Carry System: Sig P229 vs Glock 17

[overtorque]

Alright, I sold my carry gun, bought a couple of things I wanted, and am trying to put together a new carry system. I have two guns that I'm considering carrying, but I'm having trouble deciding which to build a system around. I want to chose one and commit to it. I consider a "system" a definition of weapon, belt, holsters (I'll probably have one OWB for open/lazy-concealed carry, one IWB for deep concealed), a specific ammunition, and attachments if you use them.

The first is a Sig P229 in 40S&W with DA/SA action. It's factory refurbished (red box). It has standard sights. I have put about 100 FMJ rounds through it and haven't had any failures.

The second is a Glock 17 Gen 4 (9mm). Bought it used. Put about 100 FMJ rounds through it and also didn't have any failures (had a squib, but that's not the guns fault). It has fresh Trijicons.

For the sake of argument, assume that:

• I will practice regularly with the gun I chose.
• I will run my JHP through it to ensure they feed reliably
• I will be carrying concealed, lazy-concealed, and open, depending on the weather/situation.
• Buying/trading-for a different gun is not an option

So here are my thoughts:

Magazine Capacity: Glock (17) | Sig (12)
Size: Glock | Sig (comparable grip, Sig has shorter barrel)
Thickness: Glock | Sig (slide and grip are very similar, but Sig widens out quite a bit at the top of the grip)
Weight: Glock | Sig (Not a huge factor with the right belt/holster)
Caliber: Glock (9mm) | Sig (.40S&W)
Recoil/Muzzleflip: Glock | Sig
Carry Condition: Glock (DAO no safety) | Sig (DA/SA no safety) (I'm undecided. There are arguments for each when used to carry)
Trigger: Glock (5.5lbs) | Sig (DA 10-12lbs/SA 4.5lbs) (Undecided)
Sights: Glock | Sig (Glock has night sights and .8in longer sight radius)
Other:
-I'm going to start shooting IDPA, and will be using the Glock.
-The Glock has rails if needed, the Sig doesn't.

Those are all of the things I could think of that might be relevant. I'll summarize the ones that concern me the most.

Glock 17: Has night sights and longer sight radius, higher mag capacity, low recoil, and I'll be using it for IDPA.

Sig P229: More potent caliber. Smaller. Crisper trigger (once in SA), but has snappier recoil.

Shooting cheap FMJ in each gun, there is noticeably more recoil in the Sig. Will the perceived recoil between the two be less once I start shooting high quality personal defense rounds in each (+P for the 9mm)?

I know you can train to improve your follow-up shots in any caliber, but can you ever train away the gap between .40 and 9mm? In other words, can you be good enough that the difference in recoil between the two has little to no affect on your performance?

There's a lot to think about. My decision won't be determined only by this poll, but I'd like to get y'alls opinion on it, and take away some food for thought.

 

[redstategunnut]

The Glock 17 actually has a capacity of 17+1.

I'm not going to get into a caliber debate except to say I have concluded that anyone I shoot with my Glock 9mm will be just as shot as they would have been had I used a .40 S&W.

I bet my life on a Glock every day and have no plans to change that.

 

[overtorque]

The Glock 17 actually has a capacity of 17+1

Oops, typo. Fixed it. Thanks!

I'm not going to get into a caliber debate except to say I have concluded that anyone I shoot with my Glock 9mm will be just as shot as they would have been had I used a .40 S&W.

I bet my life on a Glock every day and have no plans to change that.

So, one for Glock. Thanks for the reply!

 

[Carter]

If you're shooting idpa with the glock it would be a good idea to use the glock as your carry gun. Its extra training. Plus it seems you have more positive things to say about it.

 

[Bubba613]

I carry a Glock 17 every day. My "system" is a Sticky holster in the waistband. Doesn't need to get more complicated than that.

 

[ny32182]

As someone who has carried both, the Glock will carry much smaller than the Sig. By that I mean it is both thinner and lighter, which are going to be a lot more important in terms of carry comfort than a slight difference in barrel/slide length.

I'd take the Glock trigger and capacity every time too, but IDPA is a good place to work out which trigger works better for you.

 

[weisse52]

I picked the Glock ONLY because the Sig is a .40 cal...

 

[zoom6zoom]

I will admit to bias as I've been carrying a 229 for years. Here's another advantage you might consider. The 229 in .40 can be easily converted to .357 SIG just by swapping the barrel. If you want to shoot 9, you can do that by adding an aftermarket conversion barrel. Add the .22 conversion kit and you've got four calibers on one platform.

I generally open carry, but when I CC, the 229 goes in my Milt Sparks VM2 and does conceal very nicely.

 

[Dogguy]

I broke the tie vote by choosing the G17. But the only reason I chose it over the SIG is because I prefer 9mm to .40 S&W. If the P229 was a 9mm, it would have been my preference.

