I know, I know, get both. But that ain't gonna happen.
However, I'd sure like to hear from members who have both and have shot both and have an opinion about both!
Right now, my heart is set on one of the two (unless something else jumps out at me at the gun store). This purchase is probably gonna be the last for a little while since we have a baby on the way.
The use for this gun won't be for daily carry and will be one to add to my collection or home defense. I already have the glocks taken care of and need another Sig...I'm most likely gonna go with 9mm.
It's probably a dumb question, but I'm really torn between the two.
Posts: 7016 | Location: Right outside Philly | Registered: September 08, 2005
Not gonna be carried and last purchase for a while? (Congrats BTW!)
P226. Be sure to get an SRT. And practice the hell out of that DA to become great with your other pistols. Plus you don't have to deal with the upgrade, and you can't wait for the production to resume.
That said, I really enjoy the P320, whereas I bought the P226 because it was a great price and it was simply a gap in my lineup. I hope to carry the P320, the P226 is just a toy for me.
------------------------------------------------ Charter member of the vast, right-wing conspiracy
I carried a 226 9mm and currently own several 320s. I was later than most to the 320 party. If I were to start my career over today, given the choice between a 226 or a 320, I would go with the 320.
The bottom line is I am more accurate with the 320 than I was with the 226.
Sic Semper Tyrannis If you beat your swords into plowshares, you will become farmers for those who didn't! Political Correctness is fascism pretending to be Manners-George Carlin
Posts: 2038 | Location: Central FL | Registered: September 03, 2008
226. There are some great buys on used 226's right now in .40, under 400 bucks. Down the road, drop in a 9mm barrel and you're g2g in both calibers. If you want to get crazy with it, a .357 sig barrel as well.
Posts: 17136 | Location: Lexington, KY | Registered: October 15, 2006
Tough-one. I own both and enjoy them, but for different reasons. Given your criteria, go with the 226. I like FredWard’s suggestion to purchase a used one in .40. Then when you can afford it, get a Barsto conversion barrel. Congratulations on your new child!
Posts: 627 | Location: San Antonio, TX | Registered: October 10, 2009
I prefer somewhat the P229 to the P226, but the two are more similar than they are different.
I have two P320s (full size .45 ACP and 9mm compact) and two P229s, in .40 S&W and 357 SIG. The recent purchase was a CPO rail-less DA/SA P229 in .40 S&W. It is in beautiful, nearly like-new condition and cost a little less than $500, and I have seen better deals than that on CPO and LE trade-in .40 all-metal SIGs in the past year.
I like shooting all four pistols, but I do feel a greater sense of attachment to the all-metal, hammer-fired P229s. The P320 is a very sweet-shooting striker-fired, polymer-frame pistol and I have tried many including Glocks, Springfield XDs, FNs, HK VP9, M&P Shield (and a few other Smith and Wesson M&Ps) Walther P99 and PPQ.
But to me, a poymer-frame, striker-fired pistol is still a utilitarian weapon. I suppose the same can be said for any pistol, but my feelings for the classic P-series SIGs are different.This message has been edited. Last edited by: pblanc,
I used to have a P228 and recently purchased a P320C. Close enough. The 320's trigger is easier for me to manage than that of the long reach 228, which made me have to hold the gun crooked. I wear a medium glove size. The 320 has been 100% reliable thus far. Just don't drop it.
Posts: 27927 | Location: Johnson City, TN | Registered: April 28, 2012
I have a MK25, Legion, and multiple 320's. They all shoot well. If you take out all the extraneous noise, including the "upgrade", I say get the 320. As a collector of nice things I think everyone should have a 226 variant. As a shooter I find that changing out the grip modules and stippling/grinding/playing with textures/cutouts/stuff, the 320 is tough to beat. Once I found the small grip mods I find the 320 fits my hand and shoots as well as any gun I own. It certainly took over frontline duties from my gen4 G19. (Until this upgrade stuff, I have to admit I still shoot my 320 but it is relegated to range use till the drop safety stuff gets straightened out)
I know this is blasphemy to some but the plastic, striker stuff outshines the old school stuff for me. I like less weight, I like not caring about rough handling/scratches, I like buying new frame for 30 bucks, I like the 320 trigger, I love my 226's but the 320 is a good gun that I can rough handle (but not drop lol) and its modularity makes me not care. That is a good thing.
320. Or both.
Posts: 7457 | Location: Florida | Registered: June 18, 2005
Get a 226 with some g10 checkered or piranha grips, some mags, some ammo and shoot, shoot, shoot. And the short reset trigger is sweet too. Find one with that or add it later - I picked up a p224 sas recently with a trigger reset so short it was scary but great at the same time.
But yeah. I vote 226. My first 226 is the last pistol I would ever part with. Also since your going 9mm, check out a SAO model if you can, I have heard good things. I would have one myself if they made one in 40/357.
Posts: 177 | Location: Virginia | Registered: October 19, 2016
