9mm 228 vs. 229

[trey gil]

What is the real difference between a Sig 228 and the 9mm varaition of the 229?

I know the slides are different, so the 229 would be a little heavier right? (correct me if I am wrong).
Will the heavier 229 slide give you a slight reduction in recoil, or is the difference to small to notice.
Also, with the 229 slide being stainless, I would think there would be more of a push for it as a CCW, but people seem to really love the 228 for this purpose, why? What are the pros and cons in a 228 vs. 229 situation?

I know I am missing something here (balance maybe)....anyone with some insight?

 

[Jim Watson]

P229 is about two ounces heavier because of the milled slide originally intended for .40 S&W. I think the P228 is perfectly adequate for 9mm and any weight saving on a carry gun is welcome. I would have a P228 slide plated or coated if rust was a problem.

 

[10-Ring]

Yeah, I've been wondering the same thing. I'm leaning towards the 228 just because it's a little more old school than the 229 but keep thinking that in a pracctical sense, the 229's stainless slide is the way to go...I'll be intrested to see what kind of comments this thread collects

 

[Outbacker]

I've been studying up on the Sigs the last month or so because I wanted a new carry gun. After comparing them, I ordered a P229 yesterday because Sig makes .40 and .357 barrels for it. Pretty cool...kind of like 'three guns in one'. I chose the Nitron finish over the Blued because it's going to be used for CCW. I hear that the Nitron holds up really well from some LEOs and I don't like the 'flashiness' of stainless parts.

 

[9mmepiphany]

i prefer the 228 for carry and just for fun shooting too. as soon as i picked up the 229, the first thing i noticed was the heavy slide. all that extra weight is above your hand so the 229 feels more top heavy...i was changing over from a 226.

i understand the need for a heavier slide to handle the added pressiure from the .40/.357 loadings. but i have a beretta 96 and glock 22 for that.

i also like the internal extractor and the milled flat on the top of the slide in front of the ejection port...it leads the eye to the front sight. the only 9mm that feels better in my hand than a 228 is my hk p7.

 

[Ala Dan]

Well folks I've owned and carried both, the 9m/m SIG P228 and its cousin
a .40 caliber SIG P229. The extra weight of the P229 makes it feel top
heavy, IMHO. OTOH, the 9m/m P228 is perfectly balanced and makes
for a better "carry weapon". And with proper care, you won't have to
worry about a rust problem with the P228. I have a 1990 West German
blued SIG P228 thats in N.R.A. excellent condition, and rust has not
been a problem. Of course, I use Break Free CLP on all of my weapons.

BTW, the P228 is still part of my inventory; but the P229 is long gone!

 

[TheEgg]

I will simply say that without disagreeing with the facts that any of the above gentlemen have posted, I have come to the opposite conclusion.

My 228 is gone, and now I have three 229's one each in 9, .40, and .357 Sig.

In my hands the 229 balances better than the 228.

Try both, and see which one fits YOU better.

Isn't it great to have a choice?

 

[dakotasin]

i went 229 in 40 and haven't regretted it. it is heavier than the 228, but i really like the feel of the 229 much more than the 228.

 

[Fumbler]

I've been studying up on the Sigs the last month or so because I wanted a new carry gun. After comparing them, I ordered a P229 yesterday because Sig makes .40 and .357 barrels for it. Pretty cool...kind of like 'three guns in one'. I chose the Nitron finish over the Blued because it's going to be used for CCW. I hear that the Nitron holds up really well from some LEOs and I don't like the 'flashiness' of stainless parts.

Someone correct me if I am wrong, but if you bought a 9mm 229 for the purpose of getting 40S&W and 357Sig barrels for it then you are out of luck.
The 9mm's smaller casehead means a 40S&W/357Sig won't fit into the slide's breechface.
Also, the 9mm version of the 229 uses the same frame as the 228. This means .40S&W/357Sig mags won't fit inside the ever so slightly narrower magwell.
If you bought the 40S&W 229 then you can get a 9mm barrel and the extractor has enough travel to extract the smaller cases...plus you can fit in an extra cartridge in the 40 mags.

 

[Outbacker]

Yikes! Say it ain't so!!!

