Tuesday, September 4, 2007

STEPHEN CAMP - MASTER GUN WRITER - SIG SAUER P220

SIG-Sauer P-220 Chronograph Results

By Stephen Camp

www.hipowersandhandguns.com

That the .45 ACP is a popular self-defense cartridge in the US is an understatement. It is probably the "yardstick" by which other defensive cartridges are measured. Most popular is probably the full-size 1911 having a 5" barrel, but smaller handguns are frequently used.

Some people are just not comfortable with cocked and locked carry and a frequent choice for them is the SIG-Sauer P-220 pistol. This is a conventional DA/SA pistol complete with a decocker. This single-stack pistol is carried hammer down with the first shot being fired by either a double-action trigger pull or by manually cocking the pistol.

Today, I chronographed ammunition with bullet weights varying from 165 to 230 grains and including both standard and +P ammunition. A couple of newer defense loads were included and one was fired into water for informal expansion testing.

Going against popular opinion these days, I do not share a fondness for the super compact .45 ACP handguns available today. The low-pressure .45 sets no velocity records out of the traditional 5" barrel for which it was designed and shortening the barrel can drastically reduce velocity. This seems to be the case more with .45 ACP than the higher pressure 9mm.

Most of the data seen these days is from the 5" barrel. I will compare some of the loads from the SIG-Sauer's 4.25" with those of the 3/4" longer 1911 Government Model barrel. (SIG-Sauer lists the barrel as being 4.4" long, but measuring from the muzzle to the rear of chamber measures 4.25." Perhaps they included the hood as part of the total barrel length?)

This is neither a "range report" as I've already done one on this pistol that's available on several sites such as www.pistolsmith.com or www.1911forum.com. Neither is it one of the "Critical Look" articles exclusive to this site although one is probably coming. It is simply a report on the measured velocities of some common defensive rounds from the SIG-Sauer pistol and some informal expansion testing with some observations on certain newer rounds from both the P-220 and the full-size 1911.

The Pistol: Today's shooting was done with a stock P-220 .45 ACP that I purchased several years ago. It has been "customized" only by the adding of a small strip of skateboard tape to the front strap.

Ammunition: Testing was done with the following ammunition and the average velocities shown are based on 10 shots fired approximately 10' from the chronograph screens

Ammo Average Velocity (Ft/sec) Extreme Spread/Std. Deviation (Ft/sec)

Corbon 165-gr

PowRball +P 1189 33/13

Remington UMC 185-gr

MC "Flat Nose" 949 58/18

Federal Classic 185-gr

JHP (45C) 944 22/7

Taurus 185-gr Hex HP bullet 926 19/7

Corbon 200-gr JHP +P 975 34/12

Winchester Ranger 230-gr

RA45T JHP 857 10/4

Federal Classic 230-gr JHP

(45D) 839 25/8

Speer 230-gr Gold Dot

Hollow Point 823 31/10

Remington 230-gr Golden

Saber BJHP 822 34/13

Federal 230-gr HydraShok 871 42/14

Winchester 230-gr Subsonic

JHP (XSUB45A) 834 23/10

Winchester USA 230-gr FMJ 771 17/7

Comparison to Velocities from 5" 1911:

Ammo SIG-Sauer P-220 w/4.4" bbl (Ft/sec) 1911 5" (Ft/sec)

Corbon 165-gr.

PowRball +P 1189 1220

Corbon 200-gr

JHP +P 975 1019

Remington 230-gr

Golden Saber BJHP 822 847

Federal 230-gr Hydrashok 871 870

Speer 230-gr Gold Dot

Hollow Point 816 823

Winchester 230-gr Subsonic

JHP 834 845

Winchester 230-gr RA45T 857 841

It appears that .45 ACP velocity remains essentially the same in the slightly shorter P-220 barrel as with the 5" 1911. If the barrel is reduced by an inch or so more as in the case of the really compact 1911 pistols sold today, velocity drops significantly. For this reason I do not care to go below the 4 1/4" inch barrel as is found on the 1911 Commander and the P-220.

Winchester's "Deep Penetrating" 230-gr. JHP bearing the "Subsonic" logo is not the same round as their law enforcement only RA45T.

