Any problems with leaving a Sig P220 slide locked back?

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Dope

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Subject pretty much says it all. I plan on using my P220 as a nightstand gun. I don't have a holster for it yet - got one ordered but it's 30-45 days out. I don't want to leave it with a round chambered and no holster to cover the trigger. I was thinking about putting a mag in it, locking the slide back and leaving it like that for now, to minimize the time needed to make the pistol ready. I would just leave it with a mag in, and no round chambered but I'm not sure if my wife can rack the slide too easily.

Any possible damage from doing this? Just want to minimize the chance of an AD.

Dope
 
I guess its ok if you don't mind the bad guy hearing the big clack and knowing you are on to him.....me I'd prefer the element of surprise.
 
Dust and other filth can get in the gun over time if you leave the slide back. This will compromise the gun's reliability.
 
If you have time to release the slide, you also have the time to cock the hammer. What you propose makes absolutely no sense to me at all. What advantage would doing that give you? None that I can see. Unless your P220 is single action only, you have the option of double action for the first shot OR cocking the hammer. Either way, your chances of an AD are minimal if you have even normal coordination.
 
For its intended purpose it should have a full magazine, one in the chamber, and be uncocked. There's no valid reason to have it any other way unless you have children or someone ignorant of handgun safety in your home.
 
Ditto on that. If you need to draw it and shoot, you've got the DA trigger to deal with, which shouldn't be a huge concern. If you have time, cock the hammer back and go with that. I'd say that having it decocked with a round in the chamber should be adequate.
 
8 replies but one half-answer, I knew you guys wouldn't let me down :)

So I guess it's safe to say, there is no potential for damage by leaving the slide locked back for extended periods of time (like a month)?

Dope
 
Unnecessary tension on the recoil spring. A Sig in DA mode is one of the more safer guns with a 12# trigger. If you can't trust yourself or others with a round chambered its time for more training.
 
The reason why I bought the P220 in first place was that I could SAFELY keep a round in the chamber and SAFELY lower the hammer with the decokcer. That's the way I have always carried it and that's the way I have always kept it on the nightstand. It will not go off unless you intentionally pull the trigger.
 
No, it won't.

Any initial spring set is going to happen the first few times you fire it.

After that, leaving the slide open would be no different then parking your car in the driveway at night with all that weight setting on the springs.
They don't wear out while the car is parked.

But I agree with those who said load it, de-cock it, and fugedaboutit!
That is the way the gun was designed to be kept at the ready.
The only way it can be fired is by someone applying 12 pounds of force to the DA trigger.

There is absolutely no danger of it firing itself.

rc
 
Nevermind that a pistol with the slide locked back on a full magazine is like a set mousetrap!

Any reasonable impact or jostling is going to drop the slide.

I just dont see ANY reason for this course of action.
 
So I guess it's safe to say, there is no potential for damage by leaving the slide locked back for extended periods of time (like a month)?
Click to expand...

there's no potential damage to the gun from leaving the slide locked back, but you do heighten the potential for "mishap"

1. you're leaving the action exposed to the entry of debris which might obstruct the function when the gun is readied for action.
2. the slide could be "jarred" closed, leaving a gun less safe than in condition 2...hammer down on a chambered round
3. when you decide to chamber a round, you're left with the gun cocked in SA...thus disabling the designed safety of the first DA trigger stroke
 
I don't want to leave it with a round chambered and no holster to cover the trigger.
Click to expand...

Qhite frankly you are being silly about not leaving th pistol with one chambered and hammer decocked ready for a DA first shot. Unless you are leaving it under your pillow while you sleep (not a good idea) or have a habit of handling the pistol improperly by placing the finger on the trigger with no intent to shoot, there's no reason not to leave it loaded and ready. If you still have this irrational worry then move a dresser close to your bed and put the gun loaded in a easily reachable drawer that you will have to open to get it or get one of those electronic pistol safes that you can quickly open when needed.

