If the Beretta 92-series is the Italian Stallion of the handgun world, then the SIG Sauer P-series is the Swiss Watch: precise, refined, meticulously engineered, and built to last.
And in the middle of all that precision and craftsmanship sits the SIG Sauer P229, which is (in my humble opinion) arguably the most practical and versatile of the P-series lineup.
It’s a gun that doesn’t just do everything; it does everything well.
The SIG Sauer M11-A1 9mm in the original factory box with x3 15-round magazines.
And the M11-A1 variant that I happen to own? I think it might just be the best blend of old-school SIG and modern carry gun you can still get, brand new in the box that is.
Beretta vs. SIG is like Ford vs. Chevy
You can’t talk about the SIG P-series without also bringing up the Beretta 92. The two are locked in a decades-long rivalry that gets people every bit as passionate as the Ford vs. Chevy debate. Ever since the Beretta 92FS beat the P226 to be adopted as the military’s M9 service pistol, that is.
But SIG Sauer wasn’t done. The Navy SEALs skipped the M9 and went with the P226 as their sidearm for a number of years, and the military later adopted the P228 (designated as the M11) as a secondary sidearm in addition to the M9.
Let’s put it this way, the Beretta 92-series and the SIG P-series are both metal frame DA/SA semi-automatic pistols, they’re both legends, they both have a military pedigree, and they both also have loyal fan bases that are ready to defend their favorite at the drop of a hat.
Me? I like both. Always have. I own both. If you put a Beretta M9 and a SIG M11-A1 on the table in front of me and told me I could only take one…I’d stall for time and hope you forget the question (and then when you forget and aren’t looking, I’d take both).
That’s because they’re both excellent, just in different ways.
When Beretta Won (And SIG Took Notes)
Back in the late 1980s, the U.S. military put the Beretta 92FS and the SIG P226 through the wringer to see which pistol would become the new standard sidearm. The Beretta won, mostly on cost. That’s how the M9 was born.
I love my M9. It’s one of my all-time favorite pistols and the first I bought after I turned 21 (the legal age to purchase a handgun in the United States). It’s smooth and accurate, and it’s also built like a tank.
Beretta and SIG Sauer have long had an intense rivalry, especially between the 92-series and P-series of guns. People get passionate about defending either, but as for me, I love both!
But even the folks in the military realized pretty quickly that the M9, as great as it was, was a big gun. Real big. Not exactly ideal for aircrew or concealed carry.
So the military put out a call for a more compact pistol. Something that still held plenty of rounds and that still shot 9mm, but that would be easier to carry in tight spaces (like in the cockpit of an aircraft) or under clothes while on tactical operations in undisclosed locations.
SIG took their full-size P226, which aghad lost to the 92FS, and chopped it down. Thus, the P228 was born. It won the competition (beating the Beretta 92FS Compact and the Glock 19), and the M11 designation followed shortly after.
The Evolution to the P229 and the M11-A1
The P228 was a fine pistol (more than a fine pistol, in fact), but it couldn’t handle the higher pressures of newer rounds like .40 S&W or .357 SIG.
So SIG toughened it up.
Specifically, they replaced the stamped slide with a milled stainless one, and they made the frame a bit beefier too. That gave birth to the P229, which in short is just a more durable P228. The P228 quietly stepped out of the spotlight, and eventually went out of production after contracts expired.
So what’s the difference between the original M11 and the newer M11-A1 that I have?
Well, I think you already guessed it. Whereas the original M11 is a P228, the M11-A1 is a P229. SIG also gave the M11-A1 a corrosion-resistant finish, a short reset trigger, and some small touches like the SIG logo engraved on top of the slide.
So Why the M11-A1?
Well for starters, it’s the only SIG in the current catalog that still looks like a classic SIG.
No fancy Legion gray, no E2 grips, no optic-ready slide. Just that 1980s and ‘90s SIG styling that looks like it came straight out of a Cold War action movie.
I picked mine up because I wanted something that had that old-school SIG charm but that could still serve as a serious carry or duty gun depending on the situation. And that’s exactly what the M11-A1 is.
It’s clean. It’s classic. It’s handsome. And it’s built to work.
An old laptop that wouldn’t even switch on was no match for 9mm FMJ’s fired out of the SIG Sauer M11-A1.
You see, the P229 is like the Glock 19 of the SIG P-series lineup. And it’s also the kind of gun that you could pass down and still trust it to run another 50 years.
I carry it in a Galco Summer Comfort IWB holster when I want something discreet. I’ve also got a black OWB holster for it when I don’t mind a little extra printing or if I’m gonna be open carrying.
Either way, it carries like a compact but shoots like a full-size!
The Best of the P-Series?
There’s a lot to love in the P-series lineup.
The P220 in .45 ACP is the 1911’s ultimate adversary. It’s reliable and built like a vault.
The P226? That’s your classic full-size 9mm combat pistol. It’s battle-tested and widely respected, and it’s likewise the ultimate rival to the Beretta 92FS as well.
But the P229? It’s the sweet spot.
It has the durability to handle modern high-pressure rounds, the compact size to make it more carry-friendly than a P226, and yet with the capacity to stay competitive in a modern gunfight.
The ergonomics are rock solid, the controls are smartly placed (it’s super easy to hit the decocker and the slide release with your thumb and without having to adjust your grip, for instance), and the short reset trigger is a real treat once you get used to it.
Let me put it this way. What if you’d like a gun with a metal frame and a DA/SA trigger capability and in the approximate size of a Glock 19? The SIG Sauer P229 is probably the best the market has to offer, and if you want a P229 with a classic appearance and don’t mind the absence of a rail, the M11-A1 is just what you’re looking for.
You Pay for Quality
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room: price. SIGs aren’t cheap. A new M11-A1 will run you over a grand, easy. But you’re not just paying for the name alone. You’re paying for engineering, materials, and longevity. These are pistols built with purpose, and not with cost-cutting in mind like a lot of other manufacturers do.
For size reference, the M11-A1 is compared with three other pistols: a Colt 1911 (Mark IV Series 70) in .45 ACP, a Beretta M9 in 9mm, and a Walther PPK/S .32 ACP.
That’s why you pay more for a SIG. Like I mentioned before, we’re talking about Swiss Watch level quality. You can feel it when you rack the slide, when you press the trigger, when you strip it down to clean. It’s a premium product, and it shows.
Swiss Precision You Can Trust? Yes!
The SIG Sauer P229 M11-A1 is more than just a refined version of a military pistol. It’s a statement piece. It says, “I like things built right. I like steel. I like hammers. I like triggers that feel like something.”
It’s for folks who appreciate craftsmanship and who also want a pistol that doesn’t cut corners (and are willing to pay a price for it).
The SIG P229 is precise, reliable, built to last, and always on time. Regardless of whether you want it for home defense, concealed carry, or as a dependable handgun in an SHTF situation, it will get the job done.
