How long will the sig p226/229 be produced?

M

M3rinec0rps

Inactive
The sig sauer p220/226/228/229 series have been around since the 70s, before the rise of the ever detestable (imho) Glock. Since this black block became popular the beautiful sig lineup seems to be losing popularity. I was thinking about getting a p229 SAS gen 2, but I am not sure if it is worth it if the model is discontinued. I have a S&W 659 stainless and parts are SO hard to find since its production was halted. I really don't want that annoyance again. Any input would be nice. Thanks!
 
I doubt they are going any where anytime soon. Not to mention that there is a huge supply of factory and aftermarket parts.

Parts produced today fit right onto my West German Sig flawlessly.
 
I have a S&W 659 stainless and parts are SO hard to find since its production was halted.
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Although nothing has ever broken on my Smith 659 (I've had it since 1988), I routinely check for parts and parts sets (just in case), and there seems to be plenty out there. Sometimes there are tons of them; other times specific parts can a little hard to find, but because there were so many used by officers, you generally can find parts for these guns. I suspect it will be the same for the P226/229's for many many years to come.
 
Hmm...well, you may be right about the aftermarket parts for the 226/229. Also, the other possible addition to my collection is the Cz 75 compact. However, I heard that they discontinued a bunch of their metal frame guns and spend more time on their polymer framed guns. I personally can't tolerate polymer on my guns so I am always bringing this question upon myself (just substitute Cz 75 for sig p229).
 
I happen to have a S&W 659 in like new condition and I think it would still shoot great even if a Mack truck ran over it, although we'll never know for sure!

I think S&W Management had their "H's" up their "A's" when they killed off the 3rd Gen guns in favor of the more profitable M&P's. But I also have a Sig M11-A1, which is pretty close to a P229 SAS Gen 2, that I think is just one fantastic gun, and a long as Sig has their Custom Shop in business to keep these "P" guns tuned up & working great, I think we're OK! And I feel the same way about CZ and their Custom Shop. BTW if you find a lightly used M11-A1, you'll probably save yourself quite a bit of $ over the cost of a new P229 SAS Gen 2.
 
I was thinking about getting a p229 SAS gen 2, but I am not sure if it is worth it if the model is discontinued.
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The amount of parts might decrease, but usually when something is discontinued and demand is still present the price will usually increase. :cool:
 
You're talking about what is probably one of the most prolific designs of the latter 20th Century and into today, in fact especially today with the Cohen model for SIG of pushing large quantities of product to vendors. Even if production were to somehow stop completely today, the used market is flooded with used SIGs. You could literally buy multiple replacement pistols from which you could strip parts as they broke and the guns would likely keep working for your entire life, as well as the lives of your children and maybe even grandchildren. But you don't even need to worry about that because there's no evidence to suggest that SIG will stop making the classic P series in the near future. It's a fairly irrational concern.

Also, the other possible addition to my collection is the Cz 75 compact. However, I heard that they discontinued a bunch of their metal frame guns and spend more time on their polymer framed guns. I personally can't tolerate polymer on my guns so I am always bringing this question upon myself (just substitute Cz 75 for sig p229).
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I'm not sure where you're hearing these rumors, but they're just wrong. You're getting some pretty bad intel.
 
Of all the handguns I own, I've only had ONE of them break - Taurus PT-99. Even that one could be fixed so that it would be usable again.

I think my S&W 659 will out-live cockroaches even well after a future nuclear holocaust. It's about the last gun I worry about ever needing to fix.

I have a Remington 1858 (original) that can still be fired; a Colt 1st Gen SAA 45 that can still be fired; and a Swiss M1882 that is mint and will probably be perfectly serviceable 200 years from now even with occasional use.

Now, the Smith 659's are over-engineered 9mm solid stainless steel bricks. Unless it finds its way to the bottom of the sea or a gun-banning smelting pot, I have no doubt that it will be fully serviceable long into the future. Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if some of these guns built within the last 30 years or so last 1000 years or more.
 
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I have a S&W 659 stainless and parts are SO hard to find since its production was halted.
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This is why I don't buy out of production guns that I plan to actually use. I would love me some 3rd gen S&W autos, but when parts may become impossible to find, I really have no interest. Still cant understand why S&W dropped those guns, people are still buying DA/SA Sig's, HK's, and Beretta's just as much as ever. Though S&W hasn't been known to make the best business decisions over the years

Of all the handguns I own, I've only had ONE of them break - Taurus PT-99. Even that one could be fixed so that it would be usable again.

I think my S&W 659 will out-live cockroaches even well after a future nuclear holocaust. It's about the last gun I worry about ever needing to fix.
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That doesn't count parts that need regular replacing, like recoil springs or trigger return springs, both which should be switched out every few thousand rounds. Trigger return springs are the weak point of any DA/SA auto, they can and will break with enough use. Not to mention extractors or even firing pins, which are not all that uncommon to go bad on guns that see use.
 
