LeadPumper
Member
Sig P228
I recently came across a used, but good condition P228 at a local shop. They wanted $570 for it with hardcase, 2 ten round mags and night sights. (not too bad considering you can’t get new Sigs in Maryland anymore. Or shall I say, not yet…). Not really needing another nine, I hemmed and hawed for all of three weeks before buying it. Now that might seem like no big deal to you, but when I find something I like, I tend to buy it. And I have the credit card bills to prove it! The fact that three weeks went by without someone else picking it up only reinforced my theory of divine providence. (If I find it, I was meant to find it)
That it stayed in the display case for three weeks (and survived a gun show), only further proved to me that I was meant to own this firearm (sigh… the things I tell myself).
So, a couple of weeks after paying off the HK Tactical (Tactical Range Report ), I picked up the Sig.
I’ve played with P226's a few times, and while I liked them, they just didn't ‘fit’ my hand as well as the P228. All the Sigs I’ve played with over the years have had excellent fit and finish. All have been accurate and reliable. I expected no less from my newest acquisition.
I was not disappointed. This P228 locked up tight, with a little slide rattle (which, as I understand it, is normal for a broken in Sig). The night sights were clean, but dim. Originals I’d guess. The finish was 90% or better, with what looked like holster wear only, minimal scratches or dings. The grips did show wear, however, making me think this was a carry gun. The barrel showed the distinctive Sig crescent marks along the top. I’d estimate less than a thousand rounds, maybe 800 or so based on the level of finish remaining.
The trigger, (which is what led me to want this particular Sig in the first place) was pure Sig Sauer. Clean pull through DA, gentle stacking with no grit, and a roll-off to the break with no creep. The SA was a joy in itself, with maybe half an inch of takeup, faster stacking with crisper break and no creep. This is what DA/SA was supposed to feel like. An easy transition between a GOOD DA first shot and a CLEAN SA follow up. But maybe I’m asking too much?
On to disassembly! One of the greatest, and most beloved features of the classic Sigs is the takedown lever. Fit and finish aside, ignoring ergo-dynamics, discounting reliability and accuracy; the Sig takedown lever could stand alone as a work of art.
Pull the slide back on the unloaded (mag out) firearm, and push the slide lock into place. Rotate the takedown lever 90 degrees (to straight down), release the slide lock and remove the slide. Done. The coiled recoil spring, guide rod and barrel come out easily for cleaning.
Once disassembled, the internals on this Sig showed almost no wear. No lubrication either. It was very, very dry… with lint. That’s right, I said lint. Like the kind in your pocket? Yup, and lots of it. In the barrel, the magwell, the internals, even under the grip panels. This was definitely someone’s carry gun. On the plus side, once the lint was brushed out and the gun cleaned, it looked almost new. The barrel was shiny with clear lands and grooves and almost no leading. Patches came out clean in no time at all.
Oddly, there were no date codes stamped on this P228. A contract gun maybe? The serial numbers matched on the frame and barrel: B 241 XXX
Off to the range! Running a target out to 25 feet, I loaded up my two ten rounders. Or tried too, they only held nine each! No matter how I jiggled or jammed, that tenth round just wouldn’t go in. I’ll have to take them apart later and check on that. But the nine WWB FMJ I did have loaded fit fine. The mags themselves were original 228 metal mags with plastic base plates and followers. In fact I suspect by the type of oil, the lack of wear, and the stiffness of the springs; that these were in fact the original never-before-used factory magazines. Maybe they just sat in the box and the previous owner used aftermarket hi-caps (LEO maybe?). Dunno, but I got ‘em, and I was using them.
Recoil (and muzzle rise) was a little stiffer than I’d planned on, I had forgotten this was technically a ‘compact’ firearm. Recoil was over fast though, and bringing it back down on target was quick. The balance of the P228 is outstanding, the compact size betrays the point-ability and shoot-ability of this compact. It has the manners of a much larger firearm, without the bulk. You don’t have to man-handle it onto target, like some other guns I’ve shot.
Accuracy was excellent, one ragged hole at 25 feet, two handed slow fire. It shot about an inch too far to the right for my tastes, but I’ll try it again with Hogue grips before I mess with the sights. Doubles landed about a foot apart to start, but got much closer with practice. Reliability was, well, Sig like. No failures of any kind, with any of the ammo I tried. I only had time for a brief session with the P228, but I was very happy with what I saw.
Next I’m going to add a set of Hogues (thanks to SolomonShort for providing), and go get some more cases of ammo.
With a gun that shoots this good, I’m going to need it.
