Sig P220 Problem?

[DaveM55]

I've had several SIGs over the years and have one P220 with over 5,000 rounds through it. I have experienced this same feeding problem with new SIGs. It usually goes away after being fully broke in.

If you are loading a topped off magazine into a SIG that already has one in the pipe, make sure the first round is fully seated back in the mag.

See if the faultly magazine experiences the same problem with FMJ ammo.

Disassemble the mags and clean them but don't lube them.
I use a good mag brush and compressed air to clean the mags.
Check that the mag springs are installed correctly.

SIGs have very tight tolerances and are required to be run wet unlike Glocks with loose tolerances and are designed to be run with minimum lubrication.

Have you discussed this over at the SIGforum? http://sigforum.com

A real good SIG gunsmith is: http://www.grayguns.com/

[sid]

Originally Posted by bogleman

The magazine was not fully seated, you really have to stand on the mag when loading a full magazine on a closed slide. I've fired 1k of the exact same ammo through mine without any problems

I've played with sigs since 95 and I have 3 of my own. I have seen this very similar problem with sigs and other platforms, even if you think you smacked it real good it did not seat and the mag catch was strong enough to hold the magazine to give the impression the magazine was secured.

The big dead giveaway for 9mm is after the shot was fired the magazine simply falls to the ground

I would bet that this is right on with the issue at hand. Especially since it seemed to only occur the one time. I'm sure after that you made sure the mags were seated completely. Not knowing it was the problem would make it really hard to find.

You might want to see if you can recreate the problem by purposely not seating the mag and see if it stays close to seated or if it falls free after the first shot.

Sid

[mikey]

OK folks, I just cleaned both mags. They had a small amount of oil in them, but were quite clean as far as what came out on the cloth.

After inspecting each part carefully, I notice that one of the mags has a metal clip attached to the follower, near the tapered front portion of it. The other does not. I looked in the manual, but it does not show this piece in the diagram at all, for any of the models.

After cleaning everything and putting them all back together, I pressed down on the followers of each mag, and one felt smoother than the other. So I took them both apart again and swapped parts between the two. Now they both feel smooth, but the one is still missing the part (clip thingy).

It will be a good way to tell them apart for when I go to the range again. Anyone else have this little metal clip on their followers, or know what it is for? I am baffled why one has it and one doesn't.

[mikey]

Originally Posted by DaveM55

...Have you discussed this over at the SIGforum? http://sigforum.com

A real good SIG gunsmith is: http://www.grayguns.com/

Dave, I have not been on the other forum yet and I have been getting plenty of help here. I will see if I can get the problem fixed here first, as there are plenty of Sig guys (and gals) here already.

[1blindref]

Originally Posted by mikey

After inspecting each part carefully, I notice that one of the mags has a metal clip attached to the follower, near the tapered front portion of it. The other does not. I looked in the manual, but it does not show this piece in the diagram at all, for any of the models.

That small metal clip, on the left side, on the front of the follower is where the slide catch lever tang hits when you insert the magazine. I'm sure its there so you don't have the metal tang of the lever riding against the plastic follower. Sig probably designed it that way so it's metal on metal instead of metal on plastic.

If you aren't sure of what I mean, take the mag out of your gun.
Then remove the slide.
Then insert the (empty) mag into the gun while looking down the mag well from the top of the gun.
You will see that where the metal clip is on the follower is where it makes contact with the slide catch lever.

I would guess that without that little metal clip on the follower, you would wear a groove in the plastic over time.

If you want to replace the follower, you can get them from Top Gun Supply - along with just about anything else for your gun.
http://www.topgunsupply.com/sig-maga..._p245-8rd.html

Tom charges a flat rate for shipping, so it might make sense to get a few other things you want / need at the same time.

I'd recommend getting a parts kit that comes with all of the springs. I usually replace all of my Sigs springs every 3000 rounds. The kits are about $26.00 and are well worth it.
http://www.topgunsupply.com/sig_p220-45_parts-kit.html

The Armorers DVD by Chris Orndorff is also great to have. It shows you everything you need to know about completely taking apart your Sig. The DVD is well made and it's easy to follow along. Chris is very knowledgeable when it comes to Sig gunsmithing.
http://www.topgunsupply.com/cart.php

Good luck!