You can always load for night time and unload for daytime storage. Have little kids, get the safe.
 
No, it won't.

Any initial spring set is going to happen the first few times you fire it.

After that, leaving the slide open would be no different then parking your car in the driveway at night with all that weight setting on the springs.
They don't wear out while the car is parked.
Click to expand...

Yes it will. I have first hand experience and your car analogy is bad. When the slide is open, the spring isn't just sitting there, it is sitting there fully compressed.
 
Well, many of the valve springs in your engine are setting there fully compressed when the engine is shut off too. They are not weakened.

1911 mainsprings are fully compressed when they are cocked & locked. The spring will last nearly forever carried & stored cocked & locked if you don't wear it out shooting it.

Leaving a spring compressed does not weaken it.
Cycling a spring is what wears it out.

This from Wolff Gun Springs:
"6. My spring got shorter after I used it for a short time. Is it bad?

Most new springs will take a set when they are first compressed. That means they will shorten up. This is a normal event and you should not be immediately alarmed. The greater the stress on the spring, generally the more set that will occur. All Wolff springs take this set into consideration. The ratings of the springs you receive are the ratings after the set has occurred. After set has taken place, the spring should remain essentially stable for the life of the spring. "

I'm not saying it is a good idea for the OP to leave his SIG laying around with the slide locked open.
I'm just saying it won't hurt the spring if he does.

rc
 
Simple solution for ya..

...

Simple, fast, solution: for 12 bucks, get an Uncle Mike's IWB clip-on, size 5.

These are great for full trigger guard protection, absolutely no gun wear from putting one's P220 in or taking it out, being Neoprene with a *closed end-front, *keeps out lent, dust, spiders, dog or cat hair, you name it..

Will protect gun, keep your trigger finger from getting even remotely close to the trigger, until you pull it out (which is very easy to do) and, at the same time, when laying your gun in holster down on any furniture without harming, scratching, any wood, or the gun itself if something hits it, etc.

Then all ya have to do is wait for that other holster without leaving it exposed, slide open, and have it the way it should be, round in chamber, in DA mode (assuming it is a DA/SA) and you might find that sometimes simple works better for keeping gun fully holstered without wear to gun, nor any bumps to gun when putting it into a safe or gun stacking, with any other guns/pistols, in same kind of inexpensive neoprene holsters. They just can't be beat for laying on furniture, at hands reach.. for HD

Luck,


Ls
 
Well, many of the valve springs in your engine are setting there fully compressed when the engine is shut off too. They are not weakened.
Click to expand...

I guess they never have to adjust valves, then?

Leaving a spring compressed does not weaken it.
Click to expand...

Ok. Riddle me this. I just bought a new Beretta PX4SC. It came with two magazines. I tried to load 13 rounds into one by hand, without using the tool that came with it. I could not. So, I used the tool to put 13 rounds into it and left it stuffed for a week. Guess what? Now I can put 13 rounds into it by hand. It's as though the mag spring magically became weaker. I'm sure leaving it fully compressed for a week had nothing to do with it. :rolleyes:
 
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alfack, read post number 20 and take note of the "set" a spring will take when compressed. That would seem to be the answer you're looking for.
 
Ok. Riddle me this. I just bought a new Beretta PX4SC. It came with two magazines. I tried to load 13 rounds into one by hand, without using the tool that came with it. I could not. So, I used the tool to put 13 rounds into it and left it stuffed for a week. Guess what? Now I can put 13 rounds into it by hand. It's as though the mag spring magically became weaker. I'm sure leaving it fully compressed for a week had nothing to do with it.
Click to expand...

But can you load one or two rounds without pressing the follower down now? Didn't think so. I doubt the Sig is going t fail to return to battery because you leave the slide locked back on it for a week or years. As long as you do not over-compress the spring, which you cannot do while it is inside the gun. The spring may take a slight set at first but it is still well within the operating range needed to do its job.
 
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