[Dan64456]

Living in the Philly area, I am looking to buy a gun for self defense and practice. I like the .40 caliber size for the magazine size/power balance... I'd also consider a .45. I definitely need something that will be comfortable concealable...

I love the Sig's style much better than the glock... However I like glocks new trigger safety system (it can only fire by using the trigger).

My question is... Do the Sig's have safety's? And what would happen if the hammer got caught on my shirt and then released... Would it fire?
I was at the gun range and rented a 9mm Sig and I asked the ranger where the safety was... He said that the safety is to not pull the trigger until you are ready to shoot.

So all in all I like the Sig styling much better... But I like the glock for the safety option. Can I have an experienced opinion on this?

Thanks.

 

[Dillinger]

I carried a Sig P229 in .40 S&W for over three years when I was working in Tacoma, Wa many years ago. The weapon does not, or didn't at the last time I checked, offer a safety, it has a decocking level to safely lower the hammer, but there is no manual safety. This is not my preferred weapon condition as I have been exposed to a lot of information since I naively bought this as my everyday carry gun. It was popular at the time and there was a lot of good press about it. *shrug*

That said, I was young and a bit inexperienced. I am not ashamed to admit that I carried forward cant on my right hip with a round in the chamber, but the hammer in the down position, so the first round would have to use the double action. I never had a problem, but that doesn't mean I would recommend doing that now that I have much more experience in the world of firearms.

The D/A draw is very hard, around 10lbs. according to the website, so the chances of "accidentally" setting it off are slim, but I still wouldn't recommend carrying hot and definitely not in Condition 1.

For the weapon itself, I never had a problem. The thing ate damn near everything I fed it and it always shot very true. As I got older and got more experience with firearms and the knowledge behind how they work, I learned the error of my ways and became a fan of the 1911.

If you like the Glock styling, but not the model itself, check out the Springfield XD line. I think you may find that you like what they have to offer.

 

[oldandslow]

Dan, 4/21/08

You have picked some good pistols in an effective caliber. I have all three of your choices except mine are in 9mm. Both have built-in safeties to prevent accidental discharge, neither has a manual safety like the 1911's. The main difference is in the construction (Glock is plastic framed, Sigs usually have an aluminum frame), the grip angle and the trigger pull. The Glock trigger pull is double action only with a long, constant weight. The sigs have a heavier first double action pull at about ten pounds, and all subsequent shots are in single action with a trigger pull of about 4.5 pounds. Both have firing pin blocking plungers which prevent the firing pin from hitting the cartridge primer unless the trigger is pulled (ie- they won't fire if dropped or if something snags the hammer (on the sigs). Both are routinely carried with a round in the chamber, and with the sig the hammer is down. There are some single-action-only sigs which are set up with a manual safety like the 1911's but I am not including these in the discussion.
The only way to decide which one you want is to rent both at a range. Some people like the Glock, some like Sigs. For me I prefer the Sigs. Either way both are great pistols which are reliable, accurate and safe.
For a carry pistol look at the Glock 19. For the Sigs the 229 is a bit large for me to carry and I prefer the 239. Good luck.

best wishes- oldandslow