[G21.45]

Guess I'm, 'old school'. For many of the reasons cited in this thread (as well as a few more) I never load a semiautomatic pistol to full magazine capacity + 1. Just because your pistol has repeatedly worked for 24 reloads in a row without a hitch does NOT mean that it's going to operate 25 times in a row without a, 'choking' problem suddenly appearing.

Over the years I've seen many different + 1 loaded semiautomatic pistols, 'choke' - including a few of my own that I decided to fool around with and experiment. What's going on? Is everybody's marksmanship deteriorating to the point where that one extra round seems to be an absolute necessity?

As far as I'm concerned, if you can't do it in 7, then, it ain't going to get done. The risk of having the pistol suddenly, 'choke' in my hands (as some of mine HAVE done) simply isn't worth the risk of regularly chocking the pistol as full of cartridges as it can possibly hold.

When I was a boy, nobody coming back from the war would have done this with one of his very well-built Colt 45 acp's; but, today, the practice is as common among pistol users as eating, 'Big Macs and fries'. I just don't get the point; and, personally, I'm not willing to take the risk. If you feel some sort of imperative need to load more ammunition into your daily carry pistol, then, get a bigger pistol.

It is NOT an indication of mechanical inferiority if any pistol, 'chokes' on a full magazine + 1 in the chamber. Neither is it a sign of mechanical perfection if a pistol runs smoothly through magazine after magazine of +1 reloads.

I have to imagine that a lot of modern pistol shooters are presently walking around with a false sense of security from their +1 loaded pistols. In my experience, either, you're going to do it in the first 3 or you can just stop shooting and try to get behind something big and solid.

[mikey]

Originally Posted by G21.45

Guess I'm, 'old school'. For many of the reasons cited in this thread (as well as a few more) I never load a semiautomatic pistol to full magazine capacity + 1. Just because your pistol has repeatedly worked for 24 reloads in a row without a hitch does NOT mean that it's going to operate 25 times in a row without a, 'choking' problem suddenly appearing.

Over the years I've seen many different + 1 loaded semiautomatic pistols, 'choke' - including a few of my own that I decided to fool around with and experiment. What's going on? Is everybody's marksmanship deteriorating to the point where that one extra round seems to be an absolute necessity?

As far as I'm concerned, if you can't do it in 7, then, it ain't going to get done. The risk of having the pistol suddenly, 'choke' in my hands (as some of mine HAVE done) simply isn't worth the risk of regularly chocking the pistol as full of cartridges as it can possibly hold.

When I was a boy, nobody coming back from the war would have done this with one of his very well-built Colt 45 acp's; but, today, the practice is as common among pistol users as eating, 'Big Macs and fries'. I just don't get the point; and, personally, I'm not willing to take the risk. If you feel some sort of imperative need to load more ammunition into your daily carry pistol, then, get a bigger pistol.

It is NOT an indication of mechanical inferiority if any pistol, 'chokes' on a full magazine + 1 in the chamber. Neither is it a sign of mechanical perfection if a pistol runs smoothly through magazine after magazine of +1 reloads.

I have to imagine that a lot of modern pistol shooters are presently walking around with a false sense of security from their +1 loaded pistols. In my experience, either, you're going to do it in the first 3 or you can just stop shooting and try to get behind something big and solid.

What if there are 9 or 17 bad guys.

Just kidding!! You bring up a good point, for sure. I was under the false impression that it would not happen to me.....and then it did.

I would still like to know for sure, why it happened, but I'm sure I will not continue to carry with the mag full +1 unless I find out the reason.

Then there is also the chance that a gun could fail that wasn't "choked" either.....you just never know.

That is why you should always have a back-up for your primary, bringing the odds down that you will have a double failure.

Thanks for your different point of view.

[rovert97]

Originally Posted by 1911shooter

Besides pennsy was probably talking to loud and his acoustic tone was throwing the precision macanics of a well refined machine out of wack. maybe he was looking to get more then $70.00 out of someone.

priceless!

[1911shooter]

Originally Posted by rovert97

priceless!

Can i get 70.00 for mikey's broke ass gun, going once, twice, sold, hahahaha now it wont cycle with a full mag enjoy and have fun.