I'm calling the supplier right now...

I'll let you guys know what I find out.

 

[Outbacker]

Fumbler,

Just talked to the supplier...

I owe you one, man! You're right.

You can buy a Sig P229 in 9mm.

Or, you can buy it in .40 cal. and then buy a .357 barrel for it.

You could also buy it in .357 SIG and then buy a .40 cal. barrel for it.

You can't, however, buy it in 9mm and get a .40 or .357 SIG barrel for it. The larger calibers won't run through the gun.

 

[Gixerman1000]

You can use a 9mm barrel and mags in a 357/40 229 but not the other way around.

 

[Outbacker]

Gix,

Just talked to my FFL transfer dealer. Yep, you're right.

I just changed my order to the .40 caliber P229 so I have the most flexibility down the road.

 

[Gixerman1000]

Outbacker

I have heard of people using 9mm barrels and mags in 40/357 229's to plink with, (I tried one of my 92fs barrels in my 96fs and it worked fine) So I know you could get a 9mm barrel for plinking but I wouldn't trust it as much for CCW as a 229 that came in 9mm.

BTW
I own a 229 with both the 357 and the 40 barrel, it's a great shooting and totally reliable pistol with either barrel, I'm sure you will love it.

 

[Outbacker]

Gix,

You'll be glad to know that I also ordered the .357 barrel when I changed my order to the .40 caliber pistol. Additionally, I ordered two extra .40/.357 mags to go along with the two that the pistol already comes with.

If I want to shoot 9mm, I've got other pistols in that caliber.

Actually, I'm pretty psyched about all this. I've never owned a .40 caliber pistol before. Can't wait to get in some trigger time!

 

[Gixerman1000]

"If I want to shoot 9mm, I've got other pistols in that caliber."

I agree, Thats why I never ordered a 9mm barrel and mags for any of my 40sw pistols, IMO just because you can do it doesn't mean you should.

40sw is a great round and the 229 is a great pistol to shoot it from, let us know how you like it.

 

[yesterdaysyouth]

i thought the p228 was light until i jammed 16rnds of 9mm in the thing....

that's fine though, now it feels even better....

 

[DMF]

Here is my standard answer on 228 v. 229 in 9mm, as posted many times on sigforum:

My stock answer on this subject:

Many will disagree with my statements, but here goes. This is all discussing the 228 and 229 in 9mm, since the 228 is only offered in 9mm.

Here is my take:
Differences between 228 and 229 in 9mm:

- Sig 229 is approximately 1.5oz heavier, due to the Stainless steel slide on the 229.

- 228 has an internal extractor, 229 has an external extractor.

- The slide serrations are the full height of the slide on the 228, but only half way up on the 229.

- In 9mm they use the exact same magazines.

When doing my LE training we used the 229 in 9mm for the first half, and the 228 for the second half. Don't ask why, because I never got a decent explanation and my duty weapon is a 228. We fired a few thousand rounds through them in about 3 months, and IMO there is absolutely NO difference in feel when shooting these two weapons, and both are very reliable. I know many disagree with this, but having put so many rounds through both, back to back, I feel comfortable stating that opinion. Therefore if you are getting a 9mm, get which ever one you can find cheaper, which is usually the 228.

Just my 2 cents. YMMV.

 

[Fumbler]

Many people at sigforum.com have prchased Bar-sto 9mm barrels for the 40S&W/357Sig 229s.
They have reported very reliable results.
As stated before, I wouldn't count on it for self defense, but it would make a nice range accessory.

I don't remember anyone posting it, but the 229's slide is wider than the 228's by a few thousandths of an inch. The mag well is also wider internally in the 40/357 229, just enough that a 40/357mag won't fit in a 9mm 229 or a 228.

I have a 228, I love the thing, I just wish it didn't have that huge bump where the decocker is.
I've handled, but never shot a 229. To me, I like the balance of the 228 more, but not enough to make it a determining factor in selecting it between a 229.

 

[tomkatz]

I love my 228, it has the factory illafon finish and it virtually eliminates holster wear......I would have no problem with a 229 though, they are both awesome pistoles.........tom