Smith vs Sig

[ugrey]

I have owned a Smith 5906 for 20 years, a 6906 for 15 years, a 3913 for 2 years and I just bought a 3904. DA/SA is the only way to fly! I have carried for 4 years now. I have lusted after a Sig 228 or 229 for about 20 years and I finally bought a 229 in 9mm.

I am a bit disapointed. I like the 229 but it seems to me that they have only recently close to caught up with Smith 3rd generation pistols in just some ways. I had to install Short Reset Trigger parts to get as good a reset as my 5906 had 20 years ago. The nitron finish on the Sig has caught up with Smith's stainless steel. I need to install a Short Reach Trigger to get the same trigger reach length that comes standard on the Smith. The Smith slide is narrower and less bulky. The Smiths are lighter. I cannot get a bobbed hammer from the factory for the Sig. A comparable height butt on a Smith holds more rounds, 15 for my 5906, the same height butt for my 229 holds 13. Although, Mec Gar now makes a 229 mag that holds 15. The Sig grip is good, but secures with screws, they loosen sooner or later and the grip still has a little play in it even when they are tight. Sig now makes an E2 grip which snaps and pins in like a Smith, it only costs $50 more.

I like the 229, but for the life of me, it seems like the Smith 3rd generations are slightly better over all pistols. All my Smiths have been dead nuts reliable. Why, Oh Why, did S&W ever stop making the 3rd generation pistols?

 

[photoman]

I've been debating the P225/P228 and the 6906 lately. The S&W's sure have some advantages, not the least of which is cost. A guy can buy two good S&W's for what one SIG costs. They both seem to be very reliable guns.

I'm beginning to think a decock only 6906 would make a real nice carry gun.

 

[RufusG]

Why, Oh Why, did S&W ever stop making the 3rd generation pistols?

Because you can only convince americans to pay serious money for a metal semi-auto if it's a 1911, or designed by a german. It doesn't matter at all if it's actually better.

 

[StatesRightist]

The 6906 is the Apex of S&W semi-auto CCW guns, period.

 

[growr]

I own a Sig 229 in .40 as well as a whole herd of S&W's the closest being my 4006 which I prefer greatly over my Sig.....Mind you the Sig is a good gun and all......the S&W 4006 simply feels better, shoots better and has a lifetime warranty.

Randy

 

[StatesRightist]

Sig's are fantastic guns, but, they are not the value for the dollar S&W's are.

How many Sig's do you see appreciate like a fine S&W?

 

[4506517]

Being a lefty, I thought that the decocker would bother me. Surprise, it was the mag release button that was in the way. I admire Sig's quality, but their ergonomics I found really lacking. I'm sure they work just fine for right handers. I know I'm biased, but in my opinion, nothing beats the 3rd gennies.

 

[Chaosrob]

I have had 5 Smith Auto's, and one good one out of the lot (1076). I have had 12 Sig Pistols, and not one was a bad one. I will never own another Smith Auto unless it is a 1076, maybe I just had bad luck, or poor examples, but I go with what I know, and trust. Smith Revolvers on the other hand have been nothing but very very good to me.

 

[TexasG]

I too own Sigs, 226, 220. I bought them prior to learning much about 3rd gen S&W's. The old saying "I wish I knew then what I know now" is absolutely applicable. I like my Sigs.... but I love my 3G S&W's. Form fit and function is an amazing thing.

 

[Lost Lake]

Now let's stop this thread right here!

Smith 3rd gens are not all that great. The NEW S&W's are really something!! How about that Shield!?!?!

No the 3rd gens have been replaced, bettered, advanced....

Let's not talk up the price of third gens... I still have so many to buy....

 

[4506517]

LOL Lost Lake!!!! How true, how true!!!!

 

[SonnyCrockett]

I think CZ is more comparable to early S&Ws than a SIG

I am a fan of all 3

 

[steamloco76]

I think CZ is more comparable to early S&Ws than a SIG

I am a fan of all 3

I also like all three!

The CZ-75 and its compact offspring are among the easiest to shoot pistols ever made. I sold a couple 3rd Gen S&W's after getting my CZ's. However, I dumped my pristine SIG P220 in favor of a 4566. My favorite SIG is a 1981 vintage P6 German Police import. Great point-ability, good SA trigger, horrible DA trigger like most SIG's.

