Sig P226 or Beretta 92FS Inox

[SunnySlopes]

Local gun store has a new 226 for $819. The mags aren't marked Mec Gar so I assume they're Checkmate which some believe less desirable. It's a basic model.

They also have a new Beretta 92FS Inox for $759.

Which is preferable? Neither gun would be carried or shot much. It's just that I have an itch.

thanx

 

[tarosean]

^ Both prices seem pretty high to me... I would look at gunbroker to scratch that itch.

 

[Schwing]

tarosean is right, those prices are pretty high. I don't think you can go wrong with either but I bought the 92fs. IMHO it is every bit the equal of the sig and less money. Frankly, I think it is one of the best semi-auto hand guns ever made. It doesn't have a lot of bells and whistles and really is nothing to write home about but I have many tens of thousands of rounds through it and have NEVER had a single failure to feed or any other problems for that matter. Mags are easy to get and even the factory mags are not overly expensive.

 

[sigarms228]

Not sure about the Beretta but the P226 looks to be fairly priced for a LGS.

My preference easily goes for SIG compared to all others for a hammer fired autoloading pistols and I own a couple P226s and just love them.

However both are fine fireams and you should try out both to see what works best for you. The Beretta 92FS Inox sure is a good looker.

I would not worry much about Checkmate magazines for the P226 as I have read/heard about MUCH less complaints on them since they first came out with the P226 so they may have resolved the issues with them. In any case the P226 is IMO such a superb pistol I would not let that stop me from buying another one. I use the Mecgar 18 round flush fit 9MM magazines in the P226s anyway and they are usually cheap when at normal stock levels. I think I paid about $21 each for mine.

Good luck!!

 

[texagun]

That Beretta is priced way out of line. At the Ft. Worth Gun Show yesterday, brand new-in-the-box Beretta 92FS's were selling for $525 plus tax. You had your choice between USA and Italian made guns. I also noticed they are now coming in a plastic clamshell box instead of the old cardboard boxes. My preference between the 2 guns mentioned would be an older German-made P226 by a wide margin.

 

[Torian]

I don't think there is any Beretta that can stack up against a Sig, but that's more of a personal opinion than anything else. I've been shooting 92s and 96s for the last 10 years, and I've never cared for them compared to the Sig.

As said above, the Beretta is priced high, the Sig is not. Sigs are going to cost more on average.

 

[Rinspeed]

I don't shoot the 92 anywhere near as well as the 226 but I do have a boatload of rounds through most of the classic Sigs. If it were me I'd look for a clean 12-15 year old 226 and spend the money you save on ammo and a nice holster.

 

[MTMilitiaman]

Is this a serious question? Rhetorical? You're not being facetious?

SIG, hands down, in every way that matters. Only Mel Gibson chooses the Italian over the SIG. For everyone else, from the DEA to the SEALs, if you're using the Beretta, it's because you weren't given a choice in the matter.

 

[340PD]

Have you shot both? That may answer the question for yourself.
If shooting the gun is not a factor, ask yourself which will give you the most pride of ownership?
I am biased

 

[Bovice]

The SIG is fairly priced for sure. Beretta seems high to me as well, I would expect it to be closer to 600-650. I shot both of them equally well. But, I bought the SIG. The P-series is a big family, and once you learn one, you can pick up another and easily be proficient. I now have at least one of all the classics with the exception of the P239.

The magazines will not say "Mec-Gar" on them if they're packaged with the gun. The 9mm 226 mags I have say "Made in Italy" and were packaged with the gun. That's the only indication that they're actually Mec-Gars. The Mec-Gars that I have are marked as such and lack the SIG-Sauer stamping. Either way, don't let the fear of checkmate mags deter you. If they don't work, you can send them back OR you can forget about them and get some Mec-Gars like you are probably planning to anyway. Mec-Gar has 18 round flush fit mags and 20 round mags using a +2 baseplate. Makes sense to be using those over the 15s anyway.

 

[SunnySlopes]

Update. After the above comments I bought this Inox on Gunbroker for $580. The seller said it is in 98% condition. The only thing is that it has an aftermarket adjustable sight. I prefer that. Beretta purists probably do not. Like I said, it will be shot very little. My most fired (by me) is a 1978 Colt Python and has had a total of 3,000 rounds fired through it (since 1978). Some of my guns have actually yet to be shot. I think I just like to buy guns.

Also, I've owned the Sig in P226, P220, P220ST and P230. My current carry piece is a Sig P239 SAS DAK. I've never owned a Beretta handgun. I do own, however, a Beretta 686 shotgun. Someday I'll actually go hunting with it.

I'll give you all an update when it arrives as to condition, range report, etc. If I don't like it, I'll do my part to help the economy, viz. buy high and sell low. BTW, I'm still shopping for the 226.

