SIG’s Short, Sweet, Reliable .45

During the past decade, I have tested, evaluated, modified and carried SIG handguns regularly. I have observed them in use on two continents and received positive feedback on the firearms line in English and French.

The majority of SIG pistols I have seen in service are the P-series, double-action types. My personal service pistol is the 1911A1. After many years of using the 1911 handgun professionally, it takes much to impress me. In my opinion, a credible, service-grade 1911 is the only type worth considering for practical carry. Quality manufacturing and the heart of a handgun count more than accessories and features.

SIG has prospered for decades with the double-action, first-shot P series and entered the field with polymer-frame, double-action-only handguns. SIG also introduced credible, effective and reliable 1911-type handguns. The full-size Government Model came first in the form of the Granite Series Rail gun, then the Commander-length pistols.

SIG’s Newest Subcompact

SIG’s latest is the subcompact type commonly called the 3-inch gun. By reputation and design, the 3-inch pistol has been the least reliable of all 1911-size handguns. However, much depends on the maker and final fit and finish. As a rule, compact handguns take a greater battering from the momentum of a cartridge. There is no changing the basic laws of physics. Magazine and recoil springs must be changed more often, and maintenance is critical, which is true of any compact handgun.

When the Officer’s Model first appeared several decades ago, the operation modifications included changing the lockup from a barrel bushing to a belled, bull-barrel design and eliminating one locking lug. That allowed the slide to travel a proportionately greater distance to the rear because the barrel more sharply tilted during the feed cycle with the short-slide 1911. The frame is also abbreviated. The original Officer’s Model had a six-round box magazine, while the Modern Officer’s Model magazine holds seven rounds.

The SIG 1911 series includes superlative tactical versions and match-grade handguns. The newest is a compact version retaining the distinctive SIG and 1911 design confluence that makes the pistol unique. Its primary advantages over the larger handgun are less area, weight and bulk, making it easier to conceal and carry comfortably. Those are two different aspects of concealed carry.

Most service-grade handguns are concealable, given proper leather gear; comfort in carry is another matter. The greater the advantage in comfort, often the greater the disadvantage in handling, accuracy and power—but not always. The SIG subcompact comes out better than most. When developing the Officer’s Model, SIG made some serious modifications, building on the original while offering extensive improvement.

Personal defense is very important to me. Many look at the issue differently. For example, if an adversary is attacking with a knife, I do not ask myself what the motivation is or why he is doing it. My motivation is to stop the attack. The threat must be stopped—the only ethical, practical and right-minded attitude. Therefore, I use the tool for the job, and believe a self-loader is the most efficient defense platform for those who practice. The .45 ACP offers good wound ballistics while remaining controllable. Putting those attributes in a compact package is the trick.

The illustrated SIG is the answer. I just finished an evaluation, giving the SIG subcompact a clean bill of health and place on my belt. The pistol is short, which means it clears leather quicker. That short sight radius may not give me the gilt-edged, practical accuracy I enjoy with a Government Model; however, the pistol has excellent intrinsic accuracy. Most will shoot it well. Those who practice will excel, and the SIG has accuracy potential sufficient to make the compact a 50-yard gun in the right hands; meaning practiced hands.

Subcompact Design

• The pistol features a positive firing-pin lock. That is important and why I call the Series 80 firing-pin lock a drop safety.
• It features Novak-design, low-mount sights. It is vital to have good sights on such a short pistol, perhaps even more so than a full-size handgun. The short sight radius works against the shooter, and muscle tremor will exaggerate a slight misalignment. Those are the ideal combat sights.

  

• The grips are checkered wood, custom quality, with excellent abrasion.
• The front strap is checkered in a custom-grade pattern that gives good adhesion. You have no excuse for not hanging on to this handgun.
• Trigger compression breaks at a smooth and controllable 4.5 pounds and is very clean.

I realize dimension is more important than finish in a concealed-carry piece, and it is a very nicely finished handgun.

The SIG Ultra has the features we like on a 1911 handgun.

The sights are good, trigger is smooth, and beavertail grip safety is ideal. The slightly extended safety works properly, with a positive indent and excellent function.

