Call me old school, but......I own a Sig P229 SAS Gen 2. I have .40 cal,and 357sig barrels. I never owned a Sig 9mm pistol.I am looking at the P320, in 9mm. Should I buy a p320 and switch guns? I would be interested in anyone's comments, who have made this switch, and why? Thank you.

I like hammer fired and striker fired guns and own several examples of both. If you can afford it, keep your P229 and buy a P320. If you decide you like the P320 so much that your P229 is no longer relevant, then sell it.

If it's mostly a matter of expanding into another caliber, you can get a 9mm conversion barrel for your P229.

I realize that some people are under tighter financial situations and have to sell/trade one gun to get another. I'll just say P320s are easily had, but a P229 SAS is not; therefore, if you get rid of your P229 for a P320 and later decide the P320 isn't all you hoped it would be, then you'll have a hard time finding a P229 SAS again.

If you are “old” as you say, you, like me, may find that the P320 is an easier gun to shoot well than the Classic line SIGs. Part of the reason the P320s made things easier for me was because before the switch I preferred double action only (DAK) pistols. The effort required the operate the DAK trigger is more than that required by the P320 so even though I did well with the DAK trigger, the P320 simply made it easier.

As for most people who have DA/SA Classic line pistols, the effort to fire the guns in the single action mode is obviously less, so that part isn’t applicable, but there are a couple of other factors to consider.

The first is how the initial double action pull and its significantly different characteristics as compared with single action affects speed and accuracy. One of the things I always liked about double action only triggers was because there was no switching from one mode to another. That’s true of the P320 and all of the guns that have similar triggers: start to finish, all trigger pulls are the same.

The other thing I liked about DAK triggers was that their pull weight was less than the double action pull of DA/SA models. The P320 has an even lighter pull.

Although it may not be a factor depending upon how much use our pistols get, the day will come when the Classic line pistols are no longer supported by SIG, and that day will come before the P320 is abandoned.

The disadvantage of switching is that if you become firmly committed to the P320, it may be difficult to switch back to using Classic line pistols. That could be a particular issue for you because although I have P320s chambered for 357 SIG and 40 S&W for carry and practice, acquiring those guns today is difficult because SIG doesn’t offer them at present. On the other hand, if you’re willing to seek out the necessary conversion parts, they can be used with fire control units and grip modules originally supplied with 9mm P320s.

Agree with Iron Chef. I would not sell a P229 SAS to finance a P320.

The P320 is a good gun. We went to them for work, and they are reliable, modular, and easy to shoot. We switched from the P229, and qualification scores went up across the board. If you're looking at gun ownership from a 100% practicality point of view, it makes a lot of sense. It makes even more sense when you consider them from an agency perspective where you have to be able to accommodate a wide variety of shooters and their particular anatomical structures.

If you enjoy guns for their mechanical craftsmanship in addition to their practical merits, however, the P320 just isn't in the same class as a P229. It's like comparing a Toyota Corolla to a BMW. They both do the same thing, but one does it for a lot more money and with more refinement. The P320 is a well-engineered appliance, whereas the P229 is almost a work of art.

I really like the P320 as a duty gun. For off-duty, where I'm carrying in a variety of different manners, I prefer the longer, heavier trigger pull and exposed hammer of a DA/SA gun without the pre-tensioned striker of a P320. Obviously, YMMV, but something to consider before you make your decision.

I have owned both a 226 and a 320 and I prefer the 226. As others have said the 320 will be around for a long time so maybe hold off till you can buy one with out getting rid of the 229.

I carried a P229 in .40 for a long time. Also shot 3 gun with it. Started to see 12 round capacity was a disadvantage in competition, so I started looking for a 9mm. Started with a SP2022. Worked pretty well. Then tried striker fired. Started with PPQ, then VP9, then P320. Rented others as well. The P320 Carry suited me best. I found I was slightly faster to the first shot (no real difference on follow ups) between the P229 and P320.

So I went from 12+1 to 17+1, the grips is not that much longer, and the gun is a bit lighter. I did miss having the hammer to rest my thumb on while holstering, but now I pocket carry a P365 anyway.

P226, P320 Carry and P229:


P226, SP2022, P320 Carry, P228, P229, P230:


Angles can make differences look more or less pronounced, so judge for yourself which is accurate representation of sizes.

Anyway, I am still emotionally attached to my P229. But it sits in the safe while the P320 comes with me. Though the P365 is always in my pocket.

I own several P229s in 9 and 40, and a couple of P320s in 9 (with one more in background check purgatory). They're all great guns to me, but I have a significantly closer affinity to the P229 than I do to the P320. Frankly even when dealing with a DA trigger I shoot a hammer SIG better than I do either of my current P320s.

