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YAGT Any advantage to stainless steel?

Zebo

Zebo

Elite Member
In the market for a beaver tail sig 220 - already have an older sig 220 and 226 but want carry model with beaver tail this time.


Choices below.

P220-CARRY-ELITE-detail-L.jpg


P220-CARRY-ELITE-ST-detail-L.jpg


Stainless weighs more thats for sure... 39 oz vs 30 for all black one.
 
They are both stainless but black one has black over it and black one has aluminum frame.

The Silver one is all stainless steel.
 
Are you going to carry it? Do you care about how much more "covert" the black coloring is?

Heavy = less recoil = better follow-up shots = heavier weight to carry

If you want the weight with the blackness, you can always have it coated.
 
Kelvrick said:
Are you going to carry it? Do you care about how much more "covert" the black coloring is?

Heavy = less recoil = better follow-up shots = heavier weight to carry

If you want the weight with the blackness, you can always have it coated.
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Yeah. Carry that's the idea. I don't really have a carry pistol....all full frame...

You're not too covert when a 45 goes off no issue to me I'm just interested in why stainless? Is it just fancy looks or is finish actually better? Both my other sigs do have most blueing rubbed off so I'm thinking SS this time??

Cost is within 5% of each other so no issue there either
 
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Zebo said:
Yeah. Carry that's the idea. I don't really have a carry pistol....all full frame...

You're not too covert when a 45 goes off no issue to me I'm just interested in why stainless? Is it just fancy looks or is finish actually better? Both my other sigs do have most blueing rubbed off so I'm thinking SS this time??
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I have several stainless steel handguns, one I've owned for 18 years and the finish hasn't worn off of it. In matt finishes it will get bright spots over time but otherwise the finish will not significantly change over time. Coatings will wear and reveal the metal underneath. Only option is refinishing or living with it.

That said, I have a Glock I bought new in 1993 that still looks brand new despite the many thousands of rounds I've put through it. I don't carry it though nor do I generally keep it in a holster.
 
Glock has some propitiatory black that is almost impossible to wear off, no so with most handguns. I've had my 220 since 1992 and shoot a lot and getting in and out of leather galco holster is not the best for it. Basically it looks like crap. Need a new exactor too but that's another story anyway can't carry it it's just too bulky so I'm going for carry model. My hands are too big for glock.... fingers come down on top of notches instead of between them or I'd use a glock. Half the price less mass etc...


Good points guys about mass..have to think about pro/cons there too.... Man it's too bad you cant rent these for like a day.
 
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I think I saw somewhere in something Sig printed that you can send the slide back to be refinished. Didn't cost all that much either. Thankfully my 226 is new enough I'm not worrying about that yet.
 
guys I talked to at the gun shop mentioned the black will scratch and wear out easier on a carry gun.
 
With any parked, blued, or otherwise black coated gun, the finish will wear over time in specific areas when carried daily. Stainless will also show wear, but it is less noticeable and doesn't detract the appearance in my opinion. You might want to check the finish on the frame though, as if it isn't finished stainless steel and is rather a matte coated plain steel or aluminum, it will wear and look strange compared to the slide. This is what happened with my kimber as the slide has no wear but the trigger guard and bottom of the frame has worn some of the matte finish off.

As far as the frame is concerned - as it sounds like one may be an aluminum frame and the other a full stainless steel frame - The stainless frame will theoretically last longer, but honestly a quality aluminum frame will probably outlast most all other components of the gun.

I would worry less about the weight as long as you buy a high quality holster. 39 oz is pushing it but may be ok. My kimber is 25 oz unloaded, my XD Service .45 is 30oz. Neither of those were uncomfortable to carry in a good holster, but my 7" Longslide when open carried was pretty unwieldy. You will have to invest in a good belt and will have to always wear it.
 
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deadlyapp said:
With any parked, blued, or otherwise black coated gun, the finish will wear over time in specific areas when carried daily. Stainless will also show wear, but it is less noticeable and doesn't detract the appearance in my opinion. You might want to check the finish on the frame though, as if it isn't finished stainless steel and is rather a matte coated plain steel or aluminum, it will wear and look strange compared to the slide. This is what happened with my kimber as the slide has no wear but the trigger guard and bottom of the frame has worn some of the matte finish off.

As far as the frame is concerned - as it sounds like one may be an aluminum frame and the other a full stainless steel frame - The stainless frame will theoretically last longer, but honestly a quality aluminum frame will probably outlast most all other components of the gun.

