There is a lot to unpack here, so I‘ll try to keep it simple and I’ll start with current models that you can buy new. An optics-ready slide (at least in a factory configuration) is limited to the Pro Cut (all) and Legion (some), which are currently the most expensive P229 models. A rail can be found on many models, including the less expensive ones. Your budget concerns won’t force you to eliminate a rail and if you buy a cheaper P229 and decide you really like it, you can always buy a standalone optics-ready slide assembly from SIG later on.

An “Elite” P229 has an accessory rail, a beavertail, and front slide serrations. The beavertail and the front slide serrations are generally what make an “Elite“ model. The P229 “Classic Carry” you found says “Elite” on the slide because those front slide serrations make it an Elite slide. The Legion model is essentially an Elite model with an adjustable trigger, a unique finish, and a silly Legion Club membership. I don’t think any Legion models say “Legion” on the slide, but they do have that stylized L logo on the grip panels and maybe also on the top surface of the slide.

The vast majority of P229s are DA/SA. As far as I know, the only SAO P229 is the Legion model (which also comes in DA/SA). With respect to trigger snobbery, I think most on here would agree that the SA trigger pull of an SAO P-Series (P220, P226, P229, etc.) is generally superior to the SA trigger pull of its much more common DA/SA sibling, but somewhat inferior to the SA trigger pull of a pistol originally designed as an SAO (such as a P210 or a 1911).

Regarding both current and discontinued variants, there are many marketing terms from SIG (as well as many unofficial terms used by enthusiasts) that denote different features. In general though, a P229 is a P229. Aside from the ability to mount a light on models equipped with a rail, or the obviously different manual of arms of SAO models, all P229s are functionally more or less identical.

 

This is extremely helpful, thank you!

 

The Legion also includes G10 grips, a third magazine, and tritium X-ray Sights. The finish is a matter of personal taste. Mine look like new but aren’t EDC guns. Nobody cares about the challenge coin, but the 5.11 Tactical case is OK —- both can be sold, I’d prefer a price cut

I have both a P229 SAO and P226 DA/SA. After Robert Burke’s carry level action job, the P226 trigger is outstanding too, both DA and SA. You’ll want to put his Sig Armorer Super Strut in any SAO to prevent damage to the frame or safety. It has a cutout to prevent impact when the slide cycles but also reduces spring friction. The strut is a key part of his DA/SA action job but can be purchased separately.

 

You could get something used, suh as this... Sig P229 Elite Compact 229 P229 - Semi Auto Pistols at GunBroker.com : 1019778326 then either have it cut for the optic of your choice, or choose one of these optic equipped Slides from Sig... Sig Sauer P229 9mm RXP Slide Assembly 3.9" ROMEO1PRO w/ Suppressor Sights - Pistol Slides at GunBroker.com : 1019902951 and swap in your Barrel and Recoil Spring assembly...

 

The current price for that Elite is pretty nice, though you have to account for shipping and fees. I'm actually kicking myself for not snagging an Elite I saw at my LGS about a month ago- I went home without it and when I went back the next week it was gone. $750 was the price...but I had a few other irons that I'd recently put in the fire, and I have a Legion already that I EDC, so I probably made the responsible decision by letting it get away. Right? 🤦‍♂️

 

If you are buying a new firearm, the Elite pistols have basic features, and the Legion pistols are more advanced.

As a new shooter, or someone focused on concealed carry, I would choose a version with DA/SA action rather than SAO.

The Legion pistols are more refined, and the features are nice, but somewhat costly. They have very good triggers, and enhanced finishes and G-10 grips. Apart from that, you are paying for marketing.

Most new pistols can be had with optics ready slides factory cut for the SIG and RMR pattern optics. I find optics bulky for concealed carry, and have learned to shoot with iron sights.

If you are open to used firearms, a number of agencies have made P229 pistols surplus recently. There are good buys available, but be aware that the DAK or Kellerman design actions are more like shooting double action revolvers, and converting the actions to DA/SA will eat up much of the savings.

The P229 was originally designed for the .40 S&W cartridge, and later versions were slightly redesigned to better fit the 9mm Luger. Older ones will have a different magazine well, and use slightly different magazines. Thus they are designated P229 versus P229-1. The .40 S&W caliber slides have a wider breech face.

 

...Apart from that, you are paying for marketing.

