Each year it seems the discontinued Sig P228 achieves a more heralded status. As one of the classic Sigs, it is deserving of these praises. My Sig P228 9mm dates back to 1994 when I ordered it directly from Gil Hebard guns (Knoxville, IL) and had it delivered directly to my doorstep in North Dakota for $600. Wow, what a deal. Of course that makes my P228 extra special to me. But the "compact" Sig's attaction runs much deeper. Like its slightly larger sibling and "Warrior Excellence" pistol the Sig P226, the P228 inherits its almost magical hitting capabilities. It can make even mediocre shooters (like me sometimes!) look good. It was ground breaking in its superb ergonomics which consist of a high tracton grip and ideal grip angle, superb 4.4 lb single action trigger, Von Stavenhagen sights, no nonsense cocking serrations, mag release, beveled mag well, and perfect balance. The P228 in its original form lacked my preferred squared trigger guard (like P226) in its forged aluminum frame but its absence detracts little from its capabilities. In hand the Sig P228 inspires a level of confidence that many pistols lack. It is supremely accurate and fast firing. Sig originated the barrel breech lockining into the slide (a variation of J. Browning's design) which is extremely reliable and, in unison with full length slide rails like the P210, responsible for this standard-setting accuracy. Although no longer impressive, its factory 13+1 capacity was ground breaking at the time as its single-stack brother the Sig P226/P6 only held 8 rounds. Back in the 90s, that feature alone made the P228 a fast seller. Current high quality MecGar magazines ramp up capacity to 16 rounds with a still-flush fit. The P228 of course accepts all Sig P226 mags like the especially cool Sig factory 20 rounders and MecGar 18 rounders (not flush fitting). Takedown was also innovative in these classic Sigs and I find no way in which it could be improved: no pulling of the trigger is necessary, simply rotate takedown lever after mag removal and safety check, and remove the slide. That simplicity has since found its way into other excellent handgun designs like the Springfield XD/XDM, CZ 75 polymer, S&W M&P series, and FN FNP/FNX pistols. Durability is long proven and widely acclaimed in law enforcement, military, protective detail, competitive, and civilian circles. The Sig P228 has served with distinction with the US Army, US Air Force, US Navy (SEALS), multiple Federal Agencies, police departments, and foreign militaries. This long term service has created a huge fan base of this original West German produced Sig P228. These guns possess unquestioned and consistent quality levels which resulted in this impressive track record. The Sig P229 is a similar gun and superceded the Sig P228. It is about 2 oz heavier and features a solid stainless steel slide that is CNC milled. This allows the P229 to handle the higher slide velocities of the .40 S&W and .357 Sig without increased recoil spring pressures which would make slide cocking difficult for many users. It too is an outstanding Sig and is a near twin of the P228. But I in 9mm chambering I prefer this P228, hands down. That's because it was built for that cartridge from the ground up, every component was made as size and weight efficient as possible. Its stamped-steel/pinned slide to me poses no significant downsides (maybe rust) and provides the owner with a user-serviceable breechblock. Perfect balance, accuracy, durability, and reliability and off the charts 2nd Kind of Cool. In the roles of recreational shooter, personal defense, primary sidearm, and now collectible, the Sig P228 is a Hall of Famer in the gun world and I predict its value and desirability will only increase over time. Mine's not going anywhere./////////////////Nutnfancy Likabilty Scale: 10 out of 10 (price considered)
15 окт 2024
