Sig P220 reliability issue

[hillman]

I just took a Sig P220RM in trade yesterday, great looking gun, good condition. I took it to the range and had a minor blip. The first time I put a loaded magazine in, pulled the slide back and released, the slide did not quite go all the way forward. I emptied and tried again and this time, no issue. However, three rounds later, the slide did not go all the way forward again. I cleared it and tried again. 50 more rounds later, no issues other than those two. I took it apart and gave it a quick cleaning, tooth brush under the extractor, made sure it looked ok. Ran another 50 rounds through and no issues. I only have two magazines for it so far, both are OEM and in good condition, doesn't appear to be a magazine issue, at least nothing visible.

I was using ARMSCOR 230 gr. fmj. I also noticed after the first magazine there was what appeared to be very fine bits of brass on the back top of the chamber opening. Only saw this after the first magazine. Wiped it off with my thumb and only saw normal residue after that.

This is my SHTF, everything gone to hell gun. I plan to carry it in winter months but I really need 100% reliability with this. I've ordered a replacement 20lb Wolff recoil spring just in case, but is there something else I should be looking at for this issue?

This is an external extractor model, I found similar reoccuring issues with internal extractor models but that's not the case here.

I love the ergonomics and reputation of this gun and want to keep it a long time, so any ideas are appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[bfm]

No matter how clean a gun looks I always replace at least the recoil spring when I buy a used gun. That and a good cleaning and lubrication would be my recommendation before trying other things.

 

[solomon454]

Sig also has a great refurbishment program. They'll go through it, replace the springs and sites and send it back for short money. I've done it with all my used ones I've wanted to rely on. Also a good time for the srt kit if you're inclined.

 

[DukeNukem]

My father had a similar issue with his P226 Elite, it turned out to be the lube, it had dried out over the years or something like that.

 

[hillman]

Sig also has a great refurbishment program. They'll go through it, replace the springs and sites and send it back for short money. I've done it with all my used ones I've wanted to rely on. Also a good time for the srt kit if you're inclined.

Previous owner had the srt kit installed. I'm looking in to the refurb service, seems they have sales on it every so often?

 

[bfm]

Previous owner had the srt kit installed. I'm looking in to the refurb service, seems they have sales on it every so often?

I have seen deals from time to time, but have to admit I have not been watching lately.

 

[solomon454]

If it's for shtf and carry, it's money well spent. Also a reasonable drive to buy more mags and accessories!

 

[92G]

my P220 occasionally fails to return to battery when running steel cased ammo. it seems to be related to the ammo and/or after the chamber gets dirty firing steel cased ammo. non issue with brass.

if failure to return to battery i would be focused on:
-fully clean chamber and extractor area
-try other ammo
-consider recoil spring replacement if warranted - however my P220 has over 4k rounds through it and the factory spring is still fine.

i wouldn't run a heavier wolff recoil spring. whatever factory standard is stick with that. if you want to cut down on the recoil consider replacing the hammer mainspring before the recoil spring.

also i'm not so sure the wolff recoil springs will work for you. at some point Sig went to the coiled/wound springs that are in the newer models. i would stick with the OEM recoil spring. for the P220 it is plenty heavy. any heavier would be unnecessary or cause issues.

 

[greencobra]

maybe you could take the barrel out and perform the "plunk" test with a box or two of that armscor. just make sure their specs are correct and it drops right in. just a thought before we panic here.

 

[DrBurnsides]

I had issues when I used a green terrible lube. It gunged up in the cold. I use the pink mobile 1 grease now and no issues at any temp. Also. No rail wear.

 

[Gammon]

Look at the rear of the barrel hood. it should have a chamfer to ease the round into the chamber. If not the incoming round could be meeting resistance at this point. Advice from a gunsmith would be appropriate at this point.

 

[UNSUB]

Try different ammo before you go crazy that is the easy solution. The sig refurb is the best way to go. If its your goto gun it seems silly to wait for a sale/offer. What if you have a goto moment tomorrow is your life worth $35. I would say no.

Sent from my SM-G928P using Tapatalk

 

[hillman]

Try different ammo before you go crazy that is the easy solution. The sig refurb is the best way to go. If its your goto gun it seems silly to wait for a sale/offer. What if you have a goto moment tomorrow is your life worth $35. I would say no.

Sent from my SM-G928P using Tapatalk

I have a double barrel shotgun I fire into the air at the first sign of trouble until I sort it out.

But yes, I will be sending it out soon.

Thanks for all the responses.

 

[mikem317]

Is the ammo brass or steel cased? I don't think my P220 has ever seen steel. Just wonder out loud. Also, what magazine? Size? OEM or aftermarket?

 

[hillman]

Is the ammo brass or steel cased? I don't think my P220 has ever seen steel. Just wonder out loud. Also, what magazine? Size? OEM or aftermarket?

Brass ammo, and like I said, right after the first magazine I saw brass shavings on the top of the chamber opening, which I have never seen on any of my other guns.

The magazines are oem 8 round, they say made in Italy on them.

 

[hillman]

I gave it a more detailed cleaning, installed a Wolff 20lb recoil spring (factory is, I believe, also 20lb.), but it's single strand vs. the factory coiled spring. I had already ordered the replacement as soon as I got the gun anyway, so I figured I'd try it. 250 rounds through it with the Wolff spring in, not a single malfunction or failure to go in to battery. So I'm going to send it off to Sig for the service package and keep the Wolff spring as a backup.

Thanks for all the replies.

 

[Executive]

Have you cleaned the magazines and inspected the followers?

Chris

 

[92G]

the Sig coiled springs work very well. they last forever and rarely require replacement. despite my love of Wolff springs, i would not be inclined to replace the OEM coiled recoil spring.

from your posting it looks like armscor is only ammo so far tried? if so I would be trying some other types of ball ammo before concluding the pistol is source of issue.

 

[hillman]

the Sig coiled springs work very well. they last forever and rarely require replacement. despite my love of Wolff springs, i would not be inclined to replace the OEM coiled recoil spring.

from your posting it looks like armscor is only ammo so far tried? if so I would be trying some other types of ball ammo before concluding the pistol is source of issue.

I had two boxes of armscor, I don't even remember where I bought them. That's what I used up first and had the problems with. Since putting in the Wolff spring I have used only WWB and have had no problem. I'm still sending it to sig for the service pack, though.

I cleaned out the greasy sticky lube the previous guy used also. Replaced it with normal gun oil.

 

[92G]

I had two boxes of armscor, I don't even remember where I bought them. That's what I used up first and had the problems with. Since putting in the Wolff spring I have used only WWB and have had no problem. I'm still sending it to sig for the service pack, though.

I cleaned out the greasy sticky lube the previous guy used also. Replaced it with normal gun oil.

answered your own question. changed two variables (spring and ammo), and spring isn't the issue. Sig will function test your P220 and send it back.