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A 229 IN 40 CALIBER? OR A 229 IN 357 SIG?
If you could only have one. I am looking to downsize and want to part with one but cannot decide. [yaya I know keep 'em both, that is not one of my choices ] Both guns are identical other than caliber.
Barrels are interchangeable. Pick the frame you like and the caliber you like, and swap parts if necessary. Sell the other one. .40 S&W is cheaper, .357 SIG is more fun.
40sw of course . The 357sig does nothing better when several 135gr 40sw can exceed 1420fps in a 4" barrel . The 357sig runs out of steam at 125gr and the 147gr loads are slower than some 155gr 40sw ammo .
Flip a coin...
40 ammo is far cheaper.. so.. for the money you save you can get a 357 barrel later.
Another option is sell the 40 and buy a 40 conversion or 9 conversion kit.
You might research to learn the cost and availability of Sig OEM replacement barrels--with the idea of eventually purchasing a barrel in the caliber that's *not* the caliber of the P229 you decide to keep.
Right now I have 3, 229's. One 40, one 357 and one 9. I am keeping the SAS 9 and trying to decide which of the other 2 to sell off. I am aware that the 40 and 357 are interchangeable, so I know I can add a barrel to either one later.
Only you can decide that, as is pretty obvious from the responses above. Me, I have one frame, two slides, and three barrels! All my bases are sufficiently covered!
If you're selling one, then is one worth more than the other, and if so, by a significant amount? If they are both worth the same amount, then is one significantly newer/less worn than the other? With everything being equal, I'd lean toward keeping the .40 just because of the lower expense and better availability of ammo. Plus you could always grab a .357SIG barrel and drop it in, or do a 9mm conversion.
Another vote for 40. And a SIG made between 1992 and 2005 or so, if one has a choice.
I have 4 P229s, all 40 (or XL - :c), a couple of 357 barrels and lots of 357 ammo and new brass. I've shot one mag of 357 - that's it. Nothing wrong with 357 ('cept a bit more muzzle flash, but otherwise similar to shooting 40). Either round will do the job.
In a gun the size of the P229, designed and built for the 40 from the get-go, I see no point in 9.
The .40 S&W ammunition is normally easier to come by, more apt to find it locally, than you are .357 Sig, so from a strictly "survival" mindset it would be the logical choice to keep. I would suggest you take a little time and tour the local sporting goods establishments, and check out the ammunition situation. Because if push ever comes to shove, mail order may not be available in a "pinch"!
Steve Bit your shooting 180gr 40 ammo ?? I'm have not fired a box of 180gr since 1990 . Did not like the push then or today rather fire a quick snappy 155gr 1300fps load than a fat slow 180gr . The faster loads feels very much like a 9mm +P+ or 357sig with out there limits .
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