Sig 226, Sig 229 or Beretta 92FS Vertec

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Falstaff66

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I've now had a chance to evaluate and dry fire, but not live fire, several 9mm semiautos. The ones that felt good in my hand and generally seemed to fit the bill were the Sig 229 and 226, and the Beretta 92FS, including the Vertec version. Didn't like the Glocks, and can't easily obtain an H/K or SA here in Massachusetts. Haven't really checked out the Rugers or S&W.

I probably won't use it CCW. The Sig 239 and Beretta 9000s had grips that seemed too short anyway (despite the fact that I don't have big hands).

This will be my first gun (and likely only one for awhile). I plan to put a fair amount of range time in, which is partly why I'm going with 9mm. The Beretta's are cheaper than the Sigs around here.

Any thoughts or suggestions on which way to go or the positives or faults of these models?
 
I own both a 92FS and a SIG 226R (.40SW with 9mm conversion barrel).

The 92 is a shade larger and easier for me to hold, I also like the trigger better (after I tweaked it to the max). The SIG is a well made and rock solid gun too, but it's grip size seems a bit smaller. Trigger is a bit rougher and I don't like the sights on the SIG (front blade too wide).

Just my opinions. I shoot the 92 all the time, the SIG not often.... because I don't shoot it as accurately.
 
just go based on feel for your purposes.

the 229 is a heavy duty little bast***, and quite comfy, though you probably won't shoot it as well as the bigger guns (longer sight radii).

so that leaves it to beretta or sig 226. for me, hands down choice is sig 226, but there isn't a bad choice there.

get whatever, enjoy it, shoot it often, and in time you will develop very specific likes and dislikes and create niches and reasons and rationalizations for each and every gun that strikes your fancy.

good luck!
 
falstaff,

Where are you in Ma? I would recomend the 226, I feel its the best all around handgun produced today, although I did like the vertec a lot.


I would recomend four seasons firearms in Woburn, there wont be a dealer in Ma that will even come close to his price. They are great guys to deal with and are very helpful. They sell by volume and the service cant be beat,its the only place in Ma that I bought firearms from when I lived on the cape.

www.fsguns.com
 
I've owned a Beretta 92FS Inox Vertec, Beretta 92 Steel I, SIG P225, SIG P220 (9mm), and a SIG P226ST. From my experience, you can't go wrong with either the Beretta or the SIG.

Though, the Vertec required action work (D spring, ect...) for a good trigger. The Beretta 92 Steel I was SAO and had a great trigger, but it was a little too muzzle heavy for my taste (and I'm not a great fan of nickel finished guns). Whereas I was satisfied with the SIG triggers out of the box. Of those I've mentioned I like the P225 the most.


nero
 
I own all three.

Got to say either one would be an excellent choice.

This is not a "should in be a Lorcin or SIG" type issue. :eek:

You will be well served by any of them.

BUT, I would say the Vertec, but would not feel bad with any one of them.
 
Since this is mainly for range use, I suggest getting a full size gun.

Of the three, the SIG P226 tops, then the SIG 229. How bout' a 228?

The Beretta is a decent gun, but the SIG fits me MUCH better. Plus the SIG's trigger is smoother, and that to me was the deciding factor.

Get the SIG

226 > 228 > 229 > ........... > Beretta anything :D
 
Since you indicate you have hands that may be on the smaller side, I'd suggest the P229...I think, in the long run, you'll find it the most comfortable and, thus, enjoyable.
 
I have a standard 92FS that I love. Had it since 1998, and it is very accurate.

Got a Inox 92 Vertec this year. Hated it. Not consitent at all in its accuracy. Ended up selling it.

I prefer the standard 92 better.
 
Thanks everybody, it seems I'm at least shopping in the right aisle, no real negatives for any of them. I'm in Franklin, MA by the way, Woburn is a haul, given the usual traffic, but everybody says Four Seasons is the place.

Overall feel, including trigger feel seems to be the deciding point, but I'm not sure how to judge that. I wish I knew someplace I could rent these nearby, does SigArms rent firearms up in NH as S&W does in Springfield? Would I be crazy to make a purchase based on how it feels in my hand, and trigger evaluation from merely dry firing? I like the Sig decocker better, but that's not a deciding factor.
 
I'd suggest carefully evaluating three things:

1) How well does it fit your hands. Typically, one shoots much better with a pistol that fits their hand well. (I have small hands, the SIG P225 fits me best)

2) Quality of the trigger. Typically, one shoots better with a double action trigger that is smooth. (Alot of triggers will improve/smooth out a little with use.) The single action trigger should be crisp and the weight should be around 3.5 to 5lbs. Personal preferences vary of course. (I prefer the SIG (out of box) triggers over the Vertec.)

