Which P226?

I'm considering picking up a Used one in 40 S&W cause these seem to be way cheaper than the 9mm ones. Tons of excellent condition police trades. Then you can buy an OEM 9mm barrel or even an OEM complete slide with barrel and recoil spring from SIG.
There doesn't seem to be any good deals on 9mm P226 anywhere.

Sergei Mosin

I have a P229 and have been thinking about getting a set of wood grips to replace the factory"sandpaper" ones. I would say if the basic P226 works for you then that's the one you should go with.

Sergei Mosin,

I've found some pretty good deals on used Sigs. A couple of weeks ago I picked up a P227 SAS that looks like it's never been shot for $585. That includes a lifetime warranty from the LGS I bought it from. If you're a little patient, deals are out there.

Tom

I bought a 226 in .40 a few months ago, not a SIG fan (went through that phase), but CDNN had a good price on two-tones, with E2 grip, short trigger and short reset. So I picked one up if nothing else just to remind myself why I don't like SIGs.

The only feature I'd really insist on in getting a new one, is the short reset. It really does make the P series more shootable. I might get a 357SIG barrel for mine just to play with since I like the caliber and reload for it. I'd look hard at one of the police trade ins like ssyoumans suggests, they really are going pretty cheap these days. Then I'd drop a short reset trigger in it and replace the grips for something I liked. I wouldn't loose sleep over the easily replaceable stuff like grips or sights, most of the time I change those out anyway.

Chuck

I'd look for a nice used German standard P226, preferably a CPO from top gun supply if/when they get one in.

Otherwise, the SAO variant is pretty nice.

Or get the standard model and put the grips you want on it.

I have two 226's.
One standard stainless and one Elite.

If I get another one, its gonna be a standard model then send it in for SRT and Action enhancement package from Sig.

All in total it costs about as much as a MK25 and you get (IMHO) a much nicer pistol.

If you are not in a hurry there can be great bargains on really nice P229s. I bought a 1996 German P226 at LGS for $499 a few years ago. It had barely been shot when I field stripped it and came with original case and test target. Trigger is outstanding on it too. One of my very top favorite pistols.

That's the one I'd get.

In my experience, you can find a nice P226 in the range of $500-$600. Pistols in .40 S&W are easier to find in that price range, but there are some in 9mm out there, too. Personally, I like the ones with thicker grips and bar-dot "contrast" sights. My personal .40 S&W P226 is like this and was made around 2000. It's a CPO gun that I picked up for under $600 back in December. Personally, I would not hesitate to get a P226 chambered in .40 S&W. I think that cartridge really matches the P226, because there's just enough mass in the P226 to moderate the "snappy" recoil that many dislike about the .40 S&W.

I'd probably go for a lightly used P226 9mm, swap the grips (as needed) and install the SRT. The SRT is definitely a benefit, the long reset of the standard DA/SA trigger is about the only gripe I have against the gun. A W. German P226 that I bought used with the old style grips is my main carry gun. I had Grayguns do a trigger job and short reset mod before the SRT even came out as an option from Sig.

I have a CPO with GGI tuneup, also. Could not ask for a better DA/SA.

I have a P226 "Extreme" in 9mm I bought used. It just has a little extra flavor with the G10 grips, short reset, and serrations on the slide vs. the standard 226.

I've always liked the Stainless Elite, but that doesn't so much fit with what you're looking at.

I'm partial to the P226 Sport, myself.

Sergei Mosin said:

I have a .40 P229, so I want my P226 to be 9mm.

Is the SRT really all that? It seems really short to me, maybe too short - unintended double-taps aren't really my thing.

Click to expand...

IMHO, it's not that short....not even 1911 short, but it is much better than the standard SIG P series reset. You've still got the standard SIG SA trigger pull, it just takes less travel to get there.

Chuck

SAO

My natural grip is high on the frame with thumbs forward. So if I were to buy a P226 it would be of the SAO flavor. I also admit to being a condition 1, cocked and locked kind of guy.

Get what you want and replace the grips. Or, you could just slide/roll a piece of bicycle inner tube over whatever it comes with.

I agree the MK25 is rely nice but also agree the price is too high.

There is a compromise, the P226 MK25 is no more that most of the other variants and $400 less than the straight MK25.
http://sigsauer.com/CatalogProductDetails/p226-mk25.aspx

The grips that are stock on the Equinox are really nice if you want to change the sandpaper out.
http://store.sigsauer.com/grip-set-blackwood-p226-as-used-on-equinox.html

bc1023 said:

I'm partial to the P226 Sport, myself.

Click to expand...

Oooooooooooo.....

CNobbe said:

I have a P226 "Extreme" in 9mm I bought used. It just has a little extra flavor with the G10 grips, short reset, and serrations on the slide vs. the standard 226.

Click to expand...

I picked up a used one of these myself recently. I had not paid much attention to the recent P226 models' features had assumed that the "Extreme" had a huge beavertail or a gaudy finish or something like that, but it's actually a fairly understated gun—normal beavertail, normal finish, and with the nice touches CNobbe mentioned above (and short trigger and night sights, too).

I've got small hands, but the E2 grip has the dual problem of lowering my grip (increasing the already high bore axis) and making the trigger reach with the short trigger too short (for me at least). The combination of the short trigger and G10 grips on the Extreme work really well for me, and the texture of the grips is just the right mix of comfort and "grippiness" for me. This is my third P226, and my first with the SRT—it is amazingly short compared to the normal P226 reset, so much so that in the first ten rounds at my first range trip it caught me up on one shot (you can see which one in the video below). What I like best about it is that the break is right there after reset, you don't have to pull though a bunch of first stage slack again.

I'm surprised how much I like the pistol.

Police trade-in SIGs can be a great value, just know what to look for as far as frame rail wear. I picked up an LE trade-in West German P226 from Switzerland for $425, and it was typical of an LE trade-in: lots of finish wear while the internals looked brand-new. It was a heck of a good deal. With the money saved over a new gun I was able to stock up on Mec-Gar 18-round mags and Trijicon HD sights and still come out ahead.

bc1023 said:

I'm partial to the P226 Sport, myself.

Click to expand...

I have wanted one of those for a few years, but they don't produce them anymore, and the used ones are stupid expensive. If Sig ever offers them again, I'd pony up the money in a heartbeat.

Mine is the P226 X5 Competition + Hogue grips + Robert Burke action job.