comparing Sig's

sthsquid · March 4, 2005, 02:55 PM

I have yet created for myself yet another dilema. I had it all narrowed to....and then I picked up a.......well it's a long story.....

Anyway, is there any real difference in quality/shootability between the German made sigs (228,226,225 etc.) and the american made ones - specifically the 239 series?

I gotta go used no matter what, but the 239's are in the low 4's and the 22whatevers are 500 and up. They both held well in the store, but of course the guy was recommending the 228. He tried to explain the difference in the machining of the slide and why the German ones are lighter (which they are, but not a great deal in my estimation).

Haven't heard anything bad about any Sig's, really, but for those who own or have shot both, are the 228's etc. worth the extra $$ in your opinion?

WillBrayjr · March 4, 2005, 03:13 PM

The quality is equal for all Sigs. The only advice I can give is to buy the model that fits your hand and wallet.

AZta2guy · March 4, 2005, 03:13 PM

I happen to own 228 220 and 226 navy. I bought the 228 and the 220 used. No problem what so ever. If you can I would ask your dealer about getting you a cpo. The two I have are great. I paid the extra and got collector grade. essentailly one that had very very little wear and tear. No holster marks on the slide. The 239 is a good peice too. I do not own, but my shooting buddy has one that I play with every so often. IMHO you can not go wrong with any of the p series sigs. If you are going used though I would look seriously into the cpo ones. You can look up the info on the sig site.

Aim straigth and have fun
Jon

rellascout · March 4, 2005, 03:29 PM

Where are you located in the country? I got a Sig certifed Pre Owned for $399 Plus $10 shipping and $15 transfer fee from CDNN. It is a West Germany Sig with nite site which work but are a little dim. $500 is high unless you are in a non-gun friendly state like CA, MD or MA.

The only real downside of the 239 is the capacity versus the P228, P229 and P226. The P226 can hold 17 and the P229 & P228 can hold 15 rounds of 9mm.

What caliber are you looking for?

Rellascout

sthsquid · March 4, 2005, 03:38 PM

I assume cpo is "certified pre-owned" (I know dumb question). I will check it out.

Yes, I live in a relatively "gun-unfriendly" state (CT), though I guess not as bad as MA or CA. I really kind of have my heart set on a 225, but I really want to at least hold one first and nobody around here has any. But I also really liked both the 228 and the 239 when I checked them out today.

Caliber. I am open to either 9mm or 40 - 9mm for economy, maybe a little less weight and recoil. Of course the 40 for the extra little "stopping power" insurance, which I really don't want to place a disproportionate amount of weight on with my decision.

rellascout · March 4, 2005, 04:02 PM

I would give CDNN a call. They have FFLs on file and they only charge $10 to ship it. FFLs charge $15 to $45 to to do the transfer depending on the state. You pay CDNN and 2 to 3 days later the psitol shows up.

The following P Series guns are available

P228 in 9mm $369
P226 in 40 S&W $389
P229 in 40 S&W $389
P226 in 9mm $369

They had some P225s but they are curently sold out.

The P225 is nice. It is not small enough to justify the loss of capacity IMHO.

Also +P 9mm is more accurate and almost as effective as the 40 S&W.

Rellascout

MarkSteveND · March 4, 2005, 04:03 PM

How would you know if your Sig is the German made or the American made type?

MoW · March 4, 2005, 04:04 PM

The P225 and P239 are virtually the same size(slightly wider grip on P225). P225 will be worth more now and down the road because there limited in quantity. The P228 ONLY comes in 9mm as opposed to the P229 which is 9mm,.357 sig, and .40. For 9mm, the P228 ranks higher(for most) over the P229 because of the balance.
You didn't say what you would be using the gun for---CCW or range or home defense? This could help people recommend better for you.

rellascout · March 4, 2005, 04:07 PM

Not sure about all models but on my P228 I looked at the date code and the slide says made in W Germany. The other indicator is to look for the Germany proof marks.

