Sig Sauer P229 .40 S&W
Model: E29R-40-BSS
Sig Sauer P229 .40 S&W
Model: E29R-40-BSS
Full Specifications
About This Firearm
The Sig Sauer P229 is a compact hammer-fired .40 S&W built for duty and plainclothes carry. It is no longer made in this caliber, so it is a used buy. It left the factory with SIGLITE tritium night sights and two steel 12-round magazines.
The frame is aluminum alloy with the accessory rail cut into the metal, and a one-piece grip wraps it. A decocking lever is the external control, so the first shot is a long pull and every shot after it breaks at the 4.4 lbs SIG rates for single action. The magazine catch can be set up for either hand. The barrel is 3.9 inches with a 1 in 15 twist, and the pistol is 7.1 inches overall, the carry size in the family. The slide has no optic cut.
If you're cross-shopping, the HK USP40 Compact is still in production at an MSRP of $1,299 and holds the same 12 rounds behind a 3.58-inch barrel, with one frame lever doing both safety and decocker. The Smith & Wesson M&P 40 M2.0 Compact is a used buy as well, holds 13 rounds at 25.4 oz with a 4.0-inch barrel and a striker trigger that pulls the same every time. Both are lighter than a metal-framed P229, and neither shipped with tritium up front.
Best For
Strengths & Limitations
- The slide is solid high-strength stainless with cocking serrations front and rear.
- There is nothing to switch off before firing, because an automatic firing pin safety lock holds the pistol safe until the trigger is pulled.
- SIG lists X-Ray night sights and adjustable sights for select classic line models, so a sight change uses parts the family shares.
- Nothing in the classic line is milled for a red dot, so a dot means sending the slide to a shop.
- SIG has dropped .40 from the P229 line, so magazines, barrels and springs come off the used and surplus market.
- Tritium dims with age, so the night sights on a used example are a wear item and not a bonus.
Category Rankings
How the Sig Sauer P229 .40 S&W ranks among compact .40 S&W handguns.
Ballistics Calculator
Calculate trajectory, drop, and energy for .40 S&W ammunition.
.40 S&W Ballistics →Where to Buy
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Alternatives to Consider
Similar compact .40 S&W handguns ranked by similarity.
| NAME | BEST PRICE |
|---|---|
|
CZ P-07 .40 S&W
CZ-USA
|
— |
|
HK USP40 Compact .40 S&W
Heckler & Koch
|
— |
|
HK P2000 .40 S&W
Heckler & Koch
|
— |
|
Glock G23 Gen5 .40 S&W
Glock
|
$1,999.99 |
|
Smith & Wesson M&P 40 M2.0 Compact .40 S&W
Smith & Wesson
|
$647.99 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where was it built?
Exeter, New Hampshire. SIG says the P229 was the first pistol it manufactured there.
What does SIG's Short Reset Trigger change?
It shortens the amount of trigger travel before the trigger resets after a shot. SIG offered it across the classic line, so some used guns have it and some do not.
Which trigger actions did SIG build on this frame?
Four, counting DA/SA, SAO, DAO and SIG's DAK. The DA/SA guns are the ones that use the single-piece grip, so grip parts do not swap over from the others.
Can the grip be replaced?
Yes. Interchangeable grips are standard on the classic line, which SIG describes as adapting the pistol to the individual user.
