German made Sig P228 -early 90s

[Palladan44]

I have a Sig-P228 in caliber 9x19 from the early 90s.
Its in excellent shape, and I also paid good money for it, I didnt "steal" it at the 750$ I paid for it. But to me, it was worth the money. Im guessing it is a former LE/Govt. gun. It did come with 3 Original zipper 13 round magazines, and I purchased 3 additional Mec-Gar 15 rounders for it. It functions as good as any SIG ive ever fired. Accurate, with the great single action trigger as expected from a SIG.

One issue is the Tritium sights have faded to effectively nothing, this is to be expected. I have remedied by painting the front sight dot a bright white (dont care to paint the rear sights) in the interim, until I get new tritium sights for it.
By the time i hash out another 100 or so to get new sights, ill be into this Gun for about 950$ also having purchased the 3 addl. Mec-Gar Magazines. Hmmm. This has got me thinking maybe I should have just got into a new M11/P229 at this point.

What do you all think? Are there many differences between the 228/229 that make a difference to the user? Or is it just the change in manufacture on SIGs end that makes the gun difference? After having fired both, I cannot see or feel a difference in performance when firing.
To me, they are the same gun, theyre just manufactured differently.

All said and done, I saved about 150$-200$ by not going up to the P229. This is a possible oops here for me, ill admit it.

 

[WVsig]

I have a Sig-P228 in caliber 9x19 from the early 90s.
Its in excellent shape, and I also paid good money for it, I didnt "steal" it at the 750$ I paid for it. But to me, it was worth the money. Im guessing it is a former LE/Govt. gun. It did come with 3 Original zipper 13 round magazines, and I purchased 3 additional Mec-Gar 15 rounders for it. It functions as good as any SIG ive ever fired. Accurate, with the great single action trigger as expected from a SIG.

One issue is the Tritium sights have faded to effectively nothing, this is to be expected. I have remedied by painting the front sight dot a bright white (dont care to paint the rear sights) in the interim, until I get new tritium sights for it.
By the time i hash out another 100 or so to get new sights, ill be into this Gun for about 950$ also having purchased the 3 addl. Mec-Gar Magazines. Hmmm. This has got me thinking maybe I should have just got into a new M11/P229 at this point.

What do you all think? Are there many differences between the 228/229 that make a difference to the user? Or is it just the change in manufacture on SIGs end that makes the gun difference? After having fired both, I cannot see or feel a difference in performance when firing.
To me, they are the same gun, theyre just manufactured differently.

All said and done, I saved about 150$-200$ by not going up to the P229. This is a possible oops here for me, ill admit it.

You own one of the finest all around 9mm DA/SA handgun ever made. Keep it. The M11/229 is a different gun and handles differently. The weight of the stainless steel slide on the M11 makes it more top heavy which combined with the high bore axis of the Sig gives it a different feel on recoil. The grip is also thicker on the P229. It was made to house the 40 S&W and .357 Sig round. If this is your first Sig it may not matter to you. If you have been shooting carbon steel Sigs for decades then you will notice the difference.

 

[Old Dog]

OP, if it's in good shape, that price isn't out of line -- these days. Good specimens are getting more and more difficult to find. As WVsig says, "Keep it!"

On top is my most-recent production 228, a '94 "transition" version that doesn't have the "W." on it (or peened out W) in front of the "Germany." Bought it new-old stock in the late 90s from an LGS.

I've owned four W. Germans. Below is the M11A1 (228, but really a 229). I like it, it's a nice pistol, but I just gravitate to my 228s more (although I mostly carry a 229 Legion when I pack a SIG DA/SA).

I still favor my original 228s with the stamped slides; they simply seem to feel better and point better -- and the balance feels better, without the 229's blocky slide. The W. German 228s are classics, and they're getting harder to find. Eventually you may want to put the SRT on it and replace the night sights. For now, just enjoy it. One of the finest production pistols ever made. And won't ever be made again.

 

[johnmcl]

I'm in with WVSig on this one. Keep the gun. I know two now retired FBI Special Agents who carried the 228. Upon retirement, they were able to buy their guns as the Bureau was going to Glocks. Today one of those guns still shoots like a house on fire. You should see this 80-something year old SA easily pass the current FBI Qualification with his old 228.

 

[JR24]

Narrower frame on the 228 and old 229s is all the difference in the world to me. I would never trade my 228 in for a 229, myself.

The 226 and 228 are Sig's best models, IMO.

I have one in similar shape to yours, at some point it's going in for a SRT and Ameriglo CAP sights, but it works fine as my wife's bedside gun for now, 226 sits on my side and it's nice they both can use the 18 round 226 mags for reloads.

 

[1KPerDay]

Hmmm. This has got me thinking maybe I should have just got into a new M11/P229 at this point.

That would be a grave mistake. They feel very different. The German P228 is near ideal if your hands are the right size for the grip. Mine are too large top to bottom.

FYI your mags are likely "dovetail" not "zipperback." I don't believe they ever made zipperbacks for the 228.

 

[JDR]

I have my P228 and my M11-A1, and these are 2 of my best, very favorite semiautomatic pistols. If I had to choose 1 it would definitely be my P228, but the M11-A1 is a great gun in its own right.

 

[AK103K]

I picked up this P228 a couple of years ago. Sounds a lot like what you got. From the case and other stuff I got with it, it looks like it was a former LEO trade in.

If I remember right, I think I paid around $650 for it, and it came with 10 mags and a bunch of extra grips and parts. Night sights were dead. I found a set online for around $75, and that took care of that.

