Blast From The Past: SIG Sauer’s West German P225

Welcome back to another edition of Blast From The Past. Last time, we took a look at the AAC 300 Blackout Rifle. If you missed that article, please click the link here to check it out. This time, I want to take a look at a handgun that was ahead of its time in terms of size and features. They aren't super common in gun stores, so it's always interesting to take a look at some of the early West German models. I recently picked one up and had a few months to shoot and carry it so far. Let's take a closer look at SIG Sauer’s West German P225.

Picking up the P225

Back in May, I went to a fairly well-known shop in Ann Arbor, Michigan, called Ann Arbor Arms. I ended up seeing this P225 after purchasing my Nickel Model 27 on the same day. They had it priced for $499.99 with a case but no spare magazine. I was figuring it was an older US-made model, but the green case with red velvet interior tells me it's a true West German P225 or P6 and also an earlier model compared to the blue box models that came later in the 90s. These would typically come with either a green box with red velvet interior or a hard plastic blue box for the American version. They also come standard with a spare magazine and instruction manual.

Range Time

So far, I have right around 475 rounds through the P225 since I picked it up in May. This pistol may be outdated by today's standards, but in terms of grip and how it feels in the hand, the P225 is an incredibly comfortable gun to shoot. The single-stack magazine with the plastic grips that have slight palm swell really allow for an enjoyable experience when firing at the range. You have to keep in mind, this was the predecessor to the P228 and P229 and you can certainly see the lineage from the P225. My example has a much heavier double action than most modern SIGs. On my trigger pull scale, the weight ended up being 14 lbs for double action and about a 6 lbs for single action. The single action is really easy to shoot, but it could benefit from a trigger job from a well-known company like Gray Guns or other options.

If I find another model that was a US-based variant, I may go down that road, but I have a hard time coming to terms that I would modify a West German model like this. The sights are basic but work well for what you need, although there are several companies making aftermarket sights for them still. On the P225, the decocker feels exactly the same as modern variants, which helps if you enjoy the modern versions of the P Series of pistols. Despite the heavy trigger pull, the P225 is an incredibly comfortable handgun to shoot. It's very similar to something like a P228 or 229, just slightly thinner in the grip, but it's still a really comfortable handgun to fire in single action. Capacity might not be great with only 8+1 rounds but the feel and ergonomics of the handgun are still very functional. Despite the lack of capacity, I still think it's a great option to shoot and carry.

A P228 or one of the modern P229s would offer more features, like higher capacity, night sights and an accessory rail. In terms of being an important stepping stone to modern handguns, though, this P225 is an awesome snapshot in time at SIG and what they were looking to offer at. My P225 is really an easy gun to carry all day, despite being a full metal construction. Are there better options out in the modern day? Yes, but it's still a great option regardless of its capacity restrictions and overall weight.

Overall Thoughts

The SIG Sauer P225 is one of those guns that people don't really talk about and an even rarer gun to see in the wild. You just don't see many of them around in gun shops today. They are a fantastic piece of firearms history as well as a stepping stone to some of the great models from SIG, like the P228 and P229. It was the original carry gun and despite its capacity limitations, it's still a fantastic choice for a unique, interesting carry gun. Have you ever shot a P225 or own one? Let me know in the comment section below. If you have any questions about the P225 or firearms in general, feel free to shoot me a message on Instagram @fridgeoperator. Stay safe out there and we will see you in the next Blast From The Past.