Before I buy one does anyone have any complaints about the Sig P220?
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Liberty1776
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I love my 220 - soft shooting, accurate, eats anything. Only thing is I wish it had a round hammer instead of a spur (just like the look better) I have 7 different DA .45 autos, and this one is both my and my son's favorite one...
Ala Dan
Member in memoriam
Not'a here~! Own a 1995 West German SIG-SAUER .45 caliber P220A; and its a 100 per center~! Eats anything, and everything I throw at it; always qualifies with a score no less than 100, and a joy to behold~! 
JR24
Member
I have nothing but good things to say about my P220.
rellascout
member
What type of extractor does it have on it? Is it internal or external?
If it has the external extractor go for it. If it has the internal extractor I personally would pass. The original internal extractor design has a very tight tolerance and when it is slightly out of spec you will get FTF and FTEs. Often on the last round in a mag.
This does not happen to all of them. Most run just fine but there are more issues with these Sig P220s, ones with a milled stainless slide and internal extractor, than any other P220s.
They went to the external extractor to get away from this design flaw, although if you ask Sig directly they did it for part commonality.
If it has the external extractor go for it. If it has the internal extractor I personally would pass. The original internal extractor design has a very tight tolerance and when it is slightly out of spec you will get FTF and FTEs. Often on the last round in a mag.
This does not happen to all of them. Most run just fine but there are more issues with these Sig P220s, ones with a milled stainless slide and internal extractor, than any other P220s.
They went to the external extractor to get away from this design flaw, although if you ask Sig directly they did it for part commonality
.rellascout
member
New 2011 and 2012 production are external extractors.
Elkins45
Member
I have one I bought new in 1987 so it has all the bad stuff mentioned above: internal extractor, folded slide, roll pinned breech block. It's a magnificent handgun and just as (if not more) reliable as any auto I have ever used.
I've never heard about extractor problems wit the 220. I guess mine must always have been in spec.
I've never heard about extractor problems wit the 220. I guess mine must always have been in spec.
rellascout
member
Read the post again... It is the stainless steel slide with the internal extractor that had issues. Your gun has a folded slide. The problems first surfaced with the ST models and continued when they went to all milled stainless slides for the P series guns.
Clearly you do not know your P220 history. Again just be clear most guns even with the stainless slide and internal extractor did not have issues but many did. It is well documented. To the OP get one with the external extractor and you should be good to go.
Ps how many rounds have you tun down that Sig in the 25 years you have owned it.
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shiftyer1
Member
I never had any malfunctions with mine, I owned it 3 or 4 years. I recently swapped it for something more to my taste, never really warmed up to it. But thats just personal taste.
Steve in PA
Member
I have two Sig P220's with internal extractors. The first one, which I bought used, had some FTE's after a while. I changed out the extractor and the gun has been ultra reliable since that day. Actually, that particular gun is my range gun, as the other 220 is my duty gun. As my range gun it gets fired a LOT during the year for training, qualifications, plinking, going to instructor schools, etc. In other words, do not fear the internal extractor.
My only complaint about the 220 is the placement of the slide lock/release. For my hands, my right thumb wants to sit right on top of the darn thing. Other than that, my 220's are superb.
My only complaint about the 220 is the placement of the slide lock/release. For my hands, my right thumb wants to sit right on top of the darn thing. Other than that, my 220's are superb.
I looked over one German made and one US made and was surprised by the sticker prices. The Gen. 3 S&W .45s can be had for much less. Perhaps it's just me but I do not see major differences in both designs to warrant large price disparity between them.
carbuncle
Member
My only complaint is that I don't have one yet, great gun that is on my short list.
wildehond
Member
Exactly what I was thinking. I had the chance to buy one a few years ago, But I did not! I regret that now.
The only complaint I heard about the Elite are from folks who thought the beavertail was a little wide and deep
My complaints stem from three P220s I owned, one .45 European magazine release, one .45 American side buttom magazine release and one European mag release .38 Super.
None of those guns would reliably lock the slide on the last round and none of those pistols were as accurate as everyone touted them up to be.
All these pistols dated from the late 1980s and everything I have heard about newer Sig 220 pistols is those issues have long been resolved.
