Few guns are as enjoyable to shoot as a .22LR pistol. For many, it was a gateway gun that got them into larger caliber pistols and rifles. 22s of old, however, were pretty much a creature of their own. They had unique design features and had no real connection design-wise to the remaining handgun world. Sig recognized that and decided to create a gun with the look and feel of a defensive pistol yet still a .22LR. Their solution is the Sig P322.

Sig P322

The P322 is a new endeavor for Sig and is everything you would expect from their experienced team. Phil Strader, Director of Firearms Product Management at Sig, shared with us that they had precise performance standards they wanted to meet. They designed the gun to be reliable even with “less than stellar” ammunition. That translates to Sig demanding that the P322 run all brands of ammo, including the junk you find online, somewhere for a dollar. To my amazement, the guns had run an average of 1000 rounds between stoppages. Additionally, they have a designated testing gun that is at 24,000 rounds and still running.  The key to all this is a fluted barrel that allows the P322 to eat anything you feed it. 

The Sig team said they would prove it, and we all hit the range. First off, the P322 is essentially a full-size gun. It’s not quite a 320, but it’s close in size. We shot thousands of rounds over several hours without cleaning or oiling the guns. In all that, I only had one failure to fire: an ammunition failure. We soon discovered that the gun was a feature rich and Sig is using that as their marketing plan. They have taken the 21 high points on the gun as reasons you need to own one.

21 Points

21 Round Capacity
The Sig P322 has an astounding 21 (20+1) round capacity. The magazines are well made, easy to load, and extremely light.

25 Rounds w/ Extended Mag
A 20-round magazine is excellent; a 25-round version is even better. These mags will have the same design as the original 20-round magazine but an extension to get us those last five rounds.

Optic Ready
Sig saw fit to include this feature on the P322 as well. The footprint will fit all the most common micro red dots, making the gun even more enjoyable to shoot.

Threaded Barrel
Sig knows that people would immediately ask for a threaded barrel for their new P322. The gun comes with a threaded barrel adapter that attaches to the existing barrel.

1913 Rail
Here, you can easily mount a flashlight or laser.

Made in the USA

Made in USA
Few things are as crucial to Americans now as buying items made here in the USA.

Manual Safety
Sig decided to include a manual safety on the gun. It is easy to access and has good texturing.

SAO Enclosed Hammer
Sig went with this design to help with overall performance and reliability.

Ambi Controls
In keeping with building a pistol beyond the simple plinking world, Sig has included ambidextrous controls for the new gun.

Adjustable Rear Sight
The P322 has a fixed barrel, which helps it achieve great accuracy. Sig has included an adjustable rear sight to help you fine-tune your gun.  

Fiber Optic Front Sight
One of the characteristics I discovered about this gun was that it is fast. Because of that, Sig has decided to use a quick-to-acquire fiber optic front sight.

Flat and Curved Trigger
One of the gun’s most interesting features is its ability to use either a flat-face trigger or a traditional, rounded version. Sig includes both with the gun, and they are very easy to switch out. The trigger is essentially a face that sits on a metal trigger frame.

Two Magazines
Nothing makes me shake my head more than companies that only send one magazine with their guns. Sig feels the same way and has included two of the 20-round mags.

Low Cost Training

Low-cost Training
As I write this, the great ammo famine has started to subside but still lingers. Prices are still high for the likes of 9mm, and we can only hope they drop. The cost of ammo makes training expensive and short. Using .22LR, however, gives us a much less expensive alternative.

Easy Takedown
The P322 is very easy to disassemble. Clear the gun and lock the slide to the rear. Move the takedown lever up and lift the rear of the slide. Now, just move the slide forward and off the gun.

Ergonomic Design
The P322 is built on Sig’s ergonomic DNA. It fits well in the hand and has the perfect amount of texturing on the grip.

Stainless Steel Frame
With an eye on lifespan and recoil reduction, Sig has made the frame from stainless steel.

Aluminum Slide
With a stainless-steel frame, the obvious weight balance was to make the slide out of aluminum. This helps keep the gun light yet durable.

Cocking Serrations
The gun comes with well-designed cocking serrations on both the front and rear of the slide.

Sig P322 – Loading Friendly

Integrated Magwell
Did I mention that the gun was fast? Once you start running this gun, you will start putting the pedal to the metal. That also applies to mag changes. The go-fast mindset of the Sig engineers drove the inclusion of an integrated fast-feed mag well.

Magazine Loader
Last but not least, Sig has included a mag loader with the gun. The magazines have grip points that allow you to push down the ramp inside the mag. The mag loader makes it even easier by sliding over and down the top of the mag. It makes reloading the magazines very fast and easy on the hands.

The Sig Sauer P322 is a very solid gun. It has a variety of applications, but ultimately, it is enjoyable to shoot. Whether you are a hard-core pistol shooter or brand new to guns, the P322 is indeed a gun you are going to want to have.

For more information, visit: https://www.sigsauer.com/