I'm interested in a 9 mm sig.  Does the 229 have any real advantage over the 228?  Is it really any more durable, or is it just useless extra weight?  Thanks.

My 229 has a stainless slide, alloy frame....it aint gonna rust. +1

The 229 has multi-caliber options.

I own a Sig 228.  The one thing that is good about the 228 over the 229, it is more of a rare gun.
Where I see alot of 229, I hardley ever see any 228's.
They are both very similar guns.
I think the 229 is supossed to be more stout though.

Mine works great!

It is my understanding that Sig Saurer doesn't sell any 228 any longer to civilians?

As was mentioned above, the P229 slide is machined from a solid billet of stainless steel.  It is heavier and slightly bulkier than the P228 which has a slide made from pressed carbon steel.  Otherwise, in 9mm, both are nearly the same pistol, and the frames are close to if not identical.  Most obvious is the cocking serrations on the P229 are only have the height of the slide.  

ETA:  The P229 was originally designed for thre .40 S&W, hence the heavy duty machined stainless slide.  Later, it was also chambered in 9mm and .357 SIG.  Why is 9mm if the P228 was already offered, I don't know.  But, to dispel any rumors, the P228 is still available to civilians.  However, from time to time, they are harder to come by due to govt contracts.

I have never heard anything about durability issues with the 228, and the hsld guys in the military shoot them a lot more than I ever will.  I guess the stainless would be an advantage in terms of avoiding rust, hmmm.  Thanks for the imput.

Quoted: It is my understanding that Sig Saurer doesn't sell any 228 any longer to civilians?

It's my understanding they simply don't make them anymore. Blue Book says they stopped them in 1997.

The 228 is still very much available. It's used in the armed forces as the M11 sidearm. If you want a 9mm, get the 228. If you want 40 or 357, then you have to get the 229. I bought my 228 ~3 years ago for $550 NIB and put about 10K through it. It's one hell of a reliable gun, but I find myself carrying and shooting my Glock 19 more since it conceals a bit better.

It's my understanding they simply don't make them anymore. Blue Book says they stopped them in 1997.

As BigAl stated, this is false.  The probelm is, in order to fill military/govt contracts, SIG will sometimes not send any to distributers which in turn creates the rumor they are no longer being made.  In fact, I remember at one time, SIG officially did not offer new P228s to the civilian market for a short period of time due to the large nature of ongoing orders.  Also, check SIG's website and you'll find the P228 listed.

Quoted: It's my understanding they simply don't make them anymore. Blue Book says they stopped them in 1997. As BigAl stated, this is false.

Hey, I'm just saying what the Blue Book wrote. But keep in mind, they go to print about 6-10 months before they're released, IIRC, so there's some lag time in there.

OTOH, how often is Sig's web site updated? Lord knows, we've all seen some crappy web sites from gun mfgrs before?

BobCole, I wasn't gunning for you there...maybe your source a little though.  I've found most of the gunrags to be excellent sources of false information.  I also know that the P228 has been made since 1997 despite what the Blue Book says.  No offense intended.

ETA:  www.Sigarms.com says 2005 at the bottom of the screen:

www.sigarms.com/products/classiccompactsize-models.asp?product_id=212

Quoted: The 229 has multi-caliber options.

Not if you buy the 9mm version of it.

A .40 P229 or .357 SIG P229 can be changed back and forth with simply a barrel swap.  Same mags, same spring, etc.

A 9mm P229 has a different frame or slide (I forget which).