SIG Sauer P226 Guide Rod Comparison

Steve compares the weights, shapes, and finishes of various OEM and aftermarket guide rods for the SIG Sauer P226 pistol.

[@chaff5]

Hey man, I don't know if you still use this but your vids have been extremely helpful to a new P229 owner.

[@dinomaxi4951]

Took drill rod 1/4'' and put in drill press,While spinning in the drill press I used 80,180,220,320 ,600 grit sand scroll sand paper and took the O.D. down to .230'' .Cut to proper length and installed into my hollow guide rod .Weight was 1.2 oz .Used green loctite to hold in inserted rod in place till dry with a simple shop clamp .

[@jasonkorby]

My factory p226 came with a bent guide rod from store it was black standard hollow steel. Sig replaced it but I purchased a solid Americans national never had a issue again.

[@jcambronero]

Hi Steve, do you know vere i can find a guide rod lazer, for my sig SP2022?? I live in Costa Rica and i cant find a rod guide lazer for 2022 only for other models, best regads.

[@HOUSCOUS]

Hi, do you know if the P226 Tacop guide rod is the 0.49oz one or the 1.10+/- one?

[@steveeab2364]

My P229 stainless steel Elite came with a plastic guide rod I'm sure it will be trouble free. It just irks me that i pay a couple hundred more for the elite and they can't spring for a solid steel guide rod. I just ordered a stainless steel from Gray guns.

[@jcambronero]

Steve the other day see one guide rod from lazemax for 226, maybe i can use that for the sig sp2022??? plesae tell my if iam rong, i dont want to blow my gun.best regards

[@gabet3754]

jcambronero You’re fine

[@richardsalazar4817]

How do you get the OEM 226 legion guide rod?

[@Dirtkid98505]

Hi Steve! Would you recommend the mk25 or the legion series of the p226? Or how they stack up against one another? I was just wondering as I would like to purchase a p226 but I'm unsure of which one is better. It's going to be my all around pistol for concealed carry, open carry, hiking, camping, motorcycling, and all my activities. Which one would be more impervious to the elements?

[@spartan1o5]

+Dirtkid98505 If you take care of your sig, which you will. I would go with the legion. Besides the Mk25's emblem and the phosphate coated internals, it's a regular sig. The legion has a lot of features that you can't buy in any other sig. Especially the undercuts, beavertail, grips, and pvd coating. The controls you can buy (224), similar hogue grips, sights, and srt kit/grayguns trigger (which would be more than 250) Unless you plan to have your sig open to the elements at all times, the phosphated internals won't do too much if you consistently oil/clean your gun after usage. The pvd coating used on the legion (by ion bond) is the same process but different finish compared to the Nitron (also by ionbond) I believe which you may or may not like. If you don't mind spending a little more for the legion, that's what I would do. Cool beavertail, cool finish, cool controls, cool front serration, cool grips, cool sights, gr8 trigger, and special undercut. I'm not gonna say that the P226 can't be concealed carried, but there's so many other guns out there that are way better for that job. The weight and print of the gun is just not comparable to some of the polymer/smaller guns out there, as well as cheaper. As cool as the MK25 is, it's not as cool as the legion to me. Just a fancy emblem/UID sticker, and those internals you know about. Also the decocker looks as if it's treated, it's a weird gray/bronze color compared to the other controls. Better is subjective, as you might not like the legion grips, sights, trigger, serrations/undercut which could affect your shooting performance. A common upgrade to the mk25, as with many other 226s, are E2 grips and a short reset trigger kit which is more than 100 dollars right there. Try an mk25 at a local range if they have it for rent, good luck with purchase

[@Dirtkid98505]

***** Thank you! I'm thinking more towards the legion as it has features you can't get on other Sig's. My biggest concern was just durability between the two cause sometimes I'll go back-packing for a week or a long motorcycle trip for personal protection. And my guns are always properly lubricated. Even though the legion is higher in price it seems like a bargain. BTW are the Nitron and PVD the same finish? Just different color?

[@spartan1o5]

+Dirtkid98505 Yea I'm 99 percent sure that Nitron and the Legion color is a PVD finish by Ionbond in two different colors. Same durability and resistance against elements. This I might be wrong, only the slide is nitron finished while the frame is anodized for regular sigs, while the legion is completely pvd finished. Yea man, legion all the way!

[@Dirtkid98505]

***** Looks like I'm gonna have to start saving my money up. I have a Glock 17 but I just can't connect with it. My friend has a regular p226 and I can make 25 yard shots consistently with it.

[@spartan1o5]

+Dirtkid98505 maybe just the crappy glock sights? I hope you end up getting the legion, good luck man

[@saltsea9499]

Shiny=smoother

[@MoonInPisces1962]

Fractions of an ounce will make absolutely no difference in how the gun behaves. The gun behaves the same regardless of whether the guide rod is solid or hollow. No serious shooter would consider replacing a hollow guide rod with a solid guide rod an "upgrade". It is bizarre the trivial nonsense that preoccupies the minds of misinformed shooters.

[@Rantz2040]

You should tell that to the thousands of competitive shooters that say otherwise