When a certain weapon fits the hand like no other .40 DA autopistol in the world, and one HAS to carry a .40 DA autopistol as a primary duty handgun, or go find another job, then yes, a SIG is worth it; P229 or P226, in my case. If not for the job, I might not own SIGs, but then, perhaps I would. (We buy our own, a normal trend for Texas PDs; it helps keep local taxes lower, with the nice consequence of allowing us more latitude, in many cases, in choosing our weapons.)
Actually, I don't have a choice of any DA .40 in the world, really being limited able specified .40 pistols from S&W, Glock, SIG, and SAI, but a P226 or P229 is best for me, regardless. I would carry a P229 if it cost ten times as much as a Glock or XD, because of fit and handling issues. I might be able to tolerate an S&W M&P, but it was not yet on the market at the time I had to make the choice.
I did carry a G22 on duty for a while, because of the dollar factor compared to SIG. I spent mucho dinero on ammo, trying to shoot it to the level I could shoot a 1911 or DA revolver, my previous duty handguns. Then, I coughed up the necessary funds for a P229R DAK, and have not looked back. I soon was shooting a P229 as well as I had ever shot a 1911, and eventually, virtually as well as I can shoot a DA sixgun.
To quantify this, I was doing well to shoot a 90 with a G22, and before my eyes really went bad a few months ago, could shoot mid-90s with a 1911, revolver, or SIG. This score is on my PD's fast-paced duty qual course, which is as much a factor of gun handling and efficiency as marksmanship.
I am a big believer in buying a gun that fits the hand, and points well, naturally. Even if one always used only sighted fire, a natural pointer is ahead of the game when things speed up on a range with timed turning targets, and by extrapolation, on the street, where bad guys don't just stand there and let themselves be shot. So, yes, for me, SIG is worth it.
My five present P229s were made in the 2004-2008 time frame, and have been 100% reliable. Another P229, made earlier, only choked when I tried a type of lube that dries after a while, to a film that is supposed to still lubricate. I went back to oilier/greasier lubes, and no mas problemas. (I later researched this, and sure enough, the SIG experts only recommend grease and oils, not the dry-type lubes, for SIG slide rails.)
My 1990-ish P220 worked 100%, except for a batch of off-brand ammo with case mouths that flared a bit. This ammo would not work in ANY of my other .45 pistols, either. I think I gave it to a guy with a reloading press, who could fix the case mouths. At the time I bought this P220, SIGs were not so comparatively expensive, just a slight premium over USA-made autos.
FWIW, I can shoot DAK and DA/SA SIGs just fine. I train more with the DAKs, because on the training range, the instructors make us de-cock when a target turns away, and when we change positions. It is simpler to not have to finger-diddle the decocker so often. I am, therefore, more skilled with DAK at this time.
I am NOT a fanboy for any brand. I like efficient tools that fit my hands. A big part of me still wants to tote a 1911 on duty, or even a K-frame sixgun. I would rather tote several other rifles, but an AR15 is what my chief specifies, so I have an AR15, and may buy a spare soon. My Canon 7D camera was not cheap, either, but I liked its features enough to buy it, rather than a less expensive 50D. I so very much WANTED Glocks to fit me; for a couple of years, I was immersed in trying to make them work for me. (FWIW, neither of the G22 pistols I carried was 100% reliable. One needed heavier magazine springs than the factory springs made at that time, and one had a slide latch that would activate prematurely with 180-grain ammo; both fixable, but so much for "Glock perfection." :banghead: )
To be clear, I am not trying to convert anyone to SIG. It is one of quite a few good brands. Choose what fits, and what performs well, on an individual basis.