-LeadPumper
I recently came across a used, but good condition P228 at a local shop. They wanted $570 for it with hardcase, 2 ten round mags and night sights. (not too bad considering you can’t get new Sigs in Maryland anymore. Or shall I say, not yet…). Not really needing another nine, I hemmed and hawed for all of three weeks before buying it. Now that might seem like no big deal to you, but when I find something I like, I tend to buy it. And I have the credit card bills to prove it! The fact that three weeks went by without someone else picking it up only reinforced my theory of divine providence. (If I find it, I was meant to find it)
That it stayed in the display case for three weeks (and survived a gun show), only further proved to me that I was meant to own this firearm (sigh… the things I tell myself).
So, a couple of weeks after paying off the HK Tactical (Tactical Range Report ), I picked up the Sig.
I’ve played with P226's a few times, and while I liked them, they just didn't ‘fit’ my hand as well as the P228. All the Sigs I’ve played with over the years have had excellent fit and finish. All have been accurate and reliable. I expected no less from my newest acquisition.
I was not disappointed. This P228 locked up tight, with a little slide rattle (which, as I understand it, is normal for a broken in Sig). The night sights were clean, but dim. Originals I’d guess. The finish was 90% or better, with what looked like holster wear only, minimal scratches or dings. The grips did show wear, however, making me think this was a carry gun. The barrel showed the distinctive Sig crescent marks along the top. I’d estimate less than a thousand rounds, maybe 800 or so based on the level of finish remaining.
The trigger, (which is what led me to want this particular Sig in the first place) was pure Sig Sauer. Clean pull through DA, gentle stacking with no grit, and a roll-off to the break with no creep. The SA was a joy in itself, with maybe half an inch of takeup, faster stacking with crisper break and no creep. This is what DA/SA was supposed to feel like. An easy transition between a GOOD DA first shot and a CLEAN SA follow up. But maybe I’m asking too much?
On to disassembly! One of the greatest, and most beloved features of the classic Sigs is the takedown lever. Fit and finish aside, ignoring ergo-dynamics, discounting reliability and accuracy; the Sig takedown lever could stand alone as a work of art.
Pull the slide back on the unloaded (mag out) firearm, and push the slide lock into place. Rotate the takedown lever 90 degrees (to straight down), release the slide lock and remove the slide. Done. The coiled recoil spring, guide rod and barrel come out easily for cleaning.
Once disassembled, the internals on this Sig showed almost no wear. No lubrication either. It was very, very dry… with lint. That’s right, I said lint. Like the kind in your pocket? Yup, and lots of it. In the barrel, the magwell, the internals, even under the grip panels. This was definitely someone’s carry gun. On the plus side, once the lint was brushed out and the gun cleaned, it looked almost new. The barrel was shiny with clear lands and grooves and almost no leading. Patches came out clean in no time at all.
Oddly, there were no date codes stamped on this P228. A contract gun maybe? The serial numbers matched on the frame and barrel: B 241 XXX
Off to the range! Running a target out to 25 feet, I loaded up my two ten rounders. Or tried too, they only held nine each! No matter how I jiggled or jammed, that tenth round just wouldn’t go in. I’ll have to take them apart later and check on that. But the nine WWB FMJ I did have loaded fit fine. The mags themselves were original 228 metal mags with plastic base plates and followers. In fact I suspect by the type of oil, the lack of wear, and the stiffness of the springs; that these were in fact the original never-before-used factory magazines. Maybe they just sat in the box and the previous owner used aftermarket hi-caps (LEO maybe?). Dunno, but I got ‘em, and I was using them.
Recoil (and muzzle rise) was a little stiffer than I’d planned on, I had forgotten this was technically a ‘compact’ firearm. Recoil was over fast though, and bringing it back down on target was quick. The balance of the P228 is outstanding, the compact size betrays the point-ability and shoot-ability of this compact. It has the manners of a much larger firearm, without the bulk. You don’t have to man-handle it onto target, like some other guns I’ve shot.
Accuracy was excellent, one ragged hole at 25 feet, two handed slow fire. It shot about an inch too far to the right for my tastes, but I’ll try it again with Hogue grips before I mess with the sights. Doubles landed about a foot apart to start, but got much closer with practice. Reliability was, well, Sig like. No failures of any kind, with any of the ammo I tried. I only had time for a brief session with the P228, but I was very happy with what I saw.
Next I’m going to add a set of Hogues (thanks to SolomonShort for providing), and go get some more cases of ammo.
With a gun that shoots this good, I’m going to need it.
-LeadPumper
