P99 / P229, Quality in the name

[tweakkkk]

I'm going to go shop around for a mid-size 9mm. From my limited experience with combat-style pistols, I like the handling of these two the best.

I'm told the P99 has excellent accuracy. I know the Sig P series are among the most solid pistols out there. These two are in the same price range, the Walther being polymer and the Sig being steel-framed.

But are you really getting $700-900 worth of polymer pistol with the Walther? I know they're considered quality guns, but still people say the price of the P99 has a lot to do with the fact the name on the slide usually appears on higher-end firearms. I don't know about the new versions, but in the past I've also heard of issues with the P99's internal mechanisms sometimes not holding up to regular use.

This isn't a carry weapon, and capacity isn't an issue. I just want a quality training pistol that will last. If it were your money on the line would you feel you got more quality with the Walther or a Sig? Polymer or Steel?

Do you think the Sig name carries as much quality as say Walther or H&K? I may also look at the Sig Pro SP2022. It would definitely be easier on my wallet.

 

[searcher451]

Is the Walther worth the price? You bet. But if you are patient and shop around a bit, you can find a used P99 in the $450 to $550. Don't hesitate to pick one up -- it's worth every bit of that and a lot more. The P99 is 100% reliable, it's crazy accurate, and it's a joy to shoot.

You should visit the Walther Forums to get a good idea of what the folks over there think of the gun:

http://www.waltherforums.com/

I don't think that you'll find a negative word.

 

[modifiedbrowning]

The P99 is as good as any HK polymer pistol.

 

[hollowpointt]

Walther

I have a p99 in 40 and the newer pps in 9 as my carry gun and both are outstanding. Like it was stated above I picked up my p99 used for a lot less than new price. Paid full price for the pps

 

[mr. e]

I have both and have carried both. Both are accurate and dependable.

The SIG is more pleasant to shoot for practice. The only problem I have with the Walther is that stupid hump under the trigger on the guard. I guess I could file it down if it bothered me much.

I find that the P-99 is slightly more confortable to carry. It's lighter and its shape tucks in under my ribs better in similar pancake holsters.

 

[ozarkhillbilly]

I have both and as far as quality goes there is not one bit of differnce. Sig and Walther are both top brand compaines. Also the P229 does not have a steel frame.

It is all going to come down to which one you like the best, then get that one.

 

[TDR911]

I have both a 9mm and 40 P99 AS series and a 40 QA model. The 40 AS is my carry gun as well as my IDPA gun on occasion. Woth every penny.

 

[tweakkkk]

I would practice with the gun to the point I felt completely competent with it, but another factor I forgot to mention is that it would spend most of its time locked up, maybe even for long periods. I can get very busy for long stretches, and sometimes travel out of country. The Sig's simpler mechanism strikes me as less prone to extended storage. Is there any truth to this?

The P99 does seem more sleek to me, but I'm not sure if that factors in since I don't carry. I'm a lanky guy and I dress in business-casual attire, so concealing isn't an option. Not to mention have to go into places where firearms are strictly not allowed anyway.

 

[RippinSVT]

Sig 228/229.


I think the Walthers are fantastic guns, but they just don't do it for me ergonomically. Plus, it ain't a Sig.

 

[mr. e]

I can't believe that one would store better than the other. Either's steel internals would rust if not properly stored.

I don't think there would be any problem with extended storage, as long as the gun is cleaned, oiled, and kept from moisture and humidity.

Seal it in a heavy ziplock plastic bag and throw in a few dessicant packs if humidity is a problem, or move to Colorado where we don't have rust (or water, or bugs, or even much air for that matter ;^)

My SIG's factory finish on the slide was pretty delicate and scratched easily. But IIRC, it's stainless underneath. The Walther's slide finish seems pretty tough.

If the price was the same for a new in-the-box pistol, I'd go with the SIG 229, no contest.

 

[highcap]

Owning a Sig is like owning a Harley! Every Harley is a motorcycle; but not every motorcycle is a Harley!
(just an opinion)

 

[tweakkkk]

I think I'm locked into Sig at this point. But now I'm questioning which one.

I keep seeing prices on the SigPro (2022) that are very tempting... there were also whispers that it's being phased out because Sig wants to promote their new P250, which I am not crazy about. It's not at all like other Sigs and ONLY comes with a DAO trigger. I wonder if I shouldn't jump on the chance to buy the Sig Pro now while it's cheap and before it's gone. I would prefer a P229 but I suppose I could always get one later, that series of pistols will probably end up being as long-lived as the 1911.

