested discussion. I prefer the .45 acp for home defense and such, but if you find the right 9mm round, you should do just fine and you will shoot at the range much cheaper than with the forty-five!

Let us know what you decide to get.

FATSEXY · 05-31-2008, 01:19 PM

If it's between a 226 and an XD45, I'd go to the XD for the caliber. Calibers being equal, 226 vs. XD9, I'd vote for the Sig any day.

The 220 and the XD45 are a lot tougher to chose between, as the 220 is a tack driver, tough, reliable, and the XD45 is an almost-tack driver, tough, reliable, and holds 13 rounds compared to 7 (14 compared to 8 or 9).

jtkratzer · 05-31-2008, 01:36 PM

I've never been a fan of the DA/SA trigger on the Sigs.

**Se2002** · 05-31-2008, 01:40 PM

I don't know if my Sigs are not broken in or what but the trigger on my XD is preferred to me.

Since you are broke, get the XD, lots of ammo, practice, latter on when times are better, get the Sig.

I love my Sigs, but I shoot my XDs much more.

05-31-2008, 11:13 AM	#2
R/T Performance XDTalk 3K Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Saranac Mi Posts: 3,489	hahahh you should be posting on the high road or somthing Xd great you should try and find both or all and shoot them. not a huge 9mm fan but if you don't plan to relaod stay away from 45. the best thing you can do is shoot alot. Muscle memory and learning to keep the gun running is always #1 Good luck Rt __________________ XD-9 Tacticle Tru-glow tfo's 3# Canyoncreek trigger Dillon Rl550 1911 Springfield Champion loaded 45 acp Kahr p40 Watch me shoot http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...32660329653237

05-31-2008, 11:14 AM	#3
1lowlife XDTalk 3K Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: The Great Lone Star State Posts: 3,253	Well, I owned a Sig P229 40cal & had a 357sig barrel for it. I loved the pistol, mostly shot the 357sig round thru it. She was very accurate and pretty reliable. There were a few brands of ammo she didn't like, I can't remember which ones they were. Both of my XDs have eaten up any ammo I've ever run thru them, without a problem. I (this is just me and my opinion) didn't like the single action of the DA/SA. When the hammer was cocked back the trigger was just too light for my liking. I didn't feel comfortable carrying it in a CCW situation so it was just a range gun. I would rather had a consistent trigger pull, like the Glock or XD, for CCW. The Sig then turned into a safe queen for almost 10 years. I carried my Glock 26 instead. I sold the P229 and bought my XD45 compact. I sold the Glock 26 and bought my XD9sc. If the Sig would have been a DAO or DAK trigger, I would have kept and carried it. Although the Sig was heavier than the XD too. If I ever buy another Sig, it will be one with the double action only. Also if I ever bought another Sig, it would probably be a P220 or a 9mm of some kind. But that is just me and what I like in a pistol. I really don't have a need for safe queens, so I felt like it was a waste to have such a nice gun just sitting in the safe... I do like my XDs and don't regret selling the Sig. I may regret it someday, but for now, the only pistols I own are pistols that I can carry for CCW. Good luck and let us know what you decided on.... __________________ I used to shoot guns. I still shoot guns. But I used to, too. Thank you to Mitch Hedberg..RIP

05-31-2008, 12:10 PM	#6
exdee XDTalk Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: 3rd Rock from the Sun Posts: 31	Kind of like comparing an apple to tomato. Both are red and both are good, but very different. One is striker fired and the other has a hammer, one is heavy and one is not, one is expensive and one is not so, either comes in 9 or 40 or 357 and a both are reliable with most any ammo, brand or style of bullet. I've owned both and liked both, but for a carry gun, plastic is going to be lighter, all other things being equal. You probably won't ever wear either of them out so the best thing is to is to try and shoot both and decide which feels best for your hand, but for carry, I'd choose lighter. P250 sig is still heavier than XD and still has hammer rather than striker. __________________ "THOSE WHO SACRIFICE FREEDOM FOR SECURITY WILL HAVE NEITHER"

