The SIG No One Wanted

TunnelRat · June 18, 2013, 10:30 PM

Hi all,
This is a story of a sad little SIG. At my lgs is a SIG P229 in very nice condition. Judging by the serial number I'd say 2003 or so. It has night sights (pretty dim obviously) and is in very nice shape, 92% or so. According to the lgs it's a police trade in. Here's the kicker: it's in 357 SIG. Now what makes me sad for this SIG is the fact that it has been at this LGS for a long, long time, probably because of the caliber. But because of that the price is pretty interesting: $485.

Now I've been playing around with a crazy idea. I live a short drive from SIG itself and a little longer drive to the Academy. I can get a 40SW barrel easy. At the academy it'll prob run me $150-$170 OTD. That means I could have a P229 in both 40SW and 357SIG for < $700. I'm not a huge fan of the 40SW, but when I had one in the P229 it was actually pretty comfortable (one of the only pistols that holds true for me).

Is this a crazy idea, or a good one? A SIG for $485 is mighty tempting. Should I be worried about it being in 357SIG originally? Will it be relatively beat up because of the caliber, are there areas I should be cautious off? Thanks for indulging this craziness.

-TR

Kevin_d77 · June 18, 2013, 10:34 PM

Well, you could replace the springs etc, get a the new .40 cal barrel and have basically 2 guns for under 700 and replace the night sights if they're pretty dim for another 100. Sounds like a good idea to me!

Would the 9mm barrel fit as well?

Bluestarlizzard · June 18, 2013, 10:36 PM

Funny. Me and Dad where discussing the caliber the other day. We sold off all the .357 sig pistols about five or six years back, and replaced them with 9mm and 40 s&w.

I think I would pass unless I had a stockpile of .357 sig to shoot up.

Vireye · June 18, 2013, 10:44 PM

I would jump on it, but I'm also a huge SIG fan (and yet could only afford one

) You can pick up a .40 barrel, and I'm pretty sure a 9mm barrel as well.

armsmaster270 · June 19, 2013, 01:21 AM

I did the reverse, I bought a Sig 226 in 40 Cal and bought a 357Sig barrel. Now all I use is the 357Sig barrel.

CharlieDeltaJuliet · June 19, 2013, 07:31 AM

Yep, I had a buddy covert a 357 sig to a 9mm. Just called Sig and they hooked him up with everything he needed.

Mystro · June 19, 2013, 08:39 AM

My local has the same type of situation with a Sig P229 357sig. It has been gathering dust and its still not a good deal. I have a lot of Sigs but I have no interest at all for a 357Sig. I'll take a 40s&w every time.

Vireye · June 19, 2013, 08:43 AM

Here at least, NIB Sigs are about $899.00 at the cheapest LGS. Usually they run between $950-$1100 from what I've encountered.

So at least from where I'm standing even with all the replacements you come out ahead, but maybe the regular sale prices are different in your area.

grizz223 · June 19, 2013, 08:49 AM

I would do it without a second thought. I did the same thing with a Glock 22 I got real cheap.

Onward Allusion · June 19, 2013, 09:15 AM

Conversion...40S&W with Sig barrel, or 22LR with conversion kit or... even 9mm with a Bar-Sto barrel.

sigarms228 · June 19, 2013, 09:27 AM

.357 SIG is somewhat popular in certain places, such as Texas I believe, but not around where I live.

I bought an unfired since leaving the factory P229 .357 SIG from my LGS a couple years ago and still have not fired it. I do really like my P229 in .40.

I could not pass it up because it was an early P229 with triple serial numbers. I asked my LGS why it was priced so low and they said no one wants a .357 Sig P229. I paid $519 for it.

It came from the estate of a former FFL that they bought his entire stock of including NIB nickel P228s and P220s and also quite a few NIB 3RD gernation SW. I missed out on getting a nickel plated NIB P228 for $799!!

For the example you are talking about IMO the price is very good and yes it should be easy to pop in a .40 barrel or a Barsto 9MM conversion barrel if they are ever back in stock again.

