I tend to segment my life experiences into silos. I do not have a one-size-fits-all blog. There’s a reason why I do that. I’ve blogs about Unix, PDAs, Apple products, Subarus, and others. A reader that cares about Unix might not care about Subarus. I believe a blog has to have a general theme…how do you mesh all of those blogs into one without looking like a skitzo? You can’t.
Anyways, I’ve a new hobby. Last month, my wife bought me a handgun. What make? Sig Sauer. What model? A P220, but not just any P220…she got me an Equinox. That’s a gun created by Sig Sauer’s custom gun shop. It’s full size and calibered in .45 ACP.
It was supposed to be a surprise Christmas present but she ended up telling me because the sales people she was talking with told her to inform me so that I could give her a good idea of what I wanted…for all they knew, I’d not like the gift. A few weeks before she bought it, she’d been asking me gun questions but I thought she was asking idle questions (she does that from time to time and knows a bit about weapons — 20 years of Army service that she accrued). She asked me my preference of caliber and make. I told her .40 and Sig Sauer. Well, she took that information and went back to the sales people and told them. They recommended a .45 instead, as .40s are known for being a bit snappy in recoil. So, we were Christmas shopping and she told me that she wanted to show me something and that she wanted me to close my eyes…she then led me to the gun shop in the store (the Ft. Belvoir Exchange). When I opened my eyes, I was shocked. She showed me the gun she wanted to buy me. It was the Equinox…it’s all shadow and light, with dark wooden grips. We went to look at other guns at other shops over the next few days but we settled on the Equinox and bought it the day before Thanksgiving.
That’s the greatest present she’s ever given me and it was also very thoughtful. It was also pricey, as far as guns retail for. $1040.
I took it to a local in-door range the week after I got it. It shoots great. The trigger is awesome in both DA and SA modes. It does have recoil, however. The previous calibers I’ve fired (they were a friend’s guns) were 9mm and .40…both Sigs. In comparison to that .40, my P220 isn’t offering less recoil. They both feel about the same. Now, I don’t remember what .40 Sig my friend had, but I’ve the feeling I’d have been happy with a .40 Sig. That’s not a huge issue, though…I’m happy with my gift!
The P220 comes with 2 8-round mags. The mags are stiff as hell out-of-the-box and have to be broken in. Load rounds into them to exercise the springs. They loosen up over time and with use.
The P220 also has a very stiff recoil spring that will loosen up over time and use. As it is now, it is difficult to rack the gun.
I’ve put approximately 100 rounds through the gun so far and the mags and recoil spring have loosened a bit…they’re still a bit stiff, though.
I’ve a gun safe, especially since I’ve three kids. I’ve the Stack-On Model # PS-508-12. This safe is small but has enough room for 3-4 handguns (maybe even more if nothing else is in the safe). BJs has this safe, as well as an assortment of Sentry safes. I liked this one because it was a bit under $60 and was low in profile.
Also….
I bought another gun. I sold some car parts to a fellow Subaru owner and used the money to buy a Sig Sauer SP2022 in 9mm. This will probably be my carry gun. Yes, it is rather large to carry, but it is sold as a compact gun. It is about the same size as many compact guns of other makes. Note that the SP isn’t yet in my possession. It is currently being delivered to my local gunshop. I got this gun for $389. I’ve also ordered two extra magazines (at $22/ea from Cabelas…during a sale). This is key, because the gun only comes with one magazine and people complain that extra mags are expensive…I’ve heard quotes of $50/ea.
So, I can carry this gun but also practice with it to hone my basic handgun skills…9mm ammo is cheaper than .45 ACP, so there’s a lower cost factor with this gun.
I did not want a sub-compact gun. I held a Walther PPK in .380 and could barely hold the gun, it was so small. I’ve big hands, so I need a gun with substantial grip, even if it means it’ll be more difficult to carry…I can’t stand when my hand is hanging off of a gun grip, as it doesn’t feel comfortable to me. I’m a bit passionate about this because there is this thing about carry guns that forum monkeys will try to sell people: carry guns have to be small. That’s bullshit, IMO, and seems to be more of an attempt to limit a gun owner.
Lastly, I’ll give you a history of my involvement with firearms.
I’m a 10-year military veteran. Up until 2014, I’d never owned a firearm, but in my 10 years of active duty, I’ve slept with guns, took a dump with guns, practiced almost monthly with guns, deployed to hostile environment with guns, and performed guard duty with live rounds, with a mag in the gun but no round chambered. And when I went to the range, I actually coached on basic marksmanship and sight zero adjustments. I’ve fired M16A2s almost exclusively, but also attended an OPFOR range while assigned to the 2nd ID G2 section…we fired captured Soviet-type weapons and ammunition. I’ve fired claymores, as well, at an actual claymore range at Fort Bragg. I’ve also handled both plastic explosives, blasting caps, low yield TNT and high explosives (I had to know how to emergency dispose of classified machinery). This is just everyday stuff to most veterans (minus the explosives bit, probably), but with all that being said, I’m still new to handguns, but keep in mind that a lot (but not all) of my rifle experience carries over to handguns. And really, a lot of this is common sense. I’ve 10 years of extremely valuable firearms experience and have never owned a handgun…why is it that I’m comfortable with my P220? Because in the basic sense, a gun is a gun. I already knew how to clear a semi-automatic handgun because it’s basically the same as clearing an M16: drop the mag, pull and/or lock back the charging handle, look inside the chamber for any rounds, if there are no rounds, release the slide and place on safe (if applicable, because many Sigs don’t have manual safes). As well, in Virginia (where I’m from), military veterans can apply for their concealed carry license with nothing more than their DD214s as a prerequisite form (with an honorable discharge).
Stay tuned, as I’ll be gradually beefing up this page with my weapons and ownership experiences.