Glock 23 or Sig p229

[ramair2k]

I am looking to purchase my first gun. I have shot the G23 many times and love it. I have not shot the Sig yet, but plan to head up to the Manchester Firing lane to test it out. Ayone have any advice, pros/cons on the Sig?

Thanks

 

[45collector]

Advice? Get a 1911!

Pro/Con on Sig: Reliable as hell, but uncomfortable grip. (same as Glock though, for me anyhow.)

 

[terraformer]

On a more serious note, weight. That is the biggest difference. I prefer the extra heft and skinnier, elongated grip of the 229. The action is also double/single as opposed to only double which is a plus in my book. So you see on which side I fall in this religious debate...

 

[Raoul Duke]

That's not a choice my friend...just your second and first option respectively. The Sig is a far far superior choice... nuf said.

 

[jkap]

I just bought my first gun last week. I went with the Sig 229. I shot 150 rounds with it on Sunday and love it! Very accurate and much safer than the Glock. Im hooked now and my next purchase is a 1911.

 

[jobowker]

My very first handgun was a SIG 229 in .40 and I still have it. I really want to like Glocks, but the grip doesn't work for me. I can shoot about 100 rounds through a mid size Glock 9mm before I need to put a bandaid on the middle knuckle of my middle finger. I expect my hands to get a little beat up after shooting my .44 Mag, but not from shooting 9mm.

I really like shooting the SIG, and also managed to convert my brother from his HK USP to a 229. My 229 has shot everything from PMC to Wolf without a hiccup.

Cons of the SIG? Price. Fatter grip than a single stack.

For clarification, on the Glock, you can have a pseudo single action. After firing the first round, hold the trigger back, then just release it a little until you feel a click rather than completely letting go of the trigger. Now your next shot will be just like a SA shot.

 

[ochmude]

I've got a Glock 19 (same as Glock 23 but in 9mm), and I absolutely love it. That being said, I would recommend the Sig as well, especially in .40 cal. I've shot the 229 and the G23, the Sig is just more fun to shoot. As a first handgun, you want something that will perform well, as both will, but you also want something that will be fun at the range. In my experience, the Sig has the edge in that regard.

 

[appraiser]

Are Glocks good guns? Yes. Are Sigs better? You bet.

I have a Glock 22, Crimson trace laser, Tactical light, hi cap magazines, I consider it my SHTF weapon. I also own a Sig P225 that I picked up used and it is a whole different gun..

I like the idea of a hammer, I like I can shoot SA/DA, I like the de-cocking mechanism, I like that Sig is down the street and around the corner if I need it repaired.
To be fair Glock stands behind their product too.

If money is tight, get the Glock, if money is no object get a Sig. If it is a close call save some more money and get the Sig. Glocks are a dime a dozen you can always get one later. Glocks are the Toyota of guns, Sigs are a Lexus.

 

[drgrant]

IMO shoot both then decide. Either is a decent choice, but don't go by our word. You need to buy what works -for you-. "On paper" the G23 is going to be way more practical, especially if you're using this as a carry gun, but that doesn't mean it's going to be the right choice.

-Mike

 

[ramair2k]

Thanks for all the responses guys. I am going to rent the p229 at the range and see how it feels. Is the recoil on the sig the same as the glock 23? If I do get the Sig it would be in 40S&W. Also, is the sig a metal frame and not polymeyer(sp) like the glock?

Mike

 

[drgrant]

Thanks for all the responses guys. I am going to rent the p229 at the range and see how it feels. Is the recoil on the sig the same as the glock 23? If I do get the Sig it would be in 40S&W. Also, is the sig a metal frame and not polymeyer(sp) like the glock?

Mike

The P229 will likely "snap" less than the G23 but the muzzle will flip more. It's kinda hard to describe. The reason for this is because the bore axis of the P229 is higher, but the gun is also heavier (to the tune of several ounces more... ) which may reduce the felt recoil. Course if you have strong "oven mitt" sized hands you might not notice these effects as much.