As strikers go, I'm always going to be a Glock guy for protection and defense thanks to how ingrained its grip angle is with my noggin, but when it comes to recreational purposes there are other brands that hit the sweet spot better than the P320 has so far done for me to date, namely Canik. But I also shoot my Walther, HK and the CZ strikers slightly better as well. I do like the SIG striker, which is why I have another one coming (admittedly to be a project gun). But I would never choose to keep any of P320s over any of my P229s.

Sir. You have never owned a Sig 9mm pistol? Then you must buy a P226 that came in the yellow or grey cardboard box. Late 80s early 90s German made. And have a blast.

I have never owned a 40 or 357 so cannot speak to caliber. I do, however, own 6 226s in 9mm ranging from West German models to a Legion. It is my preferred platform and one I train with and rely on. I prefer DA/SA and I am not a young man either. On a properly tuned DA/SA (3 of mine have visited Oregon), I do not really feel the trigger difference in a realistic training scenario.

That being said, at a recent event at the SIG academy, I had the opportunity to work with a 320 in several very fun shooting events/simulations. I must say that I really like the pistol. As mentioned above, it has a nice trigger and is quite easy to shoot.

Now- I personally do not like carrying a striker fired pistol so I and not changing on full size. I make a compromise on the 365, but I use a manual safety model. Just me. Lot’s of people carry Glocks and I get it.

I guess it is purely a personal preference.

quote:

Originally posted by sigfreund:
If you are “old” as you say, you, like me, may find that the P320 is an easier gun to shoot well than the Classic line SIGs. Part of the reason the P320s made things easier for me was because before the switch I preferred double action only (DAK) pistols. The effort required the operate the DAK trigger is more than that required by the P320 so even though I did well with the DAK trigger, the P320 simply made it easier.

I’m not sure, but it sounds like you think Double Action Only or DAO, and Double Action Kellerman or DAK are one of the same when they are not.

quote:

I’m not sure, but it sounds like you think Double Action Only or DAO, and Double Action Kellerman or DAK are one of the same when they are not.

I can assure you, Sigfreund knows the difference. He's kind of the resident expert on the DAK trigger around here, and I believe that in his quote above he was clarifying that he was specifically referencing the DAK system, not suggesting that it is one and the same with traditional DAO.

I figured he does know the difference. I guess I misinterpreted it when he said double action only (DAK).

quote:

Originally posted by 92fstech:
I believe that in his quote above he was clarifying that he was specifically referencing the DAK system, not suggesting that it is one and the same with traditional DAO.

Yes, thank you.

The old style or “traditional” double action only (DAO) mechanism is the same as the more common double action/single action trigger except for lacking a decocker and the hammer having no single action cocking notch. The Double Action Kellermann (DAK) mechanism has several significantly different parts, especially the hammer and trigger bar. I usually distinguish the two by using “DAO” or “DAK” as appropriate, but the DAK trigger is indeed a double action only mechanism because, well …, it is a double action trigger and has no single action mode.

I have two Sig P229 SAS Gen 2s along other other Sigs I’m very happy with. I never cared for plastic guns. It’s a matter of personal preference.

quote:

Sir. You have never owned a Sig 9mm pistol? Then you must buy a P226 that came in the yellow or grey cardboard box. Late 80s early 90s German made. And have a blast.

But send it to GGI by all means for a new trigger.

I owned a P320, made before the trigger improvement. I liked it far better than a Glock. But, I carry the P229 Legion in 357 Sig, and sold the P320.

At some point I might try a 9mm conversion barrel. But, for now, I just shoot 40 and 357.

I can’t see a reason to dump a P229 ever.

I've carried all three on duty. I shot the best with the 229. The 226R was too heavy, and I never really shot the 320 enough to make a apples to apples comparison.

I have several classic Sigs, and the newer 320s. I can shoot both well, and DA/SA has some advantages. The P320 full replaced my P226 Allround, though. The weight of the Allround helped with grouping, but the P320 trigger is, IMO, noticeably better. All my Sigs have been worked on at Gray Guns.

I told Bruce, at an Operations Specific Training class, that I sold my Allround. He replied that many shooters have sold their higher end guns and gone with the P320.

Besides shooting, the P320 is so easy to clean, makes my life simpler.

I would not sell a Classic SIG to get a P320 or P365 as both those models sell sub $500, whereas even used P22X's cost more.

I see a price of $409+$19.95 shipping for a fullsize P320 at Battlehawk Armory.

I used wikiarms.com to find this and there are many more shops online selling P320's under $500 as well according to the site.

https://battlehawkarmory.com/p...ign=wikiarmslistings

Or do your own search using gun.deals or wikiarms.com ., they both have apps too

(I'm not associated with any of these websites just pointing out how cheap P320's are)

edit: one edit, I would at least keep the P226/P229 until you shot the P320 enough to see if you like it so much you don't want the older model anymore.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Austin228,