I just picked up an older 226. I didn't know it had an internal extractor until I took it apart. Shouldn't be any issues with the design, I'ts alot like a 1911 extractor(which has worked well for a few years). I think the design change was all about standardizing the different handguns. Personally, I like the older "clean" slide. I'm going to shoot the crap out of it !

No problems with the older P226's. Good buy.

i have both the older and newer style pistols and haven't had any problems with either.
some people may prefer one over the other but they shoot equally well. i wouldn't hesitate to buy either one.
if it's a good price and $500 is, buy it.

one thing to watch out for is the trigger bar spring. They had an older type that they used which wasnt the best. it still worked but wore both itself and the gun more than it really needed. In 1993, they started making it out of a stronger metal but that only made problems worse until finally they redesigned it in 1998. The new design has pretty much fixed the problem. This isnt a huge issue and for $500 i would buy the gun, but its something to be aware of in the older models.

Is the redesigned trigger bar spring a drop-in replacement on older pistols?

yes it is. The only thing is if the gun was made before 1996 and has the older style of grips, the new trigger bar spring will not work with them. However, this is easily fixed by buying new grips either from sig for $26.00 or after market for more or less the same depending on what you want. in addition to the grips, you can get the spring from top gun supply for 3.95 a piece. all in all a cheap fix.

Thanks. That's good news.

Thanks for all the good advice everyone!

I have a 25+ year old 226 and it runs/looks like new

Originally Posted by 8th SPS USAF

I have a 25+ year old 226 and it runs/looks like new

Me too. I just ordered a couple of the old style springs from TGS because I think they will become unavailable at some point.