First rounds though P229 40, Sweet shooting

[WLE]

I just shot my fist reloaded rounds though my P229. Berrys 155gr. and 165gr. Jfp with 5.8 gr. of 231. Wow, sweet shooting for me. I was little apprehensive about purchasing a 40 cal. after all the reading I have done about how snappy and getting use to the recoil etc. I must say my 44 mag. Loaded with a 240 gr LSWC with 2400 makes for short shooting sessions, but at seven yards I can keep a three inch group free hand.
With the 229, bench rested with fixed night sights I was grouping about six inches and more at 7 yards and even then I was all over the place. I know there were a couple of flinches in there, but I am not sure if it me, the gun, or the load, or if I should try a different powder or maybe just more range time.
Any suggesting will be helpful, since most of my time was with revolvers and tight groups were not a problem, the auto loader is a new world for me.

 

[1911WB]

Sig 229

Congrats on the new 229. Mine is a great shooter, and I have really grown to appreciate the .40 S&W caliber. You might try several different factory loads in it to see what it likes- perhaps it will do better with 180 gr. than the lighter weights. My 229 is one of the most acccurate pistols I own, and only a couple of my 1911s can stay with it in that department.

As far as technique goes, try dry firing it a lot (with snap caps) to insure you are smoothly squeezing (not jerking) the trigger. Practice a firm grip and lean slightly into the gun rather than away from it. Good luck and good shooting. WB

 

[Bovice]

The key to shooting this gun well is proper grip and trigger pull. Don't worry too much about the recoil.

What is a proper grip? Trigger pull? I can't tell you that, it's different for everyone since our hand/wrist geometries aren't quite the same. But the goal is to pull the trigger without moving the sights.

And as for the flinch, a good way to keep yourself in check is to watch in your peripheral vision for the ejected case. if you saw "something" fly out, you didn't flinch. If you didn't notice anything, you probably blinked, and therefore probably flinched.

 

[Lonestar49]

And it gets better and better

...

Congrats on a great 40cal..

I might add that for SD/HD I like and have used 180gr for the past with some 9K rounds between my two P229 n/r 40's but for sheer accuracy, all-around short and long, I love the 165gr FMJ.. Just a great round to shoot - as well.

Another great 40cal gun:

I might add, that in the soft-shooting, forgiving, great 40cals, besides my two Sigs, I also shoot/own, with some, total of aprox 10k rounds, a Beretta Px4 40 with the unique rotating barrel.. Again, it's right on-par with the Sigs in the soft-shooting, fall-back on-target, naturally, balanced, and like the Sigs, or any of my other hand guns, they shoot one-handed, weak handed, upside down, and have yet to hiccup once in that format or 2-hand grip.. Not one between the 3 of them just 100%

The current full size Px4 is just a tad taller and longer than the P229 but, soon to be released is there mid-size Px4 model that from all I have seen and read, you'd be looking at the exact same size as the P229, maybe just a tad thinner/slide-wise fyi

Both models are the easiest, quickest, to disassemble, inspect, clean, and reassemble out there, bar none.. Pure joy in maintenance ease.

Dependable, Reliable, Accurate, Forgiving, (without doubt) says it all about these 2 fine 40cal models/weapons

OMMV,


Ls

 

[9mmepiphany]

press the trigger straight to the rear while only moving the trigger finger...the other fingers of your shooting hand should not tighten as you press.

neither thumb should exert pressure on the gun...it will feel weird, but your shooting will improve

 

[RedAlert]

Try a little counter-pressure in your grip hands to provide some additional stability in your grip/stance. Use the off hand to pull the pistol grip into your strong hand. This steadies your upper body and shoulders and helps to control the forces of recoil and muzzle rise. You will be able to re-acquire your sight picture sooner too.

Once you find the self-defense round you want to keep in your weapon, I suggest you choose a practice round that most closely matches bullet weight and FPS. This way all your practice will more closely enforce your self-defense practice.

I too have a P229 and changed over to Hogue Grips and found they improved my grip and shooting control.

Good luck.