SIG Finally Built a 229 SAO

[newt]

I’ve been off sig for a long time. P228’s and Glocks were what I started on. I gave away my last 228 slide to a friend who cracked one. And I’ve got a P226 that I don’t shoot. And you don’t need me to point all the threads on here about their missteps and shit service. But I have to admit, I’ve wanted a 228/229SAO forever. And they finally did it. I might buy it despite my misgivings.

https://www.sigsauer.com/store/p229-legion-compact-sao.html?utm_source=Sig+Emails&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Legion%3A+229+SAO&utm_content=P229+Legion+SAO

[HCM]

You’re gonna cost me money .....

[Balisong]

Damn.

A few years ago when I got my 226 SAO Legion, from the very first time I pulled the trigger I knew I wanted the same system in a 229 (my favorite Sig model). And if they'd cone out with them then I'd have bought 2 without blinking an eye and carried one of them. Luckily the Sig crapstorm happened and a lot of Sigs business practices came to light so now I won't be spending that money. But if an ethical company with good QC made that exact gun I'm betting it'd be amazing. I won't buy anymore Sigs, but I don't have much intention of selling the ones I have, except the 320s.

[Sensei]

I have 2 SAO Legions, a P220 and P226. Both are exceptionally accurate with excellent, crisp 4lb triggers and resets that are an industry standard. Had this been available last year, then I would have passed on the EDC X9.

[OlongJohnson]

It’s a gnat’s ass between them, but it seems like the SA on SAOs I’ve sampled isn’t actually as crisp as the SA on the TDAs. But the control levers are organized more like other guns.

[BehindBlueI's]

I have 2 SAO Legions, a P220

That's the only Legion to date that's really caught my attention. Still kinda want. Because reasons.

[LSP552]

That's the only Legion to date that's really caught my attention. Still kinda want. Because reasons.

I have that confession about the 226 SAO. The lack of a smaller option has keep by AmX in my wallet........

[pangloss]

I won't buy one, but I'm glad to see this on the market. Seems like there are not many non-1911 pistols on the market these days. Sig, CZ, Wilson--I can't think of anything else. Options are good.

Sent from my Moto G Play using Tapatalk

[okie john]

One more link on PF that I should not have clicked.


Okie John

[jwperry]

So many wants, so little money...

[HCM]

That's the only Legion to date that's really caught my attention. Still kinda want. Because reasons.

This plus having a bunch of P229R holsters and support gear. Speaking of, .p229 40 mags work just fine as 9mm range mags IMHE.

[BehindBlueI's]

This plus having a bunch of P229R holsters and support gear. Speaking of, .p229 40 mags work just fine as 9mm range mags IMHE.

My personal non-revolver handgun collection is almost entirely P2XX Sigs. I have one 1911 that sits and takes up space and a Shield. Other than that, it's all Sig. A p220 SAO would also just sit and take up space...but kinda want.

[xbray]

Bunch of enablers you guys are, just browsing around, minding my own business and this popped up. Being a fan of the SAO Legions of late has left me with the what if's. After taking a look at the link posted here my what if.

[LockedBreech]

I shot very well with my local range officer's P226 Legion SAO. It's a little rich for my blood and I have concerns about the PVD finish, but there's no denying I shot tight, fast groups with the pistol.

[Dismas316]

I was told this is their first production gun. Was at the NRA show today.

http://i.imgur.com/cdYzyVM.jpg (https://imgur.com/cdYzyVM)

[Sensei]

As much as I want one, I’ll stick to my policy of waiting a year since this is Sig’s first attempt at a SAO P229. They will probably be on Gen3 by the end of the Summer...

[Doc_Glock]

As nice as the trigger is on the Legion 226 I have, the canted front sight plus the fact that Sig will do nothing about it is a real let down.

[Mobettadefense]

I am really enjoying my P226 SAO Legion it is very accurate, feels very solid and well built, has functioned perfectly and is a joy to shoot. The 229 SAO is definitely going on the list of guns to acquire.

[FrankB]

Oh Man! I have a P226 Legion SAO, and it’s a great shooter. I love my 1911’s, but the P226 SAO is a close second.

[Sensei]

These are finally hitting the shelves and GunBroker for those interested in paying $1100 for the honor and privilege of being a Sig beta tester...

[Sensei]

Mine arrived today. Fit and finished seemed excellent. I cleaned off the shipping oil and lubed it up with Slip 2000. I hit the range with 150 rounds of 147 grain AE, 50 rounds of 124 grain AE, 50 round of 115 grain Federal Target, and 100 rounds of 147 grain HST.

