Sig P229 Legion SAO RXP Review: Compact Perfection?

The Sig metal frame P22X series holds a special place in my heart.

Ever since I was a kid, they have always held some mystique to me, and I can’t quite say why. Maybe it was one of those Miami Vice episodes where Crockett carried a P220.

What I can say is that the P series has consistently met my expectations. So naturally, when I got offered a chance to try out the P229 Legion model, I jumped on the opportunity.

The Legion line touts additional features and reflects some of the highest-quality firearms that Sig offers.

I know the P229 will live up to my expectations, but is the Legion series worthy of its vaunted (and expensive) reputation? I gave it a spin to find out.

Why Should You Trust Us?

I’ve spent a lifetime shooting that started in a family that hunted every season they legally could. From there, I joined the United States Marine Corps and spent five years as an infantryman. In the middle of my Marine Corps career, I began writing and have never stopped.

I love shooting, and I love guns — weird guns, old guns, new guns, tactical guns, and sporting guns. I’m a continual student of firearms, and I strive to educate myself to provide the best information possible to the readers of Pew Pew Tactical.

Sig P229 Legion SAO RXP Specs & Features

Specs

• Caliber: 9mm
• Action: Single Action Only (SAO)
• Capacity: 15+1
• Overall Length: 7.1″
• Barrel Length: 3.9″
• Height: 5.4″
• Width: 1.5″
• Weight: 34 oz. (with empty magazine)
• Frame Material: Alloy steel
• Finish: Legion Gray

Features

• X-Ray3 night sights for low-light visibility
• Legion Gray Cerakote finish for durability
• Enhanced trigger for smooth operation
• Accessory rail for mounting lights and lasers
• Custom G10 grips for improved handling
• Optics-ready slide for red dot sight integration

Source: Sig Sauer

Sig P229 Legion Background

The beginning of the story starts with the P228, which was the original compact variant of the P226. It was a 9mm gun designed with weight savings and concealed carry in mind.

The problem with the P228 was that it didn’t do well with rounds like the .40 S&W and the .357 Sig. It utilized a folded carbon steel slide, which couldn’t withstand those higher-pressure rounds.

To remedy this, Sig created a milled stainless steel version, which became the P229. The P229 was the same size and shape as the P228 but featured a heavier-duty slide.

Sig’s Legion line provides shooters with tuned-up guns, so to speak. The Legion series features the best parts, pieces, and configurations. They are specialty models, and each allows you access to the Legion brand, which includes special sales and accessories.

Who Is This For?

The P229 Legion series is perfect for a variety of shooters. You get a great single-action trigger that encourages good accuracy and speed, plus this model has an optic already included.

If you don’t mind a heftier gun, it will work quite well for concealed carry. You could effectively use this gun in carry optics or similar handgun competition divisions.

It can even fill the role of a modern BBQ gun; add a Mitch Rosen leather holster, and you will be good to go.

Fit and Feel

If you have smaller hands, you might find the P229 a little beefy. Keep in mind that the design largely dates to the 1970s and 80s, when guns tended to be wider and bulkier.

With that said, I love the ergonomics of the P229 Legion. The beavertail and the trigger guard undercut do an excellent job of allowing for a comfy, high grip.

Sig includes some awesome grips with a very aggressive texture that clings to your hand nicely.

Since this is the single-action only (SAO) version, it lacks the famous Sig decocker. Instead, it has a manual safety that’s ambidextrous and very 1911ish.

That safety is big, bulbous, and very easy to manipulate. It can be switched to safe with the gun uncocked, making for an exceptionally safe design.

Standard DA/SA models of the P229 Legion are also available for those that aren’t keen on carrying cocked and locked.

How Does it Shoot?

The P229 Legion defines smooth shooting.

With 31 ounces of metal weighing the gun down, the P229 Legion absorbs the 9mm recoil to make for a soft shooter.

The muzzle rise won’t throw you far off target, and the ROMEO1PRO is very easy to track and follow between shots.

The same can be said for the XRAY3 sights with the high visibility insert in the front sight. I flipped the dot off and found the sights easy to use.

The single action trigger just screams speed. Having a short and light trigger can help you shoot more accurately but also make it easier to shoot faster without a whole lot of difficulty.

The flat-faced trigger has a very short reach, which is nice to have on such a thick gun.

There is a bit of near-weightless pre-travel, followed by a crisp, short wall. The break is good, and it’s honestly a fantastic trigger overall.

During slow-fire accuracy testing, the P229 Legion was a beast. I can bench-rest the gun at 25 yards and punch the nine-ring out of a B8 with ease.

It’s so accurate that it is ego-stroking. I see why people cling to the Legion guns because it makes me not want to go back to your average P22X gun.

I shot the classic 10-10-10 drill from the low ready several times and cleaned it in right around six seconds. When firing drills with time and accuracy constraints, you really see where the P229 Legion shines.

At 50 yards, I took aim at a full-sized steel IPSC target. Aiming directly at the chest, I landed shot after shot on the target. Shooting a handgun at 50 yards and hearing a ‘ding’ is a good feeling.

Reliability-wise, it went through a case of 115-grain Federal ammo without a single malfunction.

What Sets the Sig P229 Legion Apart?

Everything about the Legion series is refined and perfected. Each little feature is well thought out and designed to bring as much performance out of the gun as possible.

It results in an extremely accurate, easy-to-control, and enjoyable gun.

Final Verdict

The P229 Legion delivers on its promise of a premium-grade version of the P229.

It’s extremely well made, very reliable, fun to shoot, easy to shoot, and super accurate. I enjoy shooting lots of guns, but I love shooting the P229 Legion.

What are your thoughts on the Sig P229 Legion? Do you have any experience with one? Let us know in the comments below! Be sure to check out the other guns that made our list in our article and video on the 5 Best Hammer-Fired Pistols!