Problems with a Sig P232

[iscareliberalsandlikeit]

Hi all, this will be my first post ever on any forum. I recently bought my wife a SIG P232 after a little diliberation on a (ha) Smith and Wesson PPK. It was definitely a informed decision. Using everything I could gather on the internet/range/local shops the SIG was excellent choice. We were very happy with our purchase untill we got the thing to the range. A round would stick on the feed ramp about every other shot. We were firing Winchester white box 95gr flat nose FMJ. It seemed if I racked the slide back and "assisted" the slide forward the round would then chamber. I'm not wealthy enough to use premuim ammunition for the breaking in point of the gun. Not the highest quality, I understand this, I tried blazer brass and remington FMJ round nose also. The Remington seemed to be the best but still jammed at least one or twice a magazine. I probably have about 150rds through this gun. The feed ramp seems a tiny bit rougher than I'm used to. I thought of maybe very, very lightly rubbing the frame part of the feed ramp down with some FLITZ and cotton buffing cloth on a dowl rod. Anyone with similar problems? Any suggestions?

 

[Frandy]

Welcome to the board. I'm sorry that you're having trouble with the 232. Frankly, this shouldn't be happening. I've owned 232s and quite a few other Sigs and I've never experienced any problems to speak of.

And, it isn't the ammunition.

I assume the 232 is somewhat clean and lightly lubricated.

How many magazines did you get with it? If more than one, do these problems happen with all the mags?

Are you certain that the magazine is seated completely when you fire it. No insult intended. Just asking.

Did you buy this 232 new? If so, get Sig to fix this problem.

If the gun was bought used, do you know who you bought it from? Was it represented as trouble-free?

Shouldn't be happening.

 

[Starcheck55]

recoil spring might need some breaking in. I'd rack the slide a few hundred times and see where that gets you. Good luck and keep us updated.

 

[johnnylaw53]

This is the reason i gave up on semi-auto for small carry weapons. we went to auto's back in the 80's first one was a beretta then later they issued us sigs both great weapons i began looking for a small auto as off duty but after many went back to a j-frame for my off duty-back up needs. Just seem in my life the small auto's no matter how well they are made seem to give some problems.

be safe

 

[2nd 41]

Frandy has the right questions. First call SigSauer and explain what's going on.
If you did not buy the 232 NIB that will explain why it was for sale.

I have a 230 & a 232. Both are flawless. Good luck with yours.

 

[usp9]

A couple suggestions for your consideration;

First, are you sure your grip isn't causing some misfeeds? The P232 requires a firm grip to allow the blowback operated slide to function at full force.

If by chance a firm grip solves the problem, you may want to invest in the excellent Hogue rubber grips for this pistol. They allow for a much more comfortable experience and reduce felt recoil as well as offer a firmer grip.

If it's a new gun, the springs are in fine shape. If used, then you may want to order a new recoil spring. Wolff sells a pack of three different weights.

The P232 rails likes to be lubed, especially the lighter alloy models. One of the light gun greases work well IMHO, and reduce wear on the softer alloy frame.

The fact of life is that your Sig may not work well with a particular brand of ammo. I too have had feed problems with truncated cone Winchester rounds, but no trouble with other rounds in the P232. I usually shoot Remington or Aquila for practice and without any misfeeds to my recollection.

I take this is a new gun...did you clean and lube it before going to the range for the first time?

If you have a used gun, make sure you clean the magazines too. Blowback guns are dirtier than others and require some extra effort in cleaning, especially with certain dirtier ammo.

 

[mr.trooper]

I had a P232, and the take down detent broke. the takedown lever would work loose from recoil, and i would have to re-seat it after every mag or it would start jamming.

sweet gun though.

 

[iscareliberalsandlikeit]

This would be a new gun. I purchased it from a sportsmans warehouse, 9mm kurtz (.380) in blued steel frame and slide with the stainless barrel in August of 2008 when I came back from deployment. It came with two factory magazines with the standard plastic floorplates, both equally malfunction. I'm a nut about cleaning my guns. I probably overclean them but a near complete breakdown allows me to look for possible part stress/failures. (If you asked my wife she'll tell you if I can't be shooting, playing with them is the next best thing. Could be true...) The malfuncion happens equally between my wife and I. Our diffrent grip strengths don't seem to affect the frequency of the jam, and the magazine seating I'm 99% sure isn't the issue. I used to have a russian makarov with a similar mag release that I would have to double check was completely seated lest it only fire once. I guess I have a choice - try to break it in with a couple hundred more rounds or send it back to SIG. I've never sent a firearm throught the mail, makes me nervous...1hour later...I spoke with SIG. Execellent custiomer service, they will have a pre-paid box to my house within a week. Gunsmithing repair times are running three weeks right now. I'm shocked it was that easy. This would be my first SIG purchase and the first time I've ever had a problem with a firearm new from the factory. Everything I've heard about the company pointed to their quality but I guess even the best make a lemon now and again. I'm a bit peeved about the whole thing, this was supposted to be my wife's carry gun, though after the problems, she bought herself a Ruger SP101. (I'm so proud.) There shouldn't be a need to send it back to the factory under any circumstance. I guess there are worse tradegies in life. (current ammunition prices) I'll keep everybody posted on developments. Thank you everyone for your replies!

