Do I need a Sig P226?

I would say that your P229 is pretty equivalent to a new P226. Now, if you are looking for a vintage West German stamped steel slide P226, then that is a different animal.

I am not a fan of that style of pistol, but I have used the 228 and 226, and have some experience with the HK USP and MK 23. I was also a HK armorer. I think the USP is superior to any of the Sig DA pistols.

Yes. Get the Legion. DA or SAO, as you like.

I agree that the HK USP 9mm LEM and HK P30 LEM are probably better guns.

I had a P226 DAK and have a USP with LEM, which tells you how I voted with my wallet.

BSW

Yes...

I have P226 and HK P30L and love them both but the trigger is much better on my P226. I suggest you rent a P226 and see how you like it first hand. I bought mine a few years back as a CPO for $500 but doubt you will find a nice 9MM P226 close to that price anymore. I have P228 and P220 also.

The Mecgar flush fit 18 round magazines work very well for the P226 and are pretty cheap. My P226 has been utterly reliable and is an ammo garbage disposal through thousands of rounds fired. Trigger is very nice in DA and SA.

Always wanted to try a USP.

The SIGs are good guns, but if you do get one, be sure to get an older 1970s-1990s model with proper folder slide made in Germany. Those are exquisite. The newer American made examples are nowhere near as tight and high quality.

Am not a Sig fanboy by any means, but the 226 Legion SAO is one of the finest shooting pistols I've owned that didn't cost me $2-3000 dollars like some others. They have wonderful triggers, mine's around 4 lbs, and the reset is fantastic. Out of the box it was night and day better than a couple of my STIs when they were new. That's the 226 I'd buy if you don't mind a single action cocked/locked design. I really don't care for Sig that much anymore, but the Legion SAO model 226 is an absolute gem.

I do like my vintage 226, although its a hair fat through the palm swell for my hand- the Beretta fits me better.

Things to watch out for on German-made guns are loose breechblocks and worn/cracked slide rails. Take a close look at the two breechblock roll pins and make sure the are 180 degrees opposed to each other- if not this is a sign somebody has had the block out for some reason.

The scalloped "sand rail" frames have a bad rep. for shortened service life as well.

Ive never bothered with an SRT conversion, but then Ive never had an issue with reset/short stroking......

If you have disposable income and all your other bases covered, why not? They are fine guns.

Do I need a Sig P226?

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No.

Another vote here for buying a West German P226.

I own three West German SIGs. All are ex-LEO guns. The P220 served with the Connecticut State Police. The Swiss SIG P228 was a Zurich Kantonspolizei pistol. And the P226 was a Mishteret Y’Israel (the Israeli civilian police) gun.

Thought I’d want a 226 in .357 Sig and after buying a used on in .40 and adding a .357 Sig barrel, It sits in the safe collecting dust. The trigger reset was too long so I added the short reset kit which helped. Still prefer my G32 in .357 Sig over the 226. I know they’re two different animals and all but the 32 just shoots better for me.

I suppose I’ll keep the 226 but it’s not all it’s cracked up to be, for me at least. Others may disagree and it’s all good.

.455_Hunter said:

I would say that your P229 is pretty equivalent to a new P226

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I agree. The two are just too close. I have both as well. I also have the USP and id prefer the 226 or 229 anyday. Id take the Beretta 92/96 first too. I own all those....I both carry and compete with a Glock. All those guns are in safe. In my nightstand is a Glock.

If I had the 229 and didn't just "need" the 226 I believe I'd hunt down a 220 instead, in 45 or 10mm. Much slimmer and feels a good bit different.

Every gun mentioned so far though are great guns

I have a P229 and like it very much. It's outstanding, one of my best service pistols.

So do you need a P226? Yes! It's the same wonderful pistol, but a little larger.

So do you need a P226? No. You already have an extremely similar pistol in the P229. (It's a half inch longer or something?).

Dumbhunter, I think the real question is whether you want a P226.

I was in the same situation two years ago. I bought a P229 (9mm) from an individual to support a winter project of learning how to shoot a quality DA/SA, and to get comfortable with table top armorer level work on Sigs. It was a fun winter project. Then from the same individual came an opportunity for a P226 that was rode hard and put to bed wet. I bought it, and used my recently acquired skills to replace every spring and pin in the gun. I also ended up replacing the hammer.

Fast forward to today, where I have two fun, reliable guns. Having two similar Sigs is like having two similar 1911s. There's no crime there.

Just remember too that while people will tell you that there are a few better guns out there, there are a trainload of guns that are worse.

