Sig P229 -- .40 S&W or .357 SIG?

[brockgl]

I own a Sig P229 in .40 cal with tritium night sites and nitron finish.

I absolutely LOVE this gun. I am truly amazed at how much more accurately I can shoot with this gun than I can with any other handgun I own, including my S&W .357 magnum revolver with its 6" barrel.

I've just recently read that the Secret Service and the DEA use P229's (I've owned this gun for almost 4 years, and I never knew this). This fact was intriguing, but I read that the Secret Service chambers their P229's in .357 SIG.

My P229 can swap barrels for the .357 SIG, and I am wondering if there would be any 'field' advantages to doing this?

I am not really concerned about ammo price, because this gun has never been my plinker. I'll shoot it enough to keep sharp, but not enough to break the bank.

I am really looking for advice! Should I switch, or should I stick with .40 S&W?

Thanks!

 

[benzuncle]

I recently shot a P239 that belonged to a U.S. Sky Marshal that was chambered in .357Sig. As I own a P220 Compact, I was very comfortable with the Sig Sauer mechanisms, which I also happen to love. The .357Sig was just awesome. He insisted I fire 8 mags through it. I have been drooling over the possibility of acquring a Sig chambered in .357Sig ever since. As you already have the firearm and only need the barrel, IMHO this would be a no-brainer.

BTW: I saw a Sig Sauer kit recently that had both barrels included!

 

[hawk45]

I have a 229 in 357sig and prefer it over the .40sw barrel I have for it. The nice thing about the 357sig is that it is a bottleneck cartridge and is less prone to failure to feed. It's a great cartridge and a very flat shooter.

 

[Erik]

Deja vu. And so, I imagine, will be my response for you.

From the other site:

The Sig 229 is also one of the primary DHS contract pistols. The DHS has mostly contracted them chambered for .40 S&W with DAK trigger groups, the two notable exceptions being the USSS and TSA FAM program, who both currently favor them chambered in .357 Sig and the DA/SA trigger group. Look for the majority, if not all, of the DHS components to consolidate pistol options (make, model, caliber, and trigger group) in the future.

"I am wondering if there would be any 'field' advantages to doing this?"

No, if your asking is the .357 Sig "better" than the.40 S&W, anti-personnel wise. If you're looking for the versatility afforded by having both barrels, go for it.