Sig P228. Anything in particular I should know?

Old Dog: You made an excellent presentation.

Sigh, you folks.

Here I was all content with no DA/SA guns in my collection and perfectly happy with my various SAOs.

Now I'm deep in negotiations on a trade for a 228

I'll end up with it eventually, just a question of getting it soon via trade or getting it next year with cash.

Luckily I have a pretty deep store of 9mm components to load, so I should be good for the rest of this year at least.

Still, I plan to stop by my usual place and see how picked over their primer and powder selection is, they are usually fairly insulated from shortages due to location, but I plan to stock up on a few thousand more primers just in case.

Howland937 said:

Ok, so I guess my next question would be...
Do the "Made in Germany" post unification versions of the P228 say "Sig Sauer Exeter NH" or would this indicate an assembled in the US version? I was under the impression it was just for import purposes...but since you're definitely more up to date on these things

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Since it looks like no one has answered yet, yes you are correct. The "Exeter NH" is an import mark for those made in Germany with the German proof marks, normally located on the bottom front chin of the slide. FYI there are "Made in W Germany" marked slides on post unification guns made between '90-'95 (date codes KA-KF) because West German companies were given the option to continue marking their manufactured products with West Germany for a period of 5 years after reunification.

Also, I believe someone earlier stated the P228 was like a double stack P225. I like to think of it as a compact P226. As a matter of fact, P226 mags will fit and function very reliably in a P228 but stick out obviously because of the P228's shorter grip.

9mmepiphany said:

My understanding has always been that the 228 was a compact version of the 226. The 225 is a smaller version of the 220

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This is correct because the P220 was originally chambered in 9mm no 45. ACP.

9mmepiphany said:

My understanding has always been that the 228 was a compact version of the 226. The 225 is a smaller version of the 220

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I wish they had made a 226 compact with the 228 slide but maintained the 226 grip. It's almost the same length anyway and fits my hand better. They made a similar model for the 220 "carry" and 227 SAS (and maybe a "carry" model too?). That would have been my ideal.

Sounds like my trade for the 228 is pretty solid, only gonna cost me shipping and a Beretta APX, with mags and holsters going back and forth it seems like an even trade in terms of what I have in the Beretta.

So I'll have my own new gun day post on here in a few weeks or whenever we can get shipping sorted.

9mmepiphany said:

My understanding has always been that the 228 was a compact version of the 226. The 225 is a smaller version of the 220

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Went back to look for the P225 reference earlier in this thread but couldn't find it. I must have either read it in another forum or I dreamed it up. Apologies for bringing it up.

wgsigs said:

Went back to look for the P225 reference earlier in this thread but couldn't find it. I must have either read it in another forum or I dreamed it up. Apologies for bringing it up.

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No apologies are necessary. A friend of mine in VA knew a guy who was a designer at Sig back when they developed the P228. He had a prototype of a P226 with a chopped down slide that was an early test gun for the P228. He said it actually still shot.

WVsig said:

No apologies are necessary. A friend of mine in VA knew a guy who was a designer at Sig back when they developed the P228. He had a prototype of a P226 with a chopped down slide that was an early test gun for the P228. He said it actually still shot.

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I remember seeing a thread about that prototype on one of the gun forums that included photos. It must have been posted by that guy. I seem to recall there was a debate as to whether the pistol was a fake and it was a scam. What I can't remember is if that gun was eventually sold to someone on that forum.

Update: That prototype P228 was purchased by a diehard P228 fan on that forum.

JR24 said:

I wish they had made a 226 compact with the 228 slide but maintained the 226 grip. It's almost the same length anyway and fits my hand better. They made a similar model for the 220 "carry" and 227 SAS (and maybe a "carry" model too?). That would have been my ideal.

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I wonder if a P228 slide would fit onto a P226 frame with no modifications except for maybe a locking insert change? You would have your wish.

BTW the prototype that WVsig mentioned was a chopped P226 frame with a P225 slide and marked as a P226C. This was done at the SIGARMS Tysons Corner facility around 1983 before the P228 was introduced.

Thanks a lot OP, now this happened...

Sold some other guns, trade didn't work out but I got this one for $450 with 4 mags. Grips are 229 grips and don't fit perfect, so I need to try to track down some old style 228 grips.

Also got a line on a great shape 225 and the owner agreed to hang onto it until I get the cash, so I guess I'm back on the Sig train.

Hope to shoot it Saturday, but laser bullet dry fire results were promising for not having shot a DA in a few years. Most importantly my wife is happy that I have a gun that "fits" her again, she was kinda sore when I traded my 229 last year (for a Dan Wesson Valkyrie, so I couldn't resist).