Here is mine

Technosavant · June 19, 2013, 10:57 AM

I'm not in the buying mode right now, but if I had seen that deal it would have come home with me immediately. A simple barrel swap and it's a .40. Switching it over to 9mm is also easy enough.

The P229 is a great platform. The .357SIG is not everybody's ideal round but it is a good one. If nothing else, its relative rarity means that even in panic situations ammo can still be found.

Sgt127 · June 19, 2013, 04:12 PM

I bought a P239 in .40. Got a 357 SIG barrel and magazines and never shot .40 in it again. The 357 SIG is a neat round, and, easy to get here (Texas).

If you like the gun, buy it. Buy a .40 barrel, the mags and springs interchange, and sell the 357 SIG barrel on Sig Forum or somewhere else if you don't like it. If you can buy a new barrel for $150 and sell the 357 barrel for $75 bucks or so, you are still coming out way ahead.

But....you may just like the round more than you think.....(if you can find the ammo)

Deaf Smith · June 19, 2013, 07:03 PM

I'd get it.

I have the 229 and 239 both in 9mm and they are real good guns.

The .357 Sig cartridge is quite powerful and good as any. Funny thing is I see it more on the shelves than .40 or 9mm! Never hurts to diversify your capabilities in case you can't find that 9mm or .40 S&W or .45 stuff.

Deaf

Kevin_d77 · June 19, 2013, 07:16 PM

You guys are lucky. All I see is shotguns shells in any of the box stores and BS 9mm for $32/50 at the guns shops here in FL!

I still say go for it. I just saw a 229 CPO for like $600 in .40SW. I really love the Scorpion but its $1000 and the CPO is much cheaper......might just save up for the scorpion though....

AK103K · June 19, 2013, 07:16 PM

I made out the same way with a Glock 31. Paid $350 for a LNIB gun. The clerk got kind of snarky after he took my money, and said good luck getting ammo for it. I just smiled and said I really liked the round, and was the one who made out in the deal. I had about 5000 rounds of 357SIG sitting at home in unopened cases, and about 2500 rounds in reloads. He shut up pretty quick.

I had a couple of P229's in 357SIG, as well as a couple of P226's, and a P239. all were great guns. I also got .40 barrels as a back up for them, but they really never got used. If the gun looks in good shape, that sounds like a great price.

These days Ive switched from SIG's to Glocks. While I like my 9mm Glocks, I no longer have the 31, as it seemed to be beating itself to death on the underside of the slide. My SIG's never showed any sign of the round being an issue.

Pico · June 19, 2013, 07:24 PM

Buy it
Buy it
Buy it
Buy it
Buy it
Buy it
Buy it
Buy it
Buy it

and, oh yes,

BUY IT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pico

Noreaster · June 19, 2013, 09:07 PM

I bet it's a trade in from my dept. We traded them in last spring. If it was my gun or one of the swat guys, it has allot of rounds through it, (they all had rails and everyone else no rail.) All the rest had about 200 rounds a year for twelve years. Here is the kicker. I put so many rounds through mine that I sent it in to Sig for a refurb. At the time it cost about $65.00 and it came back like a new gun. The Air Marshalls I train with have tens of thousands of rounds through their guns and they continue to march. If you like it I would buy it in a heart beat. I wanted to purchase my gun and the dept. wouldn't let us buy them. Buy the 40S&W barrel and have a ball, same magazines. Bring the gun with you to the Sig shop and I'm sure one of the guys will give the gun a once over and let you know if any springs need replacement.

Tactical Jackalope · June 20, 2013, 10:07 AM

Just for it's price and why not add a .357SIG to the bunch just to have? Buy it.

Microgunner · June 20, 2013, 10:15 AM

I bought SIG X-Change kits for my P226. It's now is in four calibers, .22lr, 9mm, .357SIG & .40S&W, with the .357 & .40 sharing everything except barrels.
Don 't know if these kits are available for the P229 but if so would be a solution to your dilema.
I'd say buy any good SIG sold at a good price.

Rinspeed · June 20, 2013, 11:10 PM

Sadly I let my 229 go in a trade a few years ago. I will replace it at some point in the next year or so. I don't reload for the .357 Sig round and probably never will but a 229 in .40 with a 9 conversion barrel is high on my list.

