GRAND PRIZE WINNER: SIG SAUER P229

Military.com ^

[Delta 21]

Reliable and deadly accurate, it is the handgun of choice for the FBI, the DEA and the Secret Service.

Gun guru Col. Jeff Cooper (retired) used to say, "The best gun for a gunfight is the one you have with you." Law enforcement and military officials couldn't agree more. And recently the Coast Guard and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) made the SIG SAUER P229 their "best gun" to have by awarding two pistol contracts to SIGARMS Inc.

In September, SIGARMS was awarded a $4.2 million pistol contract from the Coast Guard. Just a month prior, SIGARMS had been awarded a pistol contract valued at $23.7 million from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The Coast Guard is hoping to replace their aging Beretta 9mm pistols with the P229, while DHS looks to supply itself with 65,000 new pistols, which includes the P229.

The selection process in awarding SIGARMS its contracts was grueling. DHS chose SIGARMS pistols after an extensive testing and evaluation process, which included pistols manufactured by several companies. The Coast Guard's decision to award a contract to SIGARMS was made on the recommendation of these tests. In the end, 690 handguns were tested and 2.9 million rounds of ammunition were expended; and the P229 was the big winner.

The SIG SAUER P299 has long been a mainstay of the law enforcement community. Extremely reliable, deadly accurate and packaged in one of three calibers (9mm Luger, .357 SIG, .40 SW), the P229 meets the needs of both federal and local law enforcement agencies throughout the country. Moreover, the new DAK trigger system - introduced in 2003 -- for the P229 has helped increased SIGARMS' popularity among law enforcement by delivering a safe, reliable and consistent 6.5 pound double-action only trigger pull. The P229 also boasts a 12 round cartridge capacity created specifically for law enforcement use only (versus the normal 10 round capacity), giving law enforcement officers an additional advantage.

The SIG SAUER P299 has long been a mainstay of the law enforcement community.

During the contract selection process, DHS solicited vendors to provide sample handguns for testing. Handgun testing was then conducted at the Ice National Firearms Tactics and Training Unit in Altoona, PA, and FT. Benning, GA from March 22 to June 30, 2004. During those tests, personnel - including 22 members of the Coast Guard -- participated in reliability, durability, and performance testing that included six major vendors and 46 different handgun models.

For the Department of Homeland Security, receiving 65,000 new pistols to arm its Office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement was of importance. After the testing process, the SIG SAUER P239, P226 and P229 pistols in the calibers of 9mm and 40S&W were all part of a major five-year contract signed in August 2004 with SIGARMS.

Upon being awarded the $23.7 million contract, Jim Pledger, SIGARMS Vice President for Law Enforcement and Military Sales said, "We are pleased that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has recognized the superior performance of the SIG SAUER line of pistols with this award. SIGARMS has invested heavily in equipment and engineering resources to ensure that law enforcement has the best and most durable firearms to bring to bear in the war on terror and that those pistols are made right here in America."

For the Coast Guard, the need to replace its Beretta M9 9mm PDW was becoming paramount. After all, the Beretta was experiencing increased frame failure rates and unreliability issues. Additionally, 75% of the Coast Guard's M9s far exceeded their predicted 5,000-round service life (The Coast Guard fires an average of 500 9MM rounds annually, the majority of PDWs have been in service for approximately 16 years, well beyond their predicted life).

Moreover, with the increased ports, waterways and coastal security mission, the Coast Guard ammunition Non-Combat Expenditure Allocation (a.k.a. rounds used for training) has increased. Adding more wear and tear to the aging M9 9mm handguns, in FY02 the Coast Guard shot 2.9 million rounds of 9mm.

Through their contract with SIGARMS, the Coast Guard will receive 12,000 SIG Sauer P229 .40 Caliber compact handguns to replace the Beretta M9 9mm PDW. The Coast Guard has begun receiving its handguns since November 2004. They will be receiving 1000 handguns every month until the contract is met.

For the Coast Guard, the handgun replacement ushers in a new era of ammunition available to the field commander. Ammunition selection will be based on operational mission, procuring .40 caliber ball ammunition for missions supporting DoD operations and .40 caliber hollow point (HP) ammunition for maritime law enforcement operations. .40 caliber frangible ammunition will also be procured to help meet Coast Guard environmental stewardship responsibilities. The variety of ammunition available will require more logistical oversight, but ultimately will provide the operational commander of the Coast Guard more flexibility in mission execution.

