Opinions on SIG's for a CCW

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JCook5003

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Ok Guys-

I currently have a S&W 1911PD in layaway and was content for a carry gun but a good friend of mine has three of his SIG's for sale, I will buy the 1911 but am also interested in the SIG's

He has a P220 Carry, P229 in 9mm, and a P239 in 9mm......

I would like the P220 but think it may be a little large for concealed carry IWB under a t-shirt which is my preferred method, the P229 is about the same size but a much high capacity but in 9mm, and finally the P239 is nice an slim and would probably conceal the best but has a lower capacity.....

Just focusing on CONCEALABILITY not any caliber aspects, which would you choose and why.....

Again I would like to carry under a t-shirt and jeans IWB with no cover garment......

So which one do you/would you carry, what kind of holster do you use, and how do you like the setup?

Thanks in advance I know I will get great honest advice here.
Josh
 
Quote: I would like the P220 but think it may be a little large for concealed carry IWB under a t-shirt which is my preferred method, the P229 is about the same size but a much high capacity but in 9mm, and finally the P239 is nice an slim and would probably conceal the best but has a lower capacity.
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Nothing wrong with 9mm with today's choices for 9mm JHP ammo..

If it's an issue with the P220 Carry with 8+1 max load vs a P229 9mm's either 10+1 or 14+1 (depending on your State laws) then I'd say go with a *P229 9mm..

*Great gun, as mine has some 2700 rounds without any failures, just 100%.

Remember, you have an option to carry at least one, if not two, back-up mags, which you can insert very quickly (in most cases) and usually are the least of one's CCW's concerns, as far as printing.


Ls
 
The P239 wins in terms of concealability of the three. It's the smallest and a single stack pistol of the three choices.

The P220 Carry actually would be concealable also, it is a compact .45 that is also single stack to aid in concealability.

IMO the P229 would be the toughest to conceal because of the double stack frame.
 
In this picture you can see that the P239 isn't all that much smaller than the 1911. That said, I love my P239.
516e33c9-35c9-4188-bfa3-d44034994519.jpg
 
Some size references from SIG's website and from the S&W Lightweight Commander page:

P220 Carry - 7.1" Long x 5.5" High x 1.5" Wide, 8+1 45acp Capacity, 29 oz.

P229 - 7.1" Long x 5.4" High x 1.5" Wide, 10+1 9mm Capacity, 32.4 oz.

P239 - 6.6" Long x 5.1" High x 1.2" Wide, 8+1 9mm Capacity, 27 oz.

SW 1911PD Commander - 7.7" Long x 5.25" High x 1.2" Wide, 7+1 45acp Capacity, 30.2 oz.

So the P220 is wider and taller than a commander 1911 the 229 is almost exactly the same size as the P220 Carry and the P239 is significantly smaller than all of the others.....
 
I have a 229 and with the right holster (something that pulls it in tight to your body) and a good belt it's a great carry piece.

Just for giggles... size comparison SIG 229 and full size 1911 style.

2007_SD400_0994.gif

2007_SD400_1000.gif

2007_SD400_0993.gif

2007_SD400_0996.gif

2007_SD400_0998.gif
 
With VM2, you'll have no problem carrying any of your choices concealed. I carry either a Sig, 220, 226, 229, 239, or a 1911 in a VM2H, and at 5'11," 175 lbs., tshirt carry works.
 
I used to have a Sig 229 and 239 which I carried regularly. I carried both in VMII hoslters with a Milt Sparks Belt. IMO, they are great guns but very heavy to carry. I've since sold both and now carry a Glock 19 in a VMII. Lighter weight, higher capacity and an all around great gun.
 
I personally think that your SW 1911 is probably the best one out of the 4 listed. (I have shot a p220 several times but do not own one. I do own a P228, P226, and G19. Of these three, the G19 is hands down the better carry gun.) If you wanted something that would conceal better under a T-Shirt and is in 9mm, I would suggest looking at the G26/19 or Kahr P9/PM9.

Honestly, I would suggest either going all SA w/ safety or all DA/SA-DAO for your carry weapons. You don't want to have to stop and think in that moment of crisis whether the gun you're carrying has a safety. With this in mind, I would suggest looking at a lightweight commander bobtail 1911.

Good Luck!
 
