[Admiral Thrawn]

Besides the differently shaped slide grip grooves, what exactly is the difference between the SIG-Sauer P-228 and the P-229?

[faustulus]

The slide of the 229 is made from a solid piece of stainless steel, where the carbon steel slide of the 228 is made from two pieces. The single piece means the 229 has an external extractor -- which some prefer. The frame of the 229 is slightly larger than the 228, not by much but enough that the 229 will accept 228 mags but the opposite is not true. The 228 weighs less than the 229. The 229 comes in three calibers -- 9mm, .40 and .357-- where the 228 is only a 9mm. The slides of 229s are made in America and the 228 is all German made (or at least it was this may have changed.) I have both and love them both. They are great guns.

edited to remove stupidity :)

[Marko Kloos]

The slide of the P228 is made from folded carbon steel, with the breech block pinned into the slide with a roll pin. The slide of the P228 is lighter as a result.

The slide of the P229 is made from milled stainless steel (not aluminum), with the breech face being one piece with the slide.

[faustulus]

Stainless steel, I had a brain fart. Luckily I erased my mistake, just like the government :)