 

[kbm6893]

S&W autos are solid, well built weapons and the S&W warranty is second to none. I have owned many S&W's but am down to only my 3913. I have only owned one SIG (a 226), and it was a good gun, but the manual of arms is different than the S&W 3rd gens and the Berettas I own, and I was constantly pressing down on the slide lock to decock the SIG. BUT, the one thing SIG has that S&W does not is the feel of quality and a smooth action. The S&W's work and work well, but they are not nearly as silky smooth as a SIG is.

The trigger reset on the S&W has pretty much every other gun beat, though (except a 1911, of course)

 

[zoom6zoom]

Being a lefty, I thought that the decocker would bother me. Surprise, it was the mag release button that was in the way. I admire Sig's quality, but their ergonomics I found really lacking. I'm sure they work just fine for right handers. I know I'm biased, but in my opinion, nothing beats the 3rd gennies.

The SIG mag release is designed so it can easily be flipped to the other side.

 

[SMSgt]

If you wanted your Sig to be just like your 3 Gen S&Ws, why didn't you buy another 3 Gen? That's like complaining that your new Ford isn't just like your old Chevy.

 

[JumpinJack]

I've carried a P226, then a P228 and now a P229 as a duty weapon the town bought. The only Sig I own is a P225 and I'm selling that to pay for the 3953 I just bought. It will be my 9th Gen 3.

 

[Fastbolt]

I always felt the TSW's were comparable to the Sig Classic P-series.

FWIW, when I went through the Sig Pistol Armorer class, the SRT was brand new. We were told that it had been specifically developed while Sig was hoping to win a rather large LE contract (not quite 10,000 guns), and had been intended to give the standard TDA Sig's a trigger reset comparable to the S&W TDA guns.

Sig didn't get the contract, but they did start to offer the SRT in their commercial guns (as well as in other LE sales).

Sig makes a pretty decent service pistol, and they've been working to make their trigger reach and grip dimensions more appealing to a wider range of users/shooters/owners.

They are sensitive to lack of sufficient lubrication, though. They were repeatedly referred to as "wet guns" in the armorer class, and we were constantly reminded that the presence of lubrication must be able to be verified both visually and by touch. (It was even a 2-part answer on the written test.)

Some folks may occasionally have an issue adapting their grip to some models, keeping their master-hand thumb away from the slide stop lever.

All things considered, I'd not have any qualms carrying a Sig if it were issued to me. Not at the top of my list when it comes to spending my own money, though.

 

[QXSOUP]

I currently own 9 Sigs. Comparing a 3rd gen to a Sig is apples and oranges.

I am a leftie as well. Sig is BY FAR the most southpaw friendly pistol out there. You can swap the mag release if you want. I just use my trigger finger.

 

[ugrey]

If you wanted your Sig to be just like your 3 Gen S&Ws, why didn't you buy another 3 Gen? That's like complaining that your new Ford isn't just like your old Chevy.

Sarge, I had read about Sigs for 20 years and I had handled a few. My new 229 is a brand new, in the box, 2009 SAS model. It said on the box it had the Short Reset Trigger, but the pistol DID NOT have that when I dry fired it in the gun store. I bought it knowing that. Possibly somebody swapped out the parts somwhere along the way. I was just amazed that my 20 year old Smiths had a much better trigger reset than the vaunted Sig original parts. Then I started looking at the other improvements Sig has made to their pistols in the last 5 or so years and it seemed to me that Smith has had most of those improvements 20 years ago: Stainless steel, Short reset, short trigger, better installed grip, shorter trigger reach, lighter weight, less bulk, higher round count per size of pistol, smaller pistols (smaller in general plus the CS9), bobbed hammers, beaver tails on bigger pistols, adjustable rear sight option.

Sig has kept building, and most importantly improving, their aluminum framed DA/SA pistols. I am glad they have. That is one reason I finally bought one. I WISH S&W had stayed in production with theirs and had kept improving them. What would we have today?

 

[Badkarma 1]

I'd never look down my nose at a 226, that pistol has saved my bacon more than once! That said my 5906 and 5946 fit me like a glove, have never failed to go BOOM, and are plenty accurate for their intended job.
If anything the SIG tends to be more accurate (especially the older folded slide models), but even a full size 5900 is still more compact and thinner. I think my signature says it all. Dale

 

[Mack]

Sig is still making the P series and spare parts are available, S&W 3rd Gen are out of production and no longer supported by the factory. Thats a pretty big advantage to Sig.

 

[JamesArthur60]

How many Sig's do you see appreciate like a fine S&W?

Ask that question on the SigForum and you'll get your answer.

