I’m building a little Pelican case with a pistol AR and mags, etc. I’d like to drop in a 9mm pistol and some mags as well, and I’m considering a 229, as that’s my bedside pistol and the pistol that I’m very comfortable shooting.

How is the P320 (compact?) in relation to the 229? Is it worth looking at? I don’t find myself very accurate or comfortable shooting Glocks, but I can give the 19 a second look, I guess.

I’m mainly just curious as to anyone’s experience floating between the P320 and the P229...?


Thanks!

The P320 is easy to shoot, and the Compact is about the same size as the P229, but lighter. It doesn't shoot the same; but shoots; it's a different pistol, points naturally.

Think of the P320, in a sense, as carrying the P229 in single action without a safety, but slightly longer pull.

I expect that the P229 is inherently more accurate, but that's for more capable hands to say.

I've got both. The 229 took more practice, the 320 is a natural shooter. If you're putting it in a bag with an AR, weight will matter. Go with the 320.

Size wise the 320 subcompact and 229 are about as close as any two pistols can be in size.

I have a 229R Legacy and 320 Xcompact (which is technically a subcompact) and they are about identical. I'd post comparison pictures if Photobucket would ever start working again.

One's a striker fired plastic pistol, one is aluminum and DA/SA -- if you think pistols with those characteristics could possibly "shoot the same", then I guess these two do as much as any, and more than most.

On the other hand, if you think that in the world of modern semi-auto 9mm compact double stacks, the greatest differentiator there could possibly be is between a plastic striker gun and a metal hammer-fired DA/SA, then...

In other words, I think any other DA/SA gun is going to shoot more like a 229 than the 320 does, so if the reason to NOT use a 229 in this application is to save a little weight, then I suppose a P30 or P250 or any of the other hammer-fired DA/SA plastic guns is going to be the closest.

On the other hand, I have no trouble going from 228 to P320... at the range. But if I had been training with the 228/229 endlessly I'd not choose to have a P320 on my nightstand. When I switched from hammer-fired DA/SA carry guns to striker carry guns, I quit training with the hammer guns. YMMV.

The P320 subcompact is the size of a P224. The P320 Compact is the size of a P229. Mostly.

The size differences has been muddied by Sig rebranding the subcompact as the x-compact, which is not the same as the P320 compact.

I had a 229 9mm and liked it bought holsters for it and then shot my cousin's 320. I sold my 229 and 4 Glock pistols to start a 320 collection. I was going to sell my Comptac concealed holster and my Safariland holster I bought for the 229, but I tried the XCarry in it and with a few minor changes my 320 fit so I was able to keep them and use it for concealed carry. I like the 320 and since the military's choice will last for many years I think this Lego like pistol will be around and many aftermarket products will be made for it. Already have Wilson combat grip modules and really like them. Still have some modified Glocks and will keep them also. I have old 220 in 45 that's my choice if I am going to shoot 45.

I have a full-size 320 (M17) in 9mm and a P229 in .40S&W. The M17 is a great gun to shoot, easy to handle and little recoil. Accurate, too! The P229 is also a real joy to shoot and I'm very accurate with it. IMO, the P229 in 9mm would be a good companion to your P320. Having these two 9mm guns in your stable would be very enviable!!!

Maybe a P2022?

OK, P320 Compact sports a 3.9" barrel and has a "roundish" grip module.
P320 X-Compact has a 3.6" barrel and a "slab-sided" (Glockish) grip module.

If you were to take a poll, I believe most would prefer X-Compact.

I'm a Full Size guy and have an X-Five and an X-Five Legion.
And they are both hotrodded, so minimal take-up and over-travel.
So easy to shoot accurately.

As far as the metal frames...
I have a P226 9mm/22LR kit that I have never shot.

They point similar to me, which is to say not natural given my Glock-infused tendencies. Recoil is softer with the P229; even my .40S&W P229 compares well to my 9mm P320C. Different triggers; 10lb DA of the P229 is more of a challenge for me, especially given my decades of shooting strikers. I prefer my P320C with the X-frame module; again, more Glock-like.

I like both, but I prefer the classic P-SIG more. My P229s are not anything more than range toys however; if my Glocks were suddenly purged from the universe, I'd have a different perspective and choose the P320C in this dogfight. Like I implied earlier I prefer the same trigger pull each and every time, particularly in a defensive weapon and especially now as I have to deal with increasing arthritis issues in my trigger finger. Your mileage of course can vary.

My department switched from the DA/SA P229 to the P320 a few years back. Qualification scores went up drastically. Guys who used to struggle to qualify with the P229 now qualify sharpshooter or expert.

The P229 has a heavy (but smooth) DA trigger followed by a crisp, light SA. The gun was heavier, and has a pretty girthy grip. The P320 has a light trigger that is the same every shot, is a tad lighter, and has grip module options that allow it to be fit to the shooter's hand.

I like both guns, and like to think that I can shoot them both equally well, but they definitely don't shoot the same.

I have been wanting to reach out to the guys I know who from for the Virginia State Police and ask their opinions on the transition from the P229 DAK in .357sig to the P320.

I have not wanted to bother them with everything going in Virginia in regards to the protests, removing the monuments, etc.

quote:

Originally posted by mrapteam666:
I have been wanting to reach out to the guys I know who from for the Virginia State Police and ask their opinions on the transition from the P229 DAK in .357sig to the P320.

I have not wanted to bother them with everything going in Virginia in regards to the protests, removing the monuments, etc.

I doubt they'd mind talking guns with you...heck, they might appreciate having a normal conversation that doesn't in any way invove the current BS right now.

Our dept., our county Sheriff's dept, and the city dept from the county seat all switched from Classic Sigs to the P320 about 3 years ago. There were DA/SA P220s, and DA/SA P226s and P229s. We are now all carrying P320 Carry and Full-Size models in 9mm. I don't think I've heard a single officer complain about the change...everybody likes the gun, even the guys who like to bitch about everything. Its easy to shoot well, light to carry, and modular so that guys can customize it to their grip...which kinda takes away the excuse to bitch. They're also very reliable as easy to maintain.

The low cost per unit definitely went a long was in convincing the Admins that switching was a good move. Not having to pull the trigger to take to take it down was also a selling point around here, as the long-time Sig culture (and a couple of Glock NDs) has engrained in everybody's mind (right or wrong) that the Glock method is unsafe. The M17/M18 contract sure didn't hurt the ability to sell the idea to the administrators, either.

I personally have been very happy with the gun. If I got my choice of any weapon to carry on duty (within financial reason), I'd keep the P320 I have right now.