Sig 226 ELITE - Worth the extra money?
- Thread starter pottsy
- Start date
I have the 239TAC with the SRT, and two of the 229s without it. Both are excellent triggers. It really comes down to what you like and how you shoot.
If you do a lot of fast shooting using the reset, think seriously about getting the SRT. I find it noticable. The normal SIG trigger is a short "throw" to reset, but it is longer than many (most?) autopistols on the market. The SRT on the other hand is right there. The difference between having fired the gun and the reset... I have no idea, but in my mind it seems like a couple mm.
Keep in mind though, I can shoot my 229's very fast and accurate without the SRT... and so have lots of other people for decades. Being able to shoot either trigger system well is learned more than it is mechanics. I think the SRT is well worth considering though. I believe that, in the future, this will be the only system SIG offers.
Beavertail might help a bit for some people... especially with .40 or .357SIG, as mentioned above.
Front cocking serrations... not a big deal, as it is pretty hard to grip the gun and #### it that way anyway.
The wood grips on the Elites... these seem to have mostly gotten the thumbs down from shooters... including in the gun magazines, which almost never say anything critical about their advertisers products! Most guys think they are too thick, and replace them with SIG factory plastics (which I like a lot), or Houges (which are also good).
I am (or is it was?
) thinking about getting a .40 cal stainless Elite 229. The price has now gone astronomical. That may have gone on the backburner for now.
If you do a lot of fast shooting using the reset, think seriously about getting the SRT. I find it noticable. The normal SIG trigger is a short "throw" to reset, but it is longer than many (most?) autopistols on the market. The SRT on the other hand is right there. The difference between having fired the gun and the reset... I have no idea, but in my mind it seems like a couple mm.
Keep in mind though, I can shoot my 229's very fast and accurate without the SRT... and so have lots of other people for decades. Being able to shoot either trigger system well is learned more than it is mechanics. I think the SRT is well worth considering though. I believe that, in the future, this will be the only system SIG offers.
Beavertail might help a bit for some people... especially with .40 or .357SIG, as mentioned above.
Front cocking serrations... not a big deal, as it is pretty hard to grip the gun and #### it that way anyway.
The wood grips on the Elites... these seem to have mostly gotten the thumbs down from shooters... including in the gun magazines, which almost never say anything critical about their advertisers products! Most guys think they are too thick, and replace them with SIG factory plastics (which I like a lot), or Houges (which are also good).
I am (or is it was?
) thinking about getting a .40 cal stainless Elite 229. The price has now gone astronomical. That may have gone on the backburner for now.
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I can't comment on the SRT trigger, but Elite's other distinguishing features are totally useless in my opinion. The beavertail serves no functional purpose on this gun (unlike, say, on the 1911) and detracts from the looks of the pistol. The wood grips, while pretty, are too thick to be comfortable for most people.
Personally, I'd go for the base model.
Hmmm... thanks for the info guys, much appreciated.
Now if the difference from a new base model 226 was only say $200 less then a new Elite, do you figure that is close enough in price to merit going to the Elite for the SRT trigger?
Now if the difference from a new base model 226 was only say $200 less then a new Elite, do you figure that is close enough in price to merit going to the Elite for the SRT trigger?
Ive got both an stainless elite and a stainless 226 both in 9mm! I really like the SRT, and the beavertale does help abit with control, I dont like the wood grips...they look nice but arnt user friendly, I dont like the night sights that come on the elite and prefer the standard contrast sights.
Overall I guess I prefer the elite due to the srt and beavertail, and then just outfit the gun to your preferancs if necessary.
Its all just a matter of preference and $$$$
Overall I guess I prefer the elite due to the srt and beavertail, and then just outfit the gun to your preferancs if necessary.
Its all just a matter of preference and $$$$
- Location
- North of Toronto and South Carolina
Agreed about the grips. Why spend extra for cosmetic grips when you have to change them for a more functional set.
I'm perfectly happy with a CPO 226--still relatively expensive, but a pistol for a lifetime.
I'm perfectly happy with a CPO 226--still relatively expensive, but a pistol for a lifetime.
Aluminum, like the ones on the Elite Platinum or aftermarket?
I have been thinking of picking up a set of Hogue aluminum grips for my Blackwater. Never thought of them being quite cold in the winter. Oh well... I probably won't be getting a set until spring anyway.
- Location
- Port Perry/Toronto
Well, if your only after a SRT, you can buy it and have it installed by a gunsmith, or yourself if your good with guns.
I think my purchase was agood one. The elite has everything I was looking for. I like the night sights (the dots work well for speedy alignment during the day), the SRT and the beavertail.
But keep in mind that at that price level, you can look at some of the other P226's out there. Questar carries some of the 100% steel german made P226's and their variations. If I ever were to pick up another sig, I'd get one of those. But for all intents and purposes, my P226 elite works perfect for me.
I think my purchase was agood one. The elite has everything I was looking for. I like the night sights (the dots work well for speedy alignment during the day), the SRT and the beavertail.
But keep in mind that at that price level, you can look at some of the other P226's out there. Questar carries some of the 100% steel german made P226's and their variations. If I ever were to pick up another sig, I'd get one of those. But for all intents and purposes, my P226 elite works perfect for me.
I thought the same thing... but after some research on sigforum, there is the "short trigger" as in short REACH (which is what you are talking about). then there is the "SRT" short RESET trigger that comes with the Elite models. two different things.
I put a short reach trigger on my SAS and it cost me about 30$ from brownells, installation was free since its a drop in replacement that I did myself. no gunsmith needed to swap to a short reach trigger.
The SRT is something different:
"...and the new Short Reset Trigger. SIG engineers designed the SRT to provide the same safety and action of the SIG DA/SA with a reset that is 60% shorter for faster trigger return during high speed shooting."
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I wondered about this at first too... "short trigger" vs. "short reset trigger". They are actually two different things. The short triggers, are just thinner triggers that are... therefore... a shorter reach for smaller hands. You can just install this as a drop-in part.
The SRT is a short reset system. I own a SIG that has SRT (a 239 TAC) and two that don't have it (two 229R's) and I can tell you absolutely and without any doubt that the reset is shorter on guns with the SRT system.
See this quote from the 239TAC section of the Sig Sauer website:
http://www.sigsauer.com/Products/ShowCatalogProductDetails.aspx?categoryid=9&productid=243
"The SRT (Short Reset Trigger) is designed to provide you the same great safety and smooth action of the SIG DA/SA with a comfortable reset that is 60% shorter for faster trigger return and surgical control during high speed shooting."
Hey no problem.. I didn't understand that it was two different things until I investigated this a bit myself.
Not to hijack another thread with complaining about Brownells... but, up until a few months ago you could order the short trigger trigger for your SIG from Brownells. I'm not sure about all brands of gun parts, but SIG parts orders to Canada are definately being rejected right now... and have been since at least early September. I just tried it again a few days ago to see if this export certificate situation had been sorted out, but no.
Numrich is still shipping under $100US gun parts orders to Canada, but they don't list the short triggers on their site.
So, a question... anybody buy the skinnier "short trigger" for their SIG. Notice any difference?
Not to hijack another thread with complaining about Brownells... but, up until a few months ago you could order the short trigger trigger for your SIG from Brownells. I'm not sure about all brands of gun parts, but SIG parts orders to Canada are definately being rejected right now... and have been since at least early September. I just tried it again a few days ago to see if this export certificate situation had been sorted out, but no.
Numrich is still shipping under $100US gun parts orders to Canada, but they don't list the short triggers on their site.
So, a question... anybody buy the skinnier "short trigger" for their SIG. Notice any difference?