It handled the first 150 rounds (mostly 147 and 124 grain AE). Then, the wheels came off when I tried to fire strong or weak hand only as the gun would not cycle more than 4-5 rounds of the 147 grain ammo without a FTF. The 115 grain Target load seemed to do fine single handed, but everything else (including 147 HST) was a choke fest single handed.

Sigh, time to call Sig CS...

[MGW]

How was brass ejection with the 147? Any chance the recoil spring just needs a little more time to break in?

[Sensei]

How was brass ejection with the 147? Any chance the recoil spring just needs a little more time to break in?

Ejection seemed fine. Sig CS was closed when I called. I’m going to swap out recoil springs with one of my other P229s and see if that fixes the problem.

EDT: Heck, I may even swap uppers with my SA/DA P229 Legion to see if that fixes it.

[Doc_Glock]

Then, the wheels came off when I tried to fire strong or weak hand only as the gun would not cycle more than 4-5 rounds of the 147 grain ammo without a FTF. The 115 grain Target load seemed to do fine single handed, but everything else (including 147 HST) was a choke fest single handed.

Sigh, time to call Sig CS...

Oh man that sucks! You are the gun choke king! I used to think I had that crown, but you have had so much bad luck with supposedly good to go high end pistols.

[Sensei]

Oh man that sucks! You are the gun choke king! I used to think I had that crown, but you have had so much bad luck with supposedly good to go high end pistols.

This is my first Sig to have problems, and I have a ton of them. Fortunately, all of my 9mm Wilsons are up to speed and running like raped apes, but each gun has its own preference for magazines and recoil spring weight...go figure.

As for my Sig, I cleaned and lubed the SAO Legion this evening and I’m leaving it in slide lock overnight. I plan to head back to the range tomorrow with my GoPro and both of my P229 Legions. I’ll first document the malfunction in the SAO gun and demonstrate that it does not occur in the DA/SA gun. That way I can dispense with the helpful CS agent telling me its my limp wrist. Then, I’ll swap the slides and repeat. Assuming that the slide currently on the SAO chokes on the DA/SA’s frame, I’ll switch the slide components back one at a time. Hopefully, I’ll be able to isolate it to the recoil spring or barrel. If not those, it will need to go back to Sig to have them look at the extractor.

[Balisong]

In the 150 rounds before it started choking, what were your impressions of it?

[1986s4]

In the 150 rounds before it started choking, what were your impressions of it?

Does he do impressions?

[Bergeron]

I’m very interested to hear how these perform with a carry-comp and dot.

[Sensei]

In the 150 rounds before it started choking, what were your impressions of it?

It only has problems when fired single handed. The first 150 rounds were problem-free because they were fired with an aggressive, thumbs forward iso stance. I was trying to clear a dot torture on my 3rd box of ammo when I noticed the failures on Dot 5. ThatÂ’s when I started experimenting with different magazines and realized there was a big problem.

IÂ’m head to the range now with my other P229 legion to see if I can correct it by swapping parts.

[Balisong]

It only has problems when fired single handed. The first 150 rounds were problem-free because they were fired with an aggressive, thumbs forward iso stance. I was trying to clear a dot torture on my 3rd box of ammo when I noticed the failures on Dot 5. ThatÂ’s when I started experimenting with different magazines and realized there was a big problem.

IÂ’m head to the range now with my other P229 legion to see if I can correct it by swapping parts.

I actually just meant what were your impressions of shooting it aside from the malfunctions, but looking forward to your other reports. This was my dream gun before I swore off Sig and I still have interest in how it plans out.

[Sensei]

It’s the recoil spring.

Putting the spring from my SAO Legion in my previously reliable DA/SA Legion makes that gun choke when fired single handed; the SAO Legion becomes reliable with a different P229 spring.


Of note, there is a noticeable “bounce” in the slide during recoil when using the suspect spring. I thought it felt weird yesterday, but it was clearly abnormal today when fired against my other P229.

I called Sig CS and they are sending me a new spring...once it’s in stock...seriously.

[Sensei]

34103

Spring on the right is from the malfunctioning SAO P229 and almost 1 coil shorter; obviously less tensioned than the one on the left from a reliable gun.

[Criz]

Great looking gun. I like that trigger. Need something like that for my HK!
If not noted already, Lucky Gunner is doing a segment: Does This Gun Suck with this pistol.
Running 10k rounds similar to what Todd used to do.
Shoot on!

[taadski]

The shorter spring is the one that you left overnight with the slide locked to the rear? :rolleyes: :p

I'd be suspicious that there is something other than just a slightly shorter/weaker recoil spring at play here. I've spent a lot of years tinkering with recoil spring rates in P series Sig pistols. I regularly use springs in the 10-13 pound range (stock is 16) in my match guns without any failure to feed issues. The Sigs are very often OVER sprung out of the box, not under sprung IME.

