Something SIGnificant

Monday, I had an opportunity to visit the SIG Academy/SIG Experience Center.

In the late 70s, I had a chance to visit NYC for the first time. That feeling of awe, looking up at the skyscrapers. Trying hard not to have pidgin droppings fall into our open mouths.

That is sort of how I felt walking into the building. I spent a long time in the museum portion of the building. I was surprised at the lack of firearms from the 1700 and 1800 hundreds. Starting in the 1900s, they had a presence.

One of the people who worked there was willing to discuss the things that are coming out of SIG for the military. One of the coolest is their short stroke piston operated rifles. Using a new caliber, they are getting good velocity out of shorter barrels.

I want one of those belt feed rifles. They might be out of my price range.

Part of the coolness factor is that with the dual action bars with the short stroke piston, they don’t need buffer tubes. This allows for true folding stocks. Or, something that was just FUD sick.

They took this beautiful action and shoved it into a plastic “hunting” rifle. No pistol grip. No buffer tube. It doesn’t look like an AR platform in any way, unless you shove a 30 round magazine into it.

I’m hoping for a version is 7.62×521(Win .308). That would be a nice rifle. No scaring the mundanes, packs a punch, light weight and reliable.

Unfortunately, I got to looking at the display case full of pistols…

Wouldn’t you know it, a cute little black guy followed me home.

Now, I’m a firm believer in my 1911s. I love the feel of them. I love shooting them. They are tack drivers.

I think I’ve found a new love. The P365 x macro.

This guy fits my hand perfectly. It doesn’t point exactly like the 1911s, but close enough. The grip size is perfect, if it wasn’t, you just replace the back strap. The gun comes with three different back straps.

The one I took home has an external safety, this is to standardize my manual of arms.

On Tuesday, I went to the range and put rounds down range. FUN!!!

I have three plates set up. 1/4 torso behind a round gong and a 1/2 torso to the side. One of my drills is to hit the head of the target hiding behind the gong, then hitting the 1/2 torso to the side, then back again.

With 17 rounds in the magazine, the grip wasn’t double stack wide. It performed admirably. From first to last round, it was consistently ringing steel.

The only downside is the magazines. You will want to use the loading tool to help load the magazine. Even with the tool, getting rounds 14 through 17 into the magazine was a pain. In some ways, it reminds me of loading the M3 grease gun magazines. Heavy springs to push those rounds reliably all the way.

The other thing is that I don’t like the bright orange followers in the magazines. I haven’t looked, but I’m pretty sure I can find replacement followers.

Now for the next bit of coolness, this thing has a drop in FCU. It is the FCU that is the registered firearm. This means that you can pay once for the FCU, then have multiple frames that you can put the FCU into.

Want a sub compact? Buy the frame, barrel, and magazines, you are good to go.

Want a full size? Buy the frame, barrel, and (maybe?) magazines, you are good to go.

I am going to add more SIGs to my collection.

Two is one, one is none. Have more.