Welcome back to another deep dive into why people love a popular handgun on the market. Last time, I took a look at why people love the Smith & Wesson 5906 line of handguns and what made them so popular in the 1990s, with a call to bring them back with modern machining processes. If you happened to miss that article, be sure to click the link here to check it out. This week, I want to look at another 9mm that grew in popularity during the 1980s and 1990s for a number of reasons. I have owned more of these pistols than I care to admit and there's certainly something special about them. Let's take a closer look at why people love the SIG Sauer P226. Where It All StartedIn the late 1970s, SIG Sauer was working on a new pistol after coming together from two separate companies to create an incredibly reliable and accurate pistol. The outcome of this first variant was the original P220 that was chambered in 9mm. The main design feature of this new model was the locking breech that was radically different from other options. It wasn't until the XM9 military trials that really brought the P226 into the spotlight. The P226 was a double-stack variant of the P220 that was going head to head against the Beretta 92. Both performed exceptionally, but the Beretta 92 series ended up being the cheaper option, ultimately being the determining factor. The Naval Special Warfare program looked at the trials and opted for the SIG Sauer P226 for the SEAL programs. This was where the legacy of the P226 started and only grew in popularity from there. Ergonomics and Controls When it comes to overall ergonomics, the SIG Sauer P226 runs on a Double/Single Action (DA/SA), which was very common for the timeframe this handgun was released. There is no manual safety like on the Beretta 92FS, but it does have a decocker lever allowing the user to safely drop the hammer without worrying about the handgun firing. This sets the handgun up to be great for duty use, where the double-action trigger is typically 8-10lbs depending on spring weights and configuration. Later came out models with the DAK that was a lightened double-action only, where the trigger weight was 6.5 lbs, and set the handgun up almost like a striker-fired setup we have become accustomed to today. The original models came with a double-stack 15-round magazine with a flush-fitting base plate. Over the years, SIG has shipped the P226 with a number of different trigger profiles, from skinny thin curved triggers to the larger fat combat triggers and finally with the newer models being flat faced triggers which have their own benefits. There have been advancements on this weapon system, but the original models from the 1980s were fantastic options from West Germany. The original models fit great in the hand and were very comfortable guns to shoot, but modern technology has made them even better. We will get into those models in a bit. Military AdoptionThe SIG P226 was not adopted by the US military during the XM9 trials due to the overall cost being too high, which is why they ultimately went with the Beretta 92FS. What most people don't know is the fact that in 1986 there was a live-fire demonstration where a Beretta 92’s slide cracked and ultimately sheared, creating a catastrophic failure which made the Naval Special Warfare group go back to the drawing board ultimately looking at the SIG Sauer P226. They chose the SIG because of its Saltwater corrosion resistance, chrome-lined barrel and ability to pass a 30,000-round test without mechanical failures. At the time, they said the Glock series of pistols weren’t durable enough and preferred the SIG for its overall proven durability. From 1989 all the way to 2015, the SIG Sauer P226 or MK25 for its military designation, was the standard sidearm for all Navy SEAL teams until it was ultimately replaced with the Glock 19 due to overall cost and modularity. Even though Naval Special Warfare doesn't use the SIG Sauer P226 anymore as a standard sidearm, the legacy of the P226 still continues with upgraded models bringing it into the 21st century. Modern VariantsSIG has put considerable effort and resources into the next generation of P226 models with the P226X series of pistols. This was derived from the competition world with the P226 X-Five, which has been known as the flagship version of the P226 with a heavier frame, a higher cut to bring the bore axis down and a single-action-only trigger. The new P226X models take aspects of the P226 X-Five but mesh them with the duty aspects and reliability of the standard model, creating a best-of-both-worlds pistol. Depending on the model you choose, the new P226Xs come with an optics cut as well as a Romeo X Pro optic. This allows SIG to cut the slide as low as possible so the optic sits low on the slide, allowing for quick sight acquisition. The new P226X is more like a tactical race gun that has been completely overhauled. They feel great in the hand and the weight is balanced, allowing for quick shots on target while not being cumbersome. I truly think this latest generation of P226 is the best one they've made yet. I have two of these models and both have been flawless in terms of reliability. There's no wrong answer when it comes to what your preference is on old-school versions or modern variants of the P226, but they are drastically different guns, with both holding onto the legacy of being bulletproof reliable while offering an all-metal-framed handgun experience. Overall Thoughts So why do people love the P226? Because it's a true no-frills gun that you can easily take to hell and back without worrying things will go wrong. It was known for being an ultra-reliable, accurate and ergonomic pistol that still holds up even after being modernized. There's a wide variety of models available with a mix of classic versions like the MK25 or the modern variants like the P226X. Although there may be lighter handguns on the market, I’m not sure there's a better-balanced pistol with a legacy of being an ultra-reliable sidearm for military and civilians alike. Let me know what you guys think of the P226 down in the comments below. If you have questions about the P226 or firearms in general, feel free to shoot me a message on Instagram @fridgeoperator. If this post has you ready to hit the range, head over to gunranges.com - a free directory to help you find shooting ranges near you, wherever you are in the United States.