I now own a German made 9mm P226 and German 9mm P228 and both have been completely reliable and more than sufficiently accurate.
None of those guns would reliably lock the slide on the last round and none of those pistols were as accurate as everyone touted them up to be.
All these pistols dated from the late 1980s and everything I have heard about newer Sig 220 pistols is those issues have long been resolved.
I now own a German made 9mm P226 and German 9mm P228 and both have been completely reliable and more than sufficiently accurate.
JTQ
Member
Here is a review from the late, great Mr. Camp
http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/LongTerm Observations and ShortTerm Hopes-SIGSauer P220.htm
He planned a long term review of an older and newer P220. Unfortunately, this was one of his later articles before his death.
http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/LongTerm Observations and ShortTerm Hopes-SIGSauer P220.htm
He planned a long term review of an older and newer P220. Unfortunately, this was one of his later articles before his death.
fastbolt
Member
rellascout highlighted most of the info ...
The earlier production 220's received revisions to enhance their durability over the years. I remember when what was later deemed to have been a production run of improperly tempered internal extractors (in the folded slides using pinned breech blocks) surfaced many years ago (a local sheriff's office DQ'd the ones their folks were using because of problems on the range until the extractors could be replaced).
In more recent years, the armorer instructor in the Sig pistol armorer class a few years ago told us to check the 220 frame inserts (steel insert the barrel's feedramp lug impacts during firing) for cracks periodically, especially if +P loads were used.
He said the only issue with the internal external extractor used in solid machined slides (meaning the American built 220's) was that the extractor was made overly tensioned so it could be installed, and then typically have the proper remaining tension after installation needed to provide optimal feeding & extraction. It was only intended to be installed once, though, and we were told to replace them if they were ever removed (after the initial installation). Apparently, Sig experienced some small number of instances where the tension didn't end up in the right range after installation, and some feeding issues were reported.
I also remember asking during the class why Sig engineers hadn't come up with an external extractor similar to what was being used in the 9/.40/.357 guns, since it had demonstrated it worked so well. I was answered with a shrug, and told that it was a good question.
Then, a little while later ... we started seeing the 220's coming with external extractors, so apparently they got around to making the same observation.
I don't have any personal experience with the newest 220 models (haven't updated my certification with Sig).
I noticed they decided to go back to the earlier roll pins (versus the solid pins), though.
1KPerDay
Member
I don't own one yet, but hopefully I will. My only issues, and they are minor:
1. long trigger reset compared to my P226 (which may have an SRT; I got it used).
2. More muzzle flip than my steel 1911s (but I haven't shot a steel-framed 220 by comparison).
Ergos are flawless, looks are sexy, reliability is stellar, accuracy excellent.
1. long trigger reset compared to my P226 (which may have an SRT; I got it used).
2. More muzzle flip than my steel 1911s (but I haven't shot a steel-framed 220 by comparison).
Ergos are flawless, looks are sexy, reliability is stellar, accuracy excellent.
OregonJohnny
Member
This is similar to my experience. I just bought my first Sig, a brand-new 220 Carry Elite Dark. After getting so used to riding the safety on my 1911 with my right thumb, using the high thumbs-forward grip, I find that my instinctive grip on the Sig puts my right thumb right on top of the slide catch lever. I'd say the slide locks back on the last round about 25% of the time on my gun. When I consciously tuck my thumb down (like when gripping a double-action revolver), the slide lock works fine, but my grip doesn't feel as secure and correct to me.
That is the only complaint I have with mine, so far. It's extremely well made, and has been 100% reliable with 225 rounds of mixed factory and reloaded ammo.
The only other thing (not a fault of the gun itself) is the cost of factory mags. Yikes!
JR24
Member
I've had good luck with ACT-Mag 8 roung magazines from GregCoteLLC.com, cheaper than the factory ones and mine have always run great.
Now that I think about it, I had one small issue with my P220 and some Remington UMC ammo that were just slightly too long and wouldn't fit/feed in the magazines. About 10 out of my last 100 (230 grain JHP iirc) wouldn't fit in any of my p220 mags.
1911 ate them up just fine, go figure.
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