TXAZ · June 20, 2013, 11:53 PM

What Pico said

SpareMag · June 21, 2013, 05:17 PM

IMHO, ANY Sig in that price range is worth getting.
Well, maybe not the Mosquito, but any REAL Sig...

comn-cents · June 21, 2013, 08:32 PM

For the price I'd buy it in a minute. I have that same gun and it is one of my favorites. Shot it a lot when I first got it now it is my truck gun and hiking gun.

Dragline45 · June 21, 2013, 09:45 PM

Is there any downside to swapping barrels in pistols? In my thinking guns tend to wear and mate with their original parts a certain way, dropping in a brand new unworn barrel into an already broken in pistol always seemed like a bad idea to me. I could be totally wrong so if anyone has experience with this feel free to chime in and educate me.

Quote:

It came from the estate of a former FFL that they bought his entire stock of including NIB nickel P228s and P220s and also quite a few NIB 3RD gernation SW.

Man I would have been all over those NIB 3rd gen S&W's. S&W really screwed up when they dropped that line. Maybe someday when they get some sense they will bring them back in their classic line, probably will be right around the time they get rid of the internal locks

June 18, 2013, 10:30 PM	#1
TunnelRat Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2011 Posts: 12,427	The SIG No One Wanted Hi all, This is a story of a sad little SIG. At my lgs is a SIG P229 in very nice condition. Judging by the serial number I'd say 2003 or so. It has night sights (pretty dim obviously) and is in very nice shape, 92% or so. According to the lgs it's a police trade in. Here's the kicker: it's in 357 SIG. Now what makes me sad for this SIG is the fact that it has been at this LGS for a long, long time, probably because of the caliber. But because of that the price is pretty interesting: $485. Now I've been playing around with a crazy idea. I live a short drive from SIG itself and a little longer drive to the Academy. I can get a 40SW barrel easy. At the academy it'll prob run me $150-$170 OTD. That means I could have a P229 in both 40SW and 357SIG for < $700. I'm not a huge fan of the 40SW, but when I had one in the P229 it was actually pretty comfortable (one of the only pistols that holds true for me). Is this a crazy idea, or a good one? A SIG for $485 is mighty tempting. Should I be worried about it being in 357SIG originally? Will it be relatively beat up because of the caliber, are there areas I should be cautious off? Thanks for indulging this craziness. -TR __________________ Know the status of your weapon Keep your muzzle oriented so that no one will be hurt if the firearm discharges Keep your finger off the trigger until you have an adequate sight picture Maintain situational awareness

June 19, 2013, 08:39 AM	#7
Mystro Senior Member Join Date: November 26, 2004 Location: Central Pa. Posts: 1,528	My local has the same type of situation with a Sig P229 357sig. It has been gathering dust and its still not a good deal. I have a lot of Sigs but I have no interest at all for a 357Sig. I'll take a 40s&w every time. __________________ "I'm a good guy with a gun" What do I care if I give up some freedom or rights?....The Goverment will take care of me. This kind of thinking is now in the majority and it should concern you. "Ask not what you can do for your country, but what free entitlements you can bleed from your country"

June 19, 2013, 09:15 AM	#10
Onward Allusion Senior Member Join Date: November 17, 2009 Location: Back in a Non-Free State Posts: 3,133	Conversion...40S&W with Sig barrel, or 22LR with conversion kit or... even 9mm with a Bar-Sto barrel. __________________ Simple as ABC . . . Always Be Carrying

June 19, 2013, 07:24 PM	#17
Pico Senior Member Join Date: July 5, 2002 Location: Ga Posts: 515	Buy it Buy it Buy it Buy it Buy it Buy it Buy it Buy it Buy it Buy it and, oh yes, BUY IT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Pico

June 20, 2013, 11:53 PM	#22
TXAZ Senior Member Join Date: September 5, 2010 Location: McMurdo Sound Texas Posts: 4,322	^^^^^ What Pico said __________________ Cave illos in guns et backhoes

June 18, 2013, 10:34 PM	#2
Kevin_d77 Senior Member Join Date: May 13, 2012 Location: SW FL Posts: 953	Well, you could replace the springs etc, get a the new .40 cal barrel and have basically 2 guns for under 700 and replace the night sights if they're pretty dim for another 100. Sounds like a good idea to me! Would the 9mm barrel fit as well?

