SixStringer519

But the price tag says $1,182... which seems a bit high to me. Is that what one would expect to pay? Looking online it appears that I could potentially get one for a bit less ($100 or so), but then when you factor shipping and the FFL fee back into the price it doesn't seem like terribly significant savings anymore. What should I really be paying for one of these beauties, and is the hassle of buying online and doing the FFL transfer process worth the potential savings (depending upon the fair market price of course... if it was a $300 difference it would be a no-brainer)?



Thanks as always for your input!

Volzfan

The P229 Elite Stainless 40S&W is a GREAT choice and I'm looking forward to seeing pictures of yours!

If you can find it at an online place like Bud's that doesn't charge extra for shipping and still gives a great price then that's the way I would go. The tax is the biggest savings which is nearly 10% here in TN. On a gun like you are looking at there would be another $100+ savings. I can get a gun for about $20-$30 transferred with the BG check.

I've got a great local gun shop that I prefer to spend my money at but 2 of the guns that I have bought over the last few years he could not get his hands on and he was happy to do the transfer. If he can get the gun then I will give him the opportunity to get close to the price and if he will do it then I'll get the gun from him. One of my neighbors even has a gun store here but he is very small and can't get the price even close most of the time. I have bought 3 or 4 guns from him but I just can't afford to waste the money anymore.

col132

Barring a "steal" somewhere, I still think its a little on the high side. That's about full retail, isn't it? I gave $950 for mine "used, as new", whatever that's supposed to mean, and I thought that was about $50 too high. I would hope to give a grand for a new one, add sales tax. and go from there. That may be wishful thinking, as I don't know what wholesale is on the gun. I think there are some FFL's on the forum, maybe they can give you some advise. The good side is, being in your local store, you get a chance to fondle it and see if it has any cosmetic problems, etc.

Jim-Bob

MSRP is $1350 - I agree with col132, offer your LGD 10 "Bens" ($1,000 Cash) band see if he bites. If he counters at $1,100 - think Bird



in the hand. Great choice by the way.... Good Luck, JB

sigp229r 

I agree with Jim Bob about the bird in hand... Because if you pass this one up and you can't get another... Hmmmmmmm.

dlm1188

I can't add any certainty to your dilemma except that I was lookin to pay $850 for a P226 with one mag, online, used. I found an FFL that would do the transfer and he had a brand new P226 with night sights and 4 mags for $1000, he offered $950 and I took it. So the online pistol plus shipping and FFL charges would have been about $100 less than the SIG I bought, but the pistol I did buy was new and had 3 more mags and night sights. So to me the price you're lookin at seems high, but not way out of the ballpark. I admittedly would pay more for an Elite because I LOVE the beaver-tail and stainless will add some cost because it's popular. I also agree with the bird in the hand. If it's a purchase you pursue I can't wait to see pictures! Good luck with everything Allen!

GoingQuiet

Send me an email and I'll try to make some magic happen. I don't post pricing publicly.

SixStringer519

Man I love this forum, you guys are the best. +1's all around.



I'm going to go back this weekend and check it out again and haggle with him, although this particular shop is notorious for not budging on price, so we'll see what happens. I wish I could go sooner but I tend to work until after they've closed during the week, so I'm hoping it doesn't fly off the shelf in the meantime.



Any thoughts on 226 vs 229 elite stainless? Any preferences here? I originally wanted a 226 elite stainless in .40, but wasn't able to find one anywhere. I saw the 229 in the case and fell in love with it too... and like you said, a bird in the hand...



Anyway, thanks again guys, really helpful replies!!!

dlm1188

I've never even held a 229, so I can't speak from a performance standpoint with confidence, but from what I can read and observe, the P229 is just a P226 with 0.5 inches cut off the barrel and 0.1 inches cut off the overall length. The height is also a bit shorter (0.1 inches). Since you want a 40 S&W, the mag capacities will be the same, 10 or 12 rounds. The slide design (aesthetically) is different between the two slightly. The grips are both rosewood, but the grip plates on the P229 appear to wrap around to the back more... possibly making it a larger grip? I'm not sure if that's true, or if it just appears that way in the photos. The grips on the P226 go down and are flush with the standard magazine shown in the photos (the 12 round might not be flush fit, I'm not sure). The grips on the P229 don't quite cover the base plate.



Those things are mostly just personal preferences in aesthetics, but I will say that the P229 will have more recoil due to it's reduced weight, but a .40 doesn't kick all that bad in my opinion and you'll have a beaver-tail frame which helps with recoil support. Also the shorter barrel on the P229 will produce a slightly more curved trajectory, but I honestly think that the difference will be small and insignificant for all purposes except for maybe long range pistol shooting, from a concrete bench, with a scope, and a laser, and a bench rest, and a gun vice with micro adjusting screws and an automatic level on it.... hahah.



IMHO SIG makes such a fine pistol, from a performance perspective comparin these two pistols would be really splitting hairs, and the only other factors are cost and aesthetics. Cost is somewhat determined for you and only you can decide on personal preferences. This information could be wrong, since I only own a .40 P226, non-elite. Always remember, as soon as you buy your pistol, you'll find a better deal after the fact, but if you didn't buy that pistol, you would have never found the better deal. Patience is a virtue, but it can only go so far to help you find the best deal. If you find the SIG you want, for a price you feel is worth it and not going to be lower most anywhere else, go for if the time is right and when you find the better deal, remember that when you purchased your SIG it was and still is worth what you paid for it.

col132

I own both a 229 elite and a 226 Elite (9mm). On some days I like the P226 grip better, and on others I like a more compact design like the P229. I don't think you can go wrong going down the path you're headed on with either.

navycporet

I have a 229 tt sas gen 2 .40 as my edc, over 3k rounds through it..... I find it to be an extremely accurate and comfortable weapon to carry and shoot. I also have a 220 SS elite. Even though I grease like a maniac, after only 870 rounds there is some galling on the frame. i begin to understand why so many folks on multiple forums are not fans of all SS guns. I've been told to try mobile 1 or Lucas oil instead of grease. But before I shoot anymore I plan to take to a smith to see about having the galling lapped out.

SixStringer519

Wow, is that a characteristic of stainless guns... they eat themselves? I hadn't heard that that was a SS problem, that's very interesting. Is that common? Definitely is a worry, considering how much the thing costs.

lvgolfer962

sexy sexy gun

MT357Mag

My first choice in a Sig..Beautiful Gun....Gotta love those Elites

AlexV

I ordered mine last month from my local Range store. He had it in 3 days. I paid $1075 brand new. Its the best looking gun I own. .40 Shoots like a dream.

GoingQuiet

Something else to bear in mind - sig is backed up badly on the SS guns right now. I've got one on order for a LONG while and they're that far behind.

AlexV

Every time I see a picture of that P229 Stainless Elite I know why I had to have one.