Firing

The proof of a handgun is in the firing, however, and I fired the SIG Ultra extensively for function. It never failed to feed, chamber, fire or eject.

I have high standards for reliability in a personal defense handgun. Only 100 percent function is acceptable. I also have high standards for accuracy; however, that standard is relative to the mission and requirements of a handgun.

I have seen many SIG handguns come through my training classes and have personal experience with dozens. I cannot recall an unqualified malfunction. The SIG Ultra is milder to fire and more controllable than I had imagined. It is light at 28 ounces, although not so light that it is “whippy.” That is practically the ideal weight for a compact .45. I have often thought that part of the recoil impulse, or perhaps I should say momentum, is from the heavy slide of a Government Model stopping short at the end of travel.

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I may be wrong, and the short-slide Ultra does not kick proportionately as much as you would think. During the initial break-in, I lubricated it and loaded the supplied magazines with Winchester USA 230-grain FMJ loads, supplementing with some Chip McCormick magazines. Throughout the years, I have enjoyed excellent results with those Power Mags.

The full-size Government Model magazine protrudes from the frame and is useful for range work. I would never deploy such a magazine (or one with a bumper pad) in the Ultra because that is pointless. The point of a compact pistol is concealment.

• The pistol came on target and proved well-regulated for 230-grain loads, with the bullets striking slightly high at 15 yards.

The pistol is tractable and moves well between targets, with good control.

• I exhausted 100 rounds from the Winchester white box with my grandson’s help (he is 18 years old and more than 6 feet tall).
• The pistol is a fine shooter, and since it is designed for personal defense, I put the piece through personal defense drills with assorted defense loads. Like most, I have a partial box of this and that left over from previous testing and range sessions because I do not always fire a complete box to evaluate accuracy.
• The lightest bullet I tested was the Liberty Civil Defense 78-grain load. The pistol spit out a full magazine as fast as I could pull the trigger—with no choking.
• A magazine of 185-grain Nosler JHP handloads gave good results.
• I prefer the 230-grain JHP and concentrated on those. Winchester introduced a new line called the Win1911. Specially designed for superior feed and performance in every 1911, including GI guns, it is impressive ammunition in an affordable, 50-round box. The FMJ load features a flat-point, 230-grain bullet. Frankly, knowing what I know about the .45, that load would suit me for carry and service. However, public safety demands an expanding bullet. If you can have expansion, you should take advantage of it. Both loads strike to the same point of aim, allowing practice with the less-expensive FMJ load. The new Winchester loads burn clean and give excellent performance. The SIG Ultra proved reliable with every loading.

I often fire quality handguns off a bench rest for 25-yard accuracy, sometimes firing compact handguns at 15 yards. Twenty-five yards is a long distance in a gunfight. The SIG Ultra is more accurate than I can hold. I took my time and settled in to a solid bench-rest firing position to work up a test of accuracy. However, I fired 5-shot groups at 7, 10 and 15 yards as well.

The result? At the 7-yard distance, the Ultra cut one ragged hole with even the least accurate ammunition. The SIG Ultra is among one of the most impressive handguns I have tested, based on performance and fit, finish and overall integrity of design and execution.

Carrying

The Jason Winnie Leathergoods (jasonwinnie.com) inside-the-waistband holster is ideal for the lightweight .45. Well made of good material, properly dyed and with a reinforced holstering welt and dual belt loops, it is the ideal design for the 1911 compact. The draw is sharp, and the holster is as comfortable as any load-bearing device carrying a life-saving .45 can be.

Features and Specifications

• Overall Length: 6.8 in
• Overall Height: 4.8 in
• Overall Width: 1.4 in
• Barrel Length: 3.3 in
• Sight Radius: 4.7 in
• Weight w/Mag: 28.0 oz
• Mag Capacity: 7 rounds
• Sights: Low-profile SIGLITE® night sights
• Grips: Custom rosewood grips
• Frame Finish: Black, hard anodized
• Slide Finish: Natural stainless
• Accessory Rail: No
• Features: Custom rosewood grips, checkered front strap, beavertail frame and grip safety

Are you a SIG aficionado? Ready to be one with this subcompact? Share in the comments section.

[bob]