Cybergun/KJW SIG P226 GBB Pistol
Cybergun/KJW SIG P226 GBB Pistol review by Booligan
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Table of Contents:
Introduction
Real Steel History
Ordering
First impressions/Packaging
Included
Gun Specifications
Externals
Trademarks
Magazines
Performance
Internals
Modifications
Pros/Cons
Overall
Introduction
SIG Sauer was one of the first real steel firearm companies to really adopt airsoft and establish licensing through Cybergun. Occasionally, you can even purchase various SIG airsoft replicas on their own website. Pyramyd Air sells pretty much all Cybergun products, including SIG Sauer licensed products, like the SIG P226 pistol being reviewed today!
Real Steel History:
The SIG P226 is a full-sized, service-type pistol made by SIG Sauer. It is chambered for the 9x19mm Parabellum, .40 S&W, and .357 SIG. The P226 was designed for entry into the XM9 Service Pistol Trials, which were held by the US Army in 1984 on behalf of the US armed forces to find a replacement for the M1911A1. Only the Beretta 92F and the SIG P226 satisfactorily completed the trials. According to a GAO report, Beretta was awarded the M9 contract for the 92F due to better durability during endurance testing and a lower total package price. The P226 cost less per pistol than the 92F, but SIG's package price with magazines and spare parts was higher than Beretta's. The Navy SEALs, however, chose to adopt the P226 later after a repetition of failures with some issued Beretta M9s. The P226, like the other members of the P220 family, operates by the locked breech short-recoil method pioneered by John Browning. On firing the slide and barrel are locked together until, after a few millimeters of rearward movement, the barrel is cammed down at the rear after the pressure has dropped enough when the bullet has departed the barrel, whereupon the slide completes the rearward stroke ejecting the spent cartridge. The recoil spring then propels the slide forwards, stripping a round from the magazine, and in the last few millimeters of forward movement, the barrel is cammed upwards at the rear, locking the slide and barrel together again. SIG firearms are manufactured both in Eckernförde, Germany, by J.P. Sauer und Sohn GmbH, and in Exeter, New Hampshire, United States by SIG SAUER Inc., formerly SIGARMS Inc.
Info and image from Wikipedia.org and Sigsauer.com
Ordering:
I obtained this pistol from Pyramyd Air, where it is currently available HERE, priced at $127.95. Since it is priced over $100, it qualifies for Pyramyd Air's free UPS ground shipping option, which I opted for when I made my order. I received the gun less than a week after ordering, which is the norm for me, as they are located in Ohio, and I am located in Utah. The gun arrived well packaged in a sturdy cardboard shipping box, which oddly enough, is kept closed with huge staples, instead of the normal tape. I've received several packages from Pyramyd this way, and the items have always arrived perfectly, most likely due to Pyramyd's awesome packaging.
First impressions/Packaging:
The CG/KJW SIG P226 comes packaged in a somewhat standard box, consisting of a foam lower with cardboard upper cover. The box top is printed with full color photos of the gun, as well as basic information and statistics about the gun. Information about the gun is repeated in English, Italian, French, Spanish, and German, due to Cybergun's worldwide distribution of this gun.
From here on, click all pictures to enlarge
Box art
Included:
The gun comes packaged along with one magazine, a loading tool/unjamming rod, a small box of KJW BBs, and a manual explaining the basic functions of the gun. It's a fairly bare bones package, but it includes pretty much everything you need, aside from gas and higher quality BBs. Some users report that using the speed loading tool can damage the magazine feed lips, so I wouldn't recommend using it.
Gun Specifications:
Weight: 2 lbs
Length: 7.8"
Width: 1.35"
Height: 5.75"
Sight Radius: 6.125"
Externals:
The KJW P226 can be considered a full metal replica, as it has the same metal content as the real gun. Quite literally, the only plastic parts on this gun are the grips, which are emblazoned with the proper SIG Sauer logo.
The grip is always a good point to start on when discussing the externals of a pistol, as it's the part of the gun that you actually will contact for any length of time. If the grip isn't comfortable, you're not comfortable, nor are you combat effective. Luckily, the 226 has a pretty comfortable grip, which is nicely sized, and has a fantastic pebbled texture on the grip panels. It is not a compact pistol, at all, so if you have smaller hands, you may have issues gripping the gun comfortably.
Grip
The frame of the gun is made of metal, and houses the fire controls, including the trigger, slide lock, decocker, magazine release, disassembly lever, and the hammer. The controls all fit nicely into the frame with no sloppy movements whatsoever. The gun has a functional decocker, allowing you to cycle the slide to cock the gun, then push the lever down, dropping the hammer without firing. This allows you to have a double action trigger pull, or pre-cock the gun before firing. The trigger pull in double action firing is somewhat heavy, and is about .5" long, while the single action trigger pull is fairly light, and only a quarter inch or so.
