The SIG M11-A1 has been one of my Unicorn pistols for some time. It’s basically the latest version of the P228 that’s no longer in production. I had used a 228 many moons ago as duty weapon when I did patrol work. The M11-A1 simply adds factory night sights, the SRT trigger, and that’s about it. If you are unfamiliar with the 228, that’s a shame. But it’s what the 229 became with the addition of a frame rail. The M11-A1 keeps the lines clean by being free of rails. Now, a lot of new Shooters out there might not know anything about the M11. In the 80’s when the US Army adopted the Beretta M9 pistol as the service pistol, they quickly found that it did not meet the needs of everyone that needed a pistol. So the Army adopted the M11 shortly thereafter. The M11 was primarily issued to Investigators and other DOD Agents that needed something concealable. It also found its way into the hands and holsters of Aviators and others that the M9 was too large for. The M11 has been quietly seeing service ever since the late 80’s. During that time, the civilian P228 was gaining popularity with Law Enforcement and I remember if a LEO wasn’t packing a Beretta, it was 226 or a 228. I myself carried a 228 on duty until I switched to an HK USP, a decision that I do not regret. But I did regret giving up the 228 from my arsenal. It was a good balance of size, weight, and capacity and really worked well.
Just commenting on the 228 to 229 transition.
As I carried a 228, then a 229, then a 229R with NCIS. The 229 is not a 228 with a rail. The 229 was created when Sig put a stainless steel slide on the pistol. The 228 had a carbon steel slide with a stainless steel breech insert.
Both 228 and 229 were in 9mm, although we had some 228s in 9×21 for use in Italy and other countries that banned military ammo. We converted to the P229R-DAK, when we converted to .40 in 2004/5.
SIG changed the 229 back in 2014 I think it was. Now, remember, the 229 was specifically developed to be a .40 cal pistol. Sig was about 2 years late to the .40 game because they knew the .40 was something too hot to just rechamber a 9mm pistol for. So you had 228’s in 9 and 229’s in .40, and then later they came out with 229’s in 9mm as well. Then SIG dropped the 228. Later they brought it back with a single piece slide like the 229 was. And then in 2014 they went away from the 229’s original style slide and adopted the regular 22X style slide with the slide serrations going top to bottom.
My first pistol was a used German-marked P228. Never could manage to shoot it worth beans, so I traded it in towards a new CZ-75b. I love the CZ, and it’s frickin’ lazer beem accurate in my hands, but I’m still kicking myself for letting go of the SIG.
I carried a P-228 for about 8 years until I retired from the service. I too missed it, it fit my hand better than the 92SB or the S&W. My P-226 was too big and my P-239 was too small. I finally got around to ordering a P-229R with the Legacy slide since I didn’t like the long extractors. Put the short trigger on it from my old P228 and it was just right. The SRT and E2 grips are just bonuses.
Just commenting on the 228 to 229 transition.
As I carried a 228, then a 229, then a 229R with NCIS. The 229 is not a 228 with a rail. The 229 was created when Sig put a stainless steel slide on the pistol. The 228 had a carbon steel slide with a stainless steel breech insert.
Both 228 and 229 were in 9mm, although we had some 228s in 9×21 for use in Italy and other countries that banned military ammo. We converted to the P229R-DAK, when we converted to .40 in 2004/5.
The M11 is a P228. The M11-A1 is a P229. Sorry
SIG changed the 229 back in 2014 I think it was. Now, remember, the 229 was specifically developed to be a .40 cal pistol. Sig was about 2 years late to the .40 game because they knew the .40 was something too hot to just rechamber a 9mm pistol for. So you had 228’s in 9 and 229’s in .40, and then later they came out with 229’s in 9mm as well. Then SIG dropped the 228. Later they brought it back with a single piece slide like the 229 was. And then in 2014 they went away from the 229’s original style slide and adopted the regular 22X style slide with the slide serrations going top to bottom.
My first pistol was a used German-marked P228. Never could manage to shoot it worth beans, so I traded it in towards a new CZ-75b. I love the CZ, and it’s frickin’ lazer beem accurate in my hands, but I’m still kicking myself for letting go of the SIG.
Shoot that Unicorn. They only get better with age!
I carried a P-228 for about 8 years until I retired from the service. I too missed it, it fit my hand better than the 92SB or the S&W. My P-226 was too big and my P-239 was too small. I finally got around to ordering a P-229R with the Legacy slide since I didn’t like the long extractors. Put the short trigger on it from my old P228 and it was just right. The SRT and E2 grips are just bonuses.