Sig p245

[bazfoo]

I have the opportunity to purchase a p245 off a friend in NH, and am looking for thoughts on it. I haven't even looked into the whole 'Mass legal' issue since it has to go through an FFL and I'll find out pretty quickly if they'll do it or not. (Feel free to chime in if you know if that'll be a problem)

Bear with me, I'm a Sig noob. So, the gun has a lot of holster wear. The blue is completely gone near the barrel end of the slide. This gun has been fired a lot and carried even more. I kinda like the worn look. I have put a few hundred rounds through it and it always functioned great.

So, my concern is:
As it is discontinued, do I need to worry about finding replacement parts in the future? Example, if the slide cracks, am I SOL? Or any repairs for that matter? I've only ever had to deal with SW customer service and that has always been great, but have heard a few bad stories about Sig's customer service. I guess my major concern is if something major happens. Or if any parts break that need replacing. What if I want to replace the barrel a few years later?

Other than that, general thoughts on the p245. I tried googling, but there doesn't seem to be much about it. Not very popular?

Thanks

 

[Lugnut]

I had a 245- it was a good gun.. and shot very well. I ended up selling it a while ago. I'm sure Sig can service it still and there must be lot of parts for it around. Matter of fact- I might still have a service kit (springs, etc) and spare parts that I still have that I can get you for short money if you want.

 

[TheRoland]

The major concern (in my humble opinion) with Sigs is always wear of the frame rails. If the frame rails (where the steel slide contacts the aluminum frame) are still a color approaching black, you're good to go. If they're gold, it's still OK, but make extra sure to lube (mine is gold, and has been for a while). If it's silver, the gun is worn out (although, it'll still shoot fine for a good while).

I don't think there's much particularly specific to the 245 to worry about. I've never really considered anything other than the frame rails when buying a used Sig. Not sure what complications there may be with service.

 

[Lugnut]

The major concern (in my humble opinion) with Sigs is always wear of the frame rails. If the frame rails (where the steel slide contacts the aluminum frame) are still a color approaching black, you're good to go. If they're gold, it's still OK, but make extra sure to lube (mine is gold, and has been for a while). If it's silver, the gun is worn out (although, it'll still shoot fine for a good while).

I don't think there's much particularly specific to the 245 to worry about. I've never really considered anything other than the frame rails when buying a used Sig. Not sure what complications there may be with service.

And if they've been well oiled it shouldn't be a problem. Sig like to be wet- I've heard that from many Sig people, including their Dir of Training.

 

[bazfoo]

Thanks for the quick replies guys.

Lets say the rails are indeed worn out. Does that mean it can no longer be fixed? Or at that point, it is no longer worth it? I'm assuming frame rails can be replaced. May be a pricey proposition though.

Lugnut, thanks for the offer of parts. If I go ahead with this, I will definitely contact you.

 

[Lugnut]

Thanks for the quick replies guys.

Lets say the rails are indeed worn out. Does that mean it can no longer be fixed? Or at that point, it is no longer worth it? I'm assuming frame rails can be replaced. May be a pricey proposition though.

Lugnut, thanks for the offer of parts. If I go ahead with this, I will definitely contact you.

The frame rails are part of the frame... expensive problem if they are that bad.

 

[TheRoland]

Lets say the rails are indeed worn out. Does that mean it can no longer be fixed? Or at that point, it is no longer worth it? I'm assuming frame rails can be replaced.

I don't think frame rails can be replaced. If they can, I'd assume it's never done because of cost vs. a new gun.

At the point where the rails are *totally* silver, it can still be shot (very wet, as it should be always, as Lugnut as said), but wear is greatly accelerated, eventually leading to cracks and ...... ? If it was a cool gun, I'd still buy it, but for less money, and I wouldn't use it for carry.

EDIT: It's really a money issue. If you're talking 200$ for a worn 245, it's a no brainier. I don't think even a worn frame rail is likely to stop working short of breaking off.

 

[bazfoo]

At the point where the rails are *totally* silver, it can still be shot (very wet, as it should be always, as Lugnut as said), but wear is greatly accelerated, eventually leading to cracks and ...... ? If it was a cool gun, I'd still buy it, but for less money, and I wouldn't use it for carry.

