West German Sigs VS US made

[myFRAGisFUBAR]

Hey everyone. I currently have a Sig P226 in .40. I was offered a trade recently and just wanted some opinions. I was offered a West German made P226 chambered in 9mm along with 8 mags for my newer P226. Is there any difference between the two in quality? I would prefer 9mm, but it was unavailable when I purchased my P226. Basically looking for any info on older Sigs.

 

[1KPerDay]

Considering similar condition, I personally would make that trade. Unless the new one has a rail and you want one. I don't.

Also assuming you'd rather have a 9mm than a .40.

Also assuming your .40 isn't some "elite/special edition/super awesome/limited/souped up" one from SIG. They make too many models now for me to keep track of.

What brand are the mags?

 

[myFRAGisFUBAR]

As far as brand of the mags, I dont know. I do know that 5 are high cap mags and three of them are standard mags. The current owner has taken great care of the weapon and shoots it in IDPA matches.

 

[Old Dog]

I for one would trade a newer production, U.S. made SIG 226 in .40 for a West German 9mm any day of the week ...

The West Germans, with the old stamped slides and internal extractors -- plus no rail -- feel and point the best (for me) of all the 226s.

Although the 226 is, in my opinion, the perfect platform for the .40 S&W, I think we'll be able to find these for quite a while to come. West German SIGs, not so much.

The magazines wouldn't be much of a factor, since the great flush-fit Mec-Gar 18 rounders are readily available for far cheaper than factory SIG 15 rounders.

Any West German SIG I find for sale is gonna be going home with me that day.

 

[sigarms228]

It all depends on the condition of the older SIG P226. While I have seen some nice ones I have also seen some not so nice ones that I would not pay $250 for. I have some of each and have no preference as they ALL have been stupendous and don't see any difference in quality.

What kind of problems are you having with your .40 P226??

 

[bannockburn]

I have had both and currently have a P229R E2. Overall quality and performance are every bit as comparable as my German made P226. In the case of my P229R I wanted the night sights and rail (having added a SIG laser/light combo on it), as this gun is my primary HD gun.

 

[JTQ]

I'm not a SIG guy, so take this with a pound of salt.

While I expect the quality control of the the older German made SIGs was better than what is being produced in the US models, I can't bring myself to purchase (or trade for) a gun with a stamped slide and pinned in breach face as is found on the older models. I believe the forged slide and external extractor of the newer models is a better design.

 

[340PD]

I find the W. German guns to stay on target on followup shots better than the new stainless slide models. I suspect the weight effects the balance on the newer models. Personally I will only own W.German models.

 

[Fremmer]

Depends on the condition of the 9mm. There are deals to be found on CPOs 226's in 9mm. So if his pistol has been shot a lot more than your newer .40, I'd pass.

I'm not sure a quality difference exists between the US/German models, so I'd go off of the current condition of each gun when making the decision. Although those mags he's throwing in are worth a lot of cash if they're in good shape.

 

[BILLG]

I would never trade a USA made Sig for a German folded slide model no matter how nice the German model was.Why because I shoot my pistols.If the folded slide was better they would still be making it.

 

[CNobbe]

I've had several Sigs from W Germany and a couple newer production US made models (M11 is coming this week) and my only worry with some of the older German models is they've stopped making a few parts for them. Internal extractors are hard to come by from what Ive heard lately.

They still make some models in Germany...and they're incredible.

Found one of these at a local shop and the trigger is incredible..

http://www.sigsauer.com/CatalogProductDetails/p226-x-six-scandic.aspx

 

[myFRAGisFUBAR]

Well I met in person and wanted to run a question by you guys. I have been told to look at the rails of a sig before buying it. The rails on this are silver. Everything else seems to be in good shape. The pistol was made in 82 and all 8 mags are either sig or mecgear. I am jst wondering if I should pass on this or not.
Pucs of the rails...

 

[JTQ]

I would think that is just finish wear.

Here is a "How to Lube your SIG" article. http://grayguns.com/lubrication-of-sig-sauer-pistol-rails/

 

[Old Dog]

That thing looks to have had a lot of hard rounds through it ... Unless it's in appreciably better condition than yours (hard to imagine), you might want to pass and just keep an eye out for a West German CPO P226 (they're still out there -- I picked one up last year at a dealer for $595, and this thing looks brand spanking new) or a private sale from someone who takes better care of their pistols (and keep them cleaner).

