by Tom Gaylord
Writing as B.B. Pelletier
Sig’s P226 X-Five pellet pistol.
This report covers:
- Shot it at Sig
- Loading
- The test
- Sight-in
- Discussion 1
- RWS R10 Pistol
- Falcon pellets
- H&N Finale Match Pistol
- Discussion 2
- Summary
This report has been a long time in the works. And, because of that, you are going to get a better report. We last looked at the Sig Sauer P226 X-Five pellet pistol on June 27 of this year.
Shot it at Sig
While I was at Sig I had a chance to shoot both this pistol and the new M17 pellet pistol that isn’t out yet. They share a lot of common traits, but I will review the M17 pellet pistol separately when it comes out. As you also learned, I bought a 9mm M17 to go along with the pellet pistol, so there is an extended report coming.
Back to the X-Five. I mentioned in Part 1 that it sure looks a lot like a P226, and it was confirmed that that pistol was the one the X-Five was originally based on, though for the American market the X-Five will start as a P320. Don’t fret though, because all these Sigs bear a lot of similarity. Okay, let’s get to shooting.
Loading
I wanted to shoot 10-shot groups today and Sig’s magazine holds 20. Here is what I did. I loaded 10, taking care to load into the chambers that are joined together. The picture will explain.
Notice that the chambers are cast in pairs. I loaded the belt keeping the chambers together. The belt rotates in the pistol counter-clockwise in this photo.
Once I had loaded 10 pellets I rotated the belt counter-clockwise until the pellet was ready to be pulled into alignment. Center the last empty chamber at the top of the magazine. Now, load the magazine into the gun.
Here the belt has been rotated up until the next chamber is loaded. Put the magazine in the gun, squeeze the trigger and the first pellet will come out.
The trigger advances the belt within the magazine. What feels like a light take-up or first stage pull advances the belt to the next chamber. If you have loaded like I described, you will shoot all the pellets you loaded and only those pellets.
The test
I shot 10 rounds with each pellet off a rest at 10 meters. Sight-in took a few shots and I discovered as the test progressed that each pellet shoots to a slightly different place.
Sight-in
I sighted-in with RWS Hobby pellets, but I didn’t like how they grouped so I never shot a full group with them. The first pellet I tested was the SIG Match Ballistic Alloy wadcutter pellet. Ten of them went into 1.069-inches at 10 meters. That is extremely good for a semiautomatic pellet pistol!
Ten Sig Match Ballistic Alloy pellets went into a 1.069-inch group at 10 meters.
Discussion 1
Before I continue, let’s put this target into perspective. Don’t think of it in terms of what a single shot pistol can do. Yes, a Beeman P17 will do better than this most of the time, but it isn’t a semiautomatic. A Crosman 1077 rifle will do better, too, and IT IS NOT A SEMIAUTOMATIC! It is a double action revolver that Crosman’s marketing department calls a semiautomatic because it shoots every time the trigger is pulled. The slide on this X-Five is actually cocking the hammer without the intervention of the shooter. An argument could be made that, because it doesn’t also advance the belt to the next chamber, it isn’t a true semiautomatic and I would agree with that, but advancing the belt takes so little effort that it might as well be happening on its own.
I adjusted the rear sight up and to the left before shooting again. How nice it is to have fully adjustable sights on a $120 air pistol.
RWS R10 Pistol
Next up were RWS R10 Pistol pellets. They grouped 10 in 1.21-inches at 10 meters. That’s almost as good as the Sig pellets and still better than 1-1/4-inches. Unfortunately these pellets went too far to the left and didn’t raise up as much as I hoped, so once again I adjusted the rear sight — this time up and right.
RWS R10 pellets also gave a good 10-meter group. It measures 1.21-inches between centers
Falcon pellets
I wanted to try a dome next, so I went with the Falcon from Air Arms. Unfortunately they did not do as well in the X-Five. Ten scattered in a wide group measuring 1.853-inches between centers.
Ten Falcon pellets are in 1.853-inches.
H&N Finale Match Pistol
The last pellet I tried was the H&N Finale Match Pistol pellet. I did not change the rear sight because by this time I realized every pellet was hitting somewhere different. The group I got was quite odd, in that 8 out of 10 pellets went into an astonishing 0.81-inches at 10 meters. Shot number 9 (I don’t actually know when it was fired) opens the group to 0.966-inches. But shot ten opens it to 2.016-inches. I did hear that the power was off on that shot and that pellet did drop way below the rest of the holes, so I had to try this pellet one more time.
