I was looking through all the pretties on the Sig photo thread and noticed almost equal #s of 229s to 226s maybe even more 229s. Was wondering why that was and the significant difference between the two pistols in .40 cal. I checked Sigs website and it doesnt give specific dimensions of the 229. I'm seriously considering selling/trading my XD .45 service model for a factory refurb/ used in vg condition P226 but with the popularity of the 229 I think I need to investigate it more. Any info or why you like the 229 would be great.

I've got both a 229 and a 226 in .40 S&W.  The only real difference is that the 226 has a half inch longer barrel and grip.  Capacity of both is 12 rounds.  I think the 226 balances a little bit better.  I can't tell a difference between the two as far as accuracy.  

I think the reason why you see more 229s in .40 than the 226 is because the 229 has been around longer.

The 229 was built ground up for the .40. The 226 was a 9mm modified to take the .40. I believe the 229 is the better gun......best .40 on the planet!

P229 preferred over P226 in .40?  


The P229 is more concealable.

Quoted: I've got both a 229 and a 226 in .40 S&W.  The only real difference is that the 226 has a half inch longer barrel and grip.  Capacity of both is 12 rounds.  I think the 226 balances a little bit better.  I can't tell a difference between the two as far as accuracy.   I think the reason why you see more 229s in .40 than the 226 is because the 229 has been around longer.

The 226 is older.  The 229 was a ground up replacement for the 228 that was 40 S&W capable.  Sig updated the 226 to make it 40 capable by replacing the stamped slide with a solid stainless slide.

The 229 has a good balance to it and is way more suited to CCW. The 226 is more of a service weapon.

I should have said that the 229 in .40 has been around longer than the 226 in .40.  I used to have one of the West German 226s in 9mm back in the early 90s but I sold it to buy a 229.  I've tried to buy the 226 back but to no avail.

My duty weapon is a 229 and I hate it. It's a big blocky sonofabitch and ours have had numerous problems with firing pins breaking and being inaccurate. It may be because ours are the DHS contract and they skimped on quality but it's nowhere near the quality my 239 had. I was actually looking at buying an XD45 Compact for off duty.

I have both the 226 and 229 in .40 and while I really like the feel and balance of the 229, the 226 is realy my favorite.  It is hard to explain.

77Bronc

Quoted: My duty weapon is a 229 and I hate it. It's a big blocky sonofabitch and ours have had numerous problems with firing pins breaking and being inaccurate. It may be because ours are the DHS contract and they skimped on quality but it's nowhere near the quality my 239 had. I was actually looking at buying an XD45 Compact for off duty.

DHS? Who are they? I wasn't aware that Sig did contracts with others to manufacture their weapons.

Department of Homeland Security.

Quoted: Department of Homeland Security.

Ahh thanks...but thats kind of crap. How could they skimp out for the feds? Govt contracts are always teh greatest!!!!111  (sarcasm mode off)

A few years back, the P229 had a better/stronger slide than the P226 due to manufacturing differences.If you will remember, the USN had problems with corrosion with thier first P226's due to the way it was produced. Modern P226's and P229's use the same manufacturing materials/methods on thier slides so the issue is moot. I have a P226RST Crimson Trace in .357/.40 and I absolutely love it....though, the P229 is more practical because its smaller and more concealable. The beauty of the P229 is that its small enough to be concealed but large enough to maintain effective capacity and be shot effectively.I have always wanted a P226, but I would be much better served with a P229 as I am a CCW holder. I did carry my P226 this winter in my 5.11 parka, and it was perfectly concealed/comfortable. I decided that I wanted to get a P229RST to match my P226 but decided to get a SP2022 instead. The Sig Pro is lighter and more comfortable due to its adjustible grips and more accesible controls. I had the SP and P229 side by side and the SP hands down felt better to me and thus I bought it, added CTC Lasergrips and it has become my primary carry weapon. I carry my SP in .357 Sig with 125grn Gold Dots and couldn't be happier.

Lots of agencies use both the P226 and P229 as they are some of the finest weapons availible.The P229 makes more sense if you intend to carry concealed...Don't buy a P229 without first looking at the SP2022 as you may find you like it more, just like I did. Don't be a snob, the SP is in service with militaries the world over, including our own Army. It also earned Sig's largest contract to date. Its every bit the equal of the P229, except that its cheaper and better IMO.

My department just switched from the 229 to the 226 in .40. My guys LOVE the 226 and their shooting has gotten much better with the new guns. For duty use the 226 is better in YMMV.

For concealment the 229 is better but for shooting I think the 226 is better.

In the end, BUY BOTH.

Quoted: The 229 was built ground up for the .40. The 226 was a 9mm modified to take the .40. I believe the 229 is the better gun......best .40 on the planet!

Ditto.

.

The 229 is a little easier to carry.

+1 on the 229 being the best .40!
Its my favorite shooter....good at Everything!

I've had my 229 for years and have never had a problem with it.  Love it to death.  I did have a couple of magazines that would occasionally not hold the slide back on the last shot, but that's not the gun's fault.  As far as concealability goes, it's a wide gun and on me it prints really easily with a Fobus holster...that's one of the reasons my primary carry is now an old Colt 1911. YMMV

I bought one of the very first available P229's when they were released. I've never owned a P226 but shot a friends. I much more prefer the P229 to any of the other Sigs. It's one of those pistols, I wish I'd never sold!

Sig 229R DAK...very nice, easy to conceal and super accurate!...

Amazing,sir! Less that a week ago I purchased a Sig 226 CPO and a Sig 229 off gunbroker. Haven't shot either but the feel of the guns sure does inspire confidence.
Misc

SP2022 is polymer framed and i HATE polymer framed. Thats actually what I'm getting rid of. Trading or selling my XD 45 Service and getting a Sig. Love my gun, but I miss metal.

I am issued a 229 40 with the old school long heavy dao pull.  I hate it, but if it was da/sa I would like it a little better.  If I had the option to swith I would get a g23.  Its a little smaller a lot lighter and holds an extra round.  And I sure shoot it a lot better

My dept was issued 229's in .40 about 1993. We loved them. No problems whatsoever. We just went with the 226R in .40 also because we needed rail guns. The LT decided on the 226 because very few guys carried them off duty anyway. It's not so much the size, but the weight that I find a problem with carrying either concealed. There are lighter weapons available for that task. Sigs are fantastic duty weapons.

I had a P229R and the .40SW rounds bounced in the magazine and made a very audible sound while simply walking.  It was extremely annoying so I sold the pistol.

So if you don't mind the sounds of rounds smacking back and forth in the magazine, go ahead and get the P229R.

It was kind of like having a shoe that squeeks when you walk, so I sold the shoe.  HUGE disappointment, becuase the thing was darn accurate.