JTQ noted:

I believe the forged slide and external extractor of the newer models is a better design.

Lots of debate about that still, but for me, the decrease in weight and better balance of the old models just makes 'em feel ... just right in my hands. I get that other folks feel differently, but in a 9mm, the old 228s/226s are slimmer and lighter, seem to conceal a bit better, still just as soft shooters. Now in .40 S&W, this is where the newer models shine, especially the 226 and 229.

 

[zoom6zoom]

If the folded slide was better they would still be making it.

If I recall correctly from my armorer's class, the main reason for the switch to milled slides was due to the higher pressure of the .40 round. The .45 and 9mm guns didn't require the same strength, but once you're set up to do the slides milled, it's more cost effective to do them all the same way.

 

[RX-79G]

If the US facility had the ability to stamp and weld slides, maybe they would. It's a complex and expensive process. But they don't, and stamped slides aren't massive enough for .40. They are also not good candidates for stainless steel.

I don't really have the confidence in the US plant compared to the Swiss facility that engineered the P220 or the German Sauer plant on whose reputation the P22X series gets it's reputation from. The first P229 slides had cracking issues, and then the Sig 1911 debacle and all the current problems.

So if I had to fish a Sig out of a stack of them to go use that day, I'd grab a German one.

 

[BILLG]

I prefer the stainless slide.There is nothing wrong with the USA made Sigs.

 

[BILLG]

If I recall correctly from my armorer's class, the main reason for the switch to milled slides was due to the higher pressure of the .40 round. The .45 and 9mm guns didn't require the same strength, but once you're set up to do the slides milled, it's more cost effective to do them all the same way.

My point exactly. Stronger is better.

 

[Joe L]

I wouldn't trade a late 40 for that gun. I have three US made P-226's and they have been excellent. I put a semi-drop-in 9mm conversion barrel from Bar-Sto in one .40 cal slide and it is excellent. That gun has over 6k rounds through it and is a tack driver in IDPA events.

There is nothing magic to me about German made SIGs. I have one X-5 that I have had some problems with. No problems at all with the US guns. I suggest you ignore the origins and compare the condition of the guns. And, if you want a 9mm, get a $200 barrel and a 9mm recoil spring.

Joe

 

[9mmepiphany]

Well I met in person and wanted to run a question by you guys. I have been told to look at the rails of a sig before buying it. The rails on this are silver. Everything else seems to be in good shape. The pistol was made in 82 and all 8 mags are either sig or mecgear. I am jst wondering if I should pass on this or not.

Run, not walk, away as discretely as possible.

What you're seeing is bare aluminum, that means they the former owner(s) failed to lube the rails correctly and the slide has worn through the anodizing...that is the death knell for that frame. Funny, but it is so clean and even that it almost looks like someone tried to lap the slide and frame together

I have an old Israeli 228 that has rails that looked like that and it shot great...but it was only $250

 

[greyeyezz]

I have never ever seen a Sig with rails like that. It looks like someone polished those rails with something.

What are the date code letters on the underside of the slide? 1982 would be U100 serial #

 

[Dogguy]

Personally, I prefer the newer SIGs. I've never owned one of the folded slide models but I see no benefit to it over the current US-made stainless slides.

However, I originally would have favored the trade simply because the OP wanted a 9mm instead of the .40 he has. Upon seeing the condition of the frame rails on the W.German gun, I would pass. It probably has a lot of shooting left in it but it also has had a lot of rounds pass through it already.

My advice, for what it's worth, is either sell your .40 and buy a new 9mm SIG or take your gun to a gun shop and try to work up a trade (with a little cash) for a new or lightly used 9mm SIG.

 

[wojownik]

I have a decent collection of German and U.S. Sigs (p220 Compact, three p228s, p229, two p6s and a West German p226.).

My p226 is 1989 dated - with many thousands of rounds through her - and it is not even remotely close to the wear on the p226 pictured above. I'd speculate on a number of issues (run hard, very likely improper lube or even a complete lack of lube, maybe something out of spec ...).

But, bottom line, I would not trade for that particular pistol. That frame is not worth it.