Sig Sauer price variance: P229 = $889 , Sig 2022 = $469 ?!?!?

[wacki]

Why are some Sig Sauer pistols so much more than others?

P229 = $889
Sig 2022 = $469

At the last gun show, some of their pistols look very similar to the Sig sitting next to it but was twice the cost. What gives?

 

[Manson]

One difference that you are comparing the all metal 229 to the polymer framed 2022. Both are excellent weapons.

 

[fatcat4620]

The 229 cost more since it is a 228 (one of the, if not THE, top 9mm handguns ever made) with a forged slide.
The 2022 is a great (budget) gun but not based on the P series at all and its only claim to fame it that they sold 250,000 to the french policia.
You could look at the S&W Sigma vs M&P for a good comparison.

 

[guyfromohio]

The Sig Pro series is made to compete with the Glocks, M&P, SA XD.... Quality isn't bad, frame is non-metal, and is less refined than the P series which competes more with HK.

 

[sigarms228]

The SP2022 is an outstanding pistol and side by side firing it compared to my other SIGs it shoots just as well for me. It is also extremely accurate, durable, and reliable. My choice without question for a DA/SA poly frame combat 9MM pistol compared to any other with the Walther PPQ being my choice for striker fired poly frame 9mm combat pistol.

However it has a poly frame and other internals are much simplified compared to the classic P series SIGs such as the SP2022 has an integrated firing control unit.

Add to that the low production cost per until since capital costs and R&D were paid off long ago and the SP2022 was discontinued to favor the new P250.

Customer demand seems to have brough the SP2022 back and SIG is using it as a low price point to compete with other poly pistols, yet not taking sales away from the SIG classic pistol line, and to be the gateway drug for SIG as many go on to buy other SIGs after being delighted with their SP2022.

The P229 is a world class pistol used by the Secret Service. However you do not have to spend $900 to get one as there are a lot of excellent shape used ones and like new CPO, Certified Pre Owned, available. Used usually are $450 and up and CPO around $550. My P229 is a CPO and I could not tell it from new inside or out.

If you find a German SP2022 with triple serial numbers, night sights, and Ilaflon finished slide and controls those are great buys IMO and is what I have. They are getting harder to find but IMO well worth the cost over a new Exter SP2022 if you can get one for around $550 or less though any SP2022 is a great pistol.

Here are mine:

 

[Manson]

All good and accurate information sigarms. I would add that the 2022 is probably one of the few attractive poly guns on the market today.

 

[rellascout]

The SP2022 is an outstanding pistol and side by side firing it compared to my other SIGs it shoots just as well for me. It is also extremely accurate, durable, and reliable. My choice without question for a DA/SA poly frame combat 9MM pistol compared to any other with the Walther PPQ being my choice for striker fired poly frame 9mm combat pistol.

However it has a poly frame and other internals are much simplified compared to the classic P series SIGs such as the SP2022 has an integrated firing control unit.

Add to that the low production cost per until since capital costs and R&D were paid off long ago and the SP2022 was discontinued to favor the new P250.

Customer demand seems to have brough the SP2022 back and SIG is using it as a low price point to compete with other poly pistols, yet not taking sales away from the SIG classic pistol line, and to be the gateway drug for SIG as many go on to buy other SIGs after being delighted with their SP2022.

The P229 is a world class pistol used by the Secret Service. However you do not have to spend $900 to get one as there are a lot of excellent shape used ones and like new CPO, Certified Pre Owned, available. Used usually are $450 and up and CPO around $550. My P229 is a CPO and I could not tell it from new inside or out.

If you find a German SP2022 with triple serial numbers, night sights, and Ilaflon finished slide and controls those are great buys IMO and is what I have. They are getting harder to find but IMO well worth the cost over a new Exter SP2022 if you can get one for around $550 or less though any SP2022 is a great pistol.

The majority of this info is correct but there are a few misstatements IIRC.

The SP2022 was never discontinued. The production on the original Sig Pros the SP2009 and SP2340 which were made in Switzerland are on longer imported. I do not remember if they were officially discontinued.



The SP2022 is a modified version of the the SP2340 & the SP2009 which was made for the French Police in 2002. It is supposed to be in service for 20 years and this is why they named it the SP2022. The main difference was a standard Pic rail and different shaped trigger guard. A lot of the internal mech is the same. The French contract paid for the R&D and the initial tooling etc... to manufacture this pistol.

After that original contract it has been picked up by a few other agencies/countries. Columbia bought a ton of them. The SP2022 gained popularity here when contract overruns started to be imported by Exter in little black boxes. These came with 3 mags, nights sites and a paper xeroxed manual. They shipped with a Med and large grip and had a short trigger installed. As Sigarms228 pointed out they did have the Ilaflon finish which is shiner than nitron. These sold for about $450 and were a steal.

Once Exeter saw a market for these low priced Sigs they started to import more of them. At one point they were bringing in German parts and assembling them here. The fact the P250 was not selling well helped the SP2022. They then moved production over to NH. They made some changes like the Extractor is now external, it ships with a small grip with an internal lanyard loop. They also upped the number of MIM parts to keep the costs down. The stock gun only comes this contrast sights and one mag. They are still a great value at right around $400.

The SP2022 exists not because of customer demand here in the US but the French contract. Sig smartly found a way to make this pistol here and make money in the commerical market with it while supplying it as a solid low cost contract gun. Sigarms228 has that part backwards IMHO.