Just purchased my first pistol...and the winner is...

[HardDrive]

Sig 226R .40 cal. with tach rail and night sights

Spent months researching. Originally set out to buy a 1911, but just felt more comfortable with the Sigs and HKs. Still would love a Warrior. I shot a lot of guns, and simply bought what I was most comfortable with. The tach rail? I just thought it looked cool .

Picture is .357 sig, but its the same gun (barrels are interchangeable).

[M.D. Holloway]

you'll shoot your eye out with that thing!

[jyl]

Now that is one purposeful-looking gun! Are you and Todd (nostatic) twins now? (I forget which SIG he got.) Congrats!

[rsNINESOOPER]

I am in the market for a similar purchase and am interested in what led you to this particular purchase and if you don't mind me asking what you paid for it??

Thanks, another soon to be first time gun owner

[nostatic]

Mine is a p226 in 9mm. Mine is an older ('89) build, no rail. The newer ones have a milled slide, and it was beefed up to take the heavier/hotter rounds (40SW/357SIG).

The general consensus on the SigForum is that the p226 is *the* classic 9mm. Works great in other calibers too. I like the balance a lot better than the compact ones in my hand.

I got a Sig because they are really well made, form follows function, and they are "hell and back" reliable.

[Jeff Higgins]

So does this mean you will have it in time for your trip? Where did you finally wind up making your purchase? Just curious - there are lots of great Seattle area gun shops; I think I know most guys at most of them... Oh, and welcome to the club. Great choice for a first gun as far as the autos go.

[ken_xman]

did you find a good deal on one?

[damage113]

I picked up my P226 in '88 and it ruined me, I always look at Sigs and the quality of other weapons just don't seem to match. After thousands of rounds, its always been dependable.
Every time I have to qualify with that beretta I am wishing that I was shooting the sig. If we could carry our own weapons in the military...

[HardDrive]

Originally posted by rsNINESOOPER
I am in the market for a similar purchase and am interested in what led you to this particular purchase and if you don't mind me asking what you paid for it??
Thanks, another soon to be first time gun owner

I'll try and answer both and Jeff here.....

I purchased the gun at Discount Guns Sales in Kirkland, WA. I paid $789, and they threw in a Hogue grip for free. The gun came with 2 clips. I like this shop. Its a father and son(s) operation. They are honest, helpful and their prices are competitive in this area.

Why this gun? Well, I should say that I feel there are a lot of other options out there that are just a good. This stood out to me for a number of reason.

First off, I shot the gun a lot. I went the range and rented the entire Sig product line. They are so accurate is absurd. Its not just your first shot, its the 4,5,6th shot....the gun settles quickly. Hundreds of rounds, and not one failure, and these are the filthy guns that get shot all day.

Second thing would be quality. I could find nothing but praise in all corners for Sig. The tolerances on the guns are so tight its absurd.

Third, caliber. I was tempted to get a 9mm because of the cheap ammo. But I don't enjoy shooting it nearly as much as .40 or .45. 9mm has a sharp 'pop' of a recoil that I find sort of irritating. I like the bigger, slower recoil of the larger caliber guns. To hell with ammo cost. If I am going to worry about money that much, I certainly should not have 'das money pit' sitting in the driveway

Lastly, looks. I love how this gun looks. It ain't pretty. Its all business. Frankly I think some of these 'fashion show' guns like the Kimber Eclipse are pretty fruity. Whats next? Guns in colors to match your favorite shooting shirt?

There is no 'right' gun. Its based on the task, and personal taste. I got home after dropping $854 (tax) and felt great. Zero buyers remorse. I knew I had made the right choice.

I hope this helps.

[tabs]

There is only one Sig worth having....http://www.legendaryguns.com/SIG%20Model%20P210-5.htm
The rest are childrens toys...this is simply the BEST 9MM auto ever made...

[HardDrive]

Originally posted by tabs
There is only one Sig worth having....The rest are childrens toys...this is simply the BEST 9MM auto ever made...

Rubish.

[rsNINESOOPER]

HardDrive-

Hey thanks for the feedback, every bit of info I can gather before going to the range and renting guns is going to help me out. Interesting point about the 9mm as opposed to the larger calibers and how you prefer the slower recoil. Does this make the gun a steadier gun to shoot?

BTW- I agree with you about the flashy guns, Im in the market for a tool/machine of purpose and not an accessory that matches my favorite hunting hat. Its got to feel comfortable to shoot and be repeatably accurate.

Thanks, Jeff

[HardDrive]

Originally posted by rsNINESOOPER
HardDrive-

Hey thanks for the feedback, every bit of info I can gather before going to the range and renting guns is going to help me out. Interesting point about the 9mm as opposed to the larger calibers and how you prefer the slower recoil. Does this make the gun a steadier gun to shoot?

Thanks, Jeff

Definitely go to a range that rents guns and try some out.

I would not say that a 'larger' recoil makes the gun easier to shoot. I am not a very good shooter, and I would take everything I say with a grain of salt. But I find the recoil of the larger guns tends to travel 'back' as opposed to 'up'. When I shoot, 9mm, I find the recoil tends to buck the nose of the gun up more than if I am shooting a larger caliber. This could simply be because I use a lighter grip with the smaller caliber.

I guess at the end of the day, I chose a .40 over the 9mm because I just like a bigger bang

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally posted by HardDrive
Rubish.

Yup. There are collectors' guns and shooters' guns. You bought a shooter's gun.

[red-beard]

You don't have to give up the 9mm. .357sig and 9mm conversion barrels are made for the 40 S&W. (You can get a 9 for the 40/.357 but not the other way around.

I have ordered the 9mm and .357sig barrels for my P-239. 9mm runs $4.86 for 50 rounds. 40 "liberty" runs around $12-15. .357sig is even more expensive. I go mail order for ammo, except 9mm and .22LR

[HardDrive]

Originally posted by red-beard


I have ordered the 9mm and .357sig barrels for my P-239. 9mm runs $4.86 for 50 rounds. 40 "liberty" runs around $12-15. .357sig is even more expensive. I go mail order for ammo, except 9mm and .22LR

Would you mind posting when you get them fitted? The 9mm conversion did play into my thinking. From what I have read it is typically a drop in operation.

[red-beard]

Fitted? flip the breakdown lever, remove slide, slip out barrel, slip in new one, replace slide, flip breakdown lever down.

I should have them next week.

[HardDrive]

Is this a barsto barrel?

I only said 'fitted' because I read this on their website:

"A SEMI DROP IN Barrel Generaly requires little to no fitting. They should go in about 7 out of 10 times with no fitting required but with the tolerance of firearms, this is not always the case. We strive to give you the tightest lock up, still allow for the barrels to fit with little to no fitting and give you MUCH BETTER than factory accuracy. We do offer fitting of the semi drop ins for RETURN SHIPPING CHARGES ONLY. Usually a slide cost about $15.00 and a complete firearm can vary between $35 to $60 depending on where it is going. We want you to get the BEST so we hold the high limit on our tolerance to ensure most of our barrels will lock up and fit better than the factory's."

[red-beard]

http://www.efkfiredragon.com/

[azasadny]

I'm looking for a Sig 239 in 9mm, but the local range and Gander Mtn are sold out, I'll have to keep looking...