Before the recent contract awards granted to SIGARMS, the P229 handgun was the standard for law enforcement handguns throughout the nation. With the new contracts awarded from Homeland Security and the Coast Guard, the SIG SAUER P229 has made an even better statement by being recognized as the handgun chosen to fight the War on Terror.

[elmer fudd]

I think it gets down to a matter of, what do you intend on using the gun for? Single action triggers are the hands down winner for target shooting or competition, but I still wouldn't want one for open or concealed carry. I know that people swear that it's safe to carry cocked and locked, but I prefer to carry a gun uncocked and I prefer the long, heavy and deliberate trigger pull necessary to fire a DAO pistol if I have to carry it. It's just an extra element of safety that I don't want to give up.

As for DA/SA pistols I really don't like the idea of the trigger pull changing after the first shot. It's hard enough to shoot accurately as it is without your trigger changing.

[Delta 21]

Musta been a 220. That was in '85. I was a younger more hardcore 1911 fan then but it was a very nice shooter.

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

Open carry of that could have the desired effect though.

[toupsie]

I thought about the Mark-41 but it took up too much room in the garage that would have meant parking the M1A1 in the driveway and the wife hates to start up a cold tank in the morning. We can keep the MK17 in the breakfast nook.

[keilimon]

Look at the Sig Sauer P232 .380 (DA/SA) loaded with MagSafe. Lightweight, accurate, easy to control, easy to conceal even in a pocket. I carry an earlier version, the P230.

MagSafe ammo gives remarkable stopping power. From their web site:

"MagSafe's .380 beat every .45 ACP slug, every 10mm, every 9mm (including police-only ammo), every .40 caliber - no matter who made it - Cor-Bon, Remington, Glaser and HydraShok.

"In fact, MagSafe's lowest-powered .380 ACP load had an AIT faster than the best manstopper of all time - Remington's .357 Magnum 125-grain JHP!"

[ItsForTheChildren]

Is that a MK17 Thermonuclear weapon or are you just glad to see me?

[xrp]

So how many "is that a MK17 thermonuclear weapon in your pants or are you just happy to see me" jokes have had cracked at you?

[Delta 21]

Im stuck in the mud with you! Single action all the way.

And if your gonna carry for defence, cocked and locked, ready to go.

[rjcmember]

Is there anyone knowledgeable out there who could tell me why this firearm might have advantages over the Kimber model 1911 that all our generals carry in Iraq? Trying to make a decision before Christmas...

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

Single action is my preference but my new employer has determined I'm a Glock man. In .40 at least.

[xrp]

Really? No MK-41? That's too bad. I have a MK41 VLS in the backyard.

Here's a picture I took one night when I was swatting flies.

Who needs an electronic bug zapper?

[Delta 21]

Get the Kimber.

[ProudVet77]

One of the nice features of the 1911 was the "half cocked" hammer position. It allowed you to keep an extra round in the chamber ready to go.
Being a bad shot I prefer big caliber so in the off chance I hit something it is no longer a threat. Also putting snake shot rounds in the first 3 positions helps in the dark in an emergency.

[wardaddy]

After one of my car washes was almost robbed yesterday I had the pleasure of an hour or so of pleasant bullshooting with 2 Nashville cops....both ex-military (Army/Marine)....one was a Lt. and the other a young SWAT member who happened to have a print dusting kit while nearby.....guess which was which..lol


anyhoo....NPD issues Glock 40s with copper HPs ammo standard.

neither liked the Glock or the famed trigger (non) safety.

I felt vindicated.

The Swatter prefered wheelguns in a pinch or HK USP .

The Lt. preferred the Sig.

We hit it off well....both were very big Rightys...and RKBA proponents.

[xp38]

Still patiently waiting for the Federation to release their standard issue phasers.

[xm177e2]

At least it looks like they'll be going with .40 instead of 9mm. While not as good as a .45 ACP round, it is still better than any type of 9mm.

What do you think of .357 magnum?

[dix]

I own a Glock 27, and occasionaly it misfires at the range. I buy range ammo, and I've been told that is the problem. I welcome your opinions/comments, because that Sig looks sweet. If I had it to do over though I think I would be a 1911 man all the way.

[etcetera]

Does this mean that there will be lots of Berettas on the market?

[claudiustg]

The Generals are carrying 1911's? That's funny, none of them carried the things when they were the issue weapon.

Sigs are pretty safe to handle. You only load and carry them one way. Put the magazine in, chamber a round, and drop the hammer using the decocking lever. Their is no manual safety. To fire pull the trigger.

[Cooltouch]

Excellent choice. I prefer the one chambered for .357 Sig myself.