Parts to replace on a 22 year old sig p220 (1993)?

[biangx2]

Hello all, I recently inherited a p220 that was my uncle's and was wondering what I should possibly replace for maintenance.

The recoil spring was worn out, so I was getting a failure to eject on the first round of each mag. At first I thought it was the internal extractor, but someone told me to try replacing the recoil spring and when I did, it fixed the problem.

I do not know the round count on the gun, I am guesstimating it would be around at least 5 to 6000 rounds if the recoil spring is worn out? Or can that happen from age?

I looked up the maintenance schedule and it said replace roll pins and recoil spring at 5000 rounds, so I replaced both. The old roll pins seemed fine. I had heard that they would be pretty worn and sometimes nearly sheered in half at 5-6000 rounds? (This is why I was wondering if maybe the round count was actually lower than 5000 and the recoil spring just wore with age?) Or maybe it only gets worn like that if it was dry fired a lot without a snap.

The gun shoots fine now, but just wondering if there are any other parts I should replace if I want it to be my home defense gun?

 

[SC Shooter]

If it shoots fine, you should be fine. For a Sig, 5 to 6 k rounds is just barely broken in. Take it to the range often and shoot 50 to 100 rounds in it each time. A gun is like a car. To keep them going, they need to be used.

 

[jeepnik]

None. Unless it's been totally trashed and never cleaned it will likely still be shooting just fine for your grandkids kids.

 

[sigarms228]

You did good and what a spectacular pistol the P220 is!

Note at Top Gun Supply you can get the "parts kit" with most commonly replaced parts.

http://www.topgunsupply.com/sig-p220-45-parts-kit.html

Also, if you are not aware, SIGs like to run a little wet - but not dripping. Important to keep the frame rails well lubed and a good idea to keep light coat of lube on the exterior of the barrel also.

Here is SIG maintenance schedule.

http://sigforum.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/150601935/m/6801056451

Barrel: If the pistol exhibits keyholing or unacceptable accuracy.
Decocking lever spring: 10,000
Extractor: 20,000
Extractor spring: 20,000
Firing pin: 20,000
Firing pin spring: 20,000
Magazine spring: When magazine fails to lock the slide open. *
Recoil spring: 5,000 †
Roll pins for breechblock retention (pins, HD): 5000 ‡
Safety lock spring: 20,000
Slide catch lever and spring: 10,000 §
Takedown lever: 20,000
Trigger bar spring: 10,000

Mainspring (hammer spring): SIG SAUER evidently makes no formal recommendation about the mainspring, but lbj was told by customer service that guns with 40,000 rounds are still igniting their ammunition with the original spring. If ignition problems do develop and cannot be determined to be due to other reasons, the obvious course would be to try a new mainspring.

* I also recommend replacing the magazine spring when ammunition is not held securely. This can occur before slide lock failures.

† I have seen earlier recommendations here that the recoil spring be replaced after 2500 or 3000 rounds. I replace my recoil springs after 2500 rounds.

‡ This information pertains to the roll pins used to retain the separate breechblocks used in older carbon steel slides. The most recent armorer’s manuals do not mention those older guns. The reason I’ve read for replacing the retaining pins every 5000 rounds is to ensure that the breechblock is secured tightly and firmly in the slide. If any looseness develops (and which may not be detectable by visual inspection), the slide can warp during firing and place additional stress on the frame rails, possibly leading to their early failure.


Enjoy your P220!

 

[Cee Zee]

I do not know the round count on the gun, I am guesstimating it would be around at least 5 to 6000 rounds if the recoil spring is worn out?

The recoil spring on my 1990 220 wore out after about 15000 rounds that I had put through it. And I bought it used. It was almost certainly a duty pistol because of the holster wear and apparent low round count on it. It had not been shot a lot when I bought it I don't believe. I shot it a lot though. I replaced the recoil spring and it fixed the same problem you described. The manual lists a number of things that should be replaced after about half that many rounds but mine still works great after the recoil spring replacement. I did go with a slightly stronger spring to compensate for any wear. It was only slightly stronger though. I don't remember the numbers on the spring strength now. It's been a while since I did this.

