Thoughts on the quality of current production P series (in particular 229 and 226)?

I have a 320, which I got specifically to try a the 320 and to use a red dot sight on (I know, I know, it’s a toomah). I found that my aging eyes liked it. I have several older (2000-2010ish) 229s, but thinking of a new one so I can mount a RDS on.

What are your thoughts on the QC on them, in light of the current 320 concerns?

Thanks

The latest one's I've seen are fine.

I have a brand new P226 40th anniversary and while it is a rattle can, it shoots lights out. I also have a P226 Legion da/sa which is tighter and also shoots great.

I think the classic P-Series are still fine pistols. The German ones are slightly tighter than the US ones, and in general, older beats newer for fit and finish (whether German or US). I don’t like the aesthetics of the new ones (long extractors, gimmicky finishes, busy features) and I don’t like that the MIM parts are made in India, but they’re as reliable and accurate as ever. I haven’t had any issues.

As many threads have suggested for classic P22x pistols, purchase the new optics ready slide for older pistols. I would also purchase a new barrel to retain the original parts operating fit and alignment.

I’m regularly carrying either a P226 40th Anniversary pistol or a German-framed P229R. The latter is indeed a “tighter” gun as noted in posts above. Both are reliable, accurate pistols.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: TheFrontRange,

Thanks for the replies, all!

I have A 2024 P226 "Elite" and it is a very nice gun, and the slide to frame fit is not a rattle can.

I have an optic on my Sig 365, but most of mine don't have optics. My eyes are getting where I may start adding optics to others. I love my P229's.

quote:

Originally posted by MacGyver:
The German ones are slightly tighter than the US ones, and in general, older beats newer for fit and finish (whether German or US). I don’t like the aesthetics of the new ones (long extractors, gimmicky finishes, busy features) and I don’t like that the MIM parts are made in India, but they’re as reliable and accurate as ever. I haven’t had any issues.

I love my classic SIGs, but the old ones weren’t perfect, either. My 1989 CPO West German P226 has the front sight dovetail milled crooked, so the sight sits canted in the dovetail. Not a bent sight (it’s been replaced a couple of times over the years), it’s the dovetail. It shoots great but I have to drift the rear sight all the way to one side to compensate for the canted front sight. Then I have a 1990 W. German P220 whose front sight dovetail is too large, such that the front sight fell out while shooting. SIG back in the day offered to replace the slide, but I didn’t want to lose the matching W. German markings. Again, it shoots great, but I had to peen the inside of the dovetail slot with a punch to grip the sight better (SIG customer service gave me that advice and I did it myself). Finally I have a 1994 P220, transitional gun marked “Made in W. Germany” but with the “W” struck out with a punch and no serial numbers on the slide or barrel, so made in Germany and assembled in NH. The old style flat (forged, pre-MIM) takedown lever sheared in two pieces while shooting. SIG sent me a new takedown lever and I changed the recoil spring, and again it shoots great since then. So, that makes three out of my nine classic P-series that had some sort of manufacturing defect or parts failure. As great as the guns were/are, they had their issues like anything else.