Decisions, decisions!

[Drang]

Friendly local gunstore has a P226R with night sights for $690, cash.
And a P229R Elite with night sights for $780, cash.
:confused:

[Hauptmann]

P226 is nice for duty and competition use. I never carry mine around outside of those occasions. So, P229 for the practical man that likes a jack of all trades.

[Drang]

I confess the fact that the 226 is almost a Benjamin less makes me hesitate. It also looks like it has about a zero round count.

[LSP552]

I'm the odd ball in that I prefer the 226 to the 229. I have always disliked the pronounced hump on the left grip panel of the 229 and 228. I have no problem carrying a 226R concealed, but usually opt for the 239 in that role.

Nothing at all wrong with a 229, just not my personal preference.

[incogneato]

So, what is the cash price for buying both?

[Drang]

So, what is the cash price for buying both?

As opposed to the domestic price for buying both...? :p

[HCM]

226 vs 229 is personal preference but I'm not a fan of the beaver tail on the elite models.

Top gun supply Currently has a batch of used swiss police trade in P226 is for under $500. They have a mix of folded / carbon and stainless steel slides. That's the way I would go.

[psalms144.1]

I strongly prefer the balance and handling of the P226R over the P229R, but that's just me.

[Mitch]

226 vs 229 is personal preference but I'm not a fan of the beaver tail on the elite models.

Top gun supply Currently has a batch of used swiss police trade in P226 is for under $500. They have a mix of folded / carbon and stainless steel slides. That's the way I would go.

Does conventional wisdom give a preference between the carbon and the stainless slide models? I'm thinking of picking up a carbon one for nostalgia, but I'd still like for it to be a durable shooter.

[Hauptmann]

Does conventional wisdom give a preference between the carbon and the stainless slide models? I'm thinking of picking up a carbon one for nostalgia, but I'd still like for it to be a durable shooter.

Few can remember what it was like to open up a bunch of 1990s new in box agency P226 and P228s. The old W. German guns were exceptional in quality, and durability was also good in the 9mms. The larger calibers were a little harsher on the guns though. I like the W. German guns, but for hard use I prefer to upgrade them to coiled trigger bar springs, and new style main spring assemblies.

[LSP552]

Does conventional wisdom give a preference between the carbon and the stainless slide models? I'm thinking of picking up a carbon one for nostalgia, but I'd still like for it to be a durable shooter.

For carry and hard use I much prefer the stainless slide. The maintenance is significantly less with the stainless version. The old folded slide needed the HD pins changed every 5,000 rounds or you risk cracks in the frame rails. If you do this, they are very durable, possibly less so if you don't.

The original finish on the folded guns would rust while you watched. Seriously, I would have surface rust at the end of a day carrying an old-school 226 in a Summer Special, despite oiling it that morning. Robar did a booming business coating slides from personally owned 226 and 228s from LSP members. The K-kote models were better, but not a lot better. I wore the finish off the high spots on my last issued 228 in about an hour of work from the holster.

The folded slide guns are a bit lighter and are a piece of history. Of course they don't have a rail if that is important for you.

[LSP972]

The original finish on the folded guns would rust while you watched.

Indeed. It was a constant problem for us, along with missing grip screws.

Still, if I stumbled across an early-90s or earlier P226, like-new in the yellow box, I'd probably buy it.

.

[LSP552]

. Still, if I stumbled across an early-90s or earlier P226, like-new in the yellow box, I'd probably buy it.

.

For sure! I wish I still had some of my earlier 226s and 225s. Not being emotionally attached to stuff has both positives and negatives.

[El Cid]

Friendly local gunstore has a P226R with night sights for $690, cash.
And a P229R Elite with night sights for $780, cash.
:confused:
What calibers? I won't buy anything in 40 anymore. What's the purpose of the gun? Will it be carried? On duty? Concealed?

If they are both 9mm then I'd pick the 229 if it was for concealed carry and the 226 if it will be a range gun or HD weapon.

[HCM]

Does conventional wisdom give a preference between the carbon and the stainless slide models? I'm thinking of picking up a carbon one for nostalgia, but I'd still like for it to be a durable shooter.

LSP972 covered it pretty well. Stainless slide is more durable / Less maintenance folded slide is fine - you should change the roll pins every 5 k rounds or so but most run fine without it. Sean M mentioned running folded slide 226's 70-80k rounds with just recoil spring changes. For carry, the folded slide guns are a bit lighter and I personally think they "handle/point" a bit better.

[TheNewbie]

How hard is it to change roll pins?

The price of those 226s is enticing.

[Drang]

What calibers? I won't buy anything in 40 anymore. What's the purpose of the gun? Will it be carried? On duty? Concealed?

If they are both 9mm then I'd pick the 229 if it was for concealed carry and the 226 if it will be a range gun or HD weapon.

They had one of each in 9mm, and also in .40S&W.

[David S.]

How hard is it to change roll pins?


It's sucky.

[LSP552]

How hard is it to change roll pins?

The price of those 226s is enticing.

Roll pins on the folded slide guns isn't too hard if you know what you are doing. You need a roll pin punch and Bruce Gray's armorer video is highly recommended because it's possible to scare stuff up.

The Firing Pin Positioning Pin on the stainless slides can be a royal PITA. Fortunately these don't need regular replacement.

[Mitch]

How hard is it to change roll pins?

The price of those 226s is enticing.

Apparently plenty of others agree, the very good condition models are sold out now. I hemmed and hawed and now I'm pissed at myself. I just ordered one of the "good condition" models. If you're interested still you may want to jump on it.

[TheNewbie]

Apparently plenty of others agree, the very good condition models are sold out now. I hemmed and hawed and now I'm pissed at myself. I just ordered one of the "good condition" models. If you're interested still you may want to jump on it.


Did you get a carbon or stainless?

Do the stainless have a rail?

[Mitch]

I asked for carbon, but we'll see what shows up. Can't say if the stainless have rails or not.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Tamara]

For carry and hard use I much prefer the stainless slide. The maintenance is significantly less with the stainless version. The old folded slide needed the HD pins changed every 5,000 rounds or you risk cracks in the frame rails. If you do this, they are very durable, possibly less so if you don't.

Also this could happen:

4461

(To be fair, that was a very high-mileage P228 rental gun... But that breechblock bent like a banana when the pin finally let go. o.O )

[LSP552]

Also this could happen:

(To be fair, that was a very high-mileage P228 rental gun... But that breechblock bent like a banana when the pin finally let go. o.O )

Thanks Tam, never seen that before. I've seen, and changed, a bunch of broken HD pins but that's a new one on me.