Police Trade-In Sig P229

With departments apparently leaving the .40 behind, there are tons of them out on the used market. I bought a Beretta 96C DAO trade-in (And I used to carry a P226, but currently have a P228) and like your gun the Beretta is a bit finish-worn but wasn't used much (and I paid little for it). Many, if not most, officers/deputies don't shoot their duty guns a whole lot so they come up for replacement in pretty darn good mechanical shape. (After reading some of the other posts it appears some people out there believe that you shoot enough to be Ad Topperwein on the range in order to graduate today's law enforcement academy...sadly, Beetle Bailey is more like it). Cosmetically, daily carry in a duty holster (and being dropped like yours may have been) wears hell on blued finishes.

Safariland/Bianchi has always made the belt/shoulder holsters I like for duty-sized guns, check out their stuff. (There are tons of good things out there from other makers as well!)

Popular and easily found Win PDX/SXT, Speer Gold Dot, Federal HST, Hornady Critical Duty have all had very good records for reliability, accuracy and effectiveness. You won't go wrong with any of these. I say find the ones you like and can afford, because you should shoot a bunch to make sure they're reliable in your P229. You'll be well served for defensive purposes with these (and from other premium makers like Buffalo Bore, etc.)

If you want to change the cosmetics there are a lot of options, from a self-bake coating to Np3 from Robar. In my experience, the P series Sig slide coatings always seemed to wear early, so my former P226 got Np3 ages ago. If it doesn't matter, as long as function isn't hindered you can leave it as is.

Great gun, great price... you did just fine with that buy.

Stay safe!

I own two SIG P229s chambered in .40 S&W. One was a CPO Police trade-in with a no-rail frame and legacy slide like yours. As for ammo preferences, I have had no issues with any FMJ or JHP ammunition I have put through either so far. This includes a variety of 180 and 165 grain FMJ (mostly 180 grain) and JHP ammunition from Federal (HST), Speer Gold-Dot, Hornady Critical Duty, and some Remington Golden Saber.

As for suggestions, here are a few for your consideration.

You might choose to send the pistol to SIG for what they call their SIG Service Plan. For $144.95 they will install night sights (if you want them), do a complete disassembly and inspection, replace all springs, do a detailed cleaning and function test. https://www.sigsauer.com/custom-shop/

Another consideration would be to buy a 357 SIG barrel for your pistol. You can use the same magazines and recoil spring to shoot 357 SIG so all you need is a quick barrel swap to switch calibers.

I have chosen to install a 19 lb Wolff mainspring in my pistols. This will lighten your DA trigger pull significantly and your SA trigger pull slightly. Thus far, I have had no light strikes with any ammunition with the 19 lb springs. If you choose to do this, make sure you order the correct spring. SIG has gone through three different styles of trigger spring shoes over the years.

Another possibility is to order a "short reset trigger kit" (SRT) for your pistol. I have one in both of mine. This dramatically shortens the trigger travel required for reset of the trigger to the SA position after firing. The SRT kit does not actually include a trigger. It is a modified sear and safety lever. Installation is not very difficult and there are a number of good videos on youtube to guide you through the process if you choose to do this.

The SIG P229 is one of my favorite pistols to shoot and it handles the recoil of both .40 S&W and 357 SIG extremely well.

I added the SRT on the P228 and it does improve trigger feel a lot...I forgot about that till you mentioned it.

Tallball

You sure got one sweet deal on that P229! I paid slightly more than that for a used 9mm. P229R E2 six or seven years back. Like your's it came with the box and three magazines but also had the E2 grips, factory night sights, and the SRT. The trigger makes a big difference (at least to me), with the SA reset and might be worth looking into having installed on your gun. I really like the E2 grip design as well as it is very comfortable in my smaller size hand and feels a little more ergonomic compared to a P226 and P228 I use to shoot. As to the wear and tear on the slide, if it were mine I would probably have it hard chrome plated sometime down the road. Let us know how it does at the range.

A Sig 229, in 40S&W was my first carry gun. It is a very accurate shooter. Gave it to one of my daughters after I discovered the 10mm. Other than that, it would have remained my carry gun.

I learned to ignore the transition from double to single action and shot it just fine in several classes.

Since it's a thick gun, I carried it in a thin Kydex IWB holster, specifically, a CompTAC CTAC. With that holster is concealed well.

Lately, I've been thinking about picking up a trade-in Sig 226 in .40S&W.

Tallball

My P229 was sold as "used" but was really like new in the box. There was also a .40 version for sale as well but really wanted it in 9mm. I occasionally carry it in a DeSantis OWB holster; very comfortable to wear and holds the gun very close to my body for maximum concealment.

Just be aware on some of the older SIG models with finish worn off like to rust easily. At least my police trade in W. German P220 did, like crazy.

Also I +1 the SRT. I dont like DA/SA but my P229 with SRT is the nicest one I've shot.