I carried a 220 for years both on and off duty and loved it . Nowdays tho i carry a little Kahr p9 more than anything else , it just fits my hand well , and is almost light/small enough to forget i am carrying . I do have a pm9 too but dont carry it near as much as the p. Of what you listed for me at least it would come down to a choice between the 239 and the 220 . I think tho i would give the 220 the nod just for caliber commonality with the 1911 .
 
The P239 9mm is a very fine carry pistol (IMHO). I carry mine in Comp-Tac Pro Undercover Kydex IWB holster. In the sping/summer time, I carry it a lot with just a tee-shirt for cover and it doesn't print hardly at all. My P229R .40S&W will print just a tad bit more, but still good to go in my opinion. I never carry my P220ST (never tried), but it sure does put a big smile on my face when shooting it at the range. Here's a pic of the three together:


Sig_Three_1.jpg
 
Again I would like to carry under a t-shirt and jeans IWB with no cover garment......
Click to expand...

With the options you provided, I agree the 239 would probably be your best choice. I have a 229 and have chosen not to carry it for conceal carry. It surprised me in the weight and thickness, along with the printing under a t-shirt.
 
I would have no problem switching to polos as they are generally made of heavier material and I doubt would be much hotter.....

I am 5'11" and weigh 235 so that should give you a general body shape type....

Seems that some people recommend the P229 but my research has shown the 220 carry is almost exactly the same size......seems to me if you carry a 229 you could just as easily carry a 220 carry.......

Any other opinions?
 
The 239 would conceal better than the others, but it's not exactly a small pistol itself. It's as wide as the Glock 19, which holds twice as many rounds and is one of the reasons I sold my 239. It's a great pistol, but like you I wanted to have something to carry under very light (sometimes tight) clothing.

jm
 
that is true grimjaw, I havent ever been to fond of the safety or lack there of on the Glock models but could probably get accustomed to it, the Glock 19 is almost identical in size to the P239 and holds 15+1 and weighs 7 ounces less.......like the SIG it is hard to argue with Glock's reliability reputation.
 
I have an older 220. It has been dead-nuts reliable for me.

My friend recently bought a new 229 in 9mm. Once he broke the springs in, it's been a great shooter and has soft recoil. Felt like a 22 compared to my 357 we were shooting. Good size for CC.
 
JCook5003, oh well I don't actually *carry* the G19 as much now either. For the kind of clothing you described, hard to beat a Kahr MK9/PM9 type (I have the PM9).

The best part of carrying the Kahr PM9 over the Glock 19 or SIG 239: Having my girlfriend frisk me because she couldn't tell if I was carrying by just looking at me and watching me move. :cool:

jm
 
I havent ever been to fond of the safety or lack there of on the Glock models but could probably get accustomed to it, the Glock 19 is almost identical in size to the P239 and holds 15+1 and weighs 7 ounces less.......like the SIG it is hard to argue with Glock's reliability reputation.
Click to expand...

I didn't warm up to Glocks for many, many years, but after finally purchasing my Glock 19, it didn't take too long before I realized what a magnificent carry gun it is. Such a great carry gun, in fact, that I bought a Glock 23 also (same size) and now the G23 is my primary carry gun. Awesome capacity in both guns relative to size and weight. Great reliability, durability, and accuracy. Nice, consistent, and short trigger pull and short reset. And with a few tweaks (3.5# connector, smooth faced trigger shoe, slight recountouring where the trigger guard meets the front strap) the guns feel great in my hand and shoot great. Glocks took some getting used to and now I really, really LOVE them.
 
I havent ever been to fond of the safety or lack there of on the Glock models but could probably get accustomed to it
Click to expand...

Uhm.....those Sigs you are talking about don't have a safety either.......do they? Unless they are DAK triggers I guess the pull in DA is significantly more than the Glock though.

I've recently been thinking about a 229 in .40 S&W. Someday I'll have a G19 and/or a G23 but I have to find Gen2's as the finger grooves just don't line up well for me on the current models. Their "peaks" line up dead center on my middle and third fingers :(.

If it were me my choice of the three would be P220 Carry. Should be as easy to conceal as the P229 and it's (oops, can't go there).
 
I have all three and I carry my P239 9mm SAS in the summer, and the P229 .40 DAK in the winter. I've also carried my P220 Carry SAS on occasion, but I prefer my P229. I don't find any of them difficult to conceal.
It all comes down to individual preference and what you shoot best.
 
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