West German SIG 226

[Harabec Weathers]

So I'm just about dead-set on buying one very soon, and if only out of curiosity, I was wondering whether anyone has any personal experience with the West German SIG 226 that they'd like to share. Trigger, grip, balance, overall feel, carrying, shooting, and so on.

Experiences with the 228, 225, and newer 226es and 229s are welcome, too. What you like about them, what you dislike, what you think could be improved; those sorts of things.

I'd call this thread proposal more of a discussion than an advice-giving. That said, a bit of my background: I'm fairly new to SIG pistols (of the 220 series), as in I have had very little trigger time with them. They fit me well, though, and they point well. I love DA/SA platforms and run exclusively stock triggers on all my handguns.

So yeah, I think that about covers it. Fire away.

 

[Name Taken]

I have a 229 E2 with the SRT trigger.

It's a great handgun. It is "sturdy" to say the least and the parts seem over done. The SRT trigger is very nice once you get used to it. For a house/range gun they are solid. A bit big and heavy for CCW and the E2 grips are very rough on the skin.

Can't really go wrong with them IMHO.

 

[Mark75H]

German 226

The only handgun I've seen passed from hand to hand at a gun range that consistently shot like it was being handled by the same expert marksman.

Taken is probably right about carry ... a little big & heavy.

If I already had everything else I wanted and had an extra $800 cash, I'd have one waiting for me right now.

Nothing else to say.

 

[Gryphon]

West german p228 w/mecgar 15 round mags and night sights.

 

[coopermania]

I own 3 226's a 228 and a 229 with two barrels. All W German, Money well spent.

 

[reddobie0]

I have a P228 west german and p229 and p230 german. Also cant tell you much difference with my other P229 american sig. I mainly bought the P228 west german sig because I used to carry one for work and wanted the more collectible west german. The german P229 is my new duty weapon and the only real difference I notice is my american one has a rail. If you can get the west german.

 

[DuckFoot]

W German 228, us 226 and german 229. 228 is the best of the group. Doesn't get much better.

 

[fivepointstar]

I have a W/G p226, German p228, and W/G P225 all excellent pistols. The story is the quality control is better with german made SIG's.

 

[Bald Fat Guy]

P225's are inherently West German , having never been made in US . Mine has best DA pull of any semi I've used.

 

[Topher]

Love my W German 226. Everyone who handles it want to buy it from me.
You won't be sorry.

 

[Stoveman]

P220, P227, P229 and German P220. Love them all....

 

[rdc]

I've got a WG 225 & 220. My 226 is American frame German slide(?). All have been great. My 226 is about 15 years old though. Maybe they aren' t as good now?
The single stack pistols fit my hands better FWIW. I have average size hands with stubby digits.

 

[hooligan82]

I have a W. German 226 and a W. German 228. I really like both of them but the 228 is my favorite.

Like any other handgun purchase I'd handle and shoot both of them if possible before making a decision.

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[Mark75H]

My wife has Signess and can't turn down a good deal on a Sig (please do not contact her, her side of the safe is FULL!) My cousin has a German 226 ... there's room in there if he ever wants to give it up!

 

[HokieKev]

I have a W/G p226, German p228, and W/G P225 all excellent pistols. The story is the quality control is better with german made SIG's.

How do you know if a 226 is German or American and is there a significant difference?

 

[hooligan82]

From what I read before I bought mine, the West German guns have stamped slides. The US guns have milled stainless slides which are a bit heavier. I've never handled a US gun, so I'm not sure how much heavier they are or if it makes a difference in balance of the gun. If nothing has changed since I bought mine, all of the frames are manufactured in Germany. I believe there is a difference in the extractor as well, but don't remember what that was

The way to tell if the gun was made in west Germany is to look at the bottom front portion of the slide for proof marks. The letters indicate year of manufacture A=0...K=9 there is no I, I'm guessing to avoid confusion with it being the #1. They also have made in west Germany stamped on the right front side of the slide. Below is a picture of my slide.

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[Gryphon]

It's easy mine is actually is stamped "West Germany."

 

[fivepointstar]

How do you know if a 226 is German or American and is there a significant difference?

me...I like older used guns.

the slide and frame are stamped the country of parts mfg. the older older are made and assembled in Germany.

 

[Stoveman]

me...I like older used guns.

the slide and frame are stamped the country of parts mfg. the older older are made and assembled in Germany.

Correct. The ones marked "Germany" were made there but assembled in US so they didn't have to pay to proof them.