I would trust this pistol as my carry gun after just that recoil spring replacement. It was of course a very easy replacement. If you can break down a Sig (extremely easy) you can replace that recoil spring.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

I had two SIGs that broke trigger bar springs long before the 10,000 round service interval. This is a disabling breakage unless you hold the gun upside down. There is a better spring available now (like that of a mousetrap rather than arched) but it requires a new grip panel to work with it.

 

[biangx2]

Just curious, what year(s) were your sigs where the trigger bar spring broke?

 

[biangx2]

thanks for all the advice all!

 

[biangx2]

The recoil spring on my 1990 220 wore out after about 15000 rounds that I had put through it. And I bought it used. It was almost certainly a duty pistol because of the holster wear and apparent low round count on it. It had not been shot a lot when I bought it I don't believe. I shot it a lot though. I replaced the recoil spring and it fixed the same problem you described. The manual lists a number of things that should be replaced after about half that many rounds but mine still works great after the recoil spring replacement. I did go with a slightly stronger spring to compensate for any wear. It was only slightly stronger though. I don't remember the numbers on the spring strength now. It's been a while since I did this.

I would trust this pistol as my carry gun after just that recoil spring replacement. It was of course a very easy replacement. If you can break down a Sig (extremely easy) you can replace that recoil spring.

nice. did you ever replace your roll pin?

 

[biangx2]

I had two SIGs that broke trigger bar springs long before the 10,000 round service interval. This is a disabling breakage unless you hold the gun upside down. There is a better spring available now (like that of a mousetrap rather than arched) but it requires a new grip panel to work with it.

Just curious, what year(s) were your sigs where the trigger bar spring broke?

 

[Cee Zee]

nice. did you ever replace your roll pin?

No I haven't. But then I haven't been shooting that Sig like I once did either. Maybe it's due for one. I have other pistols I shoot now to keep in training for carrying. But while we're on the subject is there something to look for to tell me if the roll pin needs to be changed? I know the round count means a lot but according to the projections Sig puts out I should have had to replace several parts by now but I haven't had to.

I really should send that pistol off to Sig and let them fix everything on it. I have rode it pretty hard over the years. I've had it hot enough that it cooked off a round once. That was interesting. It was a good thing I was practicing good safety habits and had the gun pointed down range. I must have shot 300 rounds in 90 minutes that day.

 

[Lucky Derby]

I had a P220 from that time period. I carried daily for it for 12 years and put somewhere around 10K rounds through it. I replaced the recoil spring several times, long before it was needed, because I had a supply of free ones, so why not? Roll pins? Really? Never any issues there. Still going strong in Three Gun with it's new owner.

 

[biangx2]

No I haven't. But then I haven't been shooting that Sig like I once did either. Maybe it's due for one. I have other pistols I shoot now to keep in training for carrying. But while we're on the subject is there something to look for to tell me if the roll pin needs to be changed? I know the round count means a lot but according to the projections Sig puts out I should have had to replace several parts by now but I haven't had to.

I really should send that pistol off to Sig and let them fix everything on it. I have rode it pretty hard over the years. I've had it hot enough that it cooked off a round once. That was interesting. It was a good thing I was practicing good safety habits and had the gun pointed down range. I must have shot 300 rounds in 90 minutes that day.

whoa a round fired off without you touching the trigger??? crazy.

i hear if you dry fire your sig, then definitely change your roll pin(s) by 5k rounds. someone posted in another forum that he dry fired his a lot and by 5k rounds, it was near sheared in half when he took it out. a sign to look for is if the roll pin is starting to come out or is not tight in the slide hole anymore, that definitely means it is time to change it.

but if you go according to the sig recommended maintenance schedule, they say to change it every 5k rounds for preventative maintenance.

 

[Cee Zee]

I haven't done a lot of dry firing with a pistol of that quality. I don't have money to burn. I know that I've gone way past a lot of upgrade intervals. I would have noticed the roll pin being loose or something like that. It looks like it always did to me.

My luck if I sent the gun off to be reconditioned it would come back not being able to hit the side of a barn. I have had things like that happen before. For example my uber cheap Raven P-25 wasn't cleaned for years because I couldn't get the thing apart and I didn't have anyone to tell me now to do it. During that time it shot way more accurate than a gun like that ever should. A guy showed me how to break it down to clean it and it hasn't shot anything near accurate since. Go figure. I have more faith than that in the gun techs at Sig but doing it myself is a different thing altogether.