Todd,
What is your opinion on a 9mm P226’s durability. I’ve somewhat kept track on your M&P and P30 tests and wonder if a 226 would perform well. I know you used to work for Sig and thought you might have an “insiders” view. I am considering a new full size 9mm and am looking at the G17, P30 and P226 E2 but feel I know more about the Glock and HK.
It’s almost an unfair comparison, because I’ve seen half a bazillion SIG P226s get abused but very few M&P9s and HK P30s. So while I could easily knock out a list of failures I’ve seen with the P226, none of them were what I’d consider systemic. Well, the floorplates gets beat up pretty regularly, but I always used rubberized floorplates for my training mags.
The P226 needs a little more preventative maintenance in terms of spring & pin replacement – especially compared to the HK – but nothing that I’d consider onerous. And of course, they’ve made some significant changes in parts vendors even in the short time since I worked there, and I cannot comment on the durability of the new non-German parts.
TODD, Does the new E2 grip set up make it any thinner or smaller feeling than the newer alum Houges???,
I haven’t tried the Hogue aluminum grips. My understanding from others, however, is that yes the E2 grips are substantially thinner.
I handled the P226 E2 yesterday. The grip is overall much smaller and ergonomic than the factory or aftermarket grips. Looks to be a big improvement on the P226.
I have G10 Hogue’s on a P228. Great grips btw. Compared to the P226 E2, I would say that there isn’t a significant difference in thickness. Trigger reach, however is substantially improved.
Tim
Damn if they got them down below the thickness of the Houge alum, that is doing some’n.
Just might have to invest in another part swap out to set it up with the E2 stuff
Good to know. I have a set of Hogue G10s on order. I will leave the standard length trigger on to see if the Hogues are enough. If not, I’ll just order a short trigger or may send it to Gray Guns for a short SRT conversion.
Been searching the threads and haven’t found any that talk about the experience of upgrading old 229’s to the new E2 parts. Thought, therefore, that I’d post my experience.
I have an old 229 in .40, with an additional .357 Sig barrel. I tend to shoot the .40 most, since I reload, and that’s an easy round to reload, although I like the .357 ballistics. My weapon has the old, long hammer spring, with a metal tab at the bottom of the strut and a roll pin below that (like the OLD version).
Recently I installed a Short Reset kit, and an E2 kit. The SRT kit came complete with all the parts that I needed, but the E2 kit required that I additionally buy a new short hammer strut spring and a new trigger bar spring. The trigger bar spring is suppose to be a significant improvement over the old, bowed spring, which I am told had a tendency to break (making you have to shoot the weapon upside down until such time you could replace it). It is probably something that should be upgraded in all old 229’s, but it will require that you do a little careful dremel work on the right-hand grip to take out some material.
The E2 kit comes with the new grips, a new decocking lever, and a new hammer strut and retainer. One need only be careful about removing the decocking lever, and it is held by a post that is attached to a plate. Therefore, you need to hold the plate in the frame through the mag well when removing and replacing the decocking lever. Lube well. Once you have the spring reinstalled, all is well. Hammer strut replaces easily, as does the trigger bar spring. The grips then snap into place.
I am extremely pleased with both mods. I initially felt that my 229 didn’t feel as good in the hand as my XD, but I noted that it consistently shot better. The new SRT is a great addition, making the reset very noticeably shorter and quicker. The grips are a whole lot better. I have quite large hands, but find the new grips make the weapon feel a lot closer to a 1911 feel, and I am a big fan of 1911’s. The new grips take out a lot of the “blockiness” feel of the old grips. Bottom line, if anyone has an old Sig, and wants to convert to the new E2 grips, it can be done relatively easily.
Devereaux, where did you order the kit?
I’d just like to say this:
ToddG’s no longer a member here??? What the hell??
It appears that the E2 modification is a pretty sound design and it improves the ergos on the P-Series and addresses the pesky grip screw achillies heel. It will work on any classic P-Series pistol provided that you have the short hammer spring which came out in the early 2000s. One of the weak points of the Sig design is the grip screws which can loosen with lots of use, tend to rust, and can strip out on you with repeated tightening over time. The best way to keep those grip screws from stripping out is to use some purple loctite with only gentile tightening. Some clear coat or clear nail polish on them keeps them from rusting. I don’t like the hex or torx screws as you tend to over tighten them and run a greater risk of stripping out the threads.
For you guys that keep taking your Sig grips on-and-off…stop it. You should only be taking those off every 5k rounds or so to inspect the pistol and replace springs. Those grips screw threads are aluminum and the screws are steel.
I wonder how these E2s compare to the old no-logo checkered grips. The grips on my old W. German P226 feel substantially better than the current standard P226.
If you’re holding a 226 E2 (it has a short trigger too). It feels like a 1911 with thin grips and a pretty short trigger.
If I were shooting an E2 I’d actually have to use a standard trigger.
So have these things been accepted reliability wise?
My next handgun purchase is going to be a Beretta 92 Centurion with, with target hammer and CTC grips.
I want to carry one for a little while. 
Is this an acceptable replacement if I cant find one?
Just sent my P229 back for the E2 conversion, will post a review when it returns.
I have an p226 E2 for a bit now and love it. Its my favorit handgun to shoot. Have several thousand rounds down range with no problems what so ever. I even let a friend shoot it, he went out 4 days later and bought one he liked it so much. Im going to be putting some +p down range soon to see how it does. Ive heard of extracters breaking under hot loads.
GotM4, when I was in the store checking them out I had a problem with my finger being pinched, remember? Would this be the setup I’d be looking for if I was interested in an E2?
Yes it’s a less than 5min fix to switch the trigger back to a normal length SIG trigger. A SIG 226 E2 with Ernest Langdon LTT trigger job would be the cats ass.
I have the 229 E2 and yes the SRT is excellent. HK should take notice and start giving their pistols similar characteristics. I do wish the grip on the E2 had more of a hump, like on a Glock 19. It gives me more control when shooting. Im thinking of trying some aluminum panels on it. They look a bit more curvy.