Ten H&N Finale Match Pistol pellets went into 2.016-inches at 10 meters, with 8 of them in 0.81-inches.
I haven’t mentioned it but I changed CO2 cartridges after the first three targets. That was my mistake and I lost half of a cartridge (forgot I was only shooting 10 each time, not 20), but the last targets were shot on a fresh cartridge, in case you wonder. So next I shot a second target with Finale Match Pistol pellets.
This time 10 pellets went into 1.869-inches at 10 meters. That’s not that good, nor is it much better than the first target. I have to face facts; Finale Match Pistol pellets aren’t the best in the X-Five.
Ten H&N Finale Match Pistol pellets went into 1.869-inches at 10 meters. That is a pellet hole down by the lowest number 8 on the target.
Discussion 2
The Sig X-Five pellet pistol is quite accurate for a semiautomatic pellet pistol when the right pellets are used. It does tend to be picky about the pellets it likes, but if you have the firearm, this pellet pistol would make a great trainer.
Summary
I tested this pistol on a standard paper target, but last week I saw the fun of shooting it at a Shoot-N-C target. The fact that it seems to shoot low in today’s test really means it is spot-on when you put the front dot in the center of a target. Everything works well on this air pistol and for the price I believe it’s a best buy.
B.B.,
Looks like a fun pistol at a good price.
On the first target picture,.. I was astounded at 10 in 1″ at (25 yards). 10 meters perhaps?
Hey, I will take 1″ at 10 meters any day! 😉
Good Day to you and to all,….. Chris
Chris,
Good catch. Don’t know where that came from!
B.B.
I find the different landings (left/right) of the pellets interesting,.. in (any) gun. One can assume there will be a difference in POI elevation with different weight pellets,.. but the windage POI shift is more interesting and perplexing.
The first thing that comes to mind is that the different pellets are exhibiting different “cork screwing” patterns during flights. Not to be confused with the actual rifling induced spiral of the projectile.
BB,
I am glad that you brought out that this is not a true semi as I am one of those nit pickers to which you are referring. It is of no real consequence. I do indeed like how Sig has overcome the issue of a multi-shot magazine. I think we are going to see a lot more from them over the years.
RR,
Most of my nits are ripe and ready to be picked. 😉
B.B.
BB,
You want to pick those little white devils long before they are ripe.
Half
Anyone,
A friend of mine recently purchased a Winchester model 1250SS break barrel air rifle in .177 caliber. It showed some potential for accuracy once I properly tightened the rings which were way too loose allowing the scope to walk. The trigger is one of the worst I have ever encountered in my limited experience! Does anyone have any suggestions on improving the trigger pull on this particular model? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Bugbuster
Bugbuster,
From the short research I did it seems that if it has only one screw for trigger adjustment located behind the trigger you could probably use the Gamo/Crosman trigger modification that utilized an 8 or 9mm bearing. I am not a fan of using a longer screw because of the unsafe condition it creates by making very minimal sear contact making it probe to accidental discharge.
Siraniko
Siraniko,
Thanks for the input. I didn’t remove the stock to study the trigger mechanism and returned the rifle to my friend yesterday. To me, it feels like a two stage trigger (which it probably isn’t) lubricated with a grease/sand mixture! The LAST thing I wish to do is make the rifle unsafe, and I will not! It is a Chinese manufactured rifle built for Daisy with the Winchester name on it, possibly some molybdenum grease applied to the sear may help.
Bugbuster
Your absolutely right, the longer adjustment screw can make a great trigger out of those crazy long hard budget triggers, but they can shoot when engaging the safety or even a bump!!! I have found this to be true and there’s a hole in the wall to prove it. After that incident I adjusted the screw to a safe, positive pull, still very light and short, but it doesn’t have to be a hair trigger to be a great shooting trigger. I measured how far from fully threaded in the adjustment screw was at that setting and removed that length from the end of the screw so it can NOT be adjusted past what is the safe point. I would encourage anyone doing this screw mod to do the same and not have to worry about it again, plus the screw is more secure if your lightest safe and preferred setting is all the way in and tightened, then you also dont need to worry about it moving on you.
That’s exactly what I did with my Gamo Urban’s trigger. The trigger had lot of creep even after I adjusted it all the way in. I read on some sites that the remedy for the excess creep was to replace the 8mm screw with a 10mm screw. I ordered some 10mm screws and install one in the Urban. The trigger pull was too short for my liking, almost a hair trigger. I removed the screw and filed 1mm off from the end making it 9mm length. Then I turned the screw in until it bottomed and was snug. Now the trigger has no creep and beaks smoothly. I’m not sure what the pull weight is but it is very nice now. I would estimate the pull weight to be less than 2 lbs. It feels as good as my Diana 34 with a T06 trigger.