EDIT: It's really a money issue. If you're talking 200$ for a worn 245, it's a no brainier. I don't think even a worn frame rail is likely to stop working short of breaking off.

Well, thats the thing. I want it for carry. Next time I get myself up there I'll inspect the rails. (He's in no hurry to sell) He's asking $400, which I think is a really good price for the gun, 2 mags plus a 220 8 round mag.

Thanks for all the input. I really like the thing and it shoots really well. Quite accurate for a compact 45.

 

[drgrant]

There is no major concern, IMHO, unless the gun has been dragged behind a truck for 100 miles.

I've never seen "gold " rails. (well, outside of factory nickel guns, of course!) This must be some weird metallurgical thing. All of mine have always been black or a little silvery looking... and guns with some wear on the frame rails are hardly approaching worn out. Just keep the thing lubed (like you should, anyways)

By the time you actually wear out a sig P series, you will have fired thousands of dollars worth of ammunition through it.

Have any of you guys here actually SEEN a worn out P series pistol? You'd have to look pretty far and wide to even find one. The worst P series guns I've ever seen were the P226 police trade ins that FS had a few years ago, finish was awful, etc... but even those guns were very serviceable.

The biggest problem with the P245 is it was always the bastard child of P series handguns. You will either love it or hate it.

I wouldn't worry about factory support, considering that the factory is the absolute last place I'd ever send a gun for service. Get some springs for it, tuck them away somewhere safe, and be done with it. If you get a serviceable P245 it will last for many many years given decent care.

-Mike

 

[TheRoland]

My p229 is a weird black/gold/orange mix. I just assumed it had to do with "Science!" and moved on. My rails also have some gouges, nicks and scratches where it's been fired without sufficient lube or with dirt and sand in the slide (oops). I still trust this gun 100%.

I also have never seen a worn out P series; it's just something to check, along with everything else you'd look for in a used gun.

 

[bazfoo]

Thanks for all the info, guys. I really appreciate it!

 

[BearClaw500]

Hate to do it, but I'm going to revive this thread so as not to make a new one. My father is a police officer for a dept who's issued sidearm was a p226 for the officers, and a p245 for the admin people and plain clothes. They've just switched from these two firearms after, I think, about 12ish years, and went to the Glock 21/30. The dept decided to offer buy backs. About $450 for the p226 and about $360ish for the p245. My fathers 226 was in very good condition. Slide wear from being holsters and unholstered so much, but a fantastic shooter. I'm liking having him get me the p245. I can meet my dad at the dept to check them out so other than the slide rail wear (which I can't imagine would be worn as the admin people only use them to qualify...they rarely practice on their own), is there anything I should look for? This will be my first sig so Im unfamiliar with their details.

If anyones curious, I'm choosing the p245 over the 226 because I have a fullsize .45 already, and because I think it'll be pretty cool to have a, what maybe someone might find to be, a "classic" sig being made in Germany before the 220 took its place. At least thats how I feel. I would love to buy back the exact one that was my fathers, but he said something about their p226s being first gen a few people have had their frames crack.

 

[BearClaw500]

Hate to do it, but I'm going to revive this thread so as not to make a new one. My father is a police officer for a dept who's issued sidearm was a p226 for the officers, and a p245 for the admin people and plain clothes. They've just switched from these two firearms after, I think, about 12ish years, and went to the Glock 21/30. The dept decided to offer buy backs. About $450 for the p226 and about $360ish for the p245. My fathers 226 was in very good condition. Slide wear from being holsters and unholstered so much, but a fantastic shooter. I'm liking having him get me the p245. I can meet my dad at the dept to check them out so other than the slide rail wear (which I can't imagine would be worn as the admin people only use them to qualify...they rarely practice on their own), is there anything I should look for? This will be my first sig so Im unfamiliar with their details.

If anyones curious, I'm choosing the p245 over the 226 because I have a fullsize .45 already, and because I think it'll be pretty cool to have a, what maybe someone might find to be, a "classic" sig being made in Germany before the 220 took its place. At least thats how I feel. I would love to buy back the exact one that was my fathers, but he said something about their p226s being first gen a few people have had their frames crack.

 

[Gammon]

Alloy SIG frames can crack in the area of the rails and no amount of oil will prevent this problem. The good news is that it takes a lot of use to crack the frame. The bad news is that SIG will not replace the frame under warranty, or so I have been told.