Alloy pistol frames

[orangeninja]

I was cleaning my Sig 229 when I noticed some galling (is that how it is spelled?) or unusual wear on about a half inch portion of the frame rails on the underside. Both sides were worn on the same spot from the front. Apparantly, according to my smith, I was using insufficient lube. Apparantly Hoppes doesn't cut it. Anyone else had this experience? I had him file down the rough spots and I am now using some kind of goop that came in a little white jar about the size of a Vicks Vapor rub cream. He said even using petrolium jelly such as Vaseline would work better than Hoppes oil. I guess I will have to borrow some Vaseline from Techbrute.

 

[Frohickey]

Yeah. That sure sounds like not enough lubrication.

My friend's P226 had the same problem, and in his case, he hardly shoots, and does not clean and lube a gun prior to shooting it. So, any oil that he put on the rails would have evaporated or flowed into the pistol case foam a long time before he would shoot the gun again.

If he shot more often, the gun would be in better shape.

 

[ny32182]

I use Tetra-grease on my P226 rails. Works great, and won't flow away or evaporate.

That said, a little visible wear on nitron alloy sig frame rails is normal. Don't sweat it.

 

[hansolo]

Alloy frame/I use Militec grease

Last year I bought a S&W 9mm 910s. After my first session(about 200 rounds of various non-+P factory rounds)I stripped it to clean/lube. My only other semi at the time was a steel framed CZ 75B. I had stipped/lubed the S&W before this first break-in session and the rails and angled areas where the lower barrel lugs lockup looked fine. Fast forward to post-shooting....the angled areas looked as if a mongoose had chewed on them and the top of the frame rails looked scraped. I called S&W. The gunsmith said that was normal and would stop wearing away after a few more hundred rounds. He was right: I don't even think about it anymore.
I use Militec grease on the rails and angled areas....works fine!

 

[orangeninja]

The thing that bugged me the most I guess is that this is a newish 229. I have one that came used from the factory (police demo) that has been shot a lot and the wear is barely noticable. Though I rarely shoot this one, I'm not a big fan of the night sights on it.