You could also just give Sig a call and they will tell you where it was made.

Rellascout

Handy · March 4, 2005, 04:08 PM

All the Sig classic frames and barrels are still made in Germany, but the US now makes slides.

The 228, 225, 220 and older 9mm 226s have slides made of stamping with a welded on nose and breech block held in with roll pins. This may sound horrifying, but made for a slightly less top heavy gun than the newer ones, like the 229, which has a slide machined out of stainless billet.

The change was made mostly to add mass to the .40 slides, and the stamped slides are still being produced for certain models, like the 220s.

There have been minor issues with both designs, the most recent being the abrasive slide finish damaging the outside of the carbon steel barrels. This has apparently been solved. On the old guns, roll pins would occasionally come loose, but this was pretty rare, and fixable.

I had a 225, and liked it well enough.

TheEgg · March 4, 2005, 04:10 PM

The big difference between the 239 and th 228 are, of course, the capacity. The 239 with standard mags is 8+1, the 228 is 13+1 -- and you can easily get reliable 15 round magazines.

The size and weight of the 228 is a little bit bigger of course, mostly composed of a larger grip (single vs dual stack).

I have the 239, used to have the 228, and have the 229 all in 9mm. (The 229 is basically the 228 with a milled slide instead of a stamped slide -- adds a little bit of weight, as you found out. Some feel that this messes up the balance and thus prefer the 228 instead of the 229 -- just personal preference, really.) Used to carry the 239, but now it is in the safe in favor of the 229. Not because there is anything wrong with the 239, far from it, but I find that I like the 15 round capacity vs. the 8.

BUT-- if money is a problem -- get that 239 and don't look back, it is one fine concealed self defense piece, that anyone should feel good about carrying. If the extra capacity is important enough to you to spring for the extra money, pick up the 228.

Handy · March 4, 2005, 04:14 PM

The 225 and 239 are almost the same size.

sthsquid · March 4, 2005, 05:44 PM

Good info here.

I plan to use it both for just plain shooting and CCW, at least potentially. That is what is attracting me to the 225/239 - slimmer butt. I really am not big on "capacity" - sure it's nice to have but if I need more than 7 or 8 rounds I am in some serious doo-doo which a few extra shots may not be able to extricate me from anyway (of course I know it's POSSIBLE those could be the rounds that save my life, so I am playing a betting game here as we all do).

That all being said, the 228 wasn't all that much thicker than the 239, but it was more $$. One thing I like about the 239 is the rounded trigger guard, seems for concealment that would be better.

Yeah I called CDNN and they were out of 225s.

How do you guys feel about buying site unseen over the internet? The store I was in today charges $20.00 for a transfer and the best deals seem to be on the web......

Handy · March 4, 2005, 05:56 PM

All internet deals should involve a couple day's inspection period.

I've done it countless times with great results.

JimW · March 4, 2005, 06:48 PM

Don't worry about the P228 costing more then the P239---also sells for more too. Really little difference in concealment from the 2 depending on your size--only .25" on length and 2 oz. IMO I'd go for the P228 for added capacity and it's 1 of the finest 9mm there is.

March 4, 2005, 02:55 PM	#1
sthsquid Senior Member Join Date: February 7, 2005 Posts: 125	comparing Sig's I have yet created for myself yet another dilema. I had it all narrowed to....and then I picked up a.......well it's a long story..... Anyway, is there any real difference in quality/shootability between the German made sigs (228,226,225 etc.) and the american made ones - specifically the 239 series? I gotta go used no matter what, but the 239's are in the low 4's and the 22whatevers are 500 and up. They both held well in the store, but of course the guy was recommending the 228. He tried to explain the difference in the machining of the slide and why the German ones are lighter (which they are, but not a great deal in my estimation). Haven't heard anything bad about any Sig's, really, but for those who own or have shot both, are the 228's etc. worth the extra $$ in your opinion? __________________ Study men. A gun is only a tool, you can master a gun if you have the knack. It's harder to learn men.