 

[ozarkhillbilly]

The Sig 229 is every bit as good as a Walther P-99 and the other way around. That being said the SigPro and the Sig P250 are not Sig 229s and if it is between them and the Walther I would go with the Walther hands down. I am not saying they are bad guns they are just not in the same class as the Sig 229, 228, 226 or 239.

 

[FrontRangeSPS]

I would go for the Walther any day of the week! I own an AS in .40 and have not regretted it at all! As far as the ski bump in the trigger guard of the P99, that is gone in the newer models!

 

[Bishop26]

The Smith and wesson SW99 and HK p99 are about the same gun. Bet you can find a used one of those for alot less than the HK. I handled a P99 and a SW99 yesterday. The SW99 apparently is out of production but you can still find some. I almost bought the one I found its a sweet gun feels like the M&P compact. I actually liked it better than the P99. The Decocker is small on the P99 and it was hard for me to depress.

 

[blacksmithsc]

Hmmmmmm, I have a P99. Great pistol. Never, ever, had any problems with FTFs or FTEs. Is it accurate? Not really. This is in comparison to my Browning HP which is really accurate. One oddity though, we bought one of those bulk packs of 9mm reloads from Dick's Sporting goods. With name brand ammo in the P99, you can probably keep 8-9 shots out of 10 in an 8" circle at 20-30', with the bulk reloads it's more like 4-5. So, they do seem to be a bit ammo conscious from an accuracy standpoint.

 

[golden]

Walther

I have had both the WALTHER P-99 and SIG 229. I sold off the SIG and I will keep the WALTHER.

Both are excellent guns. I just prefer the handling and much lighter weight of the WALTHER.

Jim

 

[priler]

here's the thing tweakkkk,if your talking about wanting to have it RIGHT NOW,then you will have the ability to get the sig at this moment..get that.your going to have a tough time finding a brand new p99 and probably for many more months to come.that kind of solves your dilema.

this is coming from a p99 fan.

 

[1911shooter]

I'am partial to the SIG series of pistols they are by far the most accurate out of the box pistols you can buy. the P99 is a fine pistol but any of the SIG's get my vote. I own a P220, P225, P226, P228, P229, P230, and a P232. these are the best combat pistols i ever bought used and have a ton of rounds through. Now i'am a 1911 guy carry a Wilson CQB everday for work and to protect my family. but if i couldnt have my 1911 it would be one of my SIG's. period.

 

[CPshooter]

Are Walthers that much these days?? dang...

I bought a P99 A/S .40s&w a little over 2 years ago brand new for like $600 or so. I don't remember the exact price, but it was around $640 after taxes.

Anyways, it was a nice gun but just wasn't for me. Had it been a 9mm I might still have it, but the .40s&w and the P99 platform didn't go well together. The recoil seemed sharp and it was kind of painful to shoot. I also didn't like how the sights are mounted or the lack of good aftermarket sights for them.

The A/S trigger was nice. It had a really short SA reset and it had a very crisp break with no creep. However, something about the shape of the trigger hurt my trigger finger when shooting it. It was almost as if the trigger was too short, with too much curve to it. Like there wasn't enough room for my trigger finger...and I don't have big or meaty fingers at all. I still don't know why my trigger finger hurt so bad after shooting it. I've heard the term "trigger slap" before, but don't exactly know what it is. Maybe that's what I was experiencing??

Overall, the gun was solid and well-built. I just felt that it was a bit top heavy since the .40s&w version doesn't have the tapered slide towards the front like the 9mm does. I also never experienced a single FTF or FTE with it in the few hundred rounds I shot before I sold it.

I've gone through Glocks and XDs as well. The only polymer guns I have left are H&Ks. I'll never buy another polymer gun if it isn't an H&K. I shoot them the best and feel that they are built to higher standards of quality and reliability than the competition.

Sig also makes great pistols, but I don't like their polymer models. The P239,229,226,220 are all great guns. I'd take a Sig over a Walther myself.

 

[RippinSVT]

I just can't stand the mag-release on the Walthers after shooting countless guns with conventional releases. I wouldn't wanna press the non-existent release in an emergency-situation reload.

 

[CWL]

Get and shoot the gun that really fits your hand and is more accurate for you.

Nothing to do with quality, but SIG Sauer has a better name recognition in the USA, simply because of this, you will discover that a SIG will have a higher resale value than Walther.

 

[NG VI]

CDNN has some P99s, or SW99s, can't remember which, download their catalog and then call to check prices. I'm pretty sure the last hard copy I saw had them well under $500. Not sure the caliber either.