Trigger
Additional controls
At the front of the frame, you will find a 20mm accessory rail, allowing you to mount up lights, lasers, foregrips, or whatever else tickles your fancy. I've mounted up a few different lights and lasers, and haven't had any issues with fitment.
Accessory rail
The slide is metal, and as this is a GBB replica, it cycles fully with every shot. There are serrations on the rear of the slide to help keep a positive grip on it while chambering a round. The slide pull isn't too heavy, but the spring return is snappy and satisfying. The slide construction is quite nice, without any major defects that I could find.
Left side of the slide
Right side of the slide
Slide pulled back
The outer barrel is made of metal as well, and fits in the frame and slide with only a slight amount of vertical wobble. In keeping with federal transportation and sales laws, the muzzle is painted blaze orange, which I removed for the purposes of this review. Aftermarket barrels with threaded tips are available at various retailers, and add a great tactical look to the gun.
Outer barrel
The sights are non-adjustable, and are basic white dot models. The long sight radius and high contrast design makes this gun quick to acquire targets, and fairly accurate. They are tall, and can possibly snag on some holsters, so look out for that.
Rear sight
Front sight
Overall, I was really quite impressed with the externals of the 226. It's well balanced, nicely weighted, and it feels great in your hands. The paint finish is pretty nice, giving it a semi-matte black color, which seems to be pretty sturdy. Based on externals alone, this gun is well worth the money.
Trademarks:
One of the benefits of this model is the licensed and legal trademarks through SIG Sauer. On the left side of the slide, you will find relatively accurate laser engraved trademarks, as well as the model number. On the right side of the frame is some additional text, as well as the requisite "Made in Taiwan." The grips also have the correct SIG markings, rounding out the gun.
Slide trades
Frame trades
Grip trades
Magazines:
The included magazine is obviously made of metal, and holds 26 BBs in a double stack formation. The magazine clicks into the gun quite solidly, with only a slight wobble, about 1-2mm tops. It holds enough gas to get out about a mag and a half, so re-gassing it back up when reloading it is a good idea.
Magazine
The important parts
Performance:
I tested this gun's performance in 50 degree ambient temps, using propane and an AI adapter, allowing the mag to warm up before firing, and allowing 5 seconds between shots. Baseline performance using TSD .20g BBs after a 300 round break in period is as follows:
High FPS: 304.3
Low FPS: 294.5
Average FPS: 301.8
With faster firing, I noticed some cool down effect, which really is to be expected given my low ambient temperatures. I'll retest once it warms up, and see what results I get. I was able to fire a mag and a half before needing to re-gas it, but the shots at the end were substantially weaker, so I would recommend re-gassing it up with every ammo reload.
As far as range and accuracy go, I set up my torso sized target at 100', and was able to accurately hit it 90% of the time, but with .25g ammo. The hop-up will spin mid weight ammo just fine, so I would recommend feeding this .23-.27g BBs. Side to side deviation wasn't TOO bad, and the long inner barrel helps give this gun its accuracy.
Internals:
The SIG has pretty stout internal construction. Disassembling the gun is a piece of cake as well, only requiring the flick of a single lever to remove the slide. Once the slide is removed, you can remove the guide rod, as well as the barrel assembly. The blowback assembly is made of grey plastic, with a blue plastic inner valve, and a red plastic piston head. It slides smoothly back and forth, with good spring tension.
Blowback assembly
The hammer assembly is made of metal, and has a large, wide striker for hitting the magazine valve. Some users have reported that this part can break easily, however I haven't encountered this yet, so I cannot personally comment on it.
Hammer assembly
Striker
The hop up unit is made of metal, and features an easy dial type adjuster. You have to strip the gun to adjust the hop-up, but it's a very simple, "no tool" design, and can be done in a matter of seconds. The hop-up has quite a bit of spin potential, so heavy weight ammo isn't a problem with this gun. Lastly, the guide rod is made of metal with a decently tensioned spring, offering crisp blowback and a satisfying amount of recoil.
Barrel and recoil guide rod assemblies
Barrel
Hop-up adjuster
Guide rod and spring
Modifications:
The 226 is TM compatible, so there are quite a few aftermarket upgrades available. Slides, barrels, internal parts, etc are all available. Personally, I think it's great as it sits, although I have added a UTG compact light, which fits and functions perfectly on the gun.
Pros:
Full metal construction
Licensed trademarks
Comfortable and ergonomic design
Integrated accessory rail
Inexpensive
Cons:
No manual safety (some may have an issue with it)
Non-adjustable sights
May be too large for some users
Overall:
It's nice to see "different" handguns get made, especially when they're made as well as this gun. The Cybergun/KJW SIG P226 offers great externals, snappy blowback, good performance, and licensed trademarks, all in a very affordable package. It gives you the same functions as the real gun, so you can use this as a viable training platform. Lastly, it's different than the hordes of Glocks out there on the field, and that gives it a ton of bonus points in my book!
Many thanks again to Pyramyd Air, and of course, Airsoft Retreat!