Opinion on the E2 grip seems to be decisively divided. Both of my pistols came with them and I took them off of both after giving them a decent trial. One of my P229 now wears checkered aluminum Hogue grips and the other G10 Piranha grips. Those with smaller hand sizes seem to like the E2 grips as they do make the grip diameter and circumference a bit less. Those with larger hands like mine tend not to like them so much.

I also put a SRT kit into my P229 .40 wilhich made a big difference in the reset. And I put on a set of Hogue G10 checkered micarta grips. They're not for everyone, but with XL hands they work well for me.

Tallball said:

"Just be aware on some of the older SIG models with finish worn off like to rust easily."

My particular example has a stainless slide coated with something or other. The slide is unlikely to rust even minimal care, regardless of the scratched/worn finish. Thank you for warning me, though.

I guess everyone is different, and this is in no way a criticism of anyone, but with full-sized service pistols I can't really tell any difference in recoil between 9mm and 40 caliber. This includes my otherwise identical Berettas, as well as my Glock 22, in which I can quickly switch from one caliber to the other. I don't have any particular desire to shoot a tiny 40 caliber pistol with my XXL hands, but with plenty of pistol to hold onto, I don't notice any major difference in recoil between 9mm, 40 caliber, and 45acp. This includes my 1911's, of which I have one of each. Perhaps my wife is correct when she says that I'm not very observant.

The more I fondle this P229, the better it feels. I'm very much looking forward to shooting it. It is well put together and has all of the signs of a high-quality pistol.

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When I first started shooting .40 S&W quite a few years ago, I noticed a substantial difference with sharper recoil than either 9 mm or .45 ACP, both of which I had considerable experience with. But after some improvement in my grip and simply becoming familiar with what to expect from the recoil characteristics, it became one of my favorite calibers in a mid-size or larger pistol. These days, I too really don't notice any difference that registers when switching between 9 mm Luger and .40 S&W pistols. I don't shoot .40 S&W out of small pistols, partly because of their already reduced magazine capacities, and in full-size pistols I still have a slight preference for .45 ACP.

Bought a Sig 229 in 40 cal. a couple years ago. Really like it and even bought a 357 Sig barrel for it, now that’s a fun round !

I traded into a Sig p229 Scorpion 9mm. It isn't something I had previously shown interest in as most Sigs are too big for my hands and I particularly dislike the polymer models, but wouldn't you know, it's a rather nice gun. The Sig Scorpion Elite has a beaver tail, night sights, G10 grips, and SRT from the factory. The shape of the trigger is nice with a short, smooth DA action and a very short reset to the crisp single action. The beaver tail doesn't make much sense and I would prefer a model without a rail but the improved grips and SRT make for a very nice shooter. It has never failed in any way. It's pretty big and heavy for 15+1 and I can't imagine trying to carry it concealed. For home or range use it would be great. I don't think I could ever own another Sig without the SRT system.

That's the first Sig P229 Police Trade In which I have seen in DA/SA, instead of DAO. My 229 in DA/SA reportedly was a Personal gun used by an LEO during his free time.

The 229 DAOs I've tried have surprisingly light trigger pulls and are super smooth, with no 'stacking'. Stacking usually means more finger pressure is required at the end of the pull.

There have been many DA/SA P229 police trade-ins, but they tend to move quickly whereas the DAO and DAK models tend to linger. They DAO models also tend to sell for at least $100 less.

Tallball said:

The DAK models seem less expensive also. I really prefer DA/SA, so that's what I held out for. Another less expensive option is the polymer framed one... I think it's called a 2022, or something like that.

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Yep. I dont like DA/SA but will take that every time over DAK, personally. I really suggest looking into adding the SRT, it really makes the gun run so much smoother.

And the 2022 remains a fantastic gun for an unbelievable price (most times) for what you get.

I think we're about to enter a period of good prices on used Sigs. By that, I mean being able to hold out, and get something at the $300 point. I've done that with CZ's and Beretta's, but Sigs used to ride a good bit higher.

I landed a ROUGH P226 in 9mm at that point ($315) last year, looked ugly but runs great.


I was pleased with my meager home refinish, which consisted of carefully addressing the worst pitting with a small file, wet-sanding the slide (again, carefully), and then a cheap cold-blue.



now, watching gunbroker, I watched a P226 in 40, same vintage but FAR better condition and in DA/SA, go for the same price recently. I texted a friend, and we both watched, and were surprised.

My P229 is .40 S&W DA/SA agency trade in as well. I like it. Feels good in the hand and shoots well.

I suggest you pick up a .357 barrel for the extra option. I love the cartridge and I love the Legion features they include in the P229.

This is my carry holster- Tucker HF1 fully lined with a double mag pouch. I realized after I ordered that the mags are double-stack, and two spares might be a bit much, so ordered a single to go with. I actually bought it for my P320 but the P229 fits in there just fine.

Here's my police trade-in P-229 9mm in two-tone ... picked it up a few years back for a song ($450), seemed virtually un-fired. Night sights dimming, but accurate and, of course, as expected, 100% reliable.