SIG P228 Deal?

[TheFrontRange]

Hi, all. Many of you were kind enough to reply to my general questions about the Glock 19 a week or so ago...I'm back again, this time with some questions about a SIG P228 I've come across.

A local gunshop has a blued P228 with some miles on it but in "factory refurbished" condition. The package includes hardcase, factory gunlock, two 10-round mags (one still unwrapped), and SIGLite sights. The manual is stamped "Pre-Owned," and the case has "factory-looking" markings that read "P228, 9mm, Blue, Used." Asking price is $489. They are holding this pistol for me for the time being.

The same shop has a couple of P220s for the same price that I was looking at initially, but the P228 and P229 are "dream guns" of mine and I don't think I can pass this up. I've previously owned a P239 in .40...a great gun, but the beefier 228/229 grips fill my hand better.

Any feedback here on this model SIG?

Thank you!

 

[cslinger]

Gun goes for around 550 around here. Sounds like a decent deal to me.

Chris

 

[TrapperReady]

If I didn't already have a P228, I'd definitely get one at that price. With the exception of my P220, nothing else comes close to fitting my hand as well and just plain "feeling right". I'm currently thinking about sending mine back to SIG's custom shop for installation of the short trigger.

Really, the only downside of the P228 is that factory high-cap mags are priced about the same as Ivy League tuition. Hopefully that will change this fall. BTW, I have picked up a couple of the Pro-Mag 13 rounders. They're OK for range use, but I have experienced some FTF using them. When using the factory neutered mags, it's been 100% reliable.

 

[Wildalaska]

Too much $$...a month or so I was running brand new ones out for $549 IIRC

WildwalletwatcherAlaska

 

[cratz2]

If there's any way you can shoot them first, that would be outstanding. I don't have a strong preference between SIGs and Glocks... I feel both are outstanding guns for carry (not not so much to look at) but they do feel different in the hand and their recoil properties are different. The Glock feels less blocky to me and the gun (esp the slide/barrel) sets lower down than the SIG. This leads to the SIG being a little bit flippier under recoil though this is much more pronounced in 40 than in 9mm.

Comparing the Glock 23 to the SIG 2340 or 229, the Glock carries better for me. I can spout the weight and size differences, but the Glock seems a fair bit smaller and thinner than the 229. Keep in mind, my comments are about the 229 which is slightly bulkier than the 228.

In all honesty, I'd tempted to just say to get either one for now and see how you like it. It seems to me that desirable models from SIG and Glock tend to hold their value decently. Get one, carry it and shoot it for a while. Then go back and compare it to which ever you don't get at first. It is likely that if you buy the Glock now and shoot it for several months and go back and hold the SIG, you will notice how blocky the front and upper grip are in comparison. On the other hand, if you get the SIG, and you get used to the feel of it, when you go back to look at the Glock, you'll likely notice how if feels like more of a toy than the SIG.

 

[caz223]

I paid almost $600 for mine, new.
If the finish is good, the price is alright.
If it has any scratches on it, the price is too high.
The 228 balances and handles beautifully, feels made for my hand, is superbly accurate, and mine has been very reliable.
I can't recommend it highly enough.
Use good ammo and factory mags, and it will be 100% reliable.

I had a 229, (.40 and 357SIG) and sold it after 6 months.
Just not my bag of rice.

 

[Mark G.]

I picked up my P228 about a year ago for $489 plus shipping, brand new in the case with 1 13rd factory mag. I have seen them new for $550. They are great to shoot and accurate, even with me shooting.

It comes down to the condition the pistol is in and what is going on in your area regarding price. You can't go wrong with a P228!

 

[TheFrontRange]

Thank you all for the replies! I wound up picking this one up today. The finish is superb with only very minor wear evident. It seems that the two 10-round mags are both brand-new, as is the factory gunlock that was packed in the case...perhaps this was part of the factory-refurbishment, I'm not sure. I'm no 'smith, but I did strip the pistol at the shop and attempted to check it for excessive wear, frame/slide cracks, etc., and could find nothing out of line.

I paid the full $489 asking price. Frankly, I've never even seen a 228 for sale around here so I wasn't sure what I was comparing to, other than the $700-$800 price tags on new 229s. The fact that this pistol has night sights only sweetened the buy for me and, at least in this brain of mine, made the price seem that much more reasonable.

This gun does seem to fit in my hand extremely well...better than my previous 239 and at least as well as a 1911, maybe better.

I'll be getting some range-time shortly and I'll let you all know how it goes. Thank you all again so much for your comments and feedback!

 

[Ala Dan]

Greeting's Mr. Brown-

You have made an excellent choice my friend. That price
isn't bad for a factory refurb P228! And actually I prefer
the P228 over the P229; cuz the P228 seems to balance
a lot better. I paid $550 for mine in Oct. of 1998; its the
West German production (1990 model), and came with
two 13 round magazines. You're going to love this gun!
The biggest difference I see between my P228 and the
one you just bought is the night sight's. I don't care for
them at all; and I stick to the regular factory SIG sights
instead. I have qualified many times with my P228, and
each time the X-ring disappears quickly! Enjoy~

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

 

[TheFrontRange]

AlaDan, how the heck are you?! I should probably relegate this reply to the PM section, but I'll just do it here for now. Sorry to have been so scarce lately...and I obviously STILL have not made it to Bessemer PD's range yet!

Thank you much for your reply on the SIG...I'm going to be heading to ATI's range off the Tallapoosa exit within the next few days for an initial wring-out...I can't wait...this pistol is, I believe, the best "fitting" gun I've owned so far...and I didn't think anything would fit my hand better than a 1911 or a Smith K-Frame!

It was nice to fork out less that five bucks a box for 9mm ball practice ammo, too!

Talk with you soon and I hope to finally make one of those Saturday range dates shortly!

 

[BryanP]

At that price go get yourself a SIG. I would (and did) buy the P220 instead, but the P228 is sweet, if'n you wants a wimpy ol' 9mm instead of a real he-man .45.







Okay people, put the pitchforks down, I was just kidding.