[Mastrogiacomo]

I'm looking at these two autos as a possible purchase. I'd like a compact double stack gun that's a good choice for ladies. I've been told to look at these two models but having checked them out on Guns America -- I can't see what the difference between them is. Can anyone help me out?

[twbredw]

are you wanting 9mm or 40 cal? the 229 comes in 40 and you can get standard cap mags for it (12 rounders) and the 229 also comes in 9mm where as the 228 comes in 9mm only the 228 has a 2 piece slide with a seperate breach block pinned to the slide where a 229 slide is made of solid stainless steel you can get 13 round mags for either gun in 9mm as the 9mm versions will interchange . also because of the stainless slide the 229 seems to be just a tad bit heavier . hope this helps:cool:

[Devonai]

The 229 is simply the 228 re-designed to better handle the .40 S&W cartridge. The slide is machined by Sig here in New Hampshire as opposed to the 228's slide which is stamped in Germany. They use the same frame and those are still made in Germany. Beside the slide and minor cosmetic differences, they are identical. The 229 is fractionally heavier than the 228.

Why Sig offers the 229 in 9mm is up for debate, but the popular opinion has it at "why not?" Hi-cap mags, btw, work in either pistol chambered for 9mm.

Edit: Damn you gotta be fast around here.

[MK11]

A lot of people claim the P228 handles better while the P229 is noticeably top heavy. While the P229 is definitely heavier, I can't tell much difference between the way the two handle.

However, I notice a BIG difference between the handling of the new P226s versus the older stamped P226s. YMMV.

[treeprof]

See if you can find a 225 to check out as well. It's a single stack, and narrower in the grip tho still full height.

[Ala Dan]

The SIG P228 has a stamped sheet metal slide; and the
P229's slide is milled from a solid block of stainless steel.
The P229 is available is 9m/m, .357 SIG, and .40 S&W.
The P228 is available in 9m/m only. As has been noted,
the P228 balances perfectly; whereas the P229 seems
"top heavy" to me. In 9m/m magazines hold 13 rounds
and the .357 SIG and .40 S&W magazines hold only 12.
Price varies by locale; as I've seen NIB P228's from a
low of $599, to a high of $700. The P229's generally
run $50 to $150 more. Hope this helps?

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

[Mastrogiacomo]

I saw the 225 in the shop but it cost more than my Brig did -- and this was used of course. I want something that is comfortable for a small handed grip that fits well, slender and handles well. I know some would suggest the 239 but it's a tad heavy for a compact gun. BTW, yes, I prefer the 9mm...

[Climb14er]

You might want to take a look at the Sig P239 9mm. This is one sweet pistol, very smooth, hardly any recoil, slim and holds 8 + 1 capacity. It is very popular for CCW and is a breeze to handle.

[Devonai]

I don't have any experience with the 228, but the 239 9mm did not feel top heavy while the same pistol in .40 did. My 229 in 9mm does not feel top heavy in comparison to the 239 .40. The 239 .40 was the fastest turn-around of any pistol I've ever owned; one trip to the range was enough. I cleaned it and traded it the next day.

Since I had traded my 239 in 9mm for it, I felt pretty stupid. But the difference in shootability between the two calibers was night and day. That's why when it came time to re-up on the Sigs I bought the 229 in 9mm. I fondly remembered the shootability of the 239 but figured an extra five rounds would be nice. Plus, the 229 was $50-$100 less than a couple of 228s on the rack that weren't in nearly as nice shape (and lacking night sights too).

Mastrogiacomo, you may find it interesting that there is absolutely no difference in my personal performance between my Sig 229 and my Beretta 92FS. They handle a little differently but I can shoot them equally well.

I got myself a 15-rounder for a Sig 226 as backup. They work in the smaller pistols just fine, but stick out about 1/4" from the mag well. However, care must be taken not to jam the magazine into the well too roughly when the slide is closed, as the added length could cause inadvertant damage to the feed lips.

[Heraclitus]

What Devonai and Alan Dan said. Emphasis on the fact that with a P229 you get TWO guns in one: a .40 S&W and a .357 SIG. For this you need only to exchange the barrel.