A P229 usually has a stainless upper and an aluminum alloy frame on the bottom- only thing that is plastic on the gun is the grip panels and the mainspring housing/strut underneath it. (older P229s might not even have a plastic strut, not sure... some may have also have had a plastic guide rod, but I've only ever seen
that on my P239. )

-Mike

 

[Brian48]

The G23 I used to own was a fine shooter and was utterly reliable with any kind of ammo, but the grip felt a little to "square" for me. The Sig felt better in my hand, but was a bit on the blocky side for what is supposed to be compact gun.

I'd say go with which ever one feels best in your hands. You really can't lose with either.

 

[ramair2k]

Let me add another one to the mix here. I was also taking into consideration the S&W M&P .40. My brother in law is a cop and hates double action only pistols and says that if I buy this gun I will be making a huge mistake. He likes double then single. I dont have enough experience to tell the difference but would like your oppinon.

 

[drgrant]

Let me add another one to the mix here. I was also taking into consideration the S&W M&P .40. My brother in law is a cop and hates double action only pistols and says that if I buy this gun I will be making a huge mistake. He likes double then single. I dont have enough experience to tell the difference but would like your oppinon.

That's his preference not yours. You have to try different guns and see what works or doesn't work for you.

FWIW, though, if you get an M+P in MA, it will definitely need a trigger job.... the stock trigger is terrible.

-Mike

 

[Palladin]

never fired a Sig229, own a G23 and love it..also own a Browning BDA .45, pre-220....can't get used to the TDA..I like the decocker though

 

[ramair2k]

I hear you. Thats what I keep telling him. I went to the firing range to rent the M&P and they did not have it in their inventory at the time. What works for one may not for the other. I am with you.

Thanks for the help guys. I think I am going to play it safe with the G23 and then add either the Sig or M&P later on when I get some more $$. Wife is gonna hate me once I start spending.

 

[terraformer]

Let me add another one to the mix here. I was also taking into consideration the S&W M&P .40. My brother in law is a cop and hates double action only pistols and says that if I buy this gun I will be making a huge mistake. He likes double then single. I dont have enough experience to tell the difference but would like your oppinon.

The glock is a DAO too. So if you like that, you don't have an issue with DAO like he does. I am not a fan of it either, especially ones without exposed hammers. The whole reason for DAO without safeties and without hammers is to make a gun that when you pull the trigger, it goes bang with no fuss, no muss. When you have cops with varying levels of talent and comfort with guns/shooting, making things as easy as possible is a highly desirable trait. The down side in DAO is every round has the same trigger pull, and you can't have a really light trigger pull ever because you need to cock the hammer (hammerless don't suffer this problem as badly as mechanical hammered guns do). DAK was made to address this to some extent by getting a pull that is similar to a SA trigger weight.

So, what he likes is DA/SA where the first round is double and a stronger, longer pull while all subsequent rounds are single. The nice thing here is a gun without a safety has a much harder trigger pull for a very long travel (the 229 needs to be pulled about ~1/3" and at ~10 pounds of pressure in DA) on that first round, and is therefore more "safe". Also, with DAO and DAK that trigger travel is always long. I don't care for long trigger travel and many, like your friend don't either. In SA, the trigger travel is ~1/8" and the pull weight is ~6 pounds on most handguns, give or take. So you get the relative safety and simplicity of DA on that first shot, but then you get the accuracy and performance of SA on subsequent rounds.

There are also guns like the H&K USP where they have DA/SA with an actual safety (in variants 1-4), but again this complicates things for inexperienced shooters or shooters in stress conditions.

The glock and other DAO are safe too if you keep your hand off the trigger, then fine but sometimes things other than hands/finger touch the trigger. Get a VERY GOOD holster with DAO like a glock and DAK because the trigger pull is much lighter than 10 lbs in order to make it shootable and accurate. Shoot the sig DA and you will know what I mean. The pull is so strong that you will invariably shoot down and to the left because of the force needed to cock the hammer.