 

[Wizard1500]

Good afternoon, all...I admit, the only S&W semi-auto pistol I have is a 22a, and I absolutely love it....But, I do own a P230, P226, P228, P220, and a C3 1911. I ccw the C3, and the P220 is my goto nightstand gun.....I don't really care for the new guns with rails, but I have been shoot Sigs for 20 years, and I love the feel and reliability of them...btw, have never had one with a SRT.....

 

[18DAI]

I too prefer the S&W 3rd gen pistols. That said, the Sigs are fine guns and the Sig 226 in 9mm is one of my favorite full size 9mm handguns.

In 45 nothing beats a S&W 45XX, IMO. The Sig 220's are simply not as reliable or as durable in my experience.

Its sad that S&W has abandoned the hammer fired metal frame market. Sig continues to do very well in it. Regards 18DAI

 

[Ghost_Soldier]

I have owned a Smith 5906 for 20 years, a 6906 for 15 years, a 3913 for 2 years and I just bought a 3904. DA/SA is the only way to fly! I have carried for 4 years now. I have lusted after a Sig 228 or 229 for about 20 years and I finally bought a 229 in 9mm.

I am a bit disapointed. I like the 229 but it seems to me that they have only recently close to caught up with Smith 3rd generation pistols in just some ways. I had to install Short Reset Trigger parts to get as good a reset as my 5906 had 20 years ago. The nitron finish on the Sig has caught up with Smith's stainless steel. I need to install a Short Reach Trigger to get the same trigger reach length that comes standard on the Smith. The Smith slide is narrower and less bulky. The Smiths are lighter. I cannot get a bobbed hammer from the factory for the Sig. A comparable height butt on a Smith holds more rounds, 15 for my 5906, the same height butt for my 229 holds 13. Although, Mec Gar now makes a 229 mag that holds 15. The Sig grip is good, but secures with screws, they loosen sooner or later and the grip still has a little play in it even when they are tight. Sig now makes an E2 grip which snaps and pins in like a Smith, it only costs $50 more.

I like the 229, but for the life of me, it seems like the Smith 3rd generations are slightly better over all pistols. All my Smiths have been dead nuts reliable. Why, Oh Why, did S&W ever stop making the 3rd generation pistols?

It sounds like you bought a handgun you didn't like just to complain about. If you don't want the 229 I'll take it

 

[GKC]

The only advantage that SIGs offer, IMO, over S&W 3rd Gen pistols (other than still being in production) is that the SIG breaks down and reassembles slightly easier than does the S&W 3rd Gen...but that is a very slight advantage. S&W 3rd Gen pistols are better in every other way...except snob appeal. Of course, since the S&W 3rd Gens aren't being made anymore, and you will most likely have to buy one used, you may not be able to get warranty service...and parts may be in short supply, some day...but then, you may never NEED service!

It's like buying a Mercedes Benz...an overpriced car that doesn't actually live up to its cost.

 

[ugrey]

It sounds like you bought a handgun you didn't like just to complain about. If you don't want the 229 I'll take it

You gotta read my rant right. I had to wait 20 years for Sig to catch up to Smith before I bought a Sig.

Smith copied the Walther hammer-safety-trigger system for the model 39, Smith then copied the Browning Hi Power double column mag for model 59 - creating the modern WONDERNINE, Smith then copied Devel and Asp for model 469 and a few other ideas, For the third generation Smith copied the Sig smaller grip frame, Now Sig has copied Smith's short reset trigger (according to a post above, #18) and snap in smaller plastic grip. And thus, progress is made and I end up with a Sig 229 that is almost as good as my Smith 3rd generation autos. I still want a bobbed hammer for my Sig, S&W has spoiled me.

 

[team sidewinder]

Love my Sig 229R in 9mm but never have had any complaints with S&W guns. I prefer my Sig in the nightstand with the Shield 9 for my CCW. The Sig seems so overbuilt/heavy in the 229 9mm that I don't carry it much anymore but it is a very accurate and reliable pistol. I don't like the long reset on the sig but doubt I will ever pay money to get the short reset factory installed.

Each has it own purpose for me. The sig wasn't inexpensive and dollar for dollar I think the S&W is the better buy.

 

[wproct]

I have owned 5906 S&W pistols for 12 years or more. However, I previously owned a P229 SIG, and felt that it was the most comfortable 9mm pistol I ever shot. Unfortunately it fell victim to being sold to finance another purchase. I would love to have another P229, only this time I would like to have a Stainless Elite model. However, whenever I look at the price tag I have to walk away.