05-31-2008, 12:53 PM	#7
So Flo XDTalk 10K Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Wellington, Florida Posts: 13,352	I own both...an HS2000 Gen 1 and an XD 9 and an older (circa 1984) W. German made Sig P226. These are all great guns and I have never had a failure of any kind with either platform. What do you intend this gun to do for you? Carry, home defense, truck gun, safe queen (j/k), etc? If you think you may carry, then go with the lighter of the two, which would be the XD. Personally, I shoot much better with the Sig than I do the XD. As previously noted, there are many differences and only a few similarities between these guns. I would suggest finding a range that has both and try them out and select the one that fits your hand, your needs, and your budget the best. As far as caliber, that is always a hotly contested discussion. I prefer the .45 acp for home defense and such, but if you find the right 9mm round, you should do just fine and you will shoot at the range much cheaper than with the forty-five! Let us know what you decide to get. __________________ No Guns, Know Crime. Know Guns, No Crime! http://militarysignatures.com/signatures/member3984.png

05-31-2008, 01:36 PM	#9
jtkratzer XDTalk 15K Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Lancaster Co., PA Posts: 17,913	I've never been a fan of the DA/SA trigger on the Sigs. __________________ "The Marines will never disappoint the expectations of of their country - never!" - Capt. C. W. Morgan, US Navy "I have just returned from visiting the Marines at the front, and there is not a finer fighting organization in the world." - Gen. Douglas MacArthur, US Army The Gun Lounge Pennyslvania Firearms Owners Association Hockey Forum

05-31-2008, 10:52 AM	#1
JTQ911 XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: East Coast Posts: 128	Looking for (un)biased opinions: Sig 226 vs XD Hey everyone, I'm considering making my first handgun purchase. Im considering a Sig, most likely 226, and the XD tactical or service in either 9mm or 45 acp. For those who have shot both, which do you prefer and why....obviously they are both great guns, more accurate than I'll probably ever shoot etc... I'm looking for issues such as feel, reliability, trust in the firearm etc. Cost is not really an issue even though I am relativley broke right now, for me, one smart purchase that will last years is worth any extra cost. Thanks everyone. Jim

05-31-2008, 11:15 AM	#4
samman23 XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 173	they're both reliable. XD is cheaper. They're both well proven. A key difference is that many Sigs are DA/SA and XD is SA only. P226 is metal frame where XD top is metal and bottom is polymer. You may consider the new P250 if you are comparing XD to Sig. Don't sweat it too much about which one you get. You'll be happy with either or eventually both.

05-31-2008, 11:23 AM	#5
countryrebel XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: North Idaho Posts: 141	Either gun is a nice choice. I own the xd9 service and have owned a sig 220 and shot a 226 in the past. A new sig is going to cost more but you can get a sig certified pre owned for much less than a new one. I went with the xd because I like the lower bore and sight axis. You can also setup the trigger very nice on a xd with aftermarket parts. As far as reliability goes I do not think you will have problems with either choice if properly maintained. They both have nice grips IMO and feel they point and aim well. As far as 9mm or 45acp goes it's up to you. 9mm is not as wimpy as everyone makes it out to be in this day and age. Bullet technology is far more advanced today than in the past and this is not the military, we are not packing fmj's in a defensive gun. Now that I have the two xd's in 9mm I want a xd45, its a xd disease. Go handle both and try to shoot them if possible and make your choice. Cannot go wrong with either sig or xd imo.

05-31-2008, 01:19 PM	#8
FATSEXY XDTalk 500 Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 810	If it's between a 226 and an XD45, I'd go to the XD for the caliber. Calibers being equal, 226 vs. XD9, I'd vote for the Sig any day. The 220 and the XD45 are a lot tougher to chose between, as the 220 is a tack driver, tough, reliable, and the XD45 is an almost-tack driver, tough, reliable, and holds 13 rounds compared to 7 (14 compared to 8 or 9).

05-31-2008, 01:40 PM	#10
Se2002 XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: AL Posts: 1,491 Blog Entries: 1	I don't know if my Sigs are not broken in or what but the trigger on my XD is preferred to me. Since you are broke, get the XD, lots of ammo, practice, latter on when times are better, get the Sig. I love my Sigs, but I shoot my XDs much more. __________________ If the prospect of having your thumb hit by the bolt is unacceptable do not attempt to load your Garand.

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