If you like your P229, you probably won't like it as much after you get the
P226.

Ive had a number of both, and the 226 is still my favorite of the older P series. I never understood SIG's definition of "smaller" or "compact", as their smaller guns, really aren't, at least until you get into some of their newer "little" guns.

A P229 is fat and pudgy in comparison to the P226. The P226's grip is noticeably thinner and more comfortable, and the gun is only about a half inch or so longer than the P229, and more svelte.

The older W. German guns are nice, but their steel slides are rust prone and seem to be more prone to finish wear. I have and have had both, and they all shot and held up well to hard use.

I carried a West German 226 in the Academy and for several years on patrol duty at two agencies. I had iit Np3 coated and the internals coated by Robar and that gun saw yeomans duty for many years. (I still remember the serial numbers I had to memorize 31 years ago in the academy; U418999, and Randy Shoemaker at Tex Shoemaker Leather Co. custom built me a 2” drop US swivel duty holster for it ).

I got caught up into the USP .45 hoopla when those guns first came out so I traded off the 226. The USP was okaaaay, but I couldn’t get used to the mushy trigger or funky mag release. The USP just wasn’t for me, so that gun went bye bye fairly quickly.

I returned to a WG P228 and, with the exception of a hand/thumb injury forcing me to carry a 686+ for about 9 months, I closed out my uniformed patrol career with it. (Several years after the 228 was hung up for my issued Glock I had a short reset trigger installed. This is a nice option for the P 220 series guns if you are looking for a slightly different trigger feel when shooting.)

They’re great guns, but honestly you may see a lot of overlap with the 229 you already own. As the folks above posted, try a 226 out a couple of times first. That way I think you’ll know positively whether or not you want to take the plunge .

Stay safe.

I have a newer P226 with the accessory rail. I like the gun, but can't say I love it. I don't shoot it nearly as well as my cz75b or my Hi Power, and to be frank I'm unimpressed with the accuracy. It's not inaccurate, but I expected more from all the hype. Shoots more like a compact than a full sized gun IMO.

trackskippy said:

If you like your P229, you probably won't like it as much after you get the
P226.

Ive had a number of both, and the 226 is still my favorite of the older P series. I never understood SIG's definition of "smaller" or "compact", as their smaller guns, really aren't, at least until you get into some of their newer "little" guns.

A P229 is fat and pudgy in comparison to the P226. The P226's grip is noticeably thinner and more comfortable, and the gun is only about a half inch or so longer than the P229, and more svelte.

The older W. German guns are nice, but their steel slides are rust prone and seem to be more prone to finish wear. I have and have had both, and they all shot and held up well to hard use.

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Be even worse, IMO, if you get a Legion. For my hands that undercut and beavertail turned an ok feeling gun (226) or not that great feeling gun (229) into just heaven in my hands. I’ll put my Legion 226 up against any gun as best most comfortable hand fit, even my beloved 1911s.

Other than Legions, I like the slimmer 226 over the 229-1 (fat frame current model) and the 228/229 over either.

sigarms228 said:

I have P226 and HK P30L and love them both but the trigger is much better on my P226. I suggest you rent a P226 and see how you like it first hand. I bought mine a few years back as a CPO for $500 but doubt you will find a nice 9MM P226 close to that price anymore. I have P228 and P220 also.

The Mecgar flush fit 18 round magazines work very well for the P226 and are pretty cheap. My P226 has been utterly reliable and is an ammo garbage disposal through thousands of rounds fired. Trigger is very nice in DA and SA.

View attachment 1049069

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No rail, no forward serrations, nice grips (do you have a spare set you’d sell ), no “Tactical” or “Legion” or “Garden Maze SIG” markings - old school goodness.

I had to assemble mine from bottom - of - the - barrel Friday evening reject P226s.

Did the same for my P229, using an M11-A1 frame.

I’ll agree that the P229 is so close to a P226 that it doesn’t really make sense unless you just want to collect another similar Sig.

I’m actually the other side of the equation than others here. I had an HK prior to the Sig and much prefer the Sig over the HK. Had a USP in .45ACP. Just never gelled with it like I did the 1911.

the Sig Sauer is just something a little different, as you know. I’m a huge fan of the P365 and the P226 was a dream gun of mine for the longest time. Got a great deal on a used police trade in. Would love to have a Legion, but didn’t want to pay the current asking price for something I didn’t need, but wanted.

Best out - of - the box DA/SA triggers...

...Probably SIGs.

Short answer: yes.