Today we’re going to be talking about the Sig P210 Standard. But, to understand the present, we must understand the past.
The History
The Sig P210 is actually a reproduction of a legend. The original Sig P210 was the Swiss military service pistol from 1949 through to 1975, being replaced by the Sig Sauer P220, but it is still used in private competition. The thing that made this gun so well regarded was it’s incredible accuracy. The Swiss, being typical Swiss, developed a service pistol that shot better than most target pistols. Needless to say, the gun is expensive to make, but that’s less of an issue for a relatively wealthy country with a relatively low number of servicemen/women to arm. The P210 was manufactured for private sale until 2006, though production for gov/mil/LEO contracts is still going. In 2010, private production was restarted under the moniker P210 Legend, and ran until 2017. The current crop of P210’s are USA-made updated reproductions, whose true designation is P210A. These P210A’s come in three varieties: Target, Standard, and Carry (announced, yet to be released).
The most striking feature of this gun is the reversed slide-in-frame design. This arrangement is the signature of the CZ-75 and it’s scions, but the P210 predates it. The P210 isn’t the origin of this feature either, though. That honor belongs to the Pistolet Automatique Modele 1935A, the French service pistol from 1937 through the ’60’s, when it was replaced by a French 1911 derivative. SIG actually licensed the design for the 1935A to develop the P210.
But that’s enough history for now. For a more complete understanding, just click on over to Forgotten Weapons and enjoy.
My Gun
The gun I have is a P210 Standard, NRA Edition. In 2019, the NRA made the P210 Standard their Gun of the Year. To commemorate, Sig produced for auction a limited run of P210 Standards with engraved slides. This is what my gun is and why it looks so gaudy.
Thankfully, the engraving doesn’t affect the performance, which is stellar! This pistol is the best shooting pistol I own, bar none. Granted, it is the only target pistol I own, but that doesn’t diminish the performance. I can absolutely center punch targets with this thing all day long. I’ve shot 5-round groups into a single hole at 15 yards. This gun makes me look good.
The P210 Standard is not without it’s faults, however. The capacity is 8 rounds. I don’t think Sig makes an extended 10-round mag, meaning 8 is all you’re getting, ever. Interestingly, Sweden tested and decided against a double stack, 16+1 round version. Yes, Sweden could have had a target accurate 9mm 2011, in 1949!
The next aspect I’d like to improve is the grips. The grips don’t fit my hand well, and are rather uncomfortable in a 2-handed grip. I have to imagine the Target version to be more comfortable. I can buy target grips, but they’re like $250 from Sig.
The slide engraving is dumb. I’d much rather have a solid black slide, personally.
None the above is to take away from the fact that this pistol shoots lights-out. The slide-in-frame design makes it feel like the slide is riding on ball bearings. The groups it produces are incredibly tiny. This gun is a high performance machine. It is one of my favorites. If you ever have the chance to shoot one, take it.
Stay sharp, and I’ll see you on Friday.
-S_S
Pro-Gun Millennial 
Whoa, a double stack SAO 9mm in the 40s? Who could’ve imagined such a thing .. *cough* Browning Hi Power *cough*
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Impressive gun. And I’m too cheap to buy a 1911 or P220.
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