March 4, 2005, 03:29 PM	#4
rellascout Junior member Join Date: September 2, 2004 Posts: 2,435	All Sigs are Quality. Where are you located in the country? I got a Sig certifed Pre Owned for $399 Plus $10 shipping and $15 transfer fee from CDNN. It is a West Germany Sig with nite site which work but are a little dim. $500 is high unless you are in a non-gun friendly state like CA, MD or MA. The only real downside of the 239 is the capacity versus the P228, P229 and P226. The P226 can hold 17 and the P229 & P228 can hold 15 rounds of 9mm. What caliber are you looking for? Rellascout

March 4, 2005, 03:38 PM	#5
sthsquid Senior Member Join Date: February 7, 2005 Posts: 125	I assume cpo is "certified pre-owned" (I know dumb question). I will check it out. Yes, I live in a relatively "gun-unfriendly" state (CT), though I guess not as bad as MA or CA. I really kind of have my heart set on a 225, but I really want to at least hold one first and nobody around here has any. But I also really liked both the 228 and the 239 when I checked them out today. Caliber. I am open to either 9mm or 40 - 9mm for economy, maybe a little less weight and recoil. Of course the 40 for the extra little "stopping power" insurance, which I really don't want to place a disproportionate amount of weight on with my decision. __________________ Study men. A gun is only a tool, you can master a gun if you have the knack. It's harder to learn men.

March 4, 2005, 04:10 PM	#11
TheEgg Senior Member Join Date: December 19, 2001 Location: TEXAS, ouside of Dallas. Posts: 374	The big difference between the 239 and th 228 are, of course, the capacity. The 239 with standard mags is 8+1, the 228 is 13+1 -- and you can easily get reliable 15 round magazines. The size and weight of the 228 is a little bit bigger of course, mostly composed of a larger grip (single vs dual stack). I have the 239, used to have the 228, and have the 229 all in 9mm. (The 229 is basically the 228 with a milled slide instead of a stamped slide -- adds a little bit of weight, as you found out. Some feel that this messes up the balance and thus prefer the 228 instead of the 229 -- just personal preference, really.) Used to carry the 239, but now it is in the safe in favor of the 229. Not because there is anything wrong with the 239, far from it, but I find that I like the 15 round capacity vs. the 8. BUT-- if money is a problem -- get that 239 and don't look back, it is one fine concealed self defense piece, that anyone should feel good about carrying. If the extra capacity is important enough to you to spring for the extra money, pick up the 228. __________________ NRA Lifer. Texas State Rifle Assn. If it goes "BOOM", I like it!

March 4, 2005, 05:44 PM	#13
sthsquid Senior Member Join Date: February 7, 2005 Posts: 125	Good info here. I plan to use it both for just plain shooting and CCW, at least potentially. That is what is attracting me to the 225/239 - slimmer butt. I really am not big on "capacity" - sure it's nice to have but if I need more than 7 or 8 rounds I am in some serious doo-doo which a few extra shots may not be able to extricate me from anyway (of course I know it's POSSIBLE those could be the rounds that save my life, so I am playing a betting game here as we all do). That all being said, the 228 wasn't all that much thicker than the 239, but it was more $$. One thing I like about the 239 is the rounded trigger guard, seems for concealment that would be better. Yeah I called CDNN and they were out of 225s. How do you guys feel about buying site unseen over the internet? The store I was in today charges $20.00 for a transfer and the best deals seem to be on the web...... __________________ Study men. A gun is only a tool, you can master a gun if you have the knack. It's harder to learn men.

March 4, 2005, 03:13 PM	#2
WillBrayjr Junior member Join Date: September 26, 2004 Location: Northern Indiana Posts: 1,881	The quality is equal for all Sigs. The only advice I can give is to buy the model that fits your hand and wallet.