 

[miles1]

I dont trust the gen 4 glocks.If were talking gen 3's then i would vote for them but its still too early to tell in the gen 4's will have the reliabilty that the earlier models earned.No contest,SIG.

 

[sedona]

I agree with miles1.

 

[boscoman]

I also tend to agree w/ miles1. If the Glock were an earlier gen it would have been my choice.

 

[overtorque]

Thanks for all of the replies!

Still a tough decision! The poll reflects that as well.

Maybe I'll just shoot them both for a while and see if one comes out as a more natural shooter for me.

Any additional replies are more than welcome!

 

[AK103K]

Shoot both, and carry both around. Its the only way for "you" to make the choice. Youre going to find both are good guns, and wont be disappointed, regardless which you choose.

Ive carried both quite a bit. These days, its all Glock, mainly because SIG priced themselves out of my market. For the money, I get more gun and stuff with the Glocks. The fact that all the "smaller" Glocks in the same family will use the larger guns mags is also a plus, making things simple. I just use my 17 mags for the reloads in the 19's an 26's.

 

[Seven High]

I voted for the 229. IMHO a better poll would pit the Glock 19 Gen 4 against the Sig 229.

 

[Bovice]

I shoot a .40 229 in IDPA and it's run flawlessly through every match I've been in over the past 2 years. I've seen multiple failures on the glock platform. The argument that it's the most popular make and therefore is more "available" to show failures is bunk to me. Everybody I know that uses a glock has had some kind of failure with theirs. I've never had one. I'm also using my own reloaded ammunition, like most other shooters.

I use a leather yaqui slide with 2 tension screws and a 5.11 tactical belt and it is no problem to carry. There aren't many people using leather or DA/SA for that matter. I can tell you that when you've gotten familiar with it, you will NOT notice that DA pull on the first shot. On the subsequent shots, I have "time" to "think" and it really lets me take advantage of the finer points of a good SA pull. Some stages have some decently long shots at the club that I shoot.

Also, familiarity with the 229 negates the "need" for a long barrel like so many IDPA shooters claim is necessary. The distances for the most part aren't that far. If your fundamentals are sound, you're going to make seriously accurate hits.

 

[Autolycus]

The Glock would be my choice. However I would trade the Sig P229 for a Glock 19 or a Glock 26. The Sig is nice but it is heavy. I would suggest concentrating on particular platform.

 

[JohnhenrySTL]

I own a p229. It is a fine pistol. I have nothing bad to say about it. It actually has made indoor shooting boring, well its not as challenging to hit targets with it as it is my other guns. I shoot it outside to have fun. I jusTt put up a posting why I carry a smaller 442 instead. I found I quit noticing the recoil after I put 500 rounds through it in one afternoon. The recoil did annoy me before that. The sig does cost more, but I would guess it would also climb in value more. All of my rambling being said, my next gun will be the G17, the one that changed the world.

 

[Inebriated]

P229 for me.

 

[fxstchewy]

Glock 17 with Beltman belt, and a holster from multiholsters.com

 

[Jeb21]

Sig 229 in 40 caliber is one of the guns that I carry for self defense. I have a Glock 23 which is excellent, but I find that I am more accurate with the sig.

 

[Ben86]

The Sig is heavier, but the Glock bigger and harder to conceal. You've got the worst of both worlds. If I had to choose I'd go with the lighter, but larger gun and learn to adapt to its grip size.

 

[SwampWolf]

The biggest reason I'd opt for the SIG is, in most ways, a purely subjective one: I much prefer a pistol intended for use in self-defense to be configured in a "traditional" da format (da/sa). I also think the .40 S&W is a more effective cartridge than the 9mm Luger for use in self-defense, everything else being equal. However, there are certain caveats that weigh in favor of the 9mm round: the nine costs less, offers greater magazine capacity and is more controllable in terms of recoil.
Both pistols are probably equals when it comes to reliability. Handling characteristics and general "ergos" are largely very personal considerations. Though I'd pick the SIG for the reasons already cited, I'd add a good set of night sights to finish the "new carry system" project.

 

[Psa1m144]

I voted sig only because I believe the .40 is a better round. The 9 will do the job but I personally will always carry a 40 over a 9. My wife carries a 9 and I carry a 40. I have shot the 40 enough now that I am very confident in my ability to shoot followup shots just as accurately and quickly as with a 9. Now that being said, if you hit your target with a 40 you are less likely to need multiple follow up shots than you are with a 9. Put some night sights on it and you are set.

 

[maddy345]

My primary carry gun for 1 1/2 years was this P229 Elite in .40.

VERY soft recoil for a .40 and is easier to conceal than the duty sized 17.

A P229 in a Milt Sparks VMII, loaded with 180 grain Gold Dots would be my vote.