I bought a P229 when they first came out in 357Sig and love it. It has the 'combat sights, white circle front sight with white square rear, a Lasermax guide rod laser, a new Sig 40S&W barrel, SRT as well as Houge finger grips. Mine is the older model without a rail.

Yesterday I found P229R Elite in nos condition. Zero wear anywhere, 3 12 round phosphate mags with a Sig 357Sig barrel as well as a Sig 40S&W barrel. Nothing on this P229R Elite shows any sign of being used or carried. It even has the original case. Neither barrel has any wear either. The case states it originally came in 357Sig.

I could buy the P229R Elite for $719 which according to online prices seems very good. I could either keep my P229 or sell it to recoupe some of the P229R Elite purchase price.

But what would I actually gain with the P229R Elite over my P229 except for the rail and the front slide serrations?

Unless you have something you want to mount on the rail, not much. IMO, front serrations serve no useful purpose and can be a safety hazard when press checking a loaded pistol.

For me, the beavertail doesn't matter and I use skateboard tape on the front strap of all my non-checkered pistols.

Personal preference has a part as well. I prefer my pistols with no rails. I have a 1996 no-rail P229 .40 that is one of my favorites. Over 47,000 happy rounds through it.

Having stated my own preferences, I would never criticize another shooter for buying whatever pleases them. Good luck on your decision.

God Bless...

The Elite offers a few things the standard model doesn't which I think are a big plus. One is a rail, so you can attach lights or whatever to the front which makes it in my opinion, for example,a better bedside gun. You get an upgrade, I believe depending on which iteration, with the grips. Whether that means anything to you or not is a personal choice but depending on what they are-wood,etc., you could always sell them to recoup funds and standard grips are cheap to replace them. I like the beaver tail as I can get a higher hold on the gun, which reduces felt recoil for me. You also gain that extra barrel,even if you have one. If you don't want it, you could sell it to recoup some of your money back. That is a great price for the quality and items you get.

If you don't like rail and beavertail, and never do press checks, then there is no point of going with the Elite.

quote:

Originally posted by 12131:
If you don't like rail and beavertail, and never do press checks, then there is no point of going with the Elite.

Q, doesn't the Elite have the fully adjustable rear sight also?
I had one and vaguely remember an upgraded rear sight. Maybe I'm wrong.

quote:

Originally posted by joatmonv:
Q, doesn't the Elite have the fully adjustable rear sight also?
I had one and vaguely remember an upgraded rear sight. Maybe I'm wrong.

Only the Elite Dark had that combat adjustable rear sight. Maybe that's the model you had. Other Elites (the Enhanced Elite, the full stainless [SSE] and the alloy stainless [ASE]) have the fixed rear sight.

quote:

Originally posted by 12131:

quote:

Originally posted by joatmonv:
Q, doesn't the Elite have the fully adjustable rear sight also?
I had one and vaguely remember an upgraded rear sight. Maybe I'm wrong.

Only the Elite Dark had that combat adjustable rear sight. Maybe that's the model you had. Other Elites (the Enhanced Elite, the full stainless [SSE] and the alloy stainless [ASE]) have the fixed rear sight.

AND that particular adjustable rear was not the best quality. A Dark Elite P229 was the first Sig I purchased.

I’ve got both, though in 9mm. Like an idiot, I sold my 357 elite. The elite looks a whole lot more tacti-cool than the standard. The beaver tail is nice, as well as the short reset trigger in the elite, but you already have that in the standard. I shoot my elite better, though it’s probably all in my head telling myself that I SHOULD shoot it better.

I’ve turned my standard 229 into a 228.5 (at least that’s what I call it). 229 lower with a folded 228 upper. I wanted the updated 15 round mags, and to share them between guns.

Depending on what vintage 229/357 you have, it may have the older mag well that is more 226 like and straight walled, the elite should be the newer 229-1 style profile. So if mag cross compatibility is an isaue, take that into consideration… 12131 may have a better date range on that as he’s forgot more 228/229 knowledge than I will ever know.

Figure the value of The elite may go up, especially if it started life as a 357, and not a converted 40. I know mine was worth more because of that.

I feel like my non rail pistol does conceal carry better, but for bumps in the night the flashlight rail is nice.

quote:

Originally posted by fullmann:
Depending on what vintage 229/357 you have, it may have the older mag well that is more 226 like and straight walled, the elite should be the newer 229-1 style profile. So if mag cross compatibility is an isaue, take that into consideration… .

The 229 in .357/.40 mag has always been been the same (from start until current), with that wider bottom half and tapering on top. So, there is no concern of cross compatibility issue.

Only the 229 in 9 is when you need to make sure of compatibility. The old 229(9) with Legacy slide uses the old straight wall mag of the P228. The newer one with long external extractor uses the 229-1 wider bottom mag which will not fit in the old gun.

Well, I threw myself a curveball today in that I stopped at another LGS. They have a P220ST (all black) in 45ACP from 2018 or 2019 so it has the rail. It’s a Sig CPO and looks brand spanking new in its red box new with two 8 round 220-1 stainless mags.

It’s the same price ($719) as the P229. I had a P220 from I think 1990 that I sold to a friend a few years ago. I’ve missed it since and now may get this CPO P220ST.

Life is sometimes unfair.

Nostalgia works...buy it!

quote:

Originally posted by 12131:

quote:

Originally posted by joatmonv:
Q, doesn't the Elite have the fully adjustable rear sight also?
I had one and vaguely remember an upgraded rear sight. Maybe I'm wrong.

Only the Elite Dark had that combat adjustable rear sight. Maybe that's the model you had. Other Elites (the Enhanced Elite, the full stainless [SSE] and the alloy stainless [ASE]) have the fixed rear sight.

It was the Elite Dark and the rear sight was prone to coming loose now that I think about it.
Nice pistol but the rear sight was less than perfect.

Yeah, I have never heard anyone who has owned the Elite Dark to praise that crappy rear sight.

quote:

Originally posted by Nipper:
Life is sometimes unfair.

Nostalgia works...buy it!

That’s exactly what I did today. That beautiful Sig CPO P220ST (all black) came home with me today. It’s in unaired, brand new condition except for a very small mark on the E2 grip wear someone held it. I’m thrilled my ‘Sig family’ is back. P239, P229 and P220. Yes, I know, there’s a P226 in my future at some point. I also sold a beautiful Sig P230SL years ago. I love seeing those but I don’t want to buy another one to replace the one I sold.

^^^ LOL. The Lord works in mysterious ways.

I mentioned nostalgia because I had a recent bout of it myself. My EDC for several years was a Glock G19 I carried in a PJ Holsters IWB holster. Nothing wrong with it, I liked it and shoot it well.

UNTIL...I had a bout of nostalgia recently for my P229 40. Bought it in 1996, put over 47,000 rounds through it and shoot it extremely well. A little bulky in a leather Sparks IWB, so I ordered a Kydex from PJ, just like the one for my G19. The P229 now carries as well as the G19 and is my "new" EDC.

Enjoy your new P220.