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发帖数: 6055 | 1 Mechanically speaking, there have been a number of significant improvements
to the P226. Original contract models were supplied with phosphate or nickel
-plated internal parts. These early guns featured carbon steel slides with
internal extractors manufactured in Germany and finished in a black
phosphate. Once production of the P226 shifted from Germany to our American
shores, the manufacture of all P226 slides was machined from stainless steel
and featured an external extractor. The aluminum frames of all P226
variants are Nitron finished.
The P226 started out utilizing a two-piece breech-block roll-pin system that
developed a reputation among armorers for breaking and drifting apart at
about 7,000 rounds. It was basically a small roll pin pressed within a
larger roll pin. Without much attention called to the change, the breech
block eventually incorporated a solid stainless steel pin. Per my armorer
manual, these pins were intended to be disposed of each time the breech
block required removal. However, if an armory was short on these small parts
, it was quite common to reuse these pins until they came back from training
broken or loosely fit. In the last few years, the roll pin resurfaced on
the P226 and is found on all MK25 models. Unlike the early roll pins, this
new pin is stronger due to the fact that it’s rolled from a single piece of
spring steel that wraps around itself about four times. Since it’s more
likely that people will attempt to reuse these pins rather than replace this
, this redesign is a good move.
Most obviously significant to the development of the P226 is the new three-
lug Picatinny rail on the MK25. For more than two decades, the P226 didn’t
have an accessory rail. That changed in 2004 when Sigarms developed a
proprietary rail that was unique in that it had a curvature and wouldn’t
accept M1913 rail-spec lights and lasers. Seeing that end users were
unwavering in their preference for Picatinny-adaptable accessories, the MK25
now features a true mil-spec rail.
Range Report
The P226 has always been exceptionally accurate, and the MK25 is no
exception. I was surprised to find that the Olin military-issue M882 ball
produced the best five-shot group: 1.89 inches at 25 yards. And, at 1,170
fps, it was also the fastest load of all that I tried.
Since this pistol is now offered commercially, I ran a selection of popular
defensive ammunition through it and observed that my two T&E samples
preferred the heaviest load: Winchester’s 147-grain PDX1 Defender with an
average muzzle velocity of 999 fps. This combination is ideal in any MK25 (
or P226) intended for personal defense.
Once I completed grouping and chronographing, I put the MK25 through the
Navy’s pistol qualification test. Although NSW members do not have to
qualify by these annual standards, I felt that the test was a good way to
assess fit and function. The pistol passed with flying colors. In fact, if I
were still a card-carrying member of the military, I’d renew my expert
badge using this MK25. I smoked the Navy’s qualification standards and
enjoyed every minute of it.
Felt recoil is minimal (even with defense loads), and the newer grips now
have less bite than older two-piece checkered ones.
I’ve always found the grip on the P226 to be better contoured for the shape
of the hand than other models. Not only do they help with presenting the
pistol, I can happily report these don’t crack around the screws under hard
use as was the case with some of the earlier P226s.
The pistol’s profile is slimmer than that of the M9, the decocker more
intuitive to operate, and the magazine release is easier to reach. It’s
quite understandable that the NSWC would choose the P226, even if it cost a
little more than the M9. |
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