MArooned Product Review: SIG SAUER Mosquito

A while back, the good folks at SIG SAUER sent me a Mosquito for review earlier this year. After taking it to the range quite a few times, and having different folks shoot it (including my son!), here’s my review.

SIG SAUER Mosquito

History:

The SIG SAUER Mosquito was released in 2005, the first rimfire offering for SIG SAUER. It was designed as a .22LR training version of their stalwart P226 model line, designed with the same controls as the P226 in a package that was 10% smaller overall. It’s a traditional DA/SA design semi-automatic, blowback operated, with a polymer frame and an aluminum-zinc alloy slide. The barrel is fixed, differentiating the Mosquito from its larger centerfire brethren and allowing for increased accuracy.

Much has been made of the choice by SIG SAUER to go with the zinc-aluminum alloy for the slide, with detractors claiming that the mixture is inferior to straight aluminum or steel. In this particular model there were no defects observed in the slide after shooting well in excess of 1,000 rounds, so in this reviewer’s experience this claim has not proven valid. Even during rapid-fire testing, with several hundred rounds fired as quickly as possible, no undue stress was placed on the firearm.

Impressions:

The Mosquito makes quite a handy training tool for those familiar with the full-sized centerfire models. The controls are in the same place, the feel and function are similar, only the addition of a safety differentiates it from a P226 externally.

Controls

The takedown, owing to the fixed barrel, is slightly different – the takedown lever rotates 180º rather than 90º on the P226. Obviously, recoil and capacity are different as well.

Disassembled

The Mosquito’s smaller size makes it a valuable addition to the line for new shooters and those with smaller hands (especially younger shooters). The fit and finish on the model reviewed here were excellent, with smooth operation of all levers and tight lockup between slide and frame. The safety is simple and easy to operate with one hand, as is the standard SIG SAUER decocking lever. It disassembles quickly and easily with no difficulties and goes back together in a similar effortless manner. No third arm required on this .22!

Shooting the Mosquito.

The first trip to the range with the Mosquito made it evident that the “breaking in” period was much-needed. In 150 rounds, it had several failures to eject, a couple stovepipes, and one time it failed to chamber the second round. A thorough cleaning later, the second trip yielded a couple stovepipes and one failure to eject over another 150 rounds. The next three trips of 150 rounds each, though, were flawless - I found myself forgetting to take notes the Mosquito was running so well. The last trip started off with one failure to load, but was otherwise uneventful.

All of the previous testing was performed using the SIG SAUER recommended CCI mini-mag ammunition. For my last trip, I brought 50 – 100 rounds of several different brands and manufacturers:

Fiocchi 40 gr CP
PMC “Zapper” 38 gr HP
PMC “Sidewinder” 40 gr LRN
Federal Champion 40 gr LRN
Federal Bulk 36 gr CP
Remington Thunderbolt 40 gr LRN

Sadly, the Mosquito did NOT like my favorite Federal bulk .22LR ammunition, nor did it care for the PCM “Sidewinder” or the Federal Champion. The Fiocchi worked well, about 75% success, and the PMC Zapper was fine as well. The real surprise was finding that the Mosquito simply loved the Remington Thunderbolt, which I’ve found to be a little dirtier than most and doesn’t agree with some .22LR semi-automatics I’ve shot due to the lead round nose bullet.

Where the Mosquito excels, though, is in its accuracy. Whether slow-fire or rapid fire at 10 yards, or slow-fire at 50 yards, the accuracy of the Mosquito was superb:

Targets, part one

But the most telling were the two targets used in the ammunition testing range trip:

Targets, part two

These targets were placed at about 10 yards, and then magazines were emptied as fast as possible for many different types of ammunition. Any aiming was purely coincidental; the front sight was placed roughly in the vicinity of the center of the target and then the trigger was pulled. Lather, rinse, repeat. One target has 60 rounds; the other 80 or more (probably closer to 100). For a pistol with an MSRP of $390 (and a shelf price generally around $300), that’s pretty impressive accuracy under the stated conditions (i.e. I was not doing anything even remotely resembling carefully aimed fire).

Conclusion:

SIG SAUER’s entry in the world of rimfire semi-automatic pistols has its plusses and minuses. On the plus side, it’s very accurate and easy to take apart for cleaning; on the minus, it’s finicky about ammo (preferring, naturally, the more expensive variety – it *is* Teutonic, after all). If there's a P226 or a P229 in your armory and you'd like a companion rimfire piece, it's the logical choice; ditto if you're looking for an inexpensive plinker that functions similar to your favorite centerfire DA/SA handgun.

This is one Mosquito that doesn't bite!

That is all.