Some people said that they lock-tighted the screw so it would not move. Your idea of shortening the screw so that it could not be turned in too far to be safe was my thought too.
HAPPY 70th BIRTHDAY little sister.
B.i.l.
She doesn’t look a day over 50, is this April fools?
B-I-L,
To absent friends!
Siraniko
B-I-L
If I’m remembering right. That was Shot Show before Edith got sick.
One of my buddies teen age daughters got killed in a car accident some years back. He always tells me she’s everywhere but nowhere. Meaning the pictures are there. But nothing like when he could hold and hug her. He’s a Christian so he always says he waiting for the day to see her again. He always wishes for it to be now.
My parents have been gone for some time now. And I can’t even comprehend what it would be like if it happened to my daughter’s.
I just hope and pray Edith is happy now. I know BB talks about church. Did Edith believe? And forgive me if I’m getting to personal. I won’t say more. But yep good to see a picture to remember. I do miss her replies on the blog. For what that is worth coming from me.
GF1,
Edith was saved and was a practicing Christian. I know I will see her again; she just will no longer be my wife.
What I miss most is she was my best friend. That is something I can never replace.
B.B.
BB
She will always be Edith.
And always your best friend. No matter where the two of you are at.
It just takes some time to meet up again. You know what I mean.
B.B.,
When your wife is your best friend, it just doesn’t get any better. You have many friends on this blog, Edith can not be replaced, we feel a little of your loss.
Don
B.B., B.I.L
The reminder alarm on my phone rings early morning on the 26th of July since Ms Edith passed, so I can pray for her & remember. That’s how much I respect her & still miss her presence on this blog. How much harder must it be for you. God bless you all.
Errol
Errol,
Thank you for that.
B.B.
Miss Edith’s good people (as we say down here in Georgia).
Peace & Blessings to her;
she’s in a better place than we are, praise the Lord.
B-I-L,
She inspired me to join the blog. I am sure glad I did. What a great person.
Don
B.B. and B-I-L,
Celebrate the anniversary of her birth to the fullest for that is what is right.
May she always have Fair Winds and Following Seas!
The Day will come and few will be ready!
Be strong and faithful my friends.
shootski
Edith passed shortly after I began following this blog. I wish I had had the opportunity to read more of her comments, and get to know her through this blog. From what I have learned by reading comments here in the blog, she must have been a wonderful person. I’m sure she follows the blog daily. She may have left us, but will never be forgotten. Hope to meet her someday in person.
BIL,
I remember her well. If you were “misinformed”, in need of “correction” or needed a new “perspective” on things,… she was right there and in no short order I might add. I was new here and got “re-educated” more than 1 time. 😉 I also remember her to be very active in the PA product listings if things were incorrect. Again,… things got fixed and in no short order. If Edith got involved,… things were going to happen. I seem to recall numerous times of her calling air gun manufactures directly to get answers. She is missed for sure.
🙂 Chris
B.B.
In the paragraph “RWS R10 Pistol”
(Next up were RWS R10 Pistol pellets. They grouped 10 in 1.21-inches at 10 meters.)
Should read grouped 1.12-inches at 10 meters.
George,
You were almost right. The caption was wrong and I fixed it. 1.21-inches was correct.
B.B.
I thought the caption was correct because you said in the paragraph, “still a little better than 1-1/8-inches”.
Oh well, doesn’t matter as long as the statements don’t contradict each other.
George,
1.21″ is better than — oh! My mistake! I should have said 1-1/4-inches.
Gotta change that now.
B,B,
B.B.,
In this range report from The Shooter’s Log, they talk about the 9mm version of the Sig 226 shooting 2″ to 3″ groups at 75 feet; and this pellet version is giving you groups of just over an inch a 33 feet. So, it looks to me that the accuracy of this pellet-firing version is right where it should be to make it a good understudy for those who own the 9mm version but can’t afford to get to the range that often and would like to practice in their backyard.
Kudos to SIG on this one, and to you for the nicely detailed report.
Keep up the good work,
dave
P.S. Oh, I almost forgot; here’s the link to that range report:
http://blog.cheaperthandirt.com/range-report-navy-model-p226-mk-25/