As the title implies, I am wondering if my 229 could handle +P+. My assumption is yes, 'cause the gun was made with a slide heavy enough for a .357Sig. What say you?

The +P+ designation has no industry-recognized meaning, so the answer really depends on the specific load. Most American-manufactured +P+ ammunition should cause no problems, at least in moderation. If I had to shoot a lot of the stuff, regardless of what kind, I'd probably use a stiffer recoil spring to reduce slide velocity.

FWIW, the slide of the 9mm P229 is not the same as the slide used with 229s chambered for 357 SIG and 40 S&W. The 9mm slide is lighter. P229s chambered for 357 SIG and 40 S&W also have stiffer recoil springs.

I'm using 127 gr +P+ in my P250. I'll fire out my carry rounds once every couple of months or so. I'd guess I've fired close to 100 rnds, so that's not too difinitive of long term use, but I've had no problems so far.

Given the 229 was originally designed for the .40SW (and is proportionately beefier as a result) it should handle repeated +P+ use without problems.

quote:

Originally posted by sigfreund:
FWIW, the slide of the 9mm P229 is not the same as the slide used with 229s chambered for 357 SIG and 40 S&W. The 9mm slide is lighter. P229s chambered for 357 SIG and 40 S&W also have stiffer recoil springs.

In addition to all that, the 9mm P229 frame is actually a little heavier than the 357/40 frame because its magazine well is a little smaller.

Read your owner's manual.

I wouldn't - besides, why would you want to? Shooting down enemy aircraft with your 229?

I ask 'cause I can get a case or two of Ranger's for a steal.

To sort of build off of sigfreund's and the original post, I wonder if there is any benefit of going the 40S&W 229 converted to 9mm with a Barsto conversion barrel route if you plan on shooting lots of hot +P and +P+ 9mm ammo?

With the stock 40S&W recoil spring and heavier 40S&W slide I am guessing +P and +P+ 9mm in a converted 40/357 229 would have about the same impact as 357sig and 40S&W in terms of wear on the pistol.

There are other aspects of the conversion that make the idea less appealing for a gun used for duty/home defense but I bet it would hold up well.

From Sig's Owner's Manual

Ammunition
Your SIG SAUER pistol will function effectively and safely with a wide variety of commercial and military-standard ammunition. Here are some suggestions that will help you keep your pistol free from ammunition-related problems:
WARNING
READ ANY WARNINGS OR INSTRUCTIONS THAT COME WITH YOUR AMMUNITION.
Always be sure of your target, the area behind your target,and the maximum range of your ammunition.
BE AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS AT ALL TIMES!
SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH CAN OCCUR!
WARNING
Using the wrong ammunition could result in serious injury or death. Catastrophic damage could occur.
1. Use only ammunition of the caliber for which your pistol is chambered. The correct caliber is permanently engraved on your pistol.
2. Use only clean, dry, undamaged new factory-manufactured ammunition.
3. Always use ammunition that complies with the performance standards
established by the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers' Institute, Inc. of the United States (SAAMI).
4. Always inspect your ammunition before use to be certain all cartridges are the correct caliber for your pistol (see 1 above).
5. Keep your cartridges free of oil. Wipe the chamber clean of any oil or preservative before you shoot. Oil in the chamber creates dangerous stresses

USSS/FAM P228s handled the Rem 115 +P+ ammo well enough; that specs at a max of @42,500 psi.

The US military M11s (P228) handled US M882 NATO well enough too. That specs at @42,500 psi too.

The 40S&W specs at 35,000 psi, the 357SIG at 40,000 psi.

I suspect a P229 in 9x19 will handle +P+ as well/better than the P228 did, or the P229 in 40/357 do.

FWIW, tests done by SIG in 2007 showed the DHS issue 155/40 ammo generated faster slide velocities and was harder on the guns than DHS issue 125/357 ammo was.

Some P229s in federal service have fired over 100K rounds. And some have not.

quote:

To sort of build off of sigfreund's and the original post, I wonder if there is any benefit of going the 40S&W 229 converted to 9mm with a Barsto conversion barrel route if you plan on shooting lots of hot +P and +P+ 9mm ammo?

I question the benefit because a 10mm breechface was not designed to shoot a 9mm cartridge.

quote:

Originally posted by sigfreund:
FWIW, the slide of the 9mm P229 is not the same as the slide used with 229s chambered for 357 SIG and 40 S&W. The 9mm slide is lighter. P229s chambered for 357 SIG and 40 S&W also have stiffer recoil springs.

That's right, the P229 40 slide is 14 oz on my postal scale and the P229 9mm slide is 12.6 oz. For reference the HK USPf 9 slide is 12 oz, the Glock 19 is 12.4 oz, the SIG P239 9mm is 11.6 oz and the Glock 26 is 11.4 oz so the P229 9mm has a heavy slide relative to the caliber it can handle the Winchester 127 +P+ with ease.