Sig p229?

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thunder

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Hello,

The Sig p229 has caught my eye lately. It's quite a beauty. I've been wanting to get a Sig for quite awhile now, and think I'll spring on a p229 or p226. I'd love to get a p229, but can't help but think the p226 would be a better choice. It's got a longer sight radius, barrel, and is barely heavier. I'd be using it mainly as a range gun to learn on, a home defense piece, and a carry gun while hiking/camping. Which firearm is supposedly more mechanically accurate and recoil resistant? Any thoughts?
I appreciate the help folks.
 
I don't know what caliber you are considering, and that could make a difference. I bought a 229R DAK in .40, and I love it. I haven't had a chance to chronograph the 229 yet, but in checking 180 grain Gold Dot .40 loads in a 5 inch Beretta and a 3.5" Beretta, I was only getting a 30 fps difference in velocity, which I deemed inconsequential. Also, if you looked at this month's American Riflemen on the Sigs and H&K's used by Homeland Security, the difference in velocities between the longer barrel and shorter barrel versions was statistically insignificant. The magazine capacity of the 226 is the same as the 229. The 229 fits my hand fine. The 229 (and I think the 226 as well) was built to handle the .40 and the .357 Sig, rather than being a 9mm converted to handle the other two. The sight radius doesn't matter to me, either. Within one afternoon of practicing, I was shooting my Sig with the 3.86" barrel at least as well as my 5 " Beretta .40 at 65 yards. Unless you just want a bigger gun, or it fits your hand better, I'd recommend the 229 over the 226.
 
My friend and I go shooting together often, he has 226 and me a 229, we both take turns shooting each others guns and at a distance from 15 to 20 yrds I dont see a difference in accuracy, my 229 does however feel better in my hand and is my daily carry.
 
The 229 is a great gun. Probably one of the best for double duty: CCW or open carry (particularly if you're LE). Get both barrels, .40 and .357, you'll love it.
 
I have two 229's, one 9mm and one .357sig. They are great guns. Both are accurate, shoot well, and are reliable, over 2000 rounds thru the two and not a flinch at all. I carry the .357 daily and keep the 9 put up, it's in immaculate condition.
 
Get some! I have 2-one in 9mm and one with both the .40 and .357 SIG barrels. FINE guns, very accurate, 100% reliable fed anything and very good for CCW. You will be pleased. (Both mine are CPO's.)
 
I have two P229s. One in .357 Sig and one in .40 S&W. I trusted my life and my families to one for 3 years. I have 10K+ rounds thru one of them and have never, ever had any type of malfunction. This is while using many brands of ammo. I find this to be very impressive. I took a 3 day defensive course and shot over 1500 rounds without cleaning it to see if it would malf. (I dropped some CLP on the rails and barrel at the end of each day). I couldn't make it choke.

The P229 is my favorite Sig. Accurate, reliable and tough as nails.
 
What are you going to do with the gun? Carry, home defense, or both? Is it a range gun only?

I would get a 229 myself if I am gonna carry. However if your not going to carry then I would go with a 226.
 
Good suggestions from all posters. For me, I have a 229 (9mm). I have small hands and it feels/fits better than the 226. Personally, I like the heavier 229 slide. Which is the only model where the slide is milled from a solid piece of stainless steel. The others are stamped metal. Last week I placed my 229 on top of a 226. The difference I noted was the shorter barrel, 3.9" compared to the 4.4" 226. Wow, that's 1/2". And the grip is a little longer on the 226. My 229 (9mm) carries a 15 round magazine. Not sure on the 226, but I think you can get a 17 rounder. It's a close call and a personal call.
 
I have two Sig 229's. One in .40S&W and the other in .357Sig. This is one of those models (other than a 1911) that I have two of. The other is the USP40 compact. I also had two Sig 226's but I sold off one of them. The 229 just fits my hand better. I like its robust and massive slide. Recoil feels very mild.
62638673-M.jpg
 
I'll reply also in favor of the P229
Mine is a .40S&W and I do have the .357SIG barrel. Though I carry and shoot the .40 most often.