Of the seven compared loads, 5 are faster in the longer barrel, even if by but 1 ft/sec in one case! Two are faster in the SIG-Sauer barrel, but none are extreme in velocity differences.

One of the newer defensive rounds on the market are Corbon's 165-gr. "PowRball." This is somewhat similar to Federal's "Expanding Full Metal Jacket," but seems to penetrate and expand more consistently in both bare gelatin and 10% ballistic gelatin after passing through various barriers like plywood and the 4-layers of denim that's become a "necessary" standard.

The expanded bullet on the left is a .45 ACP 165-gr PowRball recovered from the "scientific mud expansion test." The one on the right was fired from a 5" 1911 into water. It expanded to a smaller diameter than the one from mud and its jacket did separate from the bullet. There was no jacket separation in the bullet recovered from mud. Even though the bullet on the right impacted at higher velocity, the one on the left shows greater expansion. I suspect that part of this is actually deformation on top of expansion and believe that the bullet on the right probably better represents what to expect in "soft targets."

Another new round is from Taurus, a company usually associated with firearm manufacturing. It is a solid copper bullet with a large hollow point. In 10% gelatin tests, the bullet has performed well. As is noted in the previous ammunition velocity tables, it is not particularly fast.


This is Taurus' entry into expanding handgun ammunition for the .45 ACP.

Fired into water, the hex head bullet impacted at an average velocity of 926 ft/sec.


I was not particularly impressed with the 185 grain Taurus Hex Head hollow point when fired into water. The recovered bullet weighed 184.2 grains. Expanded diameter was 0.60 x 0.64."

All of the ammunition fired today was capable of very good accuracy. Groups shown below were fired at 15 yards off-hand and there is considerable human error involved in each 5-shot group. Inferences as to which load is most accurate should not be made.


Any of the loads shown here are more accurate than can be held in defensive situations. None are "inaccurate."


Once again, we see that all of the ammunition shot for groups is more than adequately accurate for self-protection, be they at the low or high end of the bullet weight range.



Remington's 230 grain Golden Saber grouped very well…when I did my part. The shot on the left was not the gun or the ammunition's fault.

Of the ammunition fired today, were I picking a load for personal protection, my first choice would be Winchester's RA45T followed by the Corbon 165 grain PowRball. If I couldn't get either of those, I'd probably go with either the Golden Saber or the Hydrashok even though the latter is considered "poor" by some as it routinely fails the 4-layers of denim test. Whether it does or not, it is still at least forty-five caliber and perhaps the felon won't be wrapped in four layers of denim…if any!

Though discontinued, the Corbon 200-gr JHP +P remains a favorite load in the P-220. It uses the old Speer "Flying Ashtray" JHP and this round does expand and sometimes fragment in tissue. At least it has in animals I've shot with it. Recalcitrant in feeding with some pistols, it worked flawlessly in the P-220.


Though an "old technology" bullet and one that's been replaced with Speer's Gold Dot, I believe this to still be a very decent defense round. It has proven extremely accurate out of the P-220 after several hundred rounds. I wouldn't hesitate to use it for "serious" purposes, but do believe that there are better choices. That more dependable bullets do exist don't automatically make the older loads ineffective.


Though this Federal 230-gr Hydrashok was fired from a 1911 into water, results would probably be similar from the P-220 as it actually displayed an average velocity within 1 ft/sec of the 1911's.


These two .45 ACP Winchester Ranger "T" (RA45T) hollow points were fired into water from a five-inch 1911. As the average velocity of the P-220 and that gun are less than 20 ft/sec different, I strongly believe that identical expansion characteristics can be expected.

In today's shooting, there were no malfunctions of any kind. I was pleased that at 15 yards, there was also no great change in POI vs. POA. With the exception of the Winchester 230-gr "Subsonic" JHP, which I've never been able to get to reliably expand in anything or the 230-gr ball, I'd feel pretty well protected using any of this ammunition in a P-220 or Commander, but would not go to shorter barrels with any of it except the PowRball. It's reported to work fine from the shorter barreled pistols. Winchester's +P version of the law enforcement load shot today is said to work well in them, too.