 

[CharlieDeltaJuliet]

Sig all the way! I too think that is a little steep for the Beretta.

 

[MTMilitiaman]

My dad has (had?) one just like that...hopefully he sold you his and we no longer have to worry about that over rated Italian abomination...

I suppose paperweight is the one thing the Beretta can do as well as the SIG though so if you're gonna buy a Beretta, you did it for the right reason.

 

[SunnySlopes]

My dad has (had?) one just like that...hopefully he sold you his and we no longer have to worry about that over rated Italian abomination...

I suppose paperweight is the one thing the Beretta can do as well as the SIG though so if you're gonna buy a Beretta, you did it for the right reason.

Your dad got a bad 92 and you hope it's the one I just bought? His was so bad that it's good for no more than a paperweight and you hope that's the one I just bought?

Let me ask you a question. Are you simply stupid, or are you going out of your way to be deliberately obtuse?

 

[Pilot]

That adjustable sight on the Beretta is fine, but if you end up not liking it a Beretta or Novak fixed sight can be easily installed. Nice looking 92FS. I actually prefer the black controls on the INOX pistols.

 

[MTMilitiaman]

Your dad got a bad 92 and you hope it's the one I just bought? His was so bad that it's good for no more than a paperweight and you hope that's the one I just bought?

Let me ask you a question. Are you simply stupid, or are you going out of your way to be deliberately obtuse?

There are no "bad Berettas." There's just Berettas. My dad's isn't any better or worse than my great uncle's or any of the half dozen or so I managed to handle while I was in the service. All of them suck equally bad--crappy triggers, bass-ackwards controls, too big and complicated for what it is--no real redeeming qualities. The Beretta is everything a defensive handgun shouldn't be.

So, you're the one who buys guns but doesn't shoot them, but I am stupid or diliberately obtuse You ask a question then go directly counter to the advise of every single poster, none of whom even hinted at the Beretta being a better option (assuming you actually buy guns to shoot them ), yet I am being stupid or obtuse? Hehe. Good luck with that buddy. Enjoy your paperweight

 

[1911austin]

I love Sigs...Berettas not so much.

 

[SunnySlopes]

but I am stupid or diliberately obtuse

Deliberately obtuse, eh? Thanx for clarifying that.

(I hate when you children are out for the summer. You're a good argument for year round school.)

 

[jolly roger]

Like my Sig 45 mind you but I have a Beretta 92FS Inox with the "D" spring in it that makes it just about as slick as a Sig DA pull and every bit as accurate.

 

[armsmaster270]

As an ex military armorer I vote SIG

 

[gunnutery]

Wow, no love for the 92 in this thread. OP, I'm happy you went with the 92, I don't think you'll be disappointed. It looks good and I like the adjustable sights for range only guns. I gave up on gunbroker long ago because I only saw high prices listed, but that must've changed because you seem to have gotten a good price.

Enjoy.

 

[0to60]

Wow, no love for the 92 in this thread.

I've heard this is a THR phenomena. Anyway, here goes. YMMV, but for me nothing points like the 92. It feels more like my finger than any other gun that I own. It's overbuilt, which makes it less suitable for carry but makes it a very soft shooting gun with accurate follow-up shot ability. Nothing, not even the plastic trigger or guide rod, feels cheap on my M9. The slide feels like it's on ball bearings.

What I don't like about the Sig is the incredibly cheap feeling decocker. I don't know what it's doing inside when you press it, but whatever it is it feels plasticy and weak. Also, what's with the weird economics that put the slide release BEHIND the decocker?

 

[Bovice]

SIG has been putting the slide release behind the decocker since the beginning.

Think about it this way. If you reach for the slide release, do you want to have to reach OVER the decocker to get at it? The decocker isn't something you'd use in a hurry. The slide release is.

 

[Bentonville]

Good find. Classic pistol. Reliable and accurate.

 

[YZ]

I've owned both. They are both at heart military or law enforcement weapons. It is pointless to insist on either one for just anybody. Both are well designed and built for the purpose. The intelligent choice will be made by comparing the grips; the trigger reach, weight, and feel; the sights; thumb safety vs decocker; and if at all possible, test firing.

My hand is about size 8. It felt a little more at home on the 226 grip, but the 92 was easy enough for two-handed shooting. Same for the trigger reach. The perceived DA trigger pull seemed heavier on the Beretta, not by much. Now the slide mounted safety on the 92 was definitely out of my thumb's reach, compared to the SIG decocker. There is little to gain by arguing one over the other, because individual styles vary. Comparing accuracy is also a moot point, it will be up to the shooter not the gun. Declaring the M9 a paperweight is civilian bravado, not liable to convince anyone. A typical decocker may feel cheap compared to a crisp thumb safety, but so do many moving parts in military weapons where function rules over form.