Review: Sig P226 Legion SAO

The Sig Legion P226 SAO is a Winner in Almost Every Way.

The only issue I’ve ever had with the P226 was the double action trigger. But, the Sig 1911 single action offerings never seemed as substantial as other comparable models such as Colt or select other offerings from Wilson Combat or Les Baer.

However, Sig has since developed and produced the Sig P226 Legion SAO. While I was skeptical, I was also hopeful that the legion would enjoy the best of the P226 with a tactical upgrade into single action only. The P226 Legion I tested was chambered in 9mm.

I’ll start by sharing that the P226 sizing remains a favorite of mine, it fits my hand well and feels substantial when presented to the target. The Electro-optic X-RAY blacked out day/night rear sight meets it’s tactical objective well but is a tad small for my taste. The X-Ray high contrast day/night front sight also meets it’s tactical objective well and is an excellent addition to this handgun.

The enhanced action with Short Reset Trigger snaps to the wall nicely when firing while also resetting quickly. The frame relief under the trigger guard is a nice touch for overall grip enhancement – as are the checkered G-10 grips and the checkering on the front strap and trigger guard. The reduced and contoured beavertail feels good in the hand and offers steady contact to the back of the gun while the thumb manipulates the safety.

The fit and finish of the P226 Legion is excellent for a production gun, and the vertical dispersion (muzzle rise) of the 9mm is negligible, making quick follow-up shots more probable for the average shooter. The Picatinny rail is a solid choice, and I was pleasantly surprised to see that the Legion comes with 3 magazines out of the box.

The Alloy/stainless frame and solid steel guide rod create a rock solid feel – almost over-built in some respects – and the 34 once weight with magazine can either be seen as a positive or negative. As for me, I enjoy a substantial pistol and would even carry the P226 concealed.

During my shooting test, I shot a variety of ammunition through the P226 Legion – even stacking full metal jacket, hollow points, +P, and RIP ammunition on top of one another – filling the magazines. The P226 Legion ran through the magazines that I’d essentially booby-trapped with ease. I purposefully neglected to clean the barrel during testing, and achieved exactly zero issues during shooting.

The only slight negative I found in reviewing the Sig Legion P226 SAO was the thumb safety – where I prefer a smooth transition to a firm floor. In the Legion’s SAO case, I found the thumb safety to be a bit sticky, arguably a positive for law enforcement. Over time, the thumb safety may benefit from a breaking in period if such a thing exists in this model, but for out-of-the-box performance, I prefer something a bit more evenly maneuverable.

The bottom line: The Sig P226 Legion SAO is a winner. At nearly $1,500, it’s a pricey winner, but a winner none-the-less.