You mentioned swapping around magazines. Is the issue following otherwise vetted/proven mags? Also, given Sig's issues with extraction in recent years (they made some in-line adjustments to the extractor springs in the newer long extractor models a few years back), I'd take a look to ensure the extractor is functioning properly, given its significant role in cartridge feeding.

Just 2 cents. I hope you get it remedied regardless.

[Sensei]

The shorter spring is the one that you left overnight with the slide locked to the rear? :rolleyes: :p

I'd be suspicious that there is something other than just a slightly shorter/weaker recoil spring at play here. I've spent a lot of years tinkering with recoil spring rates in P series Sig pistols. I regularly use springs in the 10-13 pound range (stock is 16) in my match guns without any failure to feed issues. The Sigs are very often OVER sprung out of the box, not under sprung IME.

You mentioned swapping around magazines. Is the issue following otherwise vetted/proven mags? Also, given Sig's issues with extraction in recent years (they made some in-line adjustments to the extractor springs in the newer long extractor models a few years back), I'd take a look to ensure the extractor is functioning properly, given its significant role in cartridge feeding.

Just 2 cents. I hope you get it remedied regardless.


It seems to be remedied. I’ll update the thread if the gun has any more issues. So far, so good with one of my spare springs. The fact that a previously reliable P229 immediately suffered the same FTF when the suspect spring was installed (and recovered when the spring was replaced) makes me think that we’ve found the answer.

[Sensei]

Put another 350 rounds through the gun today with a new recoil spring. The breakdown was:
150 rounds 124 grain AE fired thumbs forward - no issues
100 rounds 147 grain Gold Dot fired strong hand / weak hand alternating magazines - no issues
100 round of 147 grain HST fired strong hand / weak hand - 1 FTF weak hand

Much better than my first range trip where the gun couldn’t make it past 5 rounds without a FTF when fired single handed.

[Balisong]

Put another 350 rounds through the gun today with a new recoil spring. The breakdown was:
150 rounds 124 grain AE fired thumbs forward - no issues
100 rounds 147 grain Gold Dot fired strong hand / weak hand alternating magazines - no issues
100 round of 147 grain HST fired strong hand / weak hand - 1 FTF weak hand

Much better than my first range trip where the gun couldn’t make it past 5 rounds without a FTF when fired single handed.

How do you like shooting it?

[Sensei]

How do you like shooting it?

Much like the P226 SAO Legion, it is very, very fast in terms of follow-up shots. The trigger pull breaks at 3.9-4.0 lbs every time. I has that typical P-series “recoil push” without any appreciable snap. Accuracy is excellent. The safety is easy to manipulate and I like being able to press check the chamber with the safety activated. The X-ray front sight is better than standard night sights, but not as attention grabbing as HDs.

Aside from the FTF issues that seem to have mostly corrected with a new recoil spring, the controls (specifically the slide stop lever) are smaller and more reward. Thus, you may find youself looking for the lever during reloads if you’ve been shooting Glocks.

[Gray01]

Much like the P226 SAO Legion, it is very, very fast in terms of follow-up shots. The trigger pull breaks at 3.9-4.0 lbs every time. I has that typical P-series “recoil push” without any appreciable snap. Accuracy is excellent. The safety is easy to manipulate and I like being able to press check the chamber with the safety activated. The X-ray front sight is better than standard night sights, but not as attention grabbing as HDs.

Aside from the FTF issues that seem to have mostly corrected with a new recoil spring, the controls (specifically the slide stop lever) are smaller and more reward. Thus, you may find youself looking for the lever during reloads if you’ve been shooting Glocks.

Thanks for the continuing updates.

I have been Glock since mid-80's, except for a brief foray (that ended with disappointment) with the S&W M&P .45 that I tried (initial release period) because I greatly enjoy a manual safety from my earlier 1911 days.

I am watching this with strong interest as a potential future purchase.

[Sensei]

Back at the range today with this gun. I fired 50 rounds of 124 grain AE, 50 rounds of Federal 115 grain target, and 25 rounds of 147 grain HST (strong hand only). No issues.

[gtmtnbiker98]

I just picked up a P229 SAO last night. It appears that my new P229 SAO has a gray Cerakote finish and not a PVD. I was unaware of the change until I picked one up. I'm not too hung up on the change, I bought the pistol for the features - not the finish.

[Sensei]

50 rounds of 124 grain AE and 50 rounds of 147 HST today - no issues.