For decades, Sig Sauer has dedicated itself to providing weapons that are designed by and for professionals, including elite military units and law enforcement agencies worldwide, which has given the company a somewhat unique perspective in the firearms world. They company has also enjoyed commercial success, but it’s always been secondary to the military/police market.
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Sig’s weapons are often designed with input from working professionals who carry firearms for a living. Even the company’s competition pistols were designed with input from top shooters. Going further, Sig Sauer has often made changes at the request of its most prolific users. This also leads to the company skipping many of the industry fads; Sig Sauer just wants to build high-quality weapons that can be depended on to save lives. All of this careful attention to detail has made Sig Sauer’s pistols very popular. You could say that its fans are legion. Which brings us to Sig’s new, members-only Legion series.
Join The Ranks
Sig Sauer’s new Legion program is dedicated to discerning buyers and working professionals. Essentially, purchasing a Legion firearm—three are currently available, but more are surely on the way—gets you entry into a specialized group. As a Legion member, you’ll have access to an exclusive website where you’ll be the first to know about special Sig Sauer events and new additions to the product line. This is also another way to access Sig’s excellent customer support.
Each Legion gun comes with a case, a Legion challenge coin and three high-quality magazines. You’ll also have access to Legion-specific gear and accessories, all of which is made by top-notch manufacturers in the industry. Currently, Legion Kydex holsters are made by Black Point Tactical, a premier holster-maker. Legion knives are also available from seasoned knifemakers like Daniel Winkler, and soon SureFire will join the Legion accessories stable. All of the Legion-exclusive merchandise is top tier. Nothing going into this program is low grade.
The three Legion pistols currently available include the legendary double- action/single-action (DA/SA) P226 in 9mm, .40 S&W or .357 SIG; a single-action-only (SAO) P226 in 9mm; and the DA/SA P229 in 9mm, .40 S&W or .357 SIG. Each model was designed with significant input from active military and law enforcement personnel, providing a pistol well designed for use in any condition.
To that end, each of these pistols comes with a number of enhancements, including a tuned action with a Short Reset Trigger (SRT). The frames feature reduced and contoured Elite beavertails, checkering along the frontstrap and an undercut triggerguard (also checkered on the bottom) that offers a higher grip on the frame for superb control. Custom checkered G10 grips featuring the Legion medallion adorn each pistol.
While the P226 SAO comes with a Master Shop Super Match Flat Trigger, the DA/SA P226 and P229 come with Grayguns Intermediate Reach Adjustable Triggers. The pistols also sport low-profile slide releases and decocking levers to prevent snagging on the draw. Each control is checkered and easy to operate with gloved hands.
Each slide features forward and rear serrations, stylish contouring and Sig Sauer Electro-Optics X-RAY day/night sights. The front sights have large green dots surrounding their tritium inserts. The rear sights have tritium inserts with no dots to interfere with a clean sight picture. Within the slides are match-grade barrels and solid steel guide rods. Finally, each pistol is coated in a proprietary Legion Gray PVD and comes with three magazines.
I received a 9mm P229 Legion for testing. The internals were factory polished and tuned for an incredibly smooth DA trigger pull in the 8-pound range. The SA pull is crisp thanks to the SRT design. I found the grip frame fit my hand well and offered a lower bore axis for less felt recoil. The checkered grips secured my hands without being too aggressive. The controls were nicely subdued while still being very positive.
The slide has rounded corners to facilitate concealed or off-duty carry. I was happy to see that the X-RAY sights were easy to acquire and made of steel without being overly tall; the rear sight has a functional ledge for emergency one-handed slide racking. The Legion marking on top of the slide was another nice touch. It sets this pistol apart from the rest on the market.
The Legion Gray PVD finish was smoothly applied, and the three included magazines also had this durable coating for use in any condition. My test pistol came with Black Point Tactical’s Legion-marked “Leather Wing” holster and magazine pouch.
