Quick question if anyone can help please. I just picked up this great condition P226 40cal pistol for $375.00 and my plan is to drop in a .357 barrel since it has the black stainless slide on it.

This pistol has the German Lower and the US upper (correct me if I stated this wrong). I have a NIB set of E2 grips that I went to install and they almost fit but do not “snap” flush to the frame. There is about a 1/64” gap on the right side of the pistol (ejector side).

Can anyone advise if any E2 grip unit will work with the German Lower or if there is a modification I can make to the E2 grips I have work on this pistol?

Thanks - Mark

German or US made frame shouldn’t make any difference. Dimensions are identical for grips purpose. I suspect the problem has to do with the mainspring housing assembly. Your gun, based on SN, is from 2004, which uses the old style mainspring seat and strut (long plastic seat, short strut). The E2 model, which debuted in late 2009, uses a newer style mainspring seat and strut (short plastic seat, long strut). The old assembly might be interfering with proper fitting of the E2 grip.


Mark, see >>this thread<< for comparison between the older assembly (German LDC) and the E2 one (US LDC).

Btw, there is also the original mainspring housing assembly which uses the metal seat. This is found on early SIGs, I think before about 1999/2000. That thing will also interfere with fitting the E2 grip.

Q - Thanks for responding. Guess I should have included a few more pictures with my first post. The photos below show what was on the pistol (sitting to the side) vs. what I changed out that was included in the E2 Grip Kit. I used the same spring.

Your thoughts as to if I am using the wrong parts?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: sigarmsp226,

The one installed in the gun right now is the correct E2 assembly.

For now I will utilize a set of G-10 grips a forum friend kindly gave me with one of my pistol purchases from him .

In fact these feel great on this pistol. May need to leave these on this new member to my small collection.

Now to get out and shoot this .357Sig caliber pistol (dropped a Sig OEM .357 barrel in it). Lord knows I have plenty of ammo now

From what I remember, the E2 grips have those little plastic studs/bumps that go into the grip screw holes on the frame. Is it possible that the upper stud on the right side (where your grip is not wanting to seat) is bent/deformed?

The E2 grips I am familiar with don’t have a bump or stud on the inside to fit into the threaded grip screw hole (circled).

They do have four holes that the raised portions around the frame holes must fit into for the panel to fit flush properly.
As I recall, I had a similar fit problem with E2 grips (a long time ago), and it was just necessary to wiggle them around until the frame hole raised portion aligned properly with the hole in the grip. Adding a bit of finger pressure may be necessary to get them mated properly.

Sigfreund and MacGyver - I will give this a try tomorrow. I am away from the house today but will be back tomorrow morning.

Thanks guys for offering up your ideas/suggestions. I am excited to give this a try. Update forthcoming tomorrow. Mark

Sigfreund - If you could see me now you would see me doing my HAPPY DANCE.

Thank you Sir again for your help. I tried what you recommended and after about 15-20 seconds of holding pressure and manipulating the E2 grip, it SNAPPED into place.

Thanks again for taking time to post your recommendation. I love the E2 grip because my hands are small and my grip is not as strong as it used to be. Now to get this new addition to the range.

Glad it worked for you.
And I’ll give credit to MacGyver because his comment prompted me to look at an E2 grip and then everything came back to me.