It's a boring gun.
When I put my booger hook on the bang switch - it always goes BOOM.
I've had her for 7 years now and not one fail to fire, fail to feed, no stove pipes.
Nuttin'
So it's boring in a real good way.

I'm a clean freak though - so every time it's shot (weekly) it get's a full cleaning.
 
Personally, I like the heavier 229 slide. Which is the only model where the slide is milled from a solid piece of stainless steel. The others are stamped metal.
Click to expand...

All new P2xx series Sigs from Exeter, NH are milled from solid SS. The older German made Sig slides in the P2xx series (P220, P226, P225, P228) were stamped/rolled from carbon steel. The P229 was the first Sig slide to be made in the USA and was made from solid SS bar stock using CNC technology. The rest of the P2xx series has followed suit. BTW: To many, the German made rolled slides are the more coveted. :)
 
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I like my all-stainless model ...​

f188.jpg

... the added weight helps absorb even the most harshest recoil.​
 
Wow, thanks for the great responses everyone! I'd be buying it in 9mm. I'm not planing on concealing it, I'll buy a different pistol for that when the time comes. It seems like the first issue I should contend with is fit. That should be the main consideration, correct? Regardless of barrel sizes and such?
 
SIGs with stainless vs. carbon steel slides

Yes, absolutely, fit. If it fits your hand, you like the balance, it points nice for you, and the trigger reach is just right, those factors will make more of an accuracy difference than a longer barrel or longer sight radius. These "personal fit" factors are the most important factor in buying a handgun in my opinion.

In this regard, I really like the 229 in heavier calibers, but there are other SIGs I would prefer for 9mm.

The 229, and the new 226's with stainless steel slides, were introduced to handle the greater slide velocities of 357SIG and 40SW.

The older pistols with carbon steel slides have a slightly nicer balance (in my opinion) for shooting 9mm. These would be the 228 (equivalent to the 229, except for having a carbon steel slide) and the older 226's. They are also slightly lighter than the stainless slide pistols, which would be helpful if you ever decide to carry. At the same time, some people actually prefer a slightly heavier pistol to help soak up the recoil.

I'm not sure which you would prefer, stainless vs. carbon steel, but it does make a difference in the feel and balance of the pistols so it's something you should watch out for. The difference between the 228 and 229 is particularly noticeable.

You can't really tell stainless vs. carbon by looking at the color - most of the stainless steel slides are finished in SIGs Nitron process, so they look pretty similar to the blued carbon steel guns. The way to tell the difference is to look at the roll pins that go through the side of the slide. On the stainless guns, the pins are solid. On the carbon steel guns, the pins are hollow.

Another older, carbon steel slide pistol in 9mm is the 225. This is similar in size to the 228/229, but is single stack and somewhat slimmer. I find the 225 grip to be a little small to fill my hand, but some people prefer the 225 to all other SIGs.
 
Buying a P229 in 9mm is like buying a gelding with the idea that you're gonna breed it.

This is one SiG that deserves a .357SiG chamber. If you are hell bent on a 9mm, get a BarSto conversion barrel for the .357SiG P229.

You can thank me later...
 
I have the P229R DAK HSP in .40S&W, and have the .357 SIG barrel as well,
and really like it...the .357SIG shoots smaller groups in this pistol than .40 does, .40 isnt a slouch however. I can see why the US Coast Guard picked the P229R DAK as their new official sidearm. I did install the so called short trigger in mine, and to my hand it improves the feel.
And one can spend 200.00 on a Barsto 9mm comversion barrel, and spring for a few 9mm P229 magazines..and have 3 calibers that can be fired from one pistol...thats a good thing as you find ammo in one of those 3 no matter where in the world you are.
 
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