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Sig P226 and P229
- Thread starter ATN082268
- Start date
buckhorn_cortez
New member
Go to the SIG website and look under "Specifications" for both guns. You'll see the P229 is about 3/4 to 1-inch shorter in length - depending upon the 226/229 model comparison - with a beavertail, without a beavertail, etc.; and the P229 will be slightly shorter.
The P229 would be a bit easier to conceal as it is slightly smaller, both work exactly the same for reliability and accuracy.
The P229 would be a bit easier to conceal as it is slightly smaller, both work exactly the same for reliability and accuracy.
Uncle Malice
New member
Length, Height, Capacity.
Everything else is the same.
I love both. The 226 is my favorite handgun of all time, period.
Everything else is the same.
I love both. The 226 is my favorite handgun of all time, period.
While the dimensional differences are pretty small, the P229 just FEELS better. I have both and my P226 is in .40 and the 229 is 9mm. The recoil is very similar for each. The P229 just feels better balanced to me. Both of mine are all stainless steel and I can't imagine anyone wanting to tote one around on a daily basis.
buckhorn_cortez
New member
Capacity.
Depends upon the P226 model. For example, the Combat, Extreme, and other P226 models with shorter grip frame take the same 15 round magazine as the P229 - while models like the TacOps take the 20 round magazine.
SIG makes so many variations of both models that you really have to do individual comparisons as the specifications are so variable.
For example, the Combat, Extreme, and other P226 models with shorter grip frame take the same 15 round magazine as the P229
No they don't. It's not the same magazine, same capacity yes. Also the grip frame is no shorter on those particular models.
The P226 started out as a 15 rd 9mm, sames as the Beretta M9. Over time as more handguns have been released that pushed capacity further the magazines have been redesigned (typically the followers) to allow greater capacity to compete with other manufacturers. The TacOps magazine has a baseplate that extends below the frame to allow 20 rds. The MecGar 18 rd magazines extend the tiniest bit below the frame and fit 18 rds. The P229 is a modified P228 which was the same general size and originally held 13 rds. Again, the magazines were redesigned and 15 rd MecGar mags can be had or the factory 15 rd mags (the P229-1 is also a bit wider than the P228 allowing for greater capacity, or so I have been told).
The key to this though is that the P229 standard flush fitting 15 rd mags will NOT fit in a P226. The magazine body isn't long enough to lock into place or have rounds stripped into the chamber.
Uncle Malice
New member
Depends upon the P226 model. For example, the Combat, Extreme, and other P226 models with shorter grip frame take the same 15 round magazine as the P229
Um. No.
There is only 1 226 frame size. The factory mags are 15rd, but MecGar makes flush fit 18rd mags as well as extended 20rd mags.
P229(9mm) mags are 13rd standard(for which mecgar made 15rd mags), but they are now all standardized on the P229-1 (old 40s&w) frame which uses 15rd mags.
buckhorn_cortez
New member
There is only 1 226 frame size. The factory mags are 15rd, but MecGar makes flush fit 18rd mags as well as extended 20rd mags.
Ummm...well then the specifications on the SIG website are incorrect because they have a variety of different specifications depending upon the model - including length and magazine capacity.
That's why I quoted exact models previously - look for yourself.
If you look at the P226 TacOps / TacOps FDE / TacOps threaded barrel
Length: 8.2 inches
Height: 5.5 inches
Mag capacity: 10 or 20 rounds (9mm)
SIG includes the 20 round magazines with the three TacOps models.
P226 Combat
Length: 7.7 inches
Height: 5.5 inches
Mag capacity: 10 or 15 rounds (9mm)
As I have said previously - you have to look at whether the gun has a beavertail or not to evaluate the overall length.
The P226 models with beavertails have an 8.2 inch overall length while the ones without beavertails are 7.7 inches.
The P229 with a beavertail is 7.4 inches - without a beavertail the P229 is 7.1 inches.
That was my point to the OP - you have to look at, and compare, specific model specifications between the P226 and the P229 before you get the full picture of the different OVERALL SIZE DIFFERENCES between the P226 and the P229.