Pro-Grade P229
The P229 Legion’s accuracy was excellent—something you come to expect with a Sig Sauer pistol. My own P226 SAO is as accurate as many custom pistols. I’ve also used a number of P220s over the years that were very precise. The P229 Legion proved to be the most accurate with Sig’s own 124-grain V-Crown JHPs, creating a 25-yard group that measured 1.25 inches. Every load produced five-shot groups in the 1.5- to 2-inch range firing in SA mode from the bench. Moving to 7 yards and switching to DA, the P229 Legion really liked the Barnes 115-grain TAC-XPD ammo. With light recoil and quick cycling, the pistol was very pleasant to shoot. Drawing, moving and shooting quickly, my groups stayed within 3 inches. Whether I was at the bench or on the move, the Sig Sauer P229 Legion was very accurate.
Next I ran some drills on the range to perfect my drawstroke and DA/SA trigger control. It had been a while since I had to deal with a DA-to-SA transition, but it didn’t take me long to get back into the habit with the P229 Legion. Once dialed in, my hits were dead center, with most draw times in the two-second range and a few being faster. The pistol was also easy to control when drawing without firing—one of the reasons many agencies prefer this design. This is my first time with an SRT trigger, and it is was flat-out fast—as fast and controllable as any SA duty pistol I’ve used. Once the shooting started I found myself enjoying this pistol, which isn’t something I say very often when it comes to DA/SA pistols. This pistol was the best DA/SA I’ve used out of the box so far. The controls functioned well; the P229 Legion operates exactly how one would expect for a professional’s pistol.
Black Point Tactical’s Leather Wing holster and magazine pouch are very well made. My pistol snapped into place yet remained easy to draw. Two sets of belt loops were provided to facilitate different belt sizes. The holster edges were smooth with crisp molding for the pistol and magazine. The leather wings wrap around the hip, keeping the pistol in place without letting it dig in. I carried the P229 Legion in this holster for a week or so and it was pretty comfortable, though I prefer to use an inside-the-waistband (IWB) design. Thankfully, Sig also offers IWB holsters for its Legion series pistols. The P229 Legion fit well in my Milt Sparks IWB holster. It’s pretty void of sharp edges and only a bit heavier than polymer-framed pistols, making it well suited to off-duty or concealed carry. I found myself grabbing the P229 Legion consistently for carry on most days.
Rounding out the test was some quality time using my Survival Body Armor tactical vest and chest-mounted holster. Many professionals choose this position when the pistol is a true secondary weapon. When you always have a rifle, your pistol needs to stay close but not get in the way. This carry position is new to me, and I’ve tried to carry several pistols in this location over the last few months, but this pistol may be the best suited for the task. It takes some practice making sure you do not cover yourself on the draw or while reholstering—probably more of a problem on the range than in real life, but it’s still a consideration. Of course, the DA/SA design adds an additional layer of safety in this regard. I worked a few carbine-to-pistol transitions with the P229 Legion; it’s just about perfect for this task. It’s compact, taking up little room, and pairs well with my SureFire X300 Ultra flashlight.
Tough Enough
With a smooth DA trigger pull, a short reset in SA and proven Sig Sauer accuracy, it just does not get much better than the P229 Legion. Every addition to this pistol is well thought out, matching many of the changes I make on stock pistols. The sights are easy to see, grip properly checkered, controls easy to access, and internals smooth and controllable. The pistol ran flawlessly over hundreds of rounds. Its reliability was unaffected by adding lights. It is suitable for use in a thigh rig, a duty holster, concealment rig, a plate carrier or a vest. Everything about this pistol screams professional. I’m not sure you can get a more versatile handgun.
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Normally my DA/SA pistol evaluations end on the range, but that’s not the case with the P229 Legion. I plan on carrying it and using it with some frequency. I would not hesitate a second to take this pistol to work, no matter the task.
For more information, visit sigsauer.com or call 603-610-3000.
Specifications – Sig Sauer P229 Legion
- Caliber: 9mm
- Barrel: 3.9 inches
- OA Length: 7.4 inches
- Weight: 32 ounces (empty)
- Grips: G10
- Sights: X-RAY day/night
- Action: DA/SA
- Finish: Legion Gray PVD
- Capacity: 15+1
- MSRP: $1,349