 

[Jed Carter]

I have a SIG P232, and my tiny wife has similar trouble with it, but I do not. It is caused by a week grip and not having her elbow locked, not a misfunction of the firearm (usually). She has her own pistol, a Beretta Jetfire in .25 auto, and it is even worse at "catching" the spent case. What (usually) happens is the recoil causes the gun to jump (muzzel rise) excessively at a very high speed, fast enough to catch the spent case in the slide as it is ejected. A good stance, firm hold (not death grip) and a locked elbow should solve the problem.

PS: Stainless steel needs to be properly lubricated, as it is softer and more abrasive than other types of gun metals.

 

[iscareliberalsandlikeit]

The jam isn't a stovepipe jam but rather a hangup on the feed ramp. Failure for the round to completely make it into the chamber.

 

[Winston_Smith]

I bought one of these for my wife as well. We use WWB FMJ and have not had any problems. My only gripe about is how difficult it is to cycle the slide.

 

[2nd 41]

My only gripe about is how difficult it is to cycle the slide.

Racking the 232 is a problem. My 230 is a smooth racker....the 232 is brutal. I'm thinking of calling Sig to recommend a different recoil spring

 

[usp9]

My only gripe about is how difficult it is to cycle the slide.

Do you cock the trigger first? Doing that helps.

 

[Pilot]

I think the above poster means cocking the hammer first. And yes this will make it easier to rack the slide.

 

[usp9]

I think the above poster means cocking the hammer first. And yes this will make it easier to rack the slide.

I was just testing you.


You passed.



Trigger, hammer, double consonant, ends in "er"...I was close. God help me, growing old is Hell.:banghead:


Thanks Pilot.

 

[2nd 41]

I think the above poster means cocking the hammer first. And yes this will make it easier to rack the slide.
__________________

Still brutal. 5 star hard as heck to rack with hammer down. 4.5 stars hard as heck with hammer back. The slide serrations are light...very hard to grasp.

 

[Pilot]

Trigger, hammer, double consonant, ends in "er"...I was close. God help me, growing old is Hell.


Thanks Pilot.

Hey, anyone that can put up with the traffic around Fairfax still has to be very sharp.

 

[osteodoc08]

Wife has a P230 that has been a joy to own. I suggest letting SIG fix it and then enjoy the heck out of it. Don't get rid of it.

I will sometimes get teased about bringing the "girly" gun to the range (by my buddies) but it is a joy to shoot and is very accurate. She always comments on it when she sees it in the movies, etc.

The slide on hers is like butta, esp with some Wilson combat grease and a drop or two of remoil.

 

[MadMercS55]

I own 2 P232's and my wife has one as well. One of mine is a newer half german/half-U.S. made with removable front sight. It feeds everything I've put through it so far, 200rnds total mix of JHP and FMJ. My older one and my wife's are all German made/proofed. They HATE any form of JHP ammo. They run 100% with any type of round nose FMJ though. Haven't tried the cone shaped FMJ yet. My wife has somewhere over 2k through hers and the slide is darn near as smooth operating as my beretta 92 is. I believe these weapons are VERY tightly put together and often just won't work with certain types of ammunition. My U.S. P232 is noticeably looser and may be why it runs better with a wide selection of ammo.

 

[jocko]

How about a good polishing job on the feed ramp. Even though they look good a dremel and some flitz will put a mirror shine on that ramp, that is better than factory. Then lube it up with grease on the rails and just sit there and rack the slide about 500 times as fast as u can. This helps alot, without the bang and expense. They should shoot anything that goes n the pipe to. Good gun, just needs alittle TLC on ur part, and indeed as one poster stated, u could be limping that gun. Easy test is to let another good shooter try it, If he has no issues, then you know it is shooter error. If he has issues, and you have the ramp well polished, then indeed give sig a call and see what they say... I know some hat eto break a gunin,but sometime sit is necessary with semi, ANY SEMI TO.

 

[TT]

MadMercS55: One of mine is a newer half german/half-U.S. made with removable front sight...

I recently saw a P232 with a separate front post- these are partially built in the US?

 

[usp9]

I didn't think any P232 was made in the U.S.

 

[TT]

I e-mailed SIG and received a reply saying that P232s are manufactured in Germany. If anyone has different information please feel free to share.

 

[MadMercS55]

I contacted SIG when I purchased mine and was informed, the frame is made in Germany with the slide being made in Exeter. My weapon is also marked similar. No German indicators on the slide at all, only the frame. Mine also lacks the proof marks of the older P232 models. My slide finish is also nitron compared to the older blued weapons. From information I've read at other forums, I believe SIG intends to make the P232 all U.S. made sometime in the future.

 

[usp9]

I own 2 P232's and my wife has one as well. One of mine is a newer half german/half-U.S. made with removable front sight.

MadMercS55,
Are you able to post a picture of your newer P232 with the removable front sight? Are the slide serrations also different than your other pistol? What is the date code of the new one? I'd be very interested in seeing that pistol...I'm a huge P232 fan. Thanks.