P229 40 S&W Reliable Durable?
- Thread starter rgw543
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GunNut
Member
It's a Sig, they are reliable.
Scorpiusdeus
member
The Sig P229 in .40 S&W is a very popular weapon. All Sigs are very accurate and they are all top quality firearms. I love the .40 S&W round for offense and defense.
jlpskydive
Member
I own eight handguns and the Sig 229 is my favorite among them. It has never failed!!! 100 percent reliable!! I have shot tons of different handguns and it, by FAR is my favorite. I have the .357, .40, and the 9mm barrels for it and it shoots them all perfectly. To give you a comparison in my collection I have a P94 in .40, XD40, GP100 .357, 2 X Buckmark .22, Bersa .380, DE .44, etc... the XD40 is in second place out of my collection. YMMV.
MEH
Member
I own a P229ST 40/357 and it's built like a tank! I'm trying to sell it right now (no fault in the gun I just need the money). IMHO it's certainly a high quality firearm that would give years of service.
Lonestar49
Member
In One Word..
...
ABSOULETLY
Ls
...
ABSOULETLY
Ls
shadowalker
Member
I have found the P229 in 40 S&W to be VERY reliable and accurate, I have put over 3500 rounds through it without any malfunctions.
I carry mine 79 hours a week in a leather OWB holster, it is very concealable with a good holster and belt, and large enough to comfortably shoot. Sig magazines are a little spendy but Midway has decent prices on them.
Remember to replace the recoil spring and magazine springs every now and then.
I carry mine 79 hours a week in a leather OWB holster, it is very concealable with a good holster and belt, and large enough to comfortably shoot. Sig magazines are a little spendy but Midway has decent prices on them.
Remember to replace the recoil spring and magazine springs every now and then.
1man
Member
I have 3 Sig P229(they are all on Stainless Steel Frames). So I would say I really really LOVE them.
One of the best models Sig ever made!!!
One of the best models Sig ever made!!!
Get a Sig 229 and find something better to worry about.
If you stay with proper pressure or factory ammunition you should never have a problem with a Sig 229 they are damned tough and reliable pistols.
Just look at how many agencies and departments are now going to Sigs in .40 if they had any major issues this would not be the case.
The only time I have ever seen a Sig 229 have major problems is when someone I know who handloads ran some really hot or excesssive pressure rounds through his.
Can't blame the gun for that.
It ended up with him needing a new extractor and damage to the magazine.
Years ago I had a Sig 228 that was bought used it had been thoroughly used and abused with allot of the finish completely worn off yet it functioned 100% and was a very accurate dependable pistol hated to see it go wish I still had it.
If you stay with proper pressure or factory ammunition you should never have a problem with a Sig 229 they are damned tough and reliable pistols.
Just look at how many agencies and departments are now going to Sigs in .40 if they had any major issues this would not be the case.
The only time I have ever seen a Sig 229 have major problems is when someone I know who handloads ran some really hot or excesssive pressure rounds through his.
Can't blame the gun for that.
It ended up with him needing a new extractor and damage to the magazine.
Years ago I had a Sig 228 that was bought used it had been thoroughly used and abused with allot of the finish completely worn off yet it functioned 100% and was a very accurate dependable pistol hated to see it go wish I still had it.
varoadking
Member
That's not a word...
fastbolt
Member
Sig Sauer pistols are decent, high quality service weapons.
They are grip dependent in the respect that the trigger bar spring must be held in the proper position for normal functioning, so the proper grips must be used.
They must not be fired without sufficient lubrication, though.
In my armorer class we were constantly reminded that Sig Sauer pistols are 'wet' guns, and that 'seeing & feeling' the lubrication in the necessary locations is important. It was even a fill-in-the-blank question on the written test.
Here's a link to the Sig Sauer Customer Service website, which contains some excellent information in both printed guides and video. Check out the video links.
http://www.sigsauer.com/CustomerService/MaintenanceGuides.aspx
.pdf guide:
http://www.sigsauer.com/CustomerService/documents/PREVENTMAINTGUIDE.pdf
The choice of traditional double action or the enhanced DAK double action is an individual choice. Personally, I prefer TDA designs, but the DAK has become popular with some folks.
The primary trigger stroke of the Enhanced Double Action Only (DAK) requires approx. 6.6 pounds of pressure to fire the trigger, and it's the 'full length' trigger stroke of the two ...
The intermediate trigger stroke requires a partial reset of the trigger, and a heavier (approx 8.3 pounds) amount of pressure to fire the pistol.
Granted, the primary trigger stroke actually tends to 'feel' lighter the 6.6 lbs to many folks because of the excellent geometry of the design ... but it's long, too.
When I asked an armorer instructor during my Sig Sauer armorer's class why the shorter reset trigger stroke had to be heavier ... since that's not generally the way of it in TDA pistols ... the answer given was that it was Sig's determination that it was 'safer' to have the shorter trigger stroke require more effort on the part of the user/shooter.
The armorer manual lists the TDA P229 trigger strokes as (approximately) DA - 12.12 lbs & SA - 4.4 lbs.