June 18, 2013, 10:36 PM	#3
Bluestarlizzard Senior Member Join Date: May 23, 2013 Location: Virginia Posts: 347	Funny. Me and Dad where discussing the caliber the other day. We sold off all the .357 sig pistols about five or six years back, and replaced them with 9mm and 40 s&w. I think I would pass unless I had a stockpile of .357 sig to shoot up.

June 18, 2013, 10:44 PM	#4
Vireye Senior Member Join Date: August 21, 2012 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 202	I would jump on it, but I'm also a huge SIG fan (and yet could only afford one ) You can pick up a .40 barrel, and I'm pretty sure a 9mm barrel as well.

June 19, 2013, 01:21 AM	#5
armsmaster270 Senior Member Join Date: November 25, 2008 Location: California Posts: 1,951	I did the reverse, I bought a Sig 226 in 40 Cal and bought a 357Sig barrel. Now all I use is the 357Sig barrel.

June 19, 2013, 07:31 AM	#6
CharlieDeltaJuliet Senior Member Join Date: July 25, 2012 Posts: 755	Yep, I had a buddy covert a 357 sig to a 9mm. Just called Sig and they hooked him up with everything he needed.

June 19, 2013, 08:43 AM	#8
Vireye Senior Member Join Date: August 21, 2012 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 202	Here at least, NIB Sigs are about $899.00 at the cheapest LGS. Usually they run between $950-$1100 from what I've encountered. So at least from where I'm standing even with all the replacements you come out ahead, but maybe the regular sale prices are different in your area.

June 19, 2013, 08:49 AM	#9
grizz223 Senior Member Join Date: February 19, 2013 Location: Fl Posts: 204	I would do it without a second thought. I did the same thing with a Glock 22 I got real cheap.

June 19, 2013, 09:27 AM	#11
sigarms228 Senior Member Join Date: October 29, 2011 Posts: 1,793	.357 SIG is somewhat popular in certain places, such as Texas I believe, but not around where I live. I bought an unfired since leaving the factory P229 .357 SIG from my LGS a couple years ago and still have not fired it. I do really like my P229 in .40. I could not pass it up because it was an early P229 with triple serial numbers. I asked my LGS why it was priced so low and they said no one wants a .357 Sig P229. I paid $519 for it. It came from the estate of a former FFL that they bought his entire stock of including NIB nickel P228s and P220s and also quite a few NIB 3RD gernation SW. I missed out on getting a nickel plated NIB P228 for $799!! For the example you are talking about IMO the price is very good and yes it should be easy to pop in a .40 barrel or a Barsto 9MM conversion barrel if they are ever back in stock again. Here is mine

June 19, 2013, 10:57 AM	#12
Technosavant Senior Member Join Date: May 29, 2007 Location: St. Louis, MO area Posts: 4,040	I'm not in the buying mode right now, but if I had seen that deal it would have come home with me immediately. A simple barrel swap and it's a .40. Switching it over to 9mm is also easy enough. The P229 is a great platform. The .357SIG is not everybody's ideal round but it is a good one. If nothing else, its relative rarity means that even in panic situations ammo can still be found.

June 19, 2013, 04:12 PM	#13
Sgt127 Senior Member Join Date: May 14, 2002 Posts: 1,068	I bought a P239 in .40. Got a 357 SIG barrel and magazines and never shot .40 in it again. The 357 SIG is a neat round, and, easy to get here (Texas). If you like the gun, buy it. Buy a .40 barrel, the mags and springs interchange, and sell the 357 SIG barrel on Sig Forum or somewhere else if you don't like it. If you can buy a new barrel for $150 and sell the 357 barrel for $75 bucks or so, you are still coming out way ahead. But....you may just like the round more than you think.....(if you can find the ammo)

