Greetings and welcome. I've got a P228 and have shot several P229's. Personally I would go with the P228. They are no longer being produced and the supply is dwindling. The P229 will be around for some time and so you can always pick one of those.

Where abouts are you? I live in Lacey and have shot at Bullseye in Tacoma and the Marksman in Puyallup. I'm trying to get another "range day" set up with coworkers on the upcoming Federal Holiday. Working rotating shifts at a 24-7 facility makes it hard sometimes. Federal Holidays help occasionally.

I've got a 226 which looks a lot like the 228 (I'm learning the difference).. Is the 228 a single-stack or just shorter grip/mag?

Darn, If you were local, and your 220 was in the same shape, I'd swap you now for my 226, although I freakin' love that gun.. I really want to keep it but the silly idea I have of getting a .45 is hovering around the same level of joy I've had busting nice groups with my old 226 cpo, ammo regardless.

A friend recently picked up a 229 and I can see the main differences appears to be the slides, of course along with the carry-size of the barrel and grip.. The 228 looks like an identical 'design' of slide as my 226 (stamped). The dehorning on the 229 slide edges might be a little easier on nicer holsters, and possibly (keyword) show less finish wear than the sharper edges of the older style slides.. If that concerns you. Me.. not really but I'm thinking of a nice slick refinish, for giggles, as my 226 don't look like much... She's all business.

.... hope that newb opinion helps.

Yeah the 228 is like the early version of the 229, good points guys. Still semi undecided, I guess when I get to the gunshop today, it'll be my final decision time, and either way...I'll show a pic of whichever one follows me home.

Babs, if you're looking for a good .45 get the H&K HK45....I used to carry my P220 everywhere, at work, as a difficult CCW, but I love the gun so much and had such faith in it's accuracy and dependability that it went everywhere with me. I read some reviews about the HK45, decided to pick one up at the shop, just to see how it felt in my hand, balanced, yadda yadda, had no intention on buying one....I bought it right away...shot it and it shoots like a dream, to the point that it became my work gun, got tired of hauling around a big gun so my HK USP40C became my CCW but in my opinion the HK45 is at least as good as the P220, and I feel it surpasses it because of the controllability and feel.

Check one out

As I suspected from an actual owner.
They look like a serious military-grade overbuilt weapon just from appearances.
That 45C looks like a world-class carry-capable .45.
.... sorry.. not the right thread. I'll cruise the HK section. hehe

The P226 was the original full sized 9mm and the P228 is slightly smaller, shorter in length and height. Otherwise they feel the same in your hands. Double stack and you can use the P226 mag in the P228. Now the P226 comes in the 3 options, caliber wise and it and the P220 are still the full sized. The P229 has replaced the P228 in production and is available in the optional 3 calibers. All 3 of my "P" series guns are of the stamped variety (the only way the P228 ever came, btw). I use my P228 as my CCW and have for years now.

Sorry to hijack this thread but in order to make a recomendation I would want to know what is the difference between the 228 and the 229 other than the 228 is no longer being made. In other words, what improvements were made in the 229 that do not exist on the 228 or what cool features of the 228 were dropped in order to allow sig to make a less expensive replacement. Finally, does the 228 accept 229 mags?

BTW I have a Sig 220 and I love it.

Read the "Best of both worlds" section here: http://remtek.com/arms/sig/model/229/229.htm

.. If I had to sum it up..

Slide:
The 229 was going from mandrel pressed sheet-metal slide to a machined slide with mods to handle the .40 pressure. In my own redneck terminology.. It's more better. Designed for more "bump" behind the round than the 9mm Luger.

Mag:
Besides capacities, it's tapered in two different places instead of just the top.. maybe for feed improvements.

... Price differences.. Is the 229 a couple hundred dollars better? eh.. maybe.. but parts down the road may be more available, and it's a current model which might help resale.. I dunno. The gun market is an odd-ball. I voted 229.

Thanks for the information. I would go with the 229

Thanks for the info guys!

First off, the P220 is an awesome gun, no arguments there.

Second, I went to the gun shop and they had sold the 228 I had been looking at for a while so i called around and finally found one gun shop (all the way up in Mt. Vernon) that had a 228 in stock, so I drove up there. Looked decent, kind of beat up, but that doesn't usually matter to me anyway, so I was holding it, and just givin her the feel up, and I just couldn't get past the "bump" in the grip and the left side by the controls...threw my grip off and I couldn't stand it. So I started checkin out some other guns, told the guy the idea of what I was looking for and he turned me on to CZ.

I'd heard about them before, and long story short I was sold, and bought a CZ85 Combat. thing feels nice and solid, very tight, etc etc etc...so I paid half now and will pay half in like a week.

All in all thanks for the advice gents!

The P228 was produced in 9mm only. It's slide was stamped instead of milled. The P229 was the replacement of the "classic" model and was offered in the optional 3 calibers (9mm, .357SIG and .40). To accomodate the increased pressures of the .357SIG and .40, the slide was constructed from a milled blank.

The magazines are the same for the respective models. There are however 2 different magazines for the P229. One for the 9mm chambering and another for the .357SIG and .40 calibers. The second functions with either of the larger two calibers. The frames are the same between the models with the exception that all P229 frames these days come with a rail. The P228 never came with a rail.

Originally Posted by wiseguy

I'd heard about them before, and long story short I was sold, and bought a CZ85 Combat. thing feels nice and solid, very tight, etc etc etc...so I paid half now and will pay half in like a week.

