Sig 226 weirdness

[Gtscotty]

I have somewhat recently jumped in to the world of 40 S&W. First I bought a USP 40, and liked that so much that I ordered a Sig sp2022 40. I liked the Sig sp2022 so much that I went ahead and ordered a Sig 226 in 40. After shooting the Sig 226 for the first time today, I really like it as well, but came away from the shooting range a little perplexed.

At the range today, I had some 165 gr WWB, so me 180 gr Federal HSTs, and some 180 gr Winchester bonded (LE overrun). My SP2022 and USP shot everything into pretty much the same point of impact... the p226 did not.

While shooting 165 gr WWB out of the Sig I was able to chew the center out of the target pretty reliably at 10 yds. When I switched to one of the 180 gr loads (either one actually) my group moved 2-2.5 inches to the left...

I'm having a hard time explaining why this occurred, I switched back and forth at the range, and every time the result was the same. I'm a little bummed, because the 180 gr SD loads shot so well in my other pistols, I was planning on using them as my carry ammo in all of my 40 S&Ws.

Does anyone have any insight into why this might be happening, or have you seen something similar?

I know a lot of guns have ammo preferences. I just would not have guessed that a slightly heavier bullet weight would make one gun significantly shift POI horizontally, especially at only 10 yds.

 

[mackg]

I once filed a 255gr mold down to about 200gr, and its bullets would hit some 2 or 3 inches to the right at 25 yards. A buddy told me the same happened to him with one of his new molds.
I assumed our molds weren't producing straight bullets (mine from my own doing), and these bullets would "drift"... never got the idea to try them in an other gun...

 

[PacemParabellum]

That is STRANGE my p226 is dead on accurate, it will hit anything you point at before your finger is straight. POI can be changed vertically with different bullets but side to side is normally shooter error. did you let anyone else try shooting it to rule out shooter error?

 

[Gtscotty]

That is STRANGE my p226 is dead on accurate, it will hit anything you point at before your finger is straight. POI can be changed vertically with different bullets but side to side is normally shooter error. did you let anyone else try shooting it to rule out shooter error?

Yeah, I know what you mean, that kind of horizontal change in impact is usually shooter error, and it may well be in this case. What gets me though is that the 165 gr WWB were dead center. If all loads were hitting to the left, I'd say definitely shooter error or sights need tuning, but the POI reliably changed with which bullet weight I was using. I even loaded up one mag with 4 165 gr rounds, and the next mag with 4 180 gr rounds and fired them back to back... same results.

The one big difference I noted between shooting my sp2022 (awesome value by the way), and the P226, is that the 2022 has the short trigger, while the 226 has the regular trigger. I could be slinging rounds left due to the longer trigger reach, but that still wouldn't explain the correlation with bullet weight...

Either way I think I'm going to throw a short trigger in the 226, I was cursed with large palms and a stumpy trigger finger.

Edit: I forgot to mention, no, I didn't have anyone else shoot it, I was at the range alone this time.

 

[Hunter2678]

Get both the srt assembly and the short reach trigger on that gun scotty ..you wont regret it.

 

[12guagecody]

shooter error may be occurring from flinch with the heavier loads with more recoil?

 

[Gtscotty]

shooter error may be occurring from flinch with the heavier loads with more recoil?

Certainly could be, from what I read though, lots of folks seem to think that the 180 gr loads tend to be softer shooting than the lighter grain weight loads... This probably doesn't hold true for 180 gr defensive loads and 165 gr cheapos. The recoil of the 180 gr rounds didn't really bother me in the sp2022 though...

I kind of think the trigger reach is a bit long for me, and I'm tending to get too little finger on the trigger. I just ordered the short trigger, and a standard set of grips to try, in case the E2 grips just aren't for me.

I also ordered this:
http://www.topgunsupply.com/sig-slide-catch-lever-x-five-p226-p228-p229.html

I'm used to shooting glocks, and with my high thumbs hold, the slide was occasionally not locking back on an empty mag. I knew it was my fault, and just figured I'd have to practice my way out of the problem... but if I can just buy my way out for $25... I'm for it!

 

[PacemParabellum]

you could always try randomizing your loads in one mag.. get a handful of different weight rounds and load them without taking notice of placement in the mag. then fire them that way you arent thinking about bullet weights, just firing your weapon. you may just be psyching yourself out. throw a couple dummy rounds in there as well to see if you are anticipating or jerking the trigger.

 

[Gtscotty]

That seems like a sound Idea, I'll have to give it a try next time I'm at the range. I think that I will probably have a chance to put the short trigger and modified slide release in the pistol by then... maybe a confluence of factors will make the problem go away.