Are Sig and HK about the same in quality?

[Brickboy240]

I have never owned an HK, but own two older SIGs and love them both. When you buy two SIGs that are around 25 years old and you shoot them for a year or so and have NO troubles...you have to take notice!

I have shot only one HK - a USP full-size in 40SW. I liked it, but the trigger was not very good and the mag release was funky. It was also a bit on the big side, which is not always a deal killer for me (I do own and like a Beretta 96).

The price of the HK, along with the price of extra magazines (50 bucks apiece) and the fact that their light rail would not accept normal lights were deal-killers for me. I am sure the HK is a quality piece, but not as easy to get mags for and the other features I mentioned above have kept me away from HK pistols in general. Their 45s feel huge in my hands...big and blocky.

That said, I have all the confidence in the world in my P225 and P220. Truth-be-told...the P220 is the most reliable single stack 45 I have ever owned.

Both of my SIGs have been 100% reliable, so if HKs are 100% reliable...then yes...there is no quality difference in HK and SIG in my expereinces.

Would I buy another SIG? Hell yes! In fact, a nice W. German P228 or P226 9mm are on my short list of next handguns to buy.

- Brickboy240

[retrodog]

Originally Posted by Brickboy240

I have never owned an HK, but own two older SIGs and love them both. When you buy two SIGs that are around 25 years old and you shoot them for a year or so and have NO troubles...you have to take notice!

I have shot only one HK - a USP full-size in 40SW. I liked it, but the trigger was not very good and the mag release was funky. It was also a bit on the big side, which is not always a deal killer for me (I do own and like a Beretta 96).

The price of the HK, along with the price of extra magazines (50 bucks apiece) and the fact that their light rail would not accept normal lights were deal-killers for me. I am sure the HK is a quality piece, but not as easy to get mags for and the other features I mentioned above have kept me away from HK pistols in general. Their 45s feel huge in my hands...big and blocky.

That said, I have all the confidence in the world in my P225 and P220. Truth-be-told...the P220 is the most reliable single stack 45 I have ever owned.

Both of my SIGs have been 100% reliable, so if HKs are 100% reliable...then yes...there is no quality difference in HK and SIG in my expereinces.

Would I buy another SIG? Hell yes! In fact, a nice W. German P228 or P226 9mm are on my short list of next handguns to buy.

- Brickboy240

Right after the AWB expired, CDNN was selling hi-cap mags (LEO stamped) for all kinds of stuff at under $20/mag. I got several 13 rnd. HK USP40 mags at the time. What a sweet deal.

The Sig 226 (circa 1985) was built to high tollerances. In some cases, too high/tight. The American standards were low for building ammo, even Federal and Remington and Winchester. One of my shooting buddies found this out and had to send his 226 back to a plant here in the states for a little machine work. He was initially having some FTE (extraction) problems, but the re-work took care of it. They shortly thereafter modified the design and milled them out just a tad (very small amount) more. I bought my 226 in/around 2003 and it runs great. I've had extraction problems with the USP 40 though, but only when I was shooting reloads. I can live with that but... my friend's Glock .40 can eat any ammo he feeds it.

"What's your point, retrodog?"

Well I'm just saying that sometimes, things can be built too good. Or rather they can try to achieve one benefit and come up short in another area. Tightening up tollerances to make something "feel" really high quality can result in making that thing too picky/selective with how it operates. That's all I'm saying.

Probably, the most dependable SA handguns that I own are the Ruger P series. They aren't very fancy. They don't feel really nice. They're not really accurate. But they continue to feed and go bang every time that I pull the trigger. I kind of consider them the pistol equivelent of the AK-47. But hey, that's just me... maybe.

[[TASF]Maverick]

Yes they are. It comes down to your personal preferences as to what features you want your gun to have, and how it fits you.

[happygunner]

I looked at both and I picked the H&K IMHO the H&Ks have the better finish and from shooting my two USP Compacts theywork flawlessly

Nothing wrong with the SIGS just that I think the H&Ks are better Engineered for todays world.

This is a really good video of the H&K products being Mfged and tested. It's in German but you won't miss the gist.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=ASSJuijmS-E

[LUVMYSIGP225]

Originally Posted by chupacabrachus

P7? Those are great!

I agree, Chup. They are fantastic.

I had to edit out my original reply to that post.

[boricua9mm]

If you had asked this question 8-10 years ago, I would have said yes. Nowadays, HK quality (and pricing for that matter) seem to be kicking SIG's @$$! When you buy a new HK, you get a German engineered and manufactured pistol with the corresponding proof marks. When you buy a pistol from SIGArms (not to be confused with SIG Sauer), you are buying a Swiss-German design that is made in New Hampshire. In the past few years, I have seen more new SIGs with problems than those without. We should all take note that when SIG moved production to the US & created SIGArms, the prices increased rather than decreased (contrary to the excuse of foreign currency exhange rates). People used to bitch about HK b/c they were "too expensive. Now, SIGs are the same price and more in some cases. People used to bitch about HK customer service, but I've found that SIG's service now sucks and HK's is the better of the two. HK has come out with new gun designs in the past decade. SIGArms is finally spitting out a 7 year old design from Europe (P250) and offering an abortion of a rifle called the 556. When the JCP came about, HK designed a whole new pistol. SIG gave their 220 a new color and a chrome lined barrel and acted like it was the new hottest thing.

In my opinion, the SIGs before 2003 are great guns that are comparable in quality control to HK. Nothing wrong with one of those older SIGs, but for the prices they're asking nowadays, I'd go with an HK in a heartbeat. I just think it's very ironic and unfortunate at the same time that HK has surpassed SIG in value and design ingenuity for (drum roll...) the CIVILIAN market! Yet some people will still say HK doesn't care about the civilian market.

[chupacabrachus]

Originally Posted by boricua9mm

...... Yet some people will still say HK doesn't care about the civilian market....

I don't hold that belief exactly, but I sure wish they had a civilian 416 for sale to us regulars.

[Brickboy240]

With SIGs program of selling certified pre-owned W. German P-series pistols, I'd say that SIG still has alot to offer. You can usually get a CPO P220, 228 or 226 for around 550-600. I see most USPs starting around 800 and up.

A certified pre-owned W. German SIG is a very nice pistol for the money spent. Chances are most shooters will not wear the thing out or have a lick of trouble with it.

- Brickboy240

[happygunner]

Originally Posted by chupacabrachus

I don't hold that belief exactly, but I sure wish they had a civilian 416 for sale to us regulars.

====
Even if the did sell a 416 upper or a full 416 they would be hard pressed to provide any parts and what they did would be high priced.

This is the main reason people like and stay with the old trusty ARs.

[rogerxd45]

Originally Posted by ichy_trigger

I own 3 Sigs, I would definately own a 3rd 4th and 5th.

if you have 3 dont you allready own a 3rd? jk
i think the sig seems to be a better deal metal fram gun generally cost more so it hard to justify an hk for as much as a sig. i love them both though they are great guns but my friends sig has jammed on him while shooting and my xd hasnt, i think its just a cleaning issue i clean my like a crazy man and he hardly ever does