The P229 also bulges a bit at the top of the grip on the left side of the gun. This bulge houses the decocking level spring, which I guess had to be nudged aside in order to accommodate the wider magazine. At first I was slightly annoyed by it; but then I realized that it merely filled a gap that normally exists between your right thumb and the gun when a proper two-handed hold is in effect. So it doesn't really get in the way.

Unless you're a southpaw.

Apart from that, and besides being a little beefier than the P225, I would say the P229 seems like a very good choice for you. As always, try before you buy.

Regards,

Heraclitus

[ah]

I had a Sig 239, then I bought a 225, then I sold the 239.

The 225 was a little more expesive, they are harder to get, local shop here
has several for around $600 I think.

The difference in weight and exterior measurements are negligible.
The 239 weighs 25.02 oz and is 6.6 inches long, 5.1 inches high
The 225 weighs 25.09 oz and is 7.1 inches long, 5.2 inches high

What I like is the grip on the 225, it was more ergonomic for me and was just more pointable.
I have small hands and find that the most comfortable double stack Sig is the 226 for me. Everyone is different.

You can't go wrong with either one, great quality.

[Ala Dan]

One more difference between SIG's P228 and P229, is
the slide serrations. Not really a big deal. :uhoh: :D

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

[Heraclitus]

MK11,...while the P229 is noticeably top heavy.If you discount the slide's coping rail (whatever that thin band of metal that mates the slide to the frame is called) you'll notice that the slide is exactly as wide as the frame. Matter of fact, the frame is a tad wider than the slide if you include the polymer grips. Check it out. I was kind of surprised when I looked.

Now volume doesn't necessarily translate into weight, and the stainless steel slide versus the alloy frame could still make the gun top heavy if the blueprints were sloppy. I was convinced that SIG engineers had kept this in mind.

In order to put my theory to the test, I suspended my fully loaded P229 at the rear of the trigger guard with a kite string. Protracted, this kite string would pass directly through the trigger's pivoting point and the rear end of the barrel, just over ¾ of the slide's full length from the muzzle -- i.e., right through the theoretical center of gravity.

The gun tipped heavier at the grips.

When I removed the magazine -- that's no magazine at all in the well -- the gun balanced out nicely.

My guess is that the "top heavy" impression is caused by that little bulge at the top of the left grip. This doesn't bother me a whole lot, although it might be a little sore to the unaccustomed eye. I quickly got used to it, and today the gun is my primary CCW.

Just my 2 cents.

Ala Dan,

If those slide serrations went all the way up as they do on a classic P-series pistol, the P229 would surely be top heavy, wouldn't you say? :cool:

[cratz2]

I've never been a nig fan of SIGs, generally preferring Glocks over the comparable model SIG but I currently daily carry a 229 in 40. One thing I noticed when holding a 228 vs a 229 was the slight top-heaviness of the 229 in comparison but this is much more pronounced when unloaded. With ammo in the magazines, the difference is less pronounced but SIGs in general seem pretty top heavy to me, esp the 229 and the SIG Pro. if you hold a G23 next to a 229 and compare what is going on above the frame, there is more above the frame on the SIG... Simple as that. But they are both very reliable and plenty combat accurate and holding the 229 slide in your hand, it seems like it will last for quite a long time.

Good luck! :)

[Heraclitus]

I've never been a big fan of SIGs, generally preferring Glocks over the comparable model SIG, but I currently daily carry a 229 in 40. Glocks are great guns, no question. They command two thirds of the U.S. police market. I have a G-22 that doubles as my CCW on my desert hikes. Beautiful gun... and whoooa, so accurate with its Trilux nightsights. But the P229 is still my urban favorite.

[pwrtool45]

IIRC, the 229 uses a different trigger return spring than the rest of the P-series autos. The 220 (and, again IIRC, the 225, 226 and 228) use the old style return spring. It is suggested this spring be replaced every 7,000 rounds or so, though many people rack up realtively high round counts without a problem. The spring was redesigned specifically for the 229.