Selected Handgun Detail

Manufacturer
	SIG SAUER GmbH & Co. KG More Info

About the Gun

The P226 Elite is the upgraded full-size double-stack version of the P226 featuring the Elite package that includes a beavertail frame extension, front slide cocking serrations, front-strap checkering on the aluminum alloy frame with black hard-coat anodized finish, and short-reset trigger. It was offered in 9mm, .40 S&W, and 357 SIG in three main finishes: black Nitron, two-tone (stainless or nickel-plated slide), and all-stainless. The new 2024 production 9 mm variant features an optics-ready slide, updated grip ergonomics, and minor internal refinements.

Production

Production began in 2024 and is currently ongoing.

Market value

Current MSRP is listed around $1,099–$1,199.

Cartridge Specifications
Cartridge:	9 mm Luger
Alias:	9 mm Parabellum
More Info

Analysis

The P226 Elite variants represent SIG Sauer’s refinement of the full-size P226 platform through the addition of ergonomic and trigger improvements. The classic models, produced from the late 2000s through the mid-2010s in Nitron, two-tone, and stainless finishes, incorporated a beavertail frame extension, front slide cocking serrations, front-strap checkering, short-reset trigger, and E2 grips. The 2024 production variant continues this Elite package while adding an optics-ready slide as a standard feature to meet modern demands for red-dot sight compatibility. Offered in 9mm, .40 S&W, and 357 SIG, these models maintained the locked-breech short-recoil operating system and DA/SA trigger with decock lever across both eras. The progression from the classic Elite to the current optics-ready version illustrates the platform’s ongoing adaptation while preserving the core handling characteristics that made the P226 a widely respected service and defensive pistol.