OK... so got to the range to shoot it today.
Round count looked like this 100 Winchester white box. First(and only complaint) is that I stopped at two Walmart's and could only find 2 Boxes of 50 each. I have rectified this immediately by ordering in bulk.
So, I'll let you know what I expected by what I brought out to shoot today. I took my M&P40c with some 180gr ammo and a buddy brought his snub nosed Judge. So I took my M&P out first just to get back into the saddle. After i was confident(aka keeping everything in the 10ring at 10m) and out of .40 I took my Sig out.
My initial impression everytime I pick up the gun is how solid it is. Anyone who has handled a Sig knows what I'm talking about. The thing exudes confidence and my friend describes holding it as "giving his hand a hug" (yes I know every 229 will feel the same... I'm just doing a quick run down).
So I load up a magazine with five rounds... I chambered and holstered into my serpa paddle. I draw, nice slow and steady, the pistol presents like a dream. Immediately on target. First thing I notice when I start to pull the trigger (For a DA shot) is that it is more less a nice steady pull. It doesn't load up too too badly (not like my ruger does). Finally the break is crisp clean, and doesn't require any extra umph to get it to let go.
Now for what I was most surprised in. The 357 Sig is notoriously hot. Given it's stigma I was ready for a huge kick and to be fighting the muzzle and my wrists for a follow up. Here's my suprise: it wasn't anything more than I was getting out of my M&P 40c. The added muzzle flip just isn't there. Yeah, it's pretty snappy. On the same order as full sized 40.
I was able to keep everything in the 10ring on my first mag of five. The slide locked back as designed, the decocker works as designed.
Everything with this gun is smooth. The recoil off of a 357 Sig is nothing like I was worried about. All in all I'm a happy camper. The biggest downside is ammo availability, but that can be solved with some bulk buy internet shopping. I'm interested to get out and shoot some wet phone books, or some gel and see exactly what some SD ammo will do.
All in all great pistol, the 229 has long been known as a great platform and is used all over... after shooting this today I can see why.