June 19, 2013, 07:03 PM	#14
Deaf Smith Senior Member Join Date: October 31, 2000 Location: Texican! Posts: 4,453	I'd get it. I have the 229 and 239 both in 9mm and they are real good guns. The .357 Sig cartridge is quite powerful and good as any. Funny thing is I see it more on the shelves than .40 or 9mm! Never hurts to diversify your capabilities in case you can't find that 9mm or .40 S&W or .45 stuff. Deaf

June 19, 2013, 07:16 PM	#15
Kevin_d77 Senior Member Join Date: May 13, 2012 Location: SW FL Posts: 953	You guys are lucky. All I see is shotguns shells in any of the box stores and BS 9mm for $32/50 at the guns shops here in FL! I still say go for it. I just saw a 229 CPO for like $600 in .40SW. I really love the Scorpion but its $1000 and the CPO is much cheaper......might just save up for the scorpion though....

June 19, 2013, 07:16 PM	#16
AK103K Senior Member Join Date: May 1, 2001 Posts: 10,223	I made out the same way with a Glock 31. Paid $350 for a LNIB gun. The clerk got kind of snarky after he took my money, and said good luck getting ammo for it. I just smiled and said I really liked the round, and was the one who made out in the deal. I had about 5000 rounds of 357SIG sitting at home in unopened cases, and about 2500 rounds in reloads. He shut up pretty quick. I had a couple of P229's in 357SIG, as well as a couple of P226's, and a P239. all were great guns. I also got .40 barrels as a back up for them, but they really never got used. If the gun looks in good shape, that sounds like a great price. These days Ive switched from SIG's to Glocks. While I like my 9mm Glocks, I no longer have the 31, as it seemed to be beating itself to death on the underside of the slide. My SIG's never showed any sign of the round being an issue.

June 19, 2013, 09:07 PM	#18
Noreaster Senior Member Join Date: January 30, 2011 Location: New England Posts: 1,449	I bet it's a trade in from my dept. We traded them in last spring. If it was my gun or one of the swat guys, it has allot of rounds through it, (they all had rails and everyone else no rail.) All the rest had about 200 rounds a year for twelve years. Here is the kicker. I put so many rounds through mine that I sent it in to Sig for a refurb. At the time it cost about $65.00 and it came back like a new gun. The Air Marshalls I train with have tens of thousands of rounds through their guns and they continue to march. If you like it I would buy it in a heart beat. I wanted to purchase my gun and the dept. wouldn't let us buy them. Buy the 40S&W barrel and have a ball, same magazines. Bring the gun with you to the Sig shop and I'm sure one of the guys will give the gun a once over and let you know if any springs need replacement.

June 20, 2013, 10:07 AM	#19
Tactical Jackalope Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 2010 Location: Miami, Florida Posts: 6,462	Just for it's price and why not add a .357SIG to the bunch just to have? Buy it.

June 20, 2013, 10:15 AM	#20
Microgunner Senior Member Join Date: March 6, 2006 Location: Central Florida Posts: 3,324	I bought SIG X-Change kits for my P226. It's now is in four calibers, .22lr, 9mm, .357SIG & .40S&W, with the .357 & .40 sharing everything except barrels. Don 't know if these kits are available for the P229 but if so would be a solution to your dilema. I'd say buy any good SIG sold at a good price.

June 20, 2013, 11:10 PM	#21
Rinspeed Senior Member Join Date: February 1, 2000 Posts: 1,506	Sadly I let my 229 go in a trade a few years ago. I will replace it at some point in the next year or so. I don't reload for the .357 Sig round and probably never will but a 229 in .40 with a 9 conversion barrel is high on my list.

June 21, 2013, 05:17 PM	#23
SpareMag Senior Member Join Date: February 7, 2012 Posts: 514	IMHO, ANY Sig in that price range is worth getting. Well, maybe not the Mosquito, but any REAL Sig...

June 21, 2013, 08:32 PM	#24
comn-cents Senior Member Join Date: June 18, 2008 Location: Pac.N.W. Posts: 1,804	For the price I'd buy it in a minute. I have that same gun and it is one of my favorites. Shot it a lot when I first got it now it is my truck gun and hiking gun.