.........................................................................................................................................................................
The plan for Martial Law

EXECUTIVE ORDER 10990
allows the government to take over all modes of transportation and control
of highways and seaports.

EXECUTIVE ORDER 10995
allows the government to seize and control the communication media.

EXECUTIVE ORDER 10997
allows the government to take over all electrical power, gas, petroleum,
fuels. and minerals.

EXECUTIVE ORDER 10998
allows the government to seize all means of transportation, including
personal cars, trucks or vehicles of any kind and total control over all
highways, seaports, and waterways.

EXECUTIVE ORDER 10999
allows the government to take over all food resources and farms.

EXECUTIVE ORDER 11000
allows the government to mobilize civilians into work brigades under
government supervision.

EXECUTIVE ORDER 11001
allows the government to take over all health, education and welfare
functions.

EXECUTIVE ORDER 11002
designates the Postmaster General to operate a national registration of all
persons.

EXECUTIVE ORDER 11003
allows the government to take over all airports and aircraft, including
commercial aircraft.

EXECUTIVE ORDER 11004
allows the Housing and Finance Authority to relocate communities, build new
housing with public funds, and designate areas to be abandoned, and
establish new locations for populations.

EXECUTIVE ORDER 11005
allows the government to take over railroads, inland waterways and public
storage facilities.

EXECUTIVE ORDER 11051
specifies the responsibility of the Office of Emergency Planning and gives
authorization to put all Executive Orders into effect in times of increased
international tensions and economic or financial crisis.

EXECUTIVE ORDER 11310
grants authority to the Department of Justice to enforce the plans set out
in Executive Orders, to institute industrial support, to establish judicial
and legislative liaison, to control all aliens, to operate penal and
correctional institutions, and to advise and assist the President.

EXECUTIVE ORDER 11049
assigns emergency preparedness function to federal departments and agencies,
consolidating 21 operative Executive Orders issued over a fifteen-year
period.

EXECUTIVE ORDER 11921
allows the Federal Emergency Preparedness Agency to develop plans to
establish control over the mechanisms of production and distribution, of
energy sources, wages, salaries, credit and the flow of money in U.S .
Financial institution in any undefined national emergency. It also provides
that when the President declares a state of emergency, Congress cannot
review the action for six months. The Federal Emergency Management Agency
has broad powers in every aspect of the nation. General Frank Salzedo, chief
of FEMA's Civil Security Division stated in a 1983 conference that he saw
FEMA's role as a "new frontier in the protection of individual and
governmental leaders from assassination, and of civil and military
installations from sabotage and/or attack, as well as prevention of
dissident groups from gaining access to U.S. opinion, or a global audience
in times of crisis." FEMA's powers were c consolidated by President Carter
to incorporate the...

National Security Act of 1947
allows for the strategic relocation of industries, services, government and
other essential economic activities, and to rationalize the requirements for
manpower, resources and production facilities.
1950 Defense Production Act
gives the President sweeping powers over all aspects of the economy.

Act of August 29, 1916
authorizes the Secretary of the Army, in time of war, to take possession of
any transportation system for transporting troops, material, or any other
purpose related to the emergency.
International Emergency Economic Powers Act
enables the President to seize the property of a foreign country or
national. These powers were transferred to FEMA in a sweeping consolidation
in 1979.
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Nahum Chapter 1

