In early 2014, the
SIG P320 was introduced. This
striker-fired descendant of the P250 continued the modular format and shares several of the same components including
magazines and
grip frames.
As of January 2017, the P250 was no longer listed online by SIG Sauer, except for a .22 Long Rifle version;[2] no P250 was listed as of January 2018.
Design details
The P250 has no manual external
safeties. Instead, a
firing pin block helps to prevent the weapon from accidental discharge.[3]
The
trigger is a self-decocking
DAO trigger system with spurless and recessed hammer. The trigger system has a pull weight of about 45
N (4.6
kgf, 10.1
lbf)[4]
The handguns are available with a dark colored Nitron slide surface finish, two tone finish, where the stainless steel slide has an untreated surface, and a diamond-plated finish.[5]
Product evolution changes
The grip module on the P250 Compact was changed in 2009. This change makes that the original and new style grip modules use different magazines. These old magazines are not compatible with new grip modules; the accessory rail was changed as well from a curved rail to a Picatinny rail.[6]
The factory holsters of the original grip modules do not fit newer grip modules featuring Picatinny rails though the modular nature of the firearm allows the original grip modules to be easily swapped out with the new version inexpensively.[6]
In 2012, SIG Sauer introduced a medium width version of the subcompact grip module with the Picatinny rail. The small width versions of the subcompact does not have this. Also introduced were exchange kits for a .380ACP and a .45ACP caliber subcompact version.
Discontinuation
In the 2017 Sig Sauer catalog,[7] the P250 was found under the rimfire category showing the .22 LR caliber as being available but mentioning that caliber exchange kits could be applied to convert the handgun to 9 x 19mm, .40 S&W, or .45 ACP calibers.[8] As of January 2018, the P250 was no longer found on the Sig Sauer website.
Users
Hong Kong:
Hong Kong Police Force (notably Organised Crime and Triad Bureau, Criminal Intelligence Bureau, Commercial Crime Bureau, Narcotics Bureau of the Crime Wing) [9][10]
United States: The
Federal Air Marshal Service signed a multimillion-dollar contract for procurement of the SIG Sauer P250 Compact chambered for the .357 SIG cartridge in 2009.[13] The order was cancelled and the FAMS continue to carry the current P229.
Netherlands: For
Dutch police service the Dutch government intended to order about 45,000 PPNL pistols (a P250 DCc variant[14]) [dead link] in 2011 to replace the
Walther P5 used by the police and
Glock 17 in use as a stopgap measure by the Arrestatieteam (the SWAT team of the Dutch police).[15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23] In March 2011 the Dutch government informed the Dutch parliament that
Heckler & Koch and
Walther had sought a
preliminary injunction against the intended order for PPNL pistols. The Volkskrant newspaper wrote: "the choice of the SIG-Sauer earlier this year evoked surprise with representatives of both the arms industry and police unions. During police tests there was a strong preference for a pistol made by Heckler & Koch."[24][25][26] According to the court verdict on 28 March 2011 there were no manipulations involved during the public tender process and the order was finalized.[27][28] On 8 November 2011, the Dutch
Minister of Security and Justice formally declared SIG Sauer in default and immediately dissolved the order following the fourth negative production sample test of PPNL pistols firing Dutch police issue RUAG Action 4 NP ammunition by an independent German testing institute (
Beschussamt Ulm). Minister
Ivo Opstelten found that SIG Sauer could not deliver the requisite quality in a mass production setting and had some harsh comments on SIG Sauer: "On the basis of the results of these tests I no longer find it responsible to continue with this pistol. There is no longer enough confidence in the quality of the pistol, nor in the capacity of the manufacturer to improve the quality or safeguard it. All this brings a risk to the safety of police officers on the street." The Minister delegated a (legal) review to examine the possibility of coming to an agreement with one of the other suppliers that has had their pistol operationally tested in the procurement procedure.[29][30][31]
Gallery
SIG Sauer P250 Sub-Compact disassembled into its major components
Top: P250 Full Size, middle: P250 Compact (with the trigger group removed), bottom: P250 Sub Compact
The cancelled SIG Sauer PPNL variant developed for the Dutch Police with
RUAG Action 4 NP ammunition
In early 2014, the
SIG P320 was introduced. This
striker-fired descendant of the P250 continued the modular format and shares several of the same components including
magazines and
grip frames.
