The P229 in .40 S&W was the original chambering for which the pistol was designed — the heavier stainless slide was required specifically to handle the .40's higher pressure compared to 9mm. Adopted by US Customs and Border Protection as their standard sidearm, and by dozens of domestic law enforcement agencies during the .40 S&W adoption wave of the 1990s. The compact size makes it more manageable than the full-size P226 while retaining double-stack capacity. Type: Pistol Action: DA/SA Caliber: .40 S&W Capacity: 12 Year introduced: 1992, USA Weight: 32.4 oz Overall length: 7.1" Status: Active Intended use: duty, law_enforcement, carry