Sig P228. Anything in particular I should know?

They are pretty much bulletproof. I would look closely at the double-roll pins that hold the breech block to see if they look tampered with. You can find pics online of what they should look like.

Not sure about the 228, but some 226s had what they called "sandrails" where the frame rails had scallops meant to allow trapped sand to filter out of the gun- but these created weak points where the rails will sometimes split.

The rails should be kept clean and lightly greased and the breech block checked occasionally for loosness, but otherwise shoot and enjoy!

If you like it and it seems OK, Id say go for it. They are great guns.

I picked up a well worn LEO trade in a couple of years back. Came with a bunch of parts and grips and 10 factory 13 round mags. I think I paid around $600 for it, dont remember exactly now. Its got some dings in the frame rails, scuffs in the finish, and some heavy "smileys" on the barrel, but its still a good shooter and I was happy with the deal. Mags alone are worth about $350.

I was really into SIG about 10 years back, and had most of the old P series guns, both W. German and US. The only thing you might want to watch with the German guns is, they may rust on you if you dont keep after them, although I never had the problem.

My favorite is the P226, as I find its grip to be the best fit for me. Currently, all I have left SIG wise, are a 226, the 228, and a 230.

I like the 228, the thinner grip on it and the 226 (and early 229s I suppose) really fits me nicely, though I much prefer the only slightly longer 226 grip (if only they made a 4" barrel 226 Legion! They made the "carry" version of the 220, 227 and 320 after all) as it really fits my hands well.

AK103K said:

The only thing you might want to watch with the German guns is, they may rust on you if you dont keep after them, although I never had the problem.

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No kidding. Especially if the finish is worn. I had a W. German 220 that would get surface rust if you looked at it wrong, probably should have just refinished it but I was young and money was tight.

I put G10 grips on my IDF surplus P228. Love the pistol.

As long as the -slide- states "Made in Germany" or "...West Germany" and the numbers match, superb gun.

I have a pair of P6 and a true P225.
After having recurring issues with a brand-new Sig M11, I decided to remain only with Sigs which were manufactured, assembled and proofed in Germany.

The specific, tiny chin proof mark, in most cases, indicates that they were proofed in Kiel ('squashed bug').

A P228 in good shape is a cult gun now. Buy it.

The P228 is one of my favorite SIG P series pistols. Had a P226 but felt it was a little too big for my smaller size hands. Same with the P220. Currently I have a P229 and with the E2 grips it's a great fit. But the P228 without a rail is just right!

Look closely at the rails and the top of the barrel. They will tell the story of how many rounds the gun has seen and was it properly lubricated.

The barrel when it leaves the factory will have a consistent finish. Once the gun has been shot it will develop what people sometimes refer to as the Sig barrel smile. The more wear on the front area of the barrel and the barrel hood will indicate higher round counts. The gun below is a P226 that most likely as seen 2000-4000 rounds. It is still 100% good to go but if the barrel looks like this and they tell you it is LNIB they are lying.



Barrels with low round counts will look more like this. Right out of the factory some barrels will show this wear pattern. It is nothing to worry about IMHO. Test firing can wear the pistol in this manner to this extent.



On the rails you want to see dull black or shiny black. This means there is plenty of anodizing left on the pistol. If it is Dark gold or orange the gun has seen about 2000 rounds +/-. This is still 100% good to go but if the rails are moving toward light gold or are shiny silver then the anodizing is significantly worn.

This is a good write up by Bruce Gray on what to look at on a used Sig. As was already stated look for wear and deformation on the roll pins. They are supposed to be one time use but some people will reuse them. This can be a sign of neglect or that Bubba messed with the gun.

https://grayguns.com/guide-to-sig-sauer-pistol-inspection/

Peculiarities... hmmm. The DA trigger may be a bit heavy or gritty if it’s really not used much. They smooth out with use.

the slide lock lever is further back than some pistols and your right thumb (assuming you’re right-handed) may foul it and prevent slide lock unless you move your thumb outward onto the back joint of the support hand thumb.

They like grease on the rails. Don’t skimp on the lube.

Get a few sets of the “old style” split Inner and outer roll pins that retain the breech block in the slide. IIRC it’s recommended to replace them every 5K or so. Use proper roll pin punches and starter punches.

That’s about it. Fantastic pistols.

Here is one of mine. It is an ex German Police gun imported by PW Arms which I believe was never issued. It has seen been shot.

My P228 is definitely one of my favorite guns. A really great shooter. This is my 2nd P228 and I wish I still had my 1st. IMHO, current SIG build quality isn’t what the build quality of this P228 is, although my M11-A1 isn’t bad

We bought a two tone version back in the 90's. No complaints here.

Howland937 said:

I'm definitely buying it. Just wasn't sure about any peculiarities or inherent problems they may have.

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No "peculiarities or inherent problems" ever. Simply one of the greatest fighting pistols ever produced. The sweet spot in terms of combining capacity, ergonomics, concealability, accuracy, reliability and durability (oh, and just a cool-looking pistol).

I've only bought five of 'em over the years (doggone women in the family keep adopting mine).

Then you can pick up several of the superb Mec-Gar 15-round mags from Top Gun Supply or Greg Cote ... https://www.topgunsupply.com/mec-gar-p228-229-9mm-15rd-magazine-blue.html
$23.95 right now ... You can also get extended "Plus 3" 18-rounders!
Be advised, the mags marked 229-1 do not fit in the original 228, although the older, standard 229 mags, will.

Old Dog said:

Then you can pick up several of the superb Mec-Gar 15-round mags from Top Gun Supply or Greg Cote ... https://www.topgunsupply.com/mec-gar-p228-229-9mm-15rd-magazine-blue.html
$23.95 right now ... You can also get extended "Plus 3" 18-rounders!
Be advised, the mags marked 229-1 do not fit in the original 228, although the older, standard 229 mags, will.
View attachment 930205

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Before the 18s came out I used to use the 17s with a flush fit base plate adapter.

Howland937 said:

Seems like there's pretty good aftermarket support for these. I guess that was a concern I had since I have zero familiarity. So basically, if it's in good shape cosmetically and structurally sound it's probably a worthwhile purchase.

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It is a fantastic gun but don't over pay. Also look for secondary import marks and signs of refinishing. That can be indications of a surplus gun. Which is not necessarily a bad thing but requires more inception. IMHO

Howland937 said:

Without disclosing too much info, my buddy that owns a LGS said if I didn't buy it, he might because he felt like there was room to make a decent profit.

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Depending on vintage condition, box, manual etc... they are $450-$1000 guns.

If its in decent shape, Id say $500 was a pretty good deal.

I usually check on the "completed" auctions on Gun Broker to get an idea as to what things are really worth. At least it lets you know what things are going for anyway.