Good choice. That would definitely be one at the top of my list for a range gun. Enjoy, and pictures when iit's yours!

-Jeff-

I've got a 226 9mm and a 229 in 40 but am getting the stuff for the 229 to shoot 357 sig.

The 229 is a a dream to shoot. To me though there is no way to go wrong when it comes to Sigs

Originally Posted by wiseguy

Thanks for the info guys!

First off, the P220 is an awesome gun, no arguments there.

Second, I went to the gun shop and they had sold the 228 I had been looking at for a while so i called around and finally found one gun shop (all the way up in Mt. Vernon) that had a 228 in stock, so I drove up there. Looked decent, kind of beat up, but that doesn't usually matter to me anyway, so I was holding it, and just givin her the feel up, and I just couldn't get past the "bump" in the grip and the left side by the controls...threw my grip off and I couldn't stand it. So I started checkin out some other guns, told the guy the idea of what I was looking for and he turned me on to CZ.

I'd heard about them before, and long story short I was sold, and bought a CZ85 Combat. thing feels nice and solid, very tight, etc etc etc...so I paid half now and will pay half in like a week.

All in all thanks for the advice gents!

... Stop it man! I have to hold back from even looking at CZ's..

Before I bought the Sig, I was ogling them.. I want a CZ action, in a .45 but .40 would do, with a decocker and a rail.. Maybe in a carry length. I think if they'd stick to just a few solid models and pick a platform their marketing and availability would be better.. I think they're in a transition phase with the P-01 and SP-01 guns supposedly with some improvements in specs.. on an already great gun.

Made the mistake of getting to check out a Baby Desert Eagle (IMI's take on the CZ action - magnum research imports).. His shoulder carry gun.. A full-length baby eagle 9mm. That inverted full-slide.. Sweet gun! Now I'm surfing Bud's again looking at CZ's.. Thanks a bunch!

*** Cough *** P228.

Reason: No longer in production in the states...they're becoming rare. Nothing wrong with shooting just a .9mm from one gun.

The P229 is a good gun...very versatile due to barrel swapping between .40S&W, .357 SIG, and a .9mm conversion barrel.

Originally Posted by Growler67

Personally I would go with the P228. They are no longer being produced and the supply is dwindling. The P229 will be around for some time and so you can always pick one of those.

Growler67 is wise.

I looked at the P229 and ended up with a P239 9MM. I think its just a bit smaller than the P229. Haven't fired it yet, plan to go to the range this afternoon.

The P239 is slightly more compact than the P228/P229 in comparison to the full sized P226. The P239 is also a single stack whereas the P228/P229's are double stack.

I haven't shot either, but I've been doing lots of research on handguns in my quest to buy one before January 20th (guess why).
After going to the gun store and holding different guns, I decided on the P226, so I've been doing a lot of research on them, when trying to figure out what calibre I want, and have also learned about the 228 during the last couple of weeks.

The P228 is the smaller version of the P226, just as the P225 is the smaller 'concealable' P220.
If I were to own a P226 in 9mm I would definately buy the 228 instead of the 229, because you can swap mags. (I voted for the P228 because I will own a P226, though I'll probably go with a .40 cal.)

Other than the compatability with the P226 mags there is little I would think the P228 offers over the P229. Unless of course you want something a little less common (collectability) when you go to the gun range with friends.

But pros for the P229 would be if you want something other than 9mm, this is the only one that offers that. If you want pros and cons vs the different calibres of 9mm, .40 S&W, and .357 SIG, there are multiple resources that compare them very well.

Originally Posted by Jaster83

.....there is little I would think the P228 offers over the P229.

Until you shoot them both side by side you will never know. The feel and balance of the P228 is superior to the P229 and it's what makes it a weapon with a fiercely devoted ownership base. Sometimes you just have to know before you can fully understand the appeal of a thing.

I've fired the P229 in 9mm and .40. Honestly I've shot many handguns in .40 and the caliber does nothing to impress me in any way, much less the price of ammo over 9mm. Just personal preference I guess.

Hand guns are like gloves. Shooting both the one that fits you the best, and its not the size of the round but shoot placement.

Both gun are great, it comes down to which you can shoot the best.

Good luck.

Originally Posted by Growler67

Greetings and welcome. I've got a P228 and have shot several P229's. Personally I would go with the P228. They are no longer being produced and the supply is dwindling. The P229 will be around for some time and so you can always pick one of those.

+1 The P228 is the best handling, best balanced of all the Sigs I own. The P229 was designed to be a .40 S&W gun, so the slide is beefier than it needs to be for a 9mm. The P228 also has a "stamped, folded" slide, which many feel adds to the fine balance of this pistol. You won't go wrong with the P228 - IMHO, that is.

Definetly the 229 that's just my .02 worth

I am predjudiced. I simply like the P229 .40 and have since the agency I worked for issued them in the mid 1990s. Just bought a new one last month, then ent back the net week and bought a new P239 .40 I've working iwth firearms for over 55 years and have a knack for the good ones. Next buy will certainly be a P250, then maybe a "BlackHawk holster

I voted for the 228 because I have not shot a 229. i carried the 228 at my last command and loved it. We put 2,000 rounds through the 228 at the range in 3 days and dint have a single problem. the only problem i had was gettting used to the SIG instead of the standard Navy Berreta.