Though I pretty much agree with just about everything else in your post, this one part bothers me a little as I see it from a lot of folks and find it somewhat misleading. IF a person wants all of the upgraded features on a Legion, which include X-ray sights, G10 grips, adjustable trigger, undercut trigger guard, cerekote finish, and a third magazine...then they are actually paying a very nicely discounted price for these features by getting a Legion. They are not paying for marketing at all, as the cost of these updates individually would far exceed the price of buying a different model pistol (such as an Elite, to get the beavertail and Short Reset Trigger as exist in the Legion) and then upgrading the components afterwards.

Then, on top of all of that, you get a free 5.11 range bag and model specific challenge coin, which admittedly do nothing to enhance the operation of the pistol but some people like them. I wouldn't call this paying for marketing, though, because as mentioned- if you buy all of the above and apply them to a different model after paying for that different model, you'll spend vastly more in total than if you had just purchased the Legion. IF, however, one does not want the additional features of the Legion, then it would be silly to pay the higher sticker for one.

But, I do agree with pretty much everything else you said.

 

You could look through the Sig catalogs across the years to see the differences in P229 models. These catalogs have a lot of good information. I’d check them out. Here’s a link.

Sticky - Sig Sauer Product Catalogs

Download 2011 Sig Sauer Catalog (Added 11/22/17) Download 2012 Sig Sauer Catalog (Added 11/22/17) Download 2013 Sig Sauer Catalog PDF Download 2014 Sig Sauer Catalog PDF Download 2015 Sig Sauer Catalog PDF (Added 9/17/15) Download 2016 Sig Sauer Catalog PDF (Added 1/27/16) Download 2017...

www.sigtalk.com

 

GunBroker has this for sale

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1006528546

could eventually add a 40 factory barrel and a BarSto 9mm conversion barrel or a P229-1 9mm slide. Then you have 4 calibers in one . I have this set up on my P229. Have 9mm conversion barrel which I would hesitate to carry, but contemplating getting a 229-1 slide for carry.

BTW being an old revolver guy, I had Sig convert mine from DA/SA to DAO

 

I'm a trigger snob having loved and shot 1911s for most of my years.

Due to design as originally a DA/SA, you cannot remove "all" of the "take-up" so it's not a 1911 Trigger Snob's dream.

 

First time Sig buyer - long time pistol owner. Wanting to buy a P229. Tried looking at threads but so many acronyms and abbreviations it's difficult to understand.

Don't know what Legion vs Elite is. Guy selling a Classic Carry, but it says Elite on it.

Seen Legions that don't say anything on them?

Seen threads on here talking about TT variation...don't know what that is.

Are all P229s SA/DA? Or some of them? If it's a mix, is the SA-only trigger better overall? I'm a trigger snob having loved and shot 1911s for most of my years.

Budget is most important, but I'd like to have a rail and would also consider an optics-ready pistol a plus if there are models that have those that don't break the bank. Appreciate the help in advance

Welcome from Texas. The Classic Carry was a special ltd edition made by Sig For a Distributor called Talo/ It had special grips among othere things plus uses 13 round mags in 9MM

 

The Sig M11A1 is also considered a P229. It uses the 229 format to constitute a modern version of the military’s M11, originally patterned after the P228. It uses the same 15 round magazines (3 if you buy new) as the 229 as well as the Siglight tritium sights and the Short Reach Trigger. The differences are the rounded trigger guard, plain dust cover (no rail), and phosphate coated internal parts to prevent corrosion. Only available in 9x19 chambering. These pistols are still in use by some CID and aviation military personnel.

 

Thanks for all the replies. This has got to be one of the most helpful forums that I've seen.

I'm pretty much geared budget-wise for used. I buy almost all of my guns that way.

So if I'm looking at a used gun online, is there an easy way to tell if it's an older model made on the 40S&W frame or a newer one on the thinner 9mm frame?

Also is there an easy way to tell if it has the SRT?

Thank you guys so much for the help!

 

Thanks for all the replies. This has got to be one of the most helpful forums that I've seen.

I'm pretty much geared budget-wise for used. I buy almost all of my guns that way.

So if I'm looking at a used gun online, is there an easy way to tell if it's an older model made on the 40S&W frame or a newer one on the thinner 9mm frame?

Also is there an easy way to tell if it has the SRT?

Thank you guys so much for the help!

So if you were looking for a P229 chambered in .40 S&W (or .357 SIG), it would undoubtedly have the frame that takes the wide-body magazines. The 40/357 P229 has always been on that frame, no matter what it has looked like over the years.

