Details of the rumored SIG Sauer P227 slipped out late last year, and now we are getting photos and specifications on the pistols. I will go over what we know about these new guns so far. (Ed. note: our first review of the SIG P227 is here.)

First of all, the P227 is a classically styled SIG pistol that is chambered in .45 ACP. Unlike the existing P220 guns, the P227 uses a double-stack magazine and fits into the same size package as the P226 pistols. Essentially, SIG Sauer is giving shooters a brand new gun that will fit most of your existing holsters.

There will be three different styles of the P227 initially introduced: the Nitron, the Carry Nitron and the SAS Gen 2. As time goes on, I’m sure SIG Sauer would be happy into introduce variants based on consumer demand. So don’t rule out pink or some-type of World War Z commemorative.

The full-size Nitron looks nearly identical to the P226 the gun is modeled after. It has a 4.4″ barrel and an overall length of 7.7″. Unloaded, but with an empty magazine, this version weighs 32.0 ounces – two ounces less than the P226. Ten round magazines are standard (the most that can be jammed in with a flush fit magazine – not a nod toward any pending anti-gun legislation.) However, 14-round extended magazines will be available.

This SIG P227 sports an alloy frame and a Nitron finished steel slide. This model also has an accessory rail.

The full-size Nitron can be had with standard sights (white dot front, white stripe rear) or with SIGLITE night sights. MSRP is $993 for the standard pistol, while the night sight equipped model carries a $1085 price tag.

The second model of SIG P227 is the Carry Nitron. Like the full-size gun previously described, this pistol has a lightweight allow frame and steel slide. Unlike the first P227, this model is only available with night sights. MSRP is $1085.

The Carry Nitron has a more compact size when compared to the original P227 Nitron. It’s barrel length is only 3.9″ and the overall length is 7.1″. Consequently, the pistol’s weight is also down to 30.5 ounces. This version retains the accessory rail for your favorite gun-mounted light.

The final model of the SIG P227 is the SAS Gen 2 version. This model is definitely set up for concealed carry. It is the same size as the P227 Carry, but the slide and frame have been dehorned. Additionally, the SAS Gen 2 comes standard with the Short Reach Trigger. MSRP is the most expensive of this bunch, coming in at $1125.

SIG P227 Tactical Model

The new SIG P227 Tactical takes the standard double-stack .45 ACP handgun and kicks it up a notch to satisfy the special forces operator in all of us. With a threaded barrel and extended magazine, all you need to do is add a manly beard and your favorite shemagh, and you will be ready to HALO jump into indian territory.

This pistol has a definite serious purpose, but I can’t help but thinking it will see more action on the next installment of Call of Duty than it will in real life.

The P227 is a .45 ACP version of the very popular SIG P226 line of handguns. The P226, chambered in 9mm, .40 S&W and .357 SIG, has been popular ever since it was selected by the Navy SEALs as their pistol of choice about 25 years ago. The P226 has served many police departments and military units with distinction, but the one thing it could never do is fire the old big-bore .45 cartridge.

Sure, the quality P220 has always been a viable option to the P226, but a lot of people have wanted a double-stack .45 from SIG in the P226 platform. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is what the P227 is. The SIG P227 will fit in the vast majority of holsters designed for the P226, and feels virtually identical in the hand to the older gun.

The P227 Tactical adds a threaded barrel for adding one of the company’s new sound suppressors to. Additionally, the extended magazines add a few more rounds to the standard 10-round mags that normally ship with the P227. Considering how close the P226 came to winning the original US military contract back in the 1980’s and the desire by many in the US armed forces to return to the .45 ACP, it is not a big surprise that SIG would want to offer the new P227 with some tactical features that might be appealing to the special operations community.

This particular version of the P227 will carry a MSRP of $1,228. It will ship with three magazines, the short reach trigger and night sights.

Original P227 Article

Looking for a new double stack .45? Consider the brand new SIG Sauer P227.

The SIG P227 is a new pistol that will be shown at the 2013 SHOT Show. According to one of my contacts at SIG, the new gun can be viewed as either a double-stack P220 or a .45 ACP-chambered P226. Either way, this gun sounds like a winner.

Essentially, the P227 will be a mating of the P220 and P226 handguns. According to SIG Sauer, the P227 will take any of the P220 upper assemblies, so you can configure the top end in any of the ways you like.

However, the grip/frame portion of the gun will be about the same size as the P226. This allows the gun to take double-stack .45 ACP magazines, yet still be small enough for shooters to wrap their hands around.

Flush fit magazines will hold ten rounds, but extended magazines will also be available from SIG. The extended mags will hold 14 rounds of .45 ACP. If the extended P227 magazines are similar in size the the extended P226 mags, they will add about an inch to the overall height of the gun without negatively impacting the overall handling of the gun. I own a few of the P226 extended magazines, and enjoy shooting with them.

The P227 will be a large gun that will be best suited for law enforcement, military or home protection duties. This is not likely to be a gun you want to carry concealed all day.

One of the nice things about the SIG Sauer P227 is that it will fit in the vast majority of P220R and P226R holsters. The SIG rep I spoke with actually stated it should fit in all of those holsters, but I know there are some very tight tolerance retention holsters on the market that might require slight changes for a perfect fit. If there are no issues with the holsters, it makes it easy for a law enforcement agency to transition to the .45 ACP round from another cartridge if they so desired.

The P227 will have a Picatinny-style accessory rail for the attachment of a white light or laser.

I do not have insights into SIG Sauer’s motivations, but I could appreciate how the company might be setting themselves up for a move into various US military circles. Many in the US military prefer the .45 ACP cartridge, and a P227 manufactured to Mk 25 specs (the Navy SEALs version of the P226) could be a real winner for the company.

Even though no one specifically mentioned it to me, I would expect to see an extended and threaded barrel available for the SIG Sauer P227. The company is introducing their own line of suppressors, and what a perfect match that would be. I should note that the initial suppressor offerings will not include a .45 can according to the information I have received, but a P227 with tall sights, threaded barrel and a can would be sweet.

SIG will have the new P227 at the Media Day event ahead of the SHOT Show. We will be there that morning, and I am eager to shoot this new pistol. Make sure you follow us for all of our SHOT coverage. We will have all sorts of photos, videos and news from Media Day and the show floor.