א מַשָּׂא, נִינְוֵה--סֵפֶר חֲזוֹן נַחוּם, הָאֶלְקֹשִׁי. 1 The burden of Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.
ב אֵל קַנּוֹא וְנֹקֵם יְהוָה, נֹקֵם יְהוָה וּבַעַל חֵמָה; נֹקֵם יְהוָה לְצָרָיו, וְנוֹטֵר הוּא לְאֹיְבָיו. 2 The LORD is a jealous and avenging God, the LORD avengeth and is full of wrath; the LORD taketh vengeance on His adversaries, and He reserveth wrath for His enemies.
ג יְהוָה, אֶרֶךְ אַפַּיִם וגדול- (וּגְדָל-) כֹּחַ, וְנַקֵּה, לֹא יְנַקֶּה; יְהוָה, בְּסוּפָה וּבִשְׂעָרָה דַּרְכּוֹ, וְעָנָן, אֲבַק רַגְלָיו. 3 The LORD is long-suffering, and great in power, and will by no means clear the guilty; the LORD, in the whirlwind and in the storm is His way, and the clouds are the dust of His feet.
ד גּוֹעֵר בַּיָּם וַיַּבְּשֵׁהוּ, וְכָל-הַנְּהָרוֹת הֶחֱרִיב; אֻמְלַל בָּשָׁן וְכַרְמֶל, וּפֶרַח לְבָנוֹן אֻמְלָל. 4 He rebuketh the sea, and maketh it dry, and drieth up all the rivers; Bashan languisheth, and Carmel, and the flower of Lebanon languisheth.
ה הָרִים רָעֲשׁוּ מִמֶּנּוּ, וְהַגְּבָעוֹת הִתְמֹגָגוּ; וַתִּשָּׂא הָאָרֶץ מִפָּנָיו, וְתֵבֵל וְכָל-יוֹשְׁבֵי בָהּ. 5 The mountains quake at Him, and the hills melt; and the earth is upheaved at His presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein.
ו לִפְנֵי זַעְמוֹ מִי יַעֲמוֹד, וּמִי יָקוּם בַּחֲרוֹן אַפּוֹ; חֲמָתוֹ נִתְּכָה כָאֵשׁ, וְהַצֻּרִים נִתְּצוּ מִמֶּנּוּ. 6 Who can stand before His indignation? And who can abide in the fierceness of His anger? His fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are broken asunder before Him.
ז טוֹב יְהוָה, לְמָעוֹז בְּיוֹם צָרָה; וְיֹדֵעַ, חֹסֵי בוֹ. 7 The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knoweth them that take refuge in Him.
ח וּבְשֶׁטֶף עֹבֵר, כָּלָה יַעֲשֶׂה מְקוֹמָהּ; וְאֹיְבָיו, יְרַדֶּף-חֹשֶׁךְ. 8 But with an overrunning flood He will make a full end of the place thereof, and darkness shall pursue His enemies.
ט מַה-תְּחַשְּׁבוּן, אֶל-יְהוָה--כָּלָה, הוּא עֹשֶׂה; לֹא-תָקוּם פַּעֲמַיִם, צָרָה. 9 What do ye devise against the LORD? He will make a full end; trouble shall not rise up the second time.
י כִּי עַד-סִירִים סְבֻכִים, וּכְסָבְאָם סְבוּאִים; אֻכְּלוּ--כְּקַשׁ יָבֵשׁ, מָלֵא. 10 For though they be like tangled thorns, and be drunken according to their drink, they shall be devoured as stubble fully dry.
יא מִמֵּךְ יָצָא, חֹשֵׁב עַל-יְהוָה רָעָה--יֹעֵץ, בְּלִיָּעַל. {ס} 11 Out of thee came he forth, that deviseth evil against the LORD, that counselleth wickedness. {S}
יב כֹּה אָמַר יְהוָה, אִם-שְׁלֵמִים וְכֵן רַבִּים, וְכֵן נָגוֹזּוּ, וְעָבָר; וְעִנִּתִךְ--לֹא אֲעַנֵּךְ, עוֹד. 12 Thus saith the LORD: Though they be in full strength, and likewise many, even so shall they be cut down, and he shall pass away; and though I have afflicted thee, I will afflict thee no more.
יג וְעַתָּה, אֶשְׁבֹּר מֹטֵהוּ מֵעָלָיִךְ; וּמוֹסְרֹתַיִךְ, אֲנַתֵּק. 13 And now will I break his yoke from off thee, and will burst thy bonds in sunder.
יד וְצִוָּה עָלֶיךָ יְהוָה, לֹא-יִזָּרַע מִשִּׁמְךָ עוֹד; מִבֵּית אֱלֹהֶיךָ אַכְרִית פֶּסֶל וּמַסֵּכָה, אָשִׂים קִבְרֶךָ--כִּי קַלּוֹתָ. {פ} 14 And the LORD hath given commandment concerning thee, that no more of thy name be sown; out of the house of thy god will I cut off the graven image and the molten image; I will make thy grave; for thou art become worthless. {P}