I wish I would have bought a couple hundred SIG P228s 20 years ago.

IMHO you have absolutely nothing to worry about wanting to buy a new P226/P226. The death of metal frame hammer fired pistols has been greatly exaggerated by some.

If I did hear that SIG was discontinuing the P226 I would buy a BUNCH of them, probably the MK25.
 
M3rineCorps:

Firing a 1911 in my Navy days was special to me, big fan of them. Since then, have fired several 1911's that belong to friends. Why I don't own one yet is beyond me .....

However - found a good deal on a West German P226 and, after getting a feel for it, I'm not in such a big hurry to own a 1911. Do you see the point I'm trying to make? After finding the right grips, the 226 is like a handful of love. Doubt I will ever part with it.

Personally, I see no cause for concern of discontinuation or parts availability.

Curious: have you ever fired a SIG Sauer P series anything?
 
@Chadio
Yes I very much like shooting the P-series Sigs. I own a p220 and a p239 (trading for a 228/229 SAS gen 2). I would personally choose any sig P-series gun over any of my walthers or S&Ws. Nothing feels nicer to me than a sig.
 
I'd not be surprised at all if they were discontinued. I think there will always be a place for the steel framed classic semi-auto pistols. I've never seen any of the aluminum alloy framed guns as anything more than utilitarian designs meant to save weight over steel. The plastic guns don't look a bit worse, but they do a better job and cost less than what the alloy framed guns were designed to do.

Don't get me wrong, the 226 is my favorite DA/SA design and I don't plan on selling mine. But I believe that design is in its twilight. Ruger and S&W were once big players in that field and no longer make anything similar. If/when the military switches away from the Beretta it will be discontinued. I don't think the Sig design will stay around after that either.
 
If/when the military switches away from the Beretta it will be discontinued. I don't think the Sig design will stay around after that either.
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I disagree. The P series are still Sig's top sellers, same with the M9/92 for Beretta. Along your lines of logic, S&W would have stopped making revolvers a looooong time ago.
 
...The P series are still Sig's top sellers, same with the M9/92 for Beretta. Along your lines of logic, S&W would have stopped making revolvers a looooong time ago.
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They are still the top sellers, but don't be surprised if that starts to change in the next couple of years.

It's pretty obvious that most gun makers are moving toward striker-fired, polymer framed guns. SIG has already made the jump. H&K is doing it. FNH is doing it. Walther does it. I won't be surprised to see CZ do it -- as they're already making guns with polymer frames (and the CZ-100 was striker-fired) -- I think CZ will be the last to go that route.

Generally speaking, the striker-fired guns run just as well, the triggers are just as good, and they cost a lot less to make (and typically, they sell for a bit less.) They seem to hold up to rough use at least as well as most metal guns. There will still be steel and alloy guns in our future, but they will be costly.

Will the these "plastic wonders" last as long? Hard to say, but it's really a silly question when you think about it. We don't buy things to create heirlooms; they become heirlooms because they're used and loved.
 
Will the these "plastic wonders" last as long? Hard to say, but it's really a silly question when you think about it. We don't buy things to create heirlooms; they become heirlooms because they're used and loved.
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How long a gun will last is a very important issue for some. We don't know if or when the government will outlaw them; or outlaw buying new ones (like Canada). At some point, what we have may be all we get. That was certainly the case with machine guns. Which machine guns are still purring along with little or no difficulties today? It's been nearly 30 years since a new machine gun touched civilian hands. What machine guns will be purring along after another 30 years; 60 years.....?
 
I personally do not see them going away for a long time. They are still some of Sigs top selling guns and even with the success of the new P320.

There are in my opinion 2 factors that could spell the end of the P series guns.
#1 is sales. If they don't sell they will be replace with something that does. #2 is the tooling to make them.

#2 cannot be underestimated. Sig stopped producing carbon steel slides in Germany because the tooling used to make those slides were at their end of life. They could modify existing tooling in the US to mill P series slides like they were already doing for the P229 IIRC. This cost less than buying new tooling.

If the machinery for the manufacturing of the alloy frame meets its useful end of life and the poly offering are selling better with higher margins the classic P series lines could still be discontinued even if they are selling well. IMHO. One of the things which makes them profitable is that the tooling is paid for, the all use the same same tooling and they share parts which adds to the economy of scale. If they had to replace a major part of the tooling it could be more than they could expect to recoup.

I personally am not worried about it. There are so many of them already in existence that there will be quality Sigs of almost all vintage around well after I am nothing more than worm food. Plus I have pretty much have every Sig I want. ;)
 
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Have never really payed attention to the p228. From just a quick look at the photos, it seems a lot like my p239 SAS Gen. 2, m/b smaller. All my SIG's seem sturdy enough to use as hammers. And, they are great to shoot.
 
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