TFB Review: SIG Sauer P226-X Legion SAO Pistol

Specs

When it comes to the new P226-X Legion SAO, SIG took a number of different components from both the previous Legion series as well as their newer US-made X Five handguns to create the latest version of their handguns. SIG took their P226 and did the higher X Five grip, which is where the X-Series Legion comes from. This variant is the Single Action Only version that comes with a manual safety instead of the decocker lever on the traditional P226 series. A new aspect of this handgun is the SIG Romeo X red dot with their new SIG LOC attachment style, which creates a stronger lock-up between the slide and optic.

In addition to the new red dot style, the Legion also comes with X-Ray 3 night sights. My P226X SAO came with a 4.4” barrel that's crowned as well as a Grey Cerakote finish. One of the biggest changes from a traditional P226 is the inclusion of a straight trigger that SIG puts on their Single Action Only models, but it feels like the trigger is lighter as well as breaks at a slightly shorter pull. Each model comes with three 18-round magazines along with a hard case and some stickers, which is certainly worth mentioning for some of you. The new SIG Sauer P226X Legion is currently shipping with an MSRP of $1799.99.

Range Time

So far, I have roughly 1400 rounds through the new SIG Sauer P226-X Legion SAO in my testing. When it comes to a smooth shooting range gun, this beats most of the entry-level 1911 double-stack models on the market today. It's tough to compete for an MSRP with a red dot for $1,799.99. One of the most interesting comparisons is the SIG P211 compared to the SAO Legion variant. Side by side, I had roughly the same split times and accurate hits, but this P226-X is about half the price of the P211 without a red dot. It's hard to argue how well this P226-X shoots for the price point. Small details like the crowned barrel make a much more polished final look.

The more aggressive G10 Grips and front checkering make it easy to get a secure grip on the gun without being so aggressive that it tears your hands up. One aspect that immediately stuck out to me is just how low the Romeo X sits on the slide, allowing for the shooter to instantly acquire the dot as well as clearly use the iron sights. I typically shoot with some sort of RMR or SRO from Trijicon, but these Romeo Xs sit even lower, making it easier to quickly find your dot. When shooting with people who have never used a red dot, I’ll typically see them “fishing” for the dot by moving their wrists around in order to find the red dot.

The Romeo X sits so low that you don't have to try and find the dot because it sits right where your sight picture is. Some call it Cowitnessing, but it's that way with standard height iron sights. It's certainly different from what's typically on the market in a positive way. In terms of reliability, the P226-X Legion has been 100% which is no surprise, but I know people will ask. For a factory production handgun, this is a real strong contender for the price and comes with an upgrade known as P226s. Whether it's short reset triggers, fat guide rods or improved controls, this P226-X comes with every upgrade possible straight from the factory.

Downsides

Not everything is absolutely perfect and the P226-X Legion is no exception. One of the biggest bummers is how tight the original 15-round magazines for the P226 fit into the new P226-X. This may not be a real issue for those of you who are picking up a SIG P Series handgun for the first time, but for those of you who have extra magazines for the original SIG, they will work, but they don't freely insert into the gun and sometimes get hung up when extracting the magazine.

I highly recommend trying it out and seeing for yourself! If you have questions about the SIG Sauer P226-X Legion 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 TFB review.

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