As of January 2017, the P250 was no longer listed online by SIG Sauer, except for a .22 Long Rifle version;[2] no P250 was listed as of January 2018.
Design details
The P250 has no manual external
safeties. Instead, a
firing pin block helps to prevent the weapon from accidental discharge.[3]
The
trigger is a self-decocking
DAO trigger system with spurless and recessed hammer. The trigger system has a pull weight of about 45
N (4.6
kgf, 10.1
lbf)[4]
The handguns are available with a dark colored Nitron slide surface finish, two tone finish, where the stainless steel slide has an untreated surface, and a diamond-plated finish.[5]
Product evolution changes
The grip module on the P250 Compact was changed in 2009. This change makes that the original and new style grip modules use different magazines. These old magazines are not compatible with new grip modules; the accessory rail was changed as well from a curved rail to a Picatinny rail.[6]
The factory holsters of the original grip modules do not fit newer grip modules featuring Picatinny rails though the modular nature of the firearm allows the original grip modules to be easily swapped out with the new version inexpensively.[6]
In 2012, SIG Sauer introduced a medium width version of the subcompact grip module with the Picatinny rail. The small width versions of the subcompact does not have this. Also introduced were exchange kits for a .380ACP and a .45ACP caliber subcompact version.
Discontinuation
In the 2017 Sig Sauer catalog,[7] the P250 was found under the rimfire category showing the .22 LR caliber as being available but mentioning that caliber exchange kits could be applied to convert the handgun to 9 x 19mm, .40 S&W, or .45 ACP calibers.[8] As of January 2018, the P250 was no longer found on the Sig Sauer website.
Users
Hong Kong:
Hong Kong Police Force (notably Organised Crime and Triad Bureau, Criminal Intelligence Bureau, Commercial Crime Bureau, Narcotics Bureau of the Crime Wing) [9][10]
United States: The
Federal Air Marshal Service signed a multimillion-dollar contract for procurement of the SIG Sauer P250 Compact chambered for the .357 SIG cartridge in 2009.[13] The order was cancelled and the FAMS continue to carry the current P229.
Netherlands: For
Dutch police service the Dutch government intended to order about 45,000 PPNL pistols (a P250 DCc variant[14]) [dead link] in 2011 to replace the
Walther P5 used by the police and
Glock 17 in use as a stopgap measure by the Arrestatieteam (the SWAT team of the Dutch police).[15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23] In March 2011 the Dutch government informed the Dutch parliament that
Heckler & Koch and
Walther had sought a
preliminary injunction against the intended order for PPNL pistols. The Volkskrant newspaper wrote: "the choice of the SIG-Sauer earlier this year evoked surprise with representatives of both the arms industry and police unions. During police tests there was a strong preference for a pistol made by Heckler & Koch."[24][25][26] According to the court verdict on 28 March 2011 there were no manipulations involved during the public tender process and the order was finalized.[27][28] On 8 November 2011, the Dutch
Minister of Security and Justice formally declared SIG Sauer in default and immediately dissolved the order following the fourth negative production sample test of PPNL pistols firing Dutch police issue RUAG Action 4 NP ammunition by an independent German testing institute (
Beschussamt Ulm). Minister
Ivo Opstelten found that SIG Sauer could not deliver the requisite quality in a mass production setting and had some harsh comments on SIG Sauer: "On the basis of the results of these tests I no longer find it responsible to continue with this pistol. There is no longer enough confidence in the quality of the pistol, nor in the capacity of the manufacturer to improve the quality or safeguard it. All this brings a risk to the safety of police officers on the street." The Minister delegated a (legal) review to examine the possibility of coming to an agreement with one of the other suppliers that has had their pistol operationally tested in the procurement procedure.[29][30][31]
Gallery
SIG Sauer P250 Sub-Compact disassembled into its major components
Top: P250 Full Size, middle: P250 Compact (with the trigger group removed), bottom: P250 Sub Compact
The cancelled SIG Sauer PPNL variant developed for the Dutch Police with
RUAG Action 4 NP ammunition