Sig P229 project gun

[pi3]

Not @GJM (in so many ways), but I've had SIGs of all calibers and all generations, and my thoughts on the various SIG extractor types:

Internal: more susceptible to chipping/breaking if dropped on a chambered round, most internal extractor guns are folded carbon slides with a removable breech block that require more PM and are not as durable as the one-piece designs, there were some issues with some P220 internal extractors, particularly with one-piece stainless slides and/or stainless frames; some people prefer the balance of the lighter carbon slide guns.

External short extractor: generally trouble free and durable over high round counts. Easiest to remove for cleaning/replacement. I believe some newer versions are MIM, but mostly machined.

External long extractor: in current form generally trouble free, with the caveat of current SIG QC; when first released in around 2014 there were some issues with spring tension that led to failure to extract malfunctions (I had an all-stainless P226 around that time that had something like 9 double-feed malfunctions in the first 200 rounds, but was reliable once SIG replaced the extractor springs). Requires a specialized punch to remove. I believe all of these are MIM, and IIRC Todd Green had posted a pic of an early one that fractured at a low round count.

I think the reputation for reliability for the internal and short external extractor guns is based on the noticeably higher QC and better materials used in the pre-2005/6ish guns. I think the current production design is fine, with the caveat that it's current SIG that's executing them. Plus the purist in me thinks they're just ugly.

This is one of the clearest breakdowns I have seen. Having a late 80s W. German 226 all these years, I have been hesitant to get a newer 226 & 229 but would like to have one with a dot. Thanks.

[taadski]

This is one of the clearest breakdowns I have seen. Having a late 80s W. German 226 all these years, I have been hesitant to get a newer 226 & 229 but would like to have one with a dot. Thanks.

Jump in. You won’t be disappointed.

[breakingtime91]

Jump in. You won’t be disappointed.

hey, quick question. Do you find that the 228 and 229 have different trigger feels?

[OlongJohnson]

External long extractor: in current form generally trouble free, with the caveat of current SIG QC; when first released in around 2014 there were some issues with spring tension that led to failure to extract malfunctions (I had an all-stainless P226 around that time that had something like 9 double-feed malfunctions in the first 200 rounds, but was reliable once SIG replaced the extractor springs). Requires a specialized punch to remove. I believe all of these are MIM, and IIRC Todd Green had posted a pic of an early one that fractured at a low round count.

The external long extractor has been particularly problematic in some M11-A1s and P229s. (I got one of them.) Sig has replaced some extractor springs and some slides, and other people have sent their guns in and gotten them back with tickets saying there was no problem. FWIW, my M11-A1 chokes on out-of-spec Winchester White Box cases that Glocks and H&Ks run without issue. With other brands, I think there's only been one FTExtract.

Highlighted the punch because you can get an $8 three-punch set from Home Depot and grind the side of one of them flat in a couple minutes and you're GTG on this, with two more punches you can use for other stuff. No need to buy the specialty $20+ punch from some gun tool specialist.

[HCM]

hey, quick question. Do you find that the 228 and 229 have different trigger feels?

Trigger feels - no. Feel of the gun handling / tracking - yes and I prefer the P228.

I saw you mention selling a P228 with a short trigger. They aren't making P228s anymore so if it were me I would just get the trigger yo want and have RB /TSA re-do what ever necessary to maintain the trigger job.

[Hstanton1]

Are the long extractor issues still happening, or are they akin to the issues that early gen 4 glocks had?

[HCM]

Are the long extractor issues still happening, or are they akin to the issues that early gen 4 glocks had?

No.

[Hstanton1]

No.

No they aren’t still happening, or no they aren’t akin to the problems gen 4 glocks had?

[HCM]

No they aren’t still happening, or no they aren’t akin to the problems gen 4 glocks had?

No they are not still happening with new production guns - as was already posted up thread.

It was a teething problem when long extractors were first introduced but like everything else in the gun world was blown out of proportion such that an issue resolved a decade ago still raises it's head

[Evil_Ed]

No they are not still happening with new production guns - as was already posted up thread.

It was a teething problem when long extractors were first introduced but like everything else in the gun world was blown out of proportion such that an issue resolved a decade ago still raises it's head

It's not so much blown out of proportion as it's an issue that still happens...I bought a used M11A1 a couple years ago that was an early run, and it had that exact same problem. Would not extract WWB to save it's life. I replaced the spring with a new one; no change. I replaced the entire extractor (which was marked with a -2 on the inside; the original wasn't marked at all IIRC), and that seemed to fix the issue for it, for the hundred rounds I put through it after? But I then moved it on because other shiny things. Slightly regret that...but I also wasn't sure I could trust it either, and I didn't want to spend another $100 on ammo to see if it really was fixed.

But man, did it shoot when it worked...oh well.

Anyway - it still happens on older guns; a lot of people just flip them vs sending them back to Sig, etc. So it's going to keep coming up, old issue or not.