Do Sig's Need a Break In ???

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eric.cartman

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I recently got Sig P220 Equinox. I've got about 350 rounds through it. Sometimes, especially on the last round in the magazine (happens with both mags) it FTF. Round gets about half way into the chamber, then it stops. Pushing the slide forward doesn't help.

Do I need to break it in? Or is it something else? It's a brand new gun :uhoh:
 
My two Sigs needed break-ins. For each of them I had to chamber a round. Beyond that they've been fine.

Find out where the round is hanging up. The mag may not be holding the last round high enough (the angle of the feeding round decreases with each drop in round count.)

Or the magazine spring may be weak.
 
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All three "classic" SIGs that I owned (German-made) ran perfectly from the get-go. I can forgive a sporadic stoppage or two in the first 200 rounds, though, as long as it straightens out after that. If mine were still malfunctioning after all this time, I would be on the horn to Sigarms. Your failures to feed only the last round suggest a magazine problem. This does seem to happen more frequently with the 8-round mags new P220s are equipped with now, versus the 7-round SIG-made ones on my older one.
 
Just checked again like 5 times with each mag (8 rounders)... it happens every time on the last round in every mag. I cycle by pulling back and pushing forward, not with the full force of the recoil spring, and it happens EVERY time on the last round. Same happens if I pull back slide and release. First 7 rounds go fine, then JAM!!!

I'm thinking magazines. You?
 
Check over at the SIG Fourm. There have been a number of posts complaining about just your issue with the newer P220's and I believe they were saying it was an extractor issue.

I have one of the newer P220 Carry's, and never had a problem with mine, but I've been told a number of times by other posters I should be. Personally, I've never had an issue with any of my SIG's, new or used, and all I've ever done from the start was load the mags and shoot.
 
all guns need a break-in in my opinion.

I could care less if it was put together on some fancy CNC machine or hand filed and polished by the best gunsmith in the world, it isn't useful until I feel comfortable that it will not fail.
 
You are describing a well known issue and yes, it involves an issue with the internal extractor. It is such an issue that Sig ditched the internal extractors and now ship all P220s with an external extractor.
 
If the reason that SIG went from internal to external extractors on their 220 pistols is one of reliability, it seems odd that it took them over thirty years to discover the problem. And then, only after the 220 helped SIG establish an enviable record of reliability over that same thirty or so year period with the internal version.

To me, it seems more likely that SIG changed the location of the extractor for reasons of ease and/or economy of manufacture.
 
I have never had a failure from my SIG since the first round. I have never heard of them needing a break in period either, and mine shoots every type of ammo I have fed it. It is chambered in 9mm though... not sure how the 45's are, but my hunch is that a SIG should be totally reliable in every caliber.

If you can't get it to function after plenty of cleaning and a bit of lube (clean the mags too), then I would contact SIG and have them take a look at it.

I cycle by pulling back and pushing forward, not with the full force of the recoil spring, and it happens EVERY time on the last round.
Click to expand...

BTW... thats not how you rack the slide correctly.
 
I cycle by pulling back and pushing forward, not with the full force of the recoil spring, and it happens EVERY time on the last round.
Click to expand...
Why are you not allowing the slide to come forward with full force?

The gun is not designed to cycle reliably with anything but full force.

I thought that the reason SIG went to the external extractor when they decided to produce a one-piece slide making an internal extractor quite a bit more difficult to manufacture.
 
My Sig P239 has been 100% from the first round to the last (prolly about 600 so far). I would call Sig.
 
Welcome to the world of SIG where ex-Kimber execs are now working for SIG!

They go 'round-n-'round on the SIG Forum regarding this. Poke around that forum and you'll see what I mean.

Traditionally, your SIG shouldn't need any break-in, but that was when they tested the guns before shipping and had a QC department.

The break-in period was really about shooter confidence, not mechanical settling. Nowadays...the customer is the QC department and the customer service department takes care of the bugs.
 
I bought a new P220 Compact December 31st of 2007. I shot if uncleaned right out of the box and have never had a firing problem with it. I love the livin' dog log out of it. It shoots incredibly straight; I have no illusions that I have much to do with the accuracy of the Sig. It's really hard to own just one.
 
...

Only one of my NIB Sigs needed break in, the P232 SL 380. It took some 400 rounds to finally go 100% with JHP's..

None of my others, 9mm, 40cal, or my P220R (internal extractor) which has gone 1400 flawless rounds including JHP's, just 100%.


Ls


Ps.. to the OP: what happens with the "last round" if you sling shot the slide, manually? (Pulling it all the way back and "letting go" of it so it slams shut, full force)

I'd bet that the last round, chambered this way, will fully chamber..
 
hmmm,

What's the shape of the mag follower? is it full length with a forward
dimple? Weak Mag springs?

ALso, how many times have you cleaned it? No offense meant.

Remember a bore brush for a .451 barrel can clean the bore but the chamber is made to fit the O.D. of the cartridge case, about 0.480 Wilson
COmbat - maybe others? - sell a chamber brush that is a bit oversized for
the dimensions of the chamber - it's chamber length on a red handle to
ream and clean the chamber, it helped to use this on my 1911 barrel .45 ACP
after a range session with cast SWC

perhaps you need to or have a gunsmith polish the feed ramp - throat ?

FWIW - after the 1rst 500 rounds with my S&W 1911 I had a gunsmith
clean it - he also polished the rails since he felt they were a little rough. Perhaps he also got some stuff that was near the trigger as it now isn't
gritty and the slide is very smooth. worth it for $35

Randall
 
I've got three P220s with a milled slide and the internal extractor. I haven't had any problems with any of them.
That doesn't mean that there is something wrong with your gun, I'm just saying that not all milled slide internal extractor P220s have a problem.

Like others have suggested, start by breaking down the magazines. They should be completely dry inside.
I hose my new mags out with Gun Scrubber or Brake Cleaner, but be careful not to get any on your grips. Do not use any lube inside of the mags after they are clean.
I also field strip my new Sigs and clean and lube them before I shoot them.

If you are still having problems, contact Sig CS. They will tell you to put 200 - 300 rounds through your gun, but it sounds like you've already done that.

Good luck!
 
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