For example - if I compared the overall length of a P226 without a beavertail (7.7 inches) to a P229 with a beavertail (7.4 inches), there is only a 0.3 inch difference.
You need to compare the same features between the two (with or without a beavertail) to get an accurate picture of overall length differences.
And - then there are the TacOps models with the 20 round magazines....
Me? I have the P229 TacPac that came with SigLite sights, STL900 light/laser, short reset trigger, really cheesy plastic holster, two 15 round magazines, and a speed loader - and then I purchased another six, 15 round magazines.
Length from front of the slide (or barrel for the threaded case) to rear of the slide (or beavertail) has nothing to do with grip height which in turn relates to magazines and magazine capacity. I've already explained why the magazine capacity differs between models of P226. It's not because of changes in the frame, but in the magazines themselves.
Last edited:
Uncle Malice
New member
This is what you said:
and it's wrong. No P226 can accept any P229 magazine. You can use P226 mags in a P229, it will just stick out a little (kind of like a Glock 17 mag in a Glock 19).
other P226 models with shorter grip frame take the same 15 round magazine as the P229
and it's wrong. No P226 can accept any P229 magazine. You can use P226 mags in a P229, it will just stick out a little (kind of like a Glock 17 mag in a Glock 19).
bamaranger
New member
More
Depending on the vintage of the P226, there could be a significant difference in the construction/mfg between assorted P226's and the P229 as well.
All P229's, from the onset, about mid 90's, , were done with milled steel slides, one piece, with tunnels/ports, dovetails cut into same. This was done, at least my understanding was, to accomodate the higher breech pressures of the .40 SW cartridge, which hit the market at about the same time. The frame/lower was typical SIG format of machined alloy. It did not take to long for the P229 to be offered in 9mm either, with the same milled steel slide construction.
By contrast, in those days, the P226, and its big bore counter part, the P220, and the compact P228-9mm, (same size as the P229), were done with stamped and pinned slides. The slide "housing" (my term, not SIGS) was indeed a steel framework , but the firing pin and safety mechs were contained within the slide "housing" by a pinned in place breechblock. The lower/frame was the standard alloy arrangement.
There was a noted difference between the extractor arrangement from the pinned v. the milled slides as well. None of that effected performance, but the assembly was quite different.
Nowadays, SIG offers many models, and I believe the stamped/pinned slides are defunct and all models get machined slides. I am not certain of that. The P226 in .40 gets a machined slide for sure, and I am of the impression that two manufacturing techniques was considered impractical (likely expensive) and the older pinned slides are no more. That is neither good nor bad, but changes the feel of the new guns for anybody accustomed to the balance of the older pinned/ stamped P226's and P228's.
Depending on the vintage of the P226, there could be a significant difference in the construction/mfg between assorted P226's and the P229 as well.
All P229's, from the onset, about mid 90's, , were done with milled steel slides, one piece, with tunnels/ports, dovetails cut into same. This was done, at least my understanding was, to accomodate the higher breech pressures of the .40 SW cartridge, which hit the market at about the same time. The frame/lower was typical SIG format of machined alloy. It did not take to long for the P229 to be offered in 9mm either, with the same milled steel slide construction.
By contrast, in those days, the P226, and its big bore counter part, the P220, and the compact P228-9mm, (same size as the P229), were done with stamped and pinned slides. The slide "housing" (my term, not SIGS) was indeed a steel framework , but the firing pin and safety mechs were contained within the slide "housing" by a pinned in place breechblock. The lower/frame was the standard alloy arrangement.
There was a noted difference between the extractor arrangement from the pinned v. the milled slides as well. None of that effected performance, but the assembly was quite different.
Nowadays, SIG offers many models, and I believe the stamped/pinned slides are defunct and all models get machined slides. I am not certain of that. The P226 in .40 gets a machined slide for sure, and I am of the impression that two manufacturing techniques was considered impractical (likely expensive) and the older pinned slides are no more. That is neither good nor bad, but changes the feel of the new guns for anybody accustomed to the balance of the older pinned/ stamped P226's and P228's.