There was a time in law enforcement that the SIG Sauer P228 was the quintessential Fed gun. It was issued or authorized by many Federal agencies such as the FBI, and USSS. The P228 was a great handgun to carry for plain clothes assignment, as it has great balance, and could be shot very well. In modern days of plastic handgun, the P228 still has class. It truly is the benchmark of the classic SIG line.
Jerry, this “West German Sigs are far superior to whats being made today” mantra has kept me from owning a Sig.
What has been your experience with both? As far as accuracy and reliability is concerned.
Eric G,
I have owned both and my experience is that the WG made Sig’s that I owned are and were noticeably more reliable that the Exiter made modern Sig’s that I have owned and seen first hand. Given a choice, I would still opt for a good condition WG Sig. The newer slides are more corrosion resistant than the older folded steel slides though. My reliability issues were extractor related with the newer Sig’s. Perhaps now that GrayGuns is making an improved extractor for several models of newer Sig’s, my opinion may change.
Thank you Eric and Billy
Hey Eric,
I am not hot nor cold on the idea that older SIGs are better than the newer ones. Sometimes, we view history through rose colored glasses. I can remember West German guns that were dogs. I also know a couple that exceeded 70,000 rounds. In the grand scope of things, it is a tool. And if it goes down hard, I’ll send it back to SIG, and they’ll make it right. Now that might be a concern for some that may only have one gun, but for me, it isn’t. Right now, as I type this, I’m carrying an off duty P226R that is about two years old. Only has about 10,000 rounds downrange, but I’ve yet to have the first problem out of it.
SIG did go through some dark times several years ago. But, the guns of today seem to hold up well in classes. Bottom line, we see a lot of SIGs in a years time in classes. And for what we see, I’m not scared of the newer guns at all.
Hope this helps,
Jones
I’ve been issued Sigs for years. Haven’t had any issues with our issued 226/228/229s until the batch we just got last month. Out of @25 226Rs, we had two that were failing to reset intermittently. Also came with the crappy checkmate mags, which directly contradicted what we were told
The P228 is still a TOE/issued weapon for certain DoD/USN personnel.
Pretty much just pilots and guys in NSW who need to carry concealed.
Haven’t seen one concealed; perhaps because it concealed 😉
The 226 is far and away the the choice over the 228 in NSW. 228 is issued to folks attached to some Teams.
The 239 is favored when suppressed.
Seen a few 228 in leg rigs, but, most in molle holsters attached to plate carriers.
I’ve never seen a pilot carry a P228. Saw a squadron of Hornet drivers carry P239s.
The 226 is issued to every operator in their weapons kit, a certain number of 239s are issued to each platoon, around 4-5, and have yet to see a suppressed 239 in NSW, mostly just .45 HKs and not the boat anchor MK23.
Check!
Some budgets allow for T&E of most anything; within reason.
I learned my appreciation for the 2xx Classic Series from Mr. Carroll in another room full of shooters, over a (2) day class. Focus, leadership, commitment, and precision. It’s still the chosen platform for some of these reasons. Accuracy and reliability excel with 124 gr., either platform.
I carried Sigs (1st a 226 then a 229) for 17 years before my agency switched to Glock. If I could, I’d go back to my 226 tomorrow.
I wish SIG could make a pistol as reliable and solid as my 229 but with modern materials and ergonomics. I was very disappointed with the 250’s ergonomics/design and lack of reliability. And seeing the half-hearted rebaked effort that is the 320 is very discouraging. SIG, are you even trying? But if I have to have a DA/SA gun, my classic 229 is a good gun – reliable and accurate.
FWIW, the SIg P228, designated as the M-11, is still issued to some Military organizations.
FWIW, I have a 226 combat. Got it 2(?) years ago and ran it through a few 3 day classes and just some normal range time. I’m only somewhere between 6-7k rounds through it, and from the best of my memory I think the only malfs I’ve had over that time were 2 stovepipes. It ran just fine gunked up with sand from some ‘interesting’ drills, also did fine in the mud.
I also had a 226 WG (1995 date code) that I put a k or 2 through before someone made me an offer I couldn’t refuse and I sold it. I really didn’t find there to be a noticeable difference in quality. Honestly I love em both and had a good time with both and would consider both ‘reliable’. I did put short reset triggers in them both because trying to transition from an AR to that pistol in terms of reset length gave me fits (Sig reset feeling twice as long and resulting in me not letting the pistol trigger travel far enough for reset).
I’m one who has to disarm at work, and frankly a full-size metal frame just isn’t great for me iwb. Stuffing and unstuffing a pistol in/out of my pants in the car doesn’t lend well to a full size.
I’d consider myself a Sig fanboy, but I carry a g19 everyday (I’ve also run my g17/19 through classes with no real malfs either). I feel like when I take apart a Sig I’m looking at the inside of a nice analog watch and I find that appealing. When I take apart a glock, it’s a digital. However, the Glock is just more practical for my situation. Nothing wrong with being utilitarian and practical. Finances allowing, maybe I’ll give a 229 or M11 a go.
@ billy and seans
NSW Tier 3 Teams are issued P226R’s (Mk25). There are P228’s and P239’s in inventory. Rarely used or carried, however.
NEW Tier 1 (DevGru) is issued P226’s (Mk25), P239’s, HK45CT. HK45CT being the preferred sidearm for suppressed usage. Kit includes Knights suppressor for P226. P239 and a .45acp can for HK45CT.
If you see a P228 (M11) on a “SEAL” it is probably a Navy Hospital Corpsman attached to a SEAL platoon. The Corpsman I have seen usually carried P226 (Mk25)
God I love it when somebody uses the TIER system of rating. Most people have no clue what it means. Like the fact that their is a group of parachute riggers who are considered TIER 1, even though they aren’t shooters. Shocking. But I digress. The 228s and 239s in the inventory for the number teams are a highly sought after item in the Stan. Considering that most guys don’t carry a spare magazine and just want a pistol that is able to get them out of a room and carry it in the mbitir pouch if they are not running duel comms. And Independent Duty Corpsman are assigned a M4 and a 226, they might get lucky and get handed a old MK18MOD0, but they are not assigned a 228. And for suppressed work the squadron guys are going to probably be using a .300 blackout out of 7 or 10 rifle.
last line should say “out of a 7inch or 10inch rifle.”
I love my KA 228 and wouldn’t trade it for anything. It has the highest round count of any of my pistols and has been utterly reliable with the only maintenance ever done to it besides cleaning, has been a handful of spring changes.