Sig Sauer SP2022 review

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Specifications.

• Caliber: 9mm
• Capacity: 15 Is standard. 10 If you live in a crappy state. 17 Round magazines are available.
• Empty weight: 25.15 oz
• Loaded weight (124 gr JHP’s): 35.13 oz
• Barrel length: 3.9”
• Length: 7.4”
• Height: 5.5”
• Width: 1.4”
• DA Trigger pull weight: 7 lbs., 5 oz. (average of five pulls)
• SA Trigger pull weight: 3 lbs., 12 oz. (average of five pulls)

The basics.

The Sig Sauer SP2022 is a 9mm, 15 round, hammer-fired, compact handgun. I believe I’m said before that I’m not sure a 15 round gun should be called “compact,” but that’s the convention so I’ll work with it. According to Sig it even has “Carry” in its name. I recently did a review of a carry holster for this gun. While the holster was excellent, I didn’t think it a good fit for this gun so I’m still looking.

In the meantime, I thought I’d review the gun itself since I can recommend it without reservation.

Update: I did find a functional holster.  My review of it is here: Versacarry Element.

Update, 10/19/2022.  I recently picked up an AlienGear CloakTuck 3.5 for this gun.  The link goes to a first look, with an unboxing video. Once I do a full review I’ll post the link to that in here.  11/2/2022: And here’s the link to the review.

I purchased this used from a local dealer who’d bought it (or was selling on consignment) from someone who came into town from California. It came with three 10 round magazines. They’re still around but the first thing I did was buy proper magazines. I bought one 15 round and one 17 round magazines. When I do carry this I normally have a 15 round magazine in the gun and the 17 as a spare.

As you can see it has a very nice Picatinny rail. I have a light ordered to make use of that.  My review of that light is here: Surefire TLR-1 HL review.

Does it carry well?

It does. The Element makes it work just fine.  And I can say that I have a Crossbreed Supertuck that I use for my Sig P229. The P229 is almost identical in all dimensions except weight. It’s all metal so it’s about 5 oz. heavier than the polymer SP2022.

I do sometimes carry the 2022 in a large fanny pack style holster. It works just fine in that, and when the light gets here I’ll probably use it for that a lot since I tend to talk walks when it’s dark out.

Ergonomics.

The sights are basic three dot white sights. They’re at least as good as any of the others that I’ve seen. Bring and easy to pick up if there’s any light at all. There’s a reason that three dot white sights are so common; they work. I have an older Ruger revolver with just the black sights. I only have to shoot that once to remember why the white dots became popular. I have considered getting some night sights for the SP2022 but for now I’m good with what I have. The light is coming and I don’t like to change too much at once on a gun I’m carrying. I like a little chance to adjust to one thing before I change another.

As you can see from the picture, the slide release and decocker are right there next to your thumb for easy use; no stretching required. Same with the magazine release. I do not have the world’s largest hands and I’ve no trouble at all working these controls.

Other than a 1911, very little points better than a Sig. Not sure what sort of magic they use but it’s really easy to get this gun on target quickly.

How does it shoot?

Well, it’s a Sig. So it shoots extremely well. The DA to SA transition is smooth and easy to manage. The DA trigger weight is lighter than any other DA gun I have so even the, “but two trigger pulls are bad,” wimps could probably pull it off. The decocker is easy to reach and very positive in its engagement which makes it really easy to practice two shot drills to go between DA and SA.

The gun is accurate and reliable. I’ve fired over 500 rounds of FMJ, JHP, with a mix of 115 gr and 124 gr and not a single malfunction. I can hit my “paper plate at 25 yards test” with every single round.

Recoil is minimal and easily managed with the ammunition I mentioned. Consistent rapid and accurate shooting is a breeze with this gun.

Disadvantages.

I don’t know. It wasn’t free? But it is less expensive than most Sig Sauers.

I guess if I could change one thing it would be to make the double action pull a little heavier. 7 lbs., 5 oz. is getting towards the light end for my taste but that’s hardly a major flaw.

As I mentioned before, this one did not come with Sig’s night sights. Again, not a major flaw but more important than the DA trigger pull. I likely will change the sights at some point. I bought a sight pusher a month or two ago that I haven’t used yet, so…

Conclusion.

I’m a fan of this gun. I got it for a very good price, even when you factor in the three mags I bought. It’s a quality, reliable, accurate firearm that I’ll likely be carrying for years to come. For some reason this is nowhere near as popular as the identically sized P229. Other than plastic phobia I can’t see a good reason for it. It’s just as accurate, just as reliable, has the same round count, and is the same size. It’s also somewhat lighter. And less expensive.

I like metal, too, but once I find a holster I like this will replace the P229 for carry purposes. It’s a great gun and you can get one at guns.com or Palmetto State Armory.