3) Sights: Hard to shoot accurately without a good sight picture. Typically, larger sights are preferred over small sights. A larger/full sized pistol will provide a longer sight radius, and make accurate shooting easier. Again, personal preferences vary. (Both the SIG and Beretta have good sights.)

While it's ideal to be able to shoot each pistol your considering, it's not always practical, or absolutely necessary. I believe the majority of gun owners have bought a good number of their firearms without having shot them first. I know I have.

Another thing to consider is the pistol's weight. Typically, the greater the weight, the less felt recoil and muzzle rise one experiences. Though the 9mm is not a heavy recoiling cartridge, except perhaps in pocket pistols like the Rohrbaugh. Even so, a full sized pistol with a little heft to it makes shooting the 9mm a joy. Of course carry pistols are another matter.

As others and I have stated earlier, both the Beretta and SIG pistols are well made, reliable, and accurate. You can't go wrong with either.

Best wishes, and welcome to the world of shooting/firearms. One warning though, once you get started your wallet will be in danger. ;)


nero
 
I carried a P226 for a while and absolutely loved it. I have small hands, so the 92s are a little large for my taste (but I haven't held a Vertec). I also very much preferred the "dot-the-i" sights on my SIG.

You're looking at solid guns. Have you handled any others? I don't know what's approved in MA, but I got rid of my P226 for a Browning Hi-Power (after a brief flirtation with a Colt 1991A1). If it's approved and just for the range, a single action might fit nicely, too.

Whatever you choose you'll end up with a decent pistol.
 
Hard to beat the Sig P226
Love the feel and nice decock no hammer slamming into the slide
 
Falstaff66
....here in Massachusetts.....
....I probably won't use it CCW ....
Click to expand...


Your joking right?
We are talking Massachusetts, unless your that fat bastard kennedys' lost love child you'll NOT CCW in that hell hole in the first place.
(lived in Stoughton and Franlkin far to long before exodus to Idaho)

I'm a died in the wool Sig shooter, so for what it's worth - Sig.
Any of them.
 
RTFM...no Kennedy stepchild here, but believe it or not, I do have a CC license. Franklin is more or less a shall issue town, but it varies from town to town. But given my work and life circumstances, can't see any real point in carrying day to day. Obviously lots of people are in different situations.

You guys have been great. I think I'd probably lean towards a Sig 226 or 229, but the 92FS isn't much bigger than a 226, and seems to be at least $100 cheaper. Does that pricing sound about right to you? Even the used Sigs are often going for $600.
 
Try $375-500 used. I did a quick search on Gunbroker and found this:http://gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=37974544

Sig also has a certified pre-owned program you can look into. I saw some certified preowned Sigs at a gun show not too long ago for $350 here in Oregon. Maybe I'm crazy but in the shooters pro shop I used to work in, a new sig sold for $650. Shop around and you will be surprised at what you can find.
 
Sig also has a certified pre-owned program you can look into.
Click to expand...

I forgot about that. My second SIG was a certified P232 and it's also a great gun. No problems whatsoever. I wouldn't hestitate to consider a factory-restored SIG if you can find one. The real ones will have a stamp on the manual, I believe, as well as a different colored tag (maybe blue, but I can't remember). SIG has details on their website, IIRC.
 
I have a Sig 226 and a Beretta 96 Vertec. I love both guns, but the trigger on the Sig felt better out of the box for me. Granted my Beretta was the 40SW version. You really can't go wrong with any of the choices you have listed.
 
Beretta and SIG are too of the very best pistol makers in the biz. I would go with the Beretta only because the SIGs have too long of a trigger reach for me and they sit high in the hand with high bore axis. The Beretta is more controlable in rapid fire and it fits my hand better. Also, I think the Beretta may be the most reliable pistol on the market, even more so than SIG or Glock.

There are some Beretta haters out there because it replaced the beloved 1911 and there is a lot of BS written about them but don't beleive it. I had a poor view of them until I got my first Beretta (92fs) and it has been smoother, and nicer and more reliable than anything else out there. Beretta makes a top notch pistol that is the rival of anything on the market.
 
Go w/ the one that you shoot best...you'll have to spend seom time at the range getting guns dirty & really determining which one works best in your hands ;) If it were me, I'd go Beretta :cool:
 
All of them are good choices, but you should go with teh 92 Vertec INOX. I own one and I had never had a malfunction.
 
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