Hope that helps explain what the differences are and why they are that way.

 

[mikem317]

I prefer the Sig. It was more accurate for me. I'm certainly not an expert on the matter, but the craftsmanship and materials seem to be of a higher quality in the Sig.

Plus the whole DA/SA versus DAO thing...

 

[ramair2k]

Told you I was new to all this. I didnt even realize that the G23 was DAO. I bet with the glock being DAO, the trigger is still not as tuff as the S&W right? The SIG would be nice, but like guys in the earlier posts said, $$$$ is the biggest factor there. FS gun shop wants 849 for a SIG P220 with factory night sights .40 S&W. 849 is a lot of money compared to the 528 for a glock 23.

 

[terraformer]

Told you I was new to all this. I didnt even realize that the G23 was DAO. I bet with the glock being DAO, the trigger is still not as tuff as the S&W right? The SIG would be nice, but like guys in the earlier posts said, $$$$ is the biggest factor there. FS gun shop wants 849 for a SIG P220 with factory night sights .40 S&W. 849 is a lot of money compared to the 528 for a glock 23.

Right, but the p220 is a .45 full sized frame (like the P226 in a 9 and .40/.357) and the p229 is a medium sized frame in 9 and .40/.357. Plus, that is Sig = new while the glock = used. The glock 23 is a "mid" (glock has reg, compact and uber compact) sized as well. Not sure why you are looking at the 220 now.

 

[Dick Manley]

You will also find a whole lot more accessories for the glock than any other pistol. Mags are a hell of a lot cheaper than most other especially the Smith M&P series at $41 a mag.

-DM-

 

[law dawg]

If you can afford it, the Sig.

My .02.

 

[mikem317]

Told you I was new to all this. I didnt even realize that the G23 was DAO. I bet with the glock being DAO, the trigger is still not as tuff as the S&W right? The SIG would be nice, but like guys in the earlier posts said, $$$$ is the biggest factor there. FS gun shop wants 849 for a SIG P220 with factory night sights .40 S&W. 849 is a lot of money compared to the 528 for a glock 23.

The Sig is available in either DAO or DA/SA. I got the DA/SA.

 

[terraformer]

The Sig is available in either DAO or DA/SA. I got the DA/SA.

It's in DAK, not DAO and I don't believe the DAK model is available in MA because of the AG's whims.

 

[weekendplinker]

I have shot both models & prefer the Sig to the Glock. Have also shot the Sig 239 (single stack) in 40. Nice gun that also comes in 9mm & .357 Sig.

 

[ramair2k]

In my last post I meant to say P229, not P220.

 

[terraformer]

In my last post I meant to say P229, not P220.

OK, makes more sense. I should have realized. BTW: A used sig has gone up in price like $100 this year, so it is crappy time to be buying. For 650 you can get a used p229 while the used glock is $550. A difference, but the $850 price is for new so not fair to compare against used glock. That is definitely high but that is MA for you.

 

[mikem317]

OK, makes more sense. I should have realized. BTW: A used sig has gone up in price like $100 this year, so it is crappy time to be buying. For 650 you can get a used p229 while the used glock is $550. A difference, but the $850 price is for new so not fair to compare against used glock. That is definitely high but that is MA for you.

I stand corrected on the DAK trigger.

Actually, considering Obama looks like he's going to clean house, the time to buy is now. Prices will shift up even before Obama takes office in January in anticipation of more weapons bans.

 

[LT1MCSS]

I would say you can't go wrong with either. I own a Sig 229 and G19 myself. The sig is a .40S&W and the G19 is 9mm obv.

 

[ramair2k]

I can also see stricter laws and regulations coming into effect due to the tragedy in Westwood with the 8 year old boy. The AG and other law makers are gonna have a field day with that one.