Posted: 8/31/2013 3:20:08 PM EDT
| I have a .45 now, it shoots OK. Pretty accurate, feels right, etc. But every 50-100 rounds, it'll fail to feed a round--have to bump the gun to get it to finish feeding. And the slide doesn't lock open after the last round sometimes. I could live with it, but I'd really like a gun that just NEVER does shit like that. I'm wondering if a P220 would be more reliable, or am I just being too much of a perfectionist? |
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2,000-3,000 rounds thru the gun in a year. . Never changed the recoil spring since it was bought NIB. This happens with all types of factory ammo-I've tried em all. 230 grain FMJ almost exclusively. I've got about 100 rounds of hollow points through it, same thing. I've also run reloads--tried loading with OAL from 1.30 to 1.60, and Ive triec 230 grain round nose projectiles from two different suppliers. Same thing. I load 6.4 grains of Power Pistol, I've got a chronograph said bullet travels 720 feet per second, so I'm confident in my load. But still, I have these problems with factory ammo, too.
Do I have a lemon? Or is this just what happens with 45 ACP? |
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720 fps for a 230gr bullet sounds slow. The first thing I'd try is some +P to make sure the slide cycles completely. If it still doesn't lock into battery then get a new recoil spring. If the slide also doesn't lock back on an empty mag every time. check your slide lock. Also make sure the mag followers are engaging the slide lock. You didn't say what type of pistol it is. ETA - My 3 P220's have all been perfect. Gotten spoiled since moving over to SIG.
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| I have a 220. I'm wanting to hear from others just what kind of reliability I should expect out of it. I think 1-2 FTF every 100 rounds, slide not locking back a quarter of the time, is not right. But, some have told me I'm demanding too much--"all semi autos jam" kinda thing. So I'm asking the hive. |
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Any semi-auto should work every time the trigger is pulled. Especially the SIG P220. Standard pressure factory ammo should be used to establish a base line. I use Federal 230 gr FMJ. This is to eliminate the problem being the ammo. If the gun still malfunctions, then look at the magazines. See if one of them is the problem. If not, call SIG and send the gun back. ETA - "All semi-autos jam" is bullshit.
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Quoted:
I have a 220. I'm wanting to hear from others just what kind of reliability I should expect out of it. I think 1-2 FTF every 100 rounds, slide not locking back a quarter of the time, is not right. But, some have told me I'm demanding too much--"all semi autos jam" kinda thing. So I'm asking the hive. Lots of people have issues with the slide locking back because of their grip, thumb rides on the slide stop. fail to feed is a mag issue usually. try new mags and if that doesn't work send it to SIG |
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I've got a P220 Compact and I've never had any reliability issues with it. No FTF, FTE, nothing. It's run everything I've put through it and asked for more. One of the most reliable platforms I've ever owned/shot, if not THE most reliable.
As was suggested above, isolate your issue. Make sure it's not your grip, your ammo or your mag. If it IS the gun, talk to Sig and get it sorted out. |
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Your P220 should be 100% reliable right outof the box; my P220 Carry Eqinox has gone through just over 11,000 rounds without a malfunction or failure of any sort and my P220 Super Match has just surpassed 8000 rounds without a single problem as well.
I know the odds of getting a bum round are going to catch up with me, and given enough time, despite my meticulous maintenance something will eventually break, but the pistols themselves have been rock solid reliable and yours should be too. Good luck and let us know how SIG handles your problem. |
| Holy shit. My P220 has been the most reliable and accurate gun I've ever owned. There was a point where I was putting empty cases in the mag at random just so I could force failures for the sake of practicing failure drills but it chambered those too. In the five years I've owned mine it has never had a malfunction of any kind. |
| Should be 100% reliable. I would think it needs some new springs including in the magazine. Are you lubing the slide correctly? Showing signs of abnormal wear on the slide anywhere? The P220 is known as one of the most reliable pistols you can have, but it still needs some normal care and feeding. Wear and tear does takes affect any pistol after enough rounds. |
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OK, you said 2-3000 rounds a year but I don't see anywhere that you've told us how long you have had it.
I'd look into the springs before sending it to Sig. I have a p229 I bought in 1994 and it ran like a champ, but I didn't shoot a whole lot until getting more into it in the last 5-6 years. Startd to have issues with it, but I replaced the recoil spring and magazine springs and now it is flawless again. Around the same time I started using some Promags, and THAT really messed me up, I don't even use those for range mags anymore. Sometimes mine won't lock back, but I feel pretty certain it is from my grip |
| Yea, I just got off the phone with Sig, and that's what they say now, too. Didn't mention that last time I called, they say they used my mags to test and had no problems with FTF or the magazine locking open on empty mag, and that if I'm having problems still I need to change the mag springs and recoil spring. I just changed the recoil spring, and ordered 4 mag springs. I did notice that the recoil spring I took out of my gun is not painted green. The new one I put in is painted green, it's the 20 pound recoil spring. Are the factory recoil springs not color coded or something? |
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What magazines are you using? The older 220 / 45 mags (7 rounders and IIRC some early 8 rounders) were superseded by the newest 8rd magazine that uses a pressed-in 'dimple' at the top rear of the magazine (not the follower). This prevents the old bugaboo of the second loaded round in the magazine sliding forward when the top round feeds into the chamber. Often this is not an issue, even if it is happening with your 220, but it can be. Scroll down between 1/3 to 1/2 of the page here and you can see the dimple I am talking about...
http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/LongTerm%20Observations%20and%20ShortTerm%20Hopes-SIGSauer%20P220.htm |
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Quoted:
2,000-3,000 rounds thru the gun in a year. . Never changed the recoil spring since it was bought NIB. This happens with all types of factory ammo-I've tried em all. 230 grain FMJ almost exclusively. I've got about 100 rounds of hollow points through it, same thing. I've also run reloads--tried loading with OAL from 1.30 to 1.60, and Ive triec 230 grain round nose projectiles from two different suppliers. Same thing. I load 6.4 grains of Power Pistol, I've got a chronograph said bullet travels 720 feet per second, so I'm confident in my load. But still, I have these problems with factory ammo, too. Do I have a lemon? Or is this just what happens with 45 ACP? NetWurk If you put 2 t0 3000 yrly thru your sig and have never changed the recoil spring thats most likely your problem right there. I change my recoil spring in all my p220 every 2500 to 3000 rd religiously. |
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720 fps for a 230 grain bullet is 100 fps below standard hardball velocity. This may be contributing to your problem, however, you said it happens with all ammo. I have an old P220 from the 1980's that is stone reliable with everything but lead 200 grain SWC's, and those are reliable provided I seat them deep enough and run them over 800 fps.
A total clean and lube has helped every firearm from time to time. New springs won't hurt either. Try some different holding techniques, elboes slightly out and slightly bent. A firmer grip has helped many a cycling problem. |
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Every one know how reliable the p226 is reported to be well the p220 is
what the p226 is modeled after if memory serves. I mean some one can look up that info if you like but I think all the P series are modeled from the p220. So in that respect if you think about it why would the p220 not be reliable? |