Any problems with leaving a Sig P220 slide locked back?

[Travlin]

Dope

I'd rather have one in the chamber than count on it loading correctly from an open slide in an emergency. Maybe the magazine is not fully seated. The chances of a problem are small. But it's one less thing to go wrong.

 

[rcmodel]

I guess they never have to adjust valves, then?

Valves are adjusted to make up for wear on the cam shaft, lifters, rocker arms, and valve seats.
It has nothing to do with the springs getting weak from being compressed, as that would have no effect on valve clearance anyway.

You were able to get the last two rounds in your magazines after leaving it partially loaded because of initial spring set.
Once that occurs, no further weakening of the spring will happen, even if left loaded indefinitely.
Cycling the spring by shooting is what wears out the spring and makes it weaker.

More about initial spring set on new springs here:
http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/lid=...t_Between_Different_Types_of_Spring_Materials

rc

 

[MAKster]

Why not just insert a loaded magazine but not chamber a round. That is just as fast to get into action as keeping the slide locked back and no issue about the spring or lint getting into the gun.

 

[Erik]

"Just want to minimize the chance of an AD."

I suggest that what you are proposing to do will increase, not decrease, the chance of an AD.

 

[9mmepiphany]

Why not just insert a loaded magazine but not chamber a round.

he was concerned that his wife might not be able to chamber a round by retracting the slide

 

[alfack]

You were able to get the last two rounds in your magazines after leaving it partially loaded because of initial spring set.
Once that occurs, no further weakening of the spring will happen, even if left loaded indefinitely.
Cycling the spring by shooting is what wears out the spring and makes it weaker.

You can believe what you want, but I have other measured examples where used springs, that already had taken a set, became fatigued even more by leaving them in a compressed state. This effect is more noticeable in thinner diameter softer wire springs.

Damn, over 15,000 posts. That's impressive!

 

[johnnylaw53]

Well I normally don't try to tell people what to do with thier SD weapon but to leave the slide locked back with a magazine in the weapon is just wanting an accident. I understand getting a S.D. weapon is something that I feel is a good thing. When someone decide to get a S.D. weapon one should get proper training but of course with the price of the weapon ammo sometimes a good training program is not in the funds. Most should began with a good DA revolver and move on to a semi auto only after one have master the manuel of arms with the revolver.

be safe

 

[tsasser]

A SIG P220 sat fully loaded and ready in my night stand for years. It never suddenly discharged the round in the chamber. I would expect any other quality handgun would exhibit the same behavior, except those evil assault rifles. Those guns are shady.

Tom Gresham on Guntalk has a very easy way to teach the ladies how to properly operate any handgun slide. I recommend you show her this video:

www.guntalk.tv -> Video Library: "Instruction" -> "Racking a Slide"

http://www.guntalk.tv/gtv/library.php?video_id=360

This technique is more about getting the gun back into action. However, the basic idea of pull and push is the same regardless of situation. You may want to have her practice this until she's confident with it. It would be a great idea to purchase some Snap Caps so the gun is not slamming shut on an empty chamber AND it forces you to clear the gun prior to the practice session.

Proper training is the actual solution to your problem. "Inventing" techniques just to get around a perceived problem is not the way to go.

 

[rcmodel]

he was concerned that his wife might not be able to chamber a round by retracting the slide

That might also suggest she couldn't pull the slide back to clear a malfunction or unload the gun after a shooting.

Maybe you got the wrong gun for your wife to use?

At any rate, unless she has a handicap or something, anyone, even young kids, can learn to rack a slide following the links tsasser posted above.

rc

 

[plumbernater]

Lonestar had the best idea . I do the same with my gun by the bed. Once shes removed from the holster shes ready foy busness. On the spring thing I read a post some where about a guy that found his dads ww2 1911 in a closet after he had died clip full and had been that way for a long time. fired and worked fine.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

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 think that covers it.