If a Sig Sauer pistol were issued to me as a service weapon I'd have no qualms carrying it ...
They are grip dependent in the respect that the trigger bar spring must be held in the proper position for normal functioning, so the proper grips must be used.
They must not be fired without sufficient lubrication, though.
In my armorer class we were constantly reminded that Sig Sauer pistols are 'wet' guns, and that 'seeing & feeling' the lubrication in the necessary locations is important. It was even a fill-in-the-blank question on the written test.
Here's a link to the Sig Sauer Customer Service website, which contains some excellent information in both printed guides and video. Check out the video links.
http://www.sigsauer.com/CustomerService/MaintenanceGuides.aspx
.pdf guide:
http://www.sigsauer.com/CustomerService/documents/PREVENTMAINTGUIDE.pdf
The choice of traditional double action or the enhanced DAK double action is an individual choice. Personally, I prefer TDA designs, but the DAK has become popular with some folks.
The primary trigger stroke of the Enhanced Double Action Only (DAK) requires approx. 6.6 pounds of pressure to fire the trigger, and it's the 'full length' trigger stroke of the two ...
The intermediate trigger stroke requires a partial reset of the trigger, and a heavier (approx 8.3 pounds) amount of pressure to fire the pistol.
Granted, the primary trigger stroke actually tends to 'feel' lighter the 6.6 lbs to many folks because of the excellent geometry of the design ... but it's long, too.
When I asked an armorer instructor during my Sig Sauer armorer's class why the shorter reset trigger stroke had to be heavier ... since that's not generally the way of it in TDA pistols ... the answer given was that it was Sig's determination that it was 'safer' to have the shorter trigger stroke require more effort on the part of the user/shooter.
The armorer manual lists the TDA P229 trigger strokes as (approximately) DA - 12.12 lbs & SA - 4.4 lbs.
If a Sig Sauer pistol were issued to me as a service weapon I'd have no qualms carrying it ...
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Floppy_D
Member In Memoriam
It's my primary carry and favorite range toy. The cost can be prohibitive, but it's well worth every penny.
I've never had any reliability issue with any of my Sigs including the .40 cal. 229.
Still, I'd try one out before you buy one. If it doesn't feel right to you get something else. If you like the way it feels and handles, it is unlikely you'll have any reason to be dissatisfied.
Still, I'd try one out before you buy one. If it doesn't feel right to you get something else. If you like the way it feels and handles, it is unlikely you'll have any reason to be dissatisfied.
Ala Dan
Member in memoriam
Highly reliable and durable- just too damn top heavy for me. I paid a premium
for a SIGARMS P229 back in December of '95; only to find out that I did not
like the balance of the gun, or the .40S&W caliber. Yes, I learned from a very
expensive experiment; returning to my West German SIG-SAUER .45 caliber
P220A~!
for a SIGARMS P229 back in December of '95; only to find out that I did not
like the balance of the gun, or the .40S&W caliber. Yes, I learned from a very
expensive experiment; returning to my West German SIG-SAUER .45 caliber
P220A~!
Master Blaster
Member
You should really go to a range and rent one if possible before you buy it.
SIGs have a very high bore axis which enhances muzzle flip, and if you are used to shooting 1911's or glocks, its very noticeable. SIG 229 like the P226 is a large pistol, so not so easy to CCW if that is your eventual use.
SIGs are accurate and durable, I own a P220ST and a P226 I find them both too large to carry on a daily basis. They are really full size duty pistols, you may also want to consider a P239 it would make a better carry gun.
JMHO YMMV
SIGs have a very high bore axis which enhances muzzle flip, and if you are used to shooting 1911's or glocks, its very noticeable. SIG 229 like the P226 is a large pistol, so not so easy to CCW if that is your eventual use.
SIGs are accurate and durable, I own a P220ST and a P226 I find them both too large to carry on a daily basis. They are really full size duty pistols, you may also want to consider a P239 it would make a better carry gun.
JMHO YMMV
1BLINDREF
Member
I have a P229 .40S&W DAK and would recommend one to anyone. It's my main CCW and I shoot IDPA with it. I have no problem concealing it. If you haven't shot one, do yourself a favor and do so.
dcowboyscr
Member
- Joined
- Mar 12, 2007
- Messages
- 10
Yes Sigs are very reliable and durable. Just make sure you clean and lube the pistol. For lube use something like Brian Eno's Slide glide grease to protect the aluminum annodized frame rails. I use the standard viscosity for practice and the lite version for carry.
copaup
Member
Its our current duty weapon and is working great for us. Inservice classes run 50-60 people and fire aprox 300 rds at the range. In the three years since we changed over to the 229r dao I have yet to see a malfunction on the line that wasn't shooter induced or a bad primer. 50 officers x 300rds x2 sessions a year x 3 years with no malfs=pretty darned reliable in my book. Just keep your thumb off the slide lock.
Ala Dan
Member in memoriam
Yep, reliable and durable; but too top heavy IMHO~!
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