March 4, 2005, 03:13 PM	#3
AZta2guy Senior Member Join Date: October 29, 2004 Location: Behind the Lines in Cali Posts: 114	I happen to own 228 220 and 226 navy. I bought the 228 and the 220 used. No problem what so ever. If you can I would ask your dealer about getting you a cpo. The two I have are great. I paid the extra and got collector grade. essentailly one that had very very little wear and tear. No holster marks on the slide. The 239 is a good peice too. I do not own, but my shooting buddy has one that I play with every so often. IMHO you can not go wrong with any of the p series sigs. If you are going used though I would look seriously into the cpo ones. You can look up the info on the sig site. Aim straigth and have fun Jon

March 4, 2005, 04:02 PM	#6
rellascout Junior member Join Date: September 2, 2004 Posts: 2,435	I would give CDNN a call. They have FFLs on file and they only charge $10 to ship it. FFLs charge $15 to $45 to to do the transfer depending on the state. You pay CDNN and 2 to 3 days later the psitol shows up. The following P Series guns are available P228 in 9mm $369 P226 in 40 S&W $389 P229 in 40 S&W $389 P226 in 9mm $369 They had some P225s but they are curently sold out. The P225 is nice. It is not small enough to justify the loss of capacity IMHO. Also +P 9mm is more accurate and almost as effective as the 40 S&W. Rellascout

March 4, 2005, 04:03 PM	#7
MarkSteveND Member Join Date: January 26, 2005 Posts: 54	How would you know if your Sig is the German made or the American made type?

March 4, 2005, 04:04 PM	#8
MoW Junior member Join Date: January 27, 2005 Posts: 1,009	The P225 and P239 are virtually the same size(slightly wider grip on P225). P225 will be worth more now and down the road because there limited in quantity. The P228 ONLY comes in 9mm as opposed to the P229 which is 9mm,.357 sig, and .40. For 9mm, the P228 ranks higher(for most) over the P229 because of the balance. You didn't say what you would be using the gun for---CCW or range or home defense? This could help people recommend better for you.

March 4, 2005, 04:07 PM	#9
rellascout Junior member Join Date: September 2, 2004 Posts: 2,435	Not sure about all models but on my P228 I looked at the date code and the slide says made in W Germany. The other indicator is to look for the Germany proof marks. You could also just give Sig a call and they will tell you where it was made. Rellascout

March 4, 2005, 04:08 PM	#10
Handy Junior member Join Date: August 31, 2001 Posts: 8,785	All the Sig classic frames and barrels are still made in Germany, but the US now makes slides. The 228, 225, 220 and older 9mm 226s have slides made of stamping with a welded on nose and breech block held in with roll pins. This may sound horrifying, but made for a slightly less top heavy gun than the newer ones, like the 229, which has a slide machined out of stainless billet. The change was made mostly to add mass to the .40 slides, and the stamped slides are still being produced for certain models, like the 220s. There have been minor issues with both designs, the most recent being the abrasive slide finish damaging the outside of the carbon steel barrels. This has apparently been solved. On the old guns, roll pins would occasionally come loose, but this was pretty rare, and fixable. I had a 225, and liked it well enough.

March 4, 2005, 04:14 PM	#12
Handy Junior member Join Date: August 31, 2001 Posts: 8,785	The 225 and 239 are almost the same size.

March 4, 2005, 05:56 PM	#14
Handy Junior member Join Date: August 31, 2001 Posts: 8,785	All internet deals should involve a couple day's inspection period. I've done it countless times with great results.

March 4, 2005, 06:48 PM	#15
JimW Junior member Join Date: February 15, 2005 Posts: 75	Don't worry about the P228 costing more then the P239---also sells for more too. Really little difference in concealment from the 2 depending on your size--only .25" on length and 2 oz. IMO I'd go for the P228 for added capacity and it's 1 of the finest 9mm there is.