I would worry less about the weight as long as you buy a high quality holster. 39 oz is pushing it but may be ok. My kimber is 25 oz unloaded, my XD Service .45 is 30oz. Neither of those were uncomfortable to carry in a good holster, but my 7" Longslide when open carried was pretty unwieldy. You will have to invest in a good belt and will have to always wear it.
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Thanks deadlyapp - a lot of good tips in here. I think I'm just gonna order the stainless and take my chances. Like the idea of wears better maybe smaller size compact I won't notice mass so much. It's really the size of the full sized pistols that bother me not mass. Although mass plays a part... how much? I'll find out.

Edit - yes all sig 220/226/229 etc have anodized aluminum frame while only the all stainless ones have stainless steel frame.
 
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I know people here hate the 1911 and the series 80 was never a great gun but here is my Colt Officer's Model. I bought this gun new in 1992 IIRC for $399. I had King's Gun Works do a trigger job, beavertail grip safety, Trijicon sights, and full length recoil spring guide rod on it. I used to go shooting out in the desert with friends quite often and carried this gun on me all day long. I've probably put at least a few thousand rounds through it over the years.

You can see the top of the slide is a matt finish but it has held up very well despite spending its life in and out of a good quality Galco leather ITWB holster. No, I'm not left handed...I had to hold the camera with my right hand to take the picture though.
Series80.jpg


I always wanted to get the front strap checkered but never bothered. I think the sights need to be replaced too as they don't glow anymore. Still, I'd carry this gun anywhere. 7 +1 rounds of .45 ACP flying ashtrays with a Wilson mag.
Series80A.jpg
 
Zebo said:
Glock has some propitiatory black that is almost impossible to wear off, no so with most handguns.
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Actually Glocks just have a normal Parkerized finish that can rub off. The magic of Glocks is the Tenifer finish that's underneath that. The Tenifer finish is insanely corrosion-resistant, even more so than some types of stainless steel. Apparently the Tenifer process requires using toxic salts that are illegal in the United States, but not in Austria, where the metal parts are made and finished.
 
Very cool. I love the 1911 I shoot best with it by far. Best triggers bar none. I hate it's safty (again big hands) which I trip unless I'm riding and I'm not a fan of SAO.

You need to be a lot more aware and thinking to use a 1911 in a stressful environment IMO. You can inadvertently put safety on in many circumstances. You carry cocked and locked with 3 lbs of trigger pull...People have shot their own legs before... I'd love to have a $5000 wilson but don't feel confident.
 
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Don Vito Corleone said:
Actually Glocks just have a normal Parkerized finish that can rub off. The magic of Glocks is the Tenifer finish that's underneath that. The Tenifer finish is insanely corrosion-resistant, even more so than some types of stainless steel. Apparently the Tenifer process requires using toxic salts that are illegal in the United States, but not in Austria, where the metal parts are made and finished.
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Thanks for edification Vito! Have not seen you around in awhile.🙂 Staying away from us nuts in P&N?😛
 
Zebo said:
Very cool. I love the 1911 I shoot best with it by far. Best triggers bar none. I hate it's safty (again big hands) which I trip unless I'm riding and I'm not a fan of SAO.
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Great thing about the Officer's Model is how much smaller it is than the Government model. With that single stack magazine it makes it nice and slim too. I've never had a problem with accidentally snicking off the safety.

If you have big meaty paws though it could be a problem. 😛
 
JulesMaximus said:
Great thing about the Officer's Model is how much smaller it is than the Government model. With that single stack magazine it makes it nice and slim too. I've never had a problem with accidentally snicking off the safety.

If you have big meaty paws though it could be a problem. 😛
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Put it to you this way. I only get three fingers on full size sig. Pinky rides under mag.

Best 1911 I ever shot was a para double stack 14 rder..just loved it but like I mentioned I don't feel confident and safe with that style of pistol.

Edit there was this guy who had a STI double at this combat handgun seminar I attended where he let me use it and I was nailing quarter sized holes at 25 yrds. I do about 8" pattern with a sig I've used for 16 years. LOL. Just awesome machines 1911;s are.
 
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Incidentally folks. Just an FYI/PSA...Something i just discovered this week and why beaver tail is the way to go....If you find sig grips too small that's what beaver tail solves. Somehow it lets you choke up a little higher.
 
Zebo said:
Incidentally folks. Just an FYI/PSA...Something i just discovered this week and why beaver tail is the way to go....If you find sig grips too small that's what beaver tail solves. Somehow it lets you choke up a little higher.
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This is common knowledge to a 1911 shooter......
 
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