But if I’m not mistaken, you are looking for a P229 chambered in 9mm. In that case, it will depend on the age of the gun. But it’s actually the older models that have the “thinner 9mm frame” (as you put). It’s really just the interior dimensions of the magazine well that are different. The easiest way to tell is by the slide:

If the slide is a Legacy slide (half-height slide serrations, Glock-style short extractor), then the gun has the frame that only takes the narrow-body magazine. This is the same thing as a P228 magazine, which is essentially just a P226 magazine chopped to length.

If the slide is a newer P229-1 slide (full-height slide serrations, HK-style long extractor), then the gun has the same frame as the 40/357 P229, and also takes the wide-body magazine. The 9mm version of this magazine is called the P229-1 magazine, which is essentially a 40/357 P229 magazine optimized for 9mm.

However, because SIG USA usually only serializes frames (unlike SIG Germany, which serialized frames, barrels, and slides), it is impossible to know for sure unless the original box is present. There are plenty of used guns on the market that are FrankenSIGs. So the only definite way to tell (if you are unsure) would be to ask for a picture of the frame’s magazine opening.

 

Also I'm looking at multiple used guns that don't say elite and don't have legion grips, but do have a decocker and don't have the small-ish slide release that I think is unique to the legion. Do they make ones that aren't elite and aren't legion? I think I've got a good handle on Elite/Legion differences, but what are the differences in this "base" model versus the Elite? Or am I just mis-reading the tea leaves?

 

Yes. Plenty of “plain Jane” P229s etc have been made for decades. Actually, for years, that’s all there were. Then came Elites and then later Legions. If you’re ever in doubt about what your looking at, simply post photos of it here and within minutes you’ll know exactly what it is.

 

The older frames typically will not have a mount in the underlug area for flashlights etc...

The earlier ones with grips that screwed on and smaller grip tangs were not "elite" models. Of course, it's easy to take off grips and replace them with the snap on grips used on the Elite models.

The short reset trigger is obvious if you dry fire and manually operate the slide then reset the trigger. The forward motion before the disconnect reset is much shorter.

 

As an avowed trigger snob, I'll say that the Classic P series DA/SA trigger can be "gunsmithed"* to a SA pull at light as 2-1/2 pounds (as low as the Sig Armorer will go IIRC) or even lower, though I prefer about 3 pounds for EDC, many recommend something on the order of 4+. For the real trigger snobs, the straight back pull of a nicely tuned 1911 is hard to beat, though the P229 can come acceptably close.

*Much of the reduction in SA trigger pull weight is had by reducing the sear to hammer positive engagement angle. I think most smiths would use special fixture/jigs for this (such as those sold by Power Custom), rather than free hand, as the cuts on the mating parts want to stay perfectly aligned. Gray guns use to sell a short reset sear in two versions, duty and competition. The competition version had that reduced positive angle - they've been out of stock for years on that part - maybe a liability thing.

 

Thanks for all the replies. This has got to be one of the most helpful forums that I've seen.

I'm pretty much geared budget-wise for used. I buy almost all of my guns that way.

So if I'm looking at a used gun online, is there an easy way to tell if it's an older model made on the 40S&W frame or a newer one on the thinner 9mm frame?

Also is there an easy way to tell if it has the SRT?

Thank you guys so much for the help!

In most cases, no, unless it has a case with its labels intact, or the right Grip removed.

Also I'm looking at multiple used guns that don't say elite and don't have legion grips, but do have a decocker and don't have the small-ish slide release that I think is unique to the legion. Do they make ones that aren't elite and aren't legion? I think I've got a good handle on Elite/Legion differences, but what are the differences in this "base" model versus the Elite? Or am I just mis-reading the tea leaves?

In most cases, later Elites, and all Legions have beavertails, and take thevP229-1 Magazines.

Early 9mm P229s and most all with the Legacy Slides (half height cocking serrations) use the earlier P228/P229 9mm Magazines, that have the same profile as P226 Magazines, just shorter.

As far as Legion Grips, and the smaller Legion controls, they can be had, and installed on most any P229. Some factory G-10 Grips used the Legion sized controls, like the Legion, and Select Grips, while other models like the Scorpion, used standard controls with their G-10 Grips.

Over the past 30 years there have been so many different combinations, it is too hard to track at times.

If you have questions about a used one you see for sale, start a thread and reference it, and you will likely get an answer here, quicker, than in many cases, asking the seller. Remember many you see for sale, are all limited editions, or rare in the sellers eyes...

 

Remember many you see for sale, are all limited editions, or rare in the sellers eyes...

Every Sig I own is rare. I have never, in my entire life, seen others that have the same serial numbers engraved on them. They are truly one of a kind!