Hell, the mags alone would bring a couple of bucks.



As you can see by the "smiley", its had a few rounds through it. Kind of made me wonder if it wasnt a training gun.



Still, its a good shooter and I shoot it a good bit.

Ive had a number of the P Series SIG's in the past and sold most of them off a little over a decade ago. My favorite of the lot is still the P226. I always found the P229's to be a chunky pudge and was never really a fan. I never understood SIG's idea of "compact" either. At least back then anyway.

These days, Im down to a Navy P226, the P228, and an old P230.

 

[bannockburn]

Palladan44

I'm with everyone else who says hang onto the P228 instead of looking at a P229. I used my brother's P228 for a number of years and it was my go-to gun for just about everything including home defense, range gun, and test bed for handloads. That gun fed and fired all of my handloads, including some that were slightly a bit too long, and never gave me even the slightest problem with them. It was also very accurate, that is when I did my part! And the gun just felt right in my hand with a great balance and a very comfortable grip. After I gave it back to him I went looking for a used P228 but couldn't find any. What I did come across was a used but LNIB P229 with SRT, night sights, the E2 grip, and 3 extra mags all for an unbelievable price that I just couldn't pass up!

Now don't get me wrong I love my P229 (especially that trigger), and use it a lot like I did with the P228; even taking it out on occasion for CCW. But it's just doesn't have quite the same feel to it or seem quite as compact as the P228.

If it were me I would stay with the P228 and get new night sights if that's all you need done to it and put it to good use.

 

[jonnyc]

I have an IDF-surplus 228 that looks like it had more than its share of roller-coaster rides, but I wouldn't trade it for ANY other Sig, or just about any other pistol.
Hmmm...off to the range with it this weekend.

 

[JDGray]

My only two P series Sigs are my 228 and 226 Legion. The grip on the Legion is perfect, actually makes the 228 feel pudgy now, but I love both guns. I do like the classic no rail Sigs best

 

[JR24]

My only two P series Sigs are my 228 and 226 Legion. The grip on the Legion is perfect, actually makes the 228 feel pudgy now, but I love both guns. I do like the classic no rail Sigs best

Same two I have, great taste!

I will end up with a 225 next year at some point, and possibly a 229 Legion if I can find a used one for a reasonable price (I know, good luck these days).

 

[Rock185]

Palladan44, I've had '90s 228s, and also a M11-A1. Not a thing wrong with the M11-A1, but for whatever reason, I never warmed up to it and soon sold it. Were it me, I'd keep the 228. Most agree there is something just right about the folded slide 228s. And far as I know, like real estate, they ain't makin' anymore. Reference the M11-A1 being wider than your 228, while grip selection can make a difference, the difference between M11-A1 and 228 frame widths is not external. Internally, the M11-A1 mag well is around .050" wider than the 228, and original 229, mag wells to accommodate the wider 229-1 15 round magazines. The M11-A1 mag wells internally are the same size as the .40/.357 SIG 229 mag wells have always been. I'd still keep the 228...

 

[wiscoaster]

I have a Sig P229 "Carry" which seems to be basically the same as your P228. Mine is a LEO trade-in (from a NJ PD). However, IMO your P228 has more value as a collectible due to its history, its age, its provenance, and it's no longer in production. Keep your P228. You made a good catch, and the price you paid is probably already a good deal.

 

[jonnyc]

My only two P series Sigs are my 228 and 226 Legion. The grip on the Legion is perfect, actually makes the 228 feel pudgy now, but I love both guns. I do like the classic no rail Sigs best

I put G10s on my P228.....perfect!

 

[Fishbed77]

I have a Sig P229 "Carry" which seems to be basically the same as your P228.

... Not really. The P229 Carry has a shorter barrel and a beefier grip than the P228.

I own a West German-marked P228 in excellent condition that I paid $535 for (came with no mags) about 2 years ago. Frankly, it just looks and feels more refined than the current production P229s. If you can find one for a decent price (tough to do these days), I highly recommend it.

 

[wiscoaster]

... Not really. The P229 Carry has a shorter barrel and a beefier grip than the P228...

OK, thanks for the correction. Was just going by the photo.

 

[JR24]

Reference the M11-A1 being wider than your 228, while grip selection can make a difference, the difference between M11-A1 and 228 frame widths is not external. Internally, the M11-A1 mag well is around .050" wider than the 228, and original 229, mag wells to accommodate the wider 229-1 15 round magazines. The M11-A1 mag wells internally are the same size as the .40/.357 SIG 229 mag wells have always been. I'd still keep the 228...

That may be, I no longer have 229 to compare with, but the feel of the 228 is different, and significant to me. My 229 felt wide and a bit uncomfortable with the stock and G10 grips I had, better with the E2 but too rounded for my preferwnce.

My 228 feels great. The 229 (Nitron, with SRT) had a superior trigger in feel, but I shoot the 228 better in evey objective drill, according to my notes.

The Legion treatment to the 229 feels superior than either for my hands, and I hope to track one down for a reasonable price next year (good luck, I know). Had solid deal on a used one earlier this year, but had just dropped the cash on a Wilson at the time and gun funds were tapped out, pity that.

 

[gc70]

My first SIG was a P228. There is definitely a difference in balance between the P228's folded slide and the P229's milled slide. I don't shoot a P229 nearly as well as a P228 because the balance feels wrong to me. Maybe if I had started with a P229 the situation would be opposite.