Sig 228 jam-o-matic - what's wrong with this gun?

[gbelleh]

I took my new (certified pre-owned) Sig 228 to the range today and had 8 failures in 100 rounds (Winchester white box value pack) with 2 different magazines.

The failures all seem to relate to ejection problems. Six were FTE with the empty case still in the chamber and the next round trying to load on top of the empty case. The other 2 were the slide closing on the empty case before completely ejecting.

The magazine springs seem pretty weak, other than that, I can't see anything obvious that seems wrong with the gun. The ammo seemed fine. Could it be an extractor problem? Any other suggestions?

These failures happened with both supplied magazines.
This is not the performance I expected from my first Sig.

The good news is my new HK P2000sk worked perfectly.

Thanks.

 

[wally]

Since the live round was trying to feed on top the empty instead of a pair of live rounds, and you didn't have nose dives into the feed ramp or nose up jams, I'd tend to think its not the mag springs.

I'd try a different brand of ammo (some guns just don't like some ammo and vice versa) and if the problems persists, remove the extractor, clean the channel, check the hook for damage, and perhaps replace the spring. Also make sure the chamber is clean and dry. Oil in the chamber can cause extraction failures -- think suction cup instead of lubrication.

Aslo make sure the ejector has not been damaged.

HTH,
--wally.

 

[Marko Kloos]

The classic P-series SIGs are usually extremely reliable. You may have a boogered or gunked up extractor. Have a gunsmith check it out.

 

[gc70]

Call Sig.

SIGARMS warrants that the enclosed Certified Pre-Owned firearm is free of defects in material, workmanship and mechanical function. For the period of one year, SIGARMS agrees to correct any defect in the firearm for the original purchaser by repair, adjustment or replacement, at SIGARMS' option, with the same or comparable quality components (or by replacing the firearm at SIGARMS' option); provided, however, that the firearm is returned unloaded and freight prepaid to SIGARMS at 18 Industrial Drive, Exeter, NH 03833.

 

[bluto]

Call Sig. Or just take it back to your dealer. He should be able to overnight it back to SIG free of charge. (SIG will mail him, or you, a prepaid UPS overnight label.) Sig had my P226 for less than a week and it came back perfect.

But before you do that - couple of things to mention: Did you field strip your P228 and give it a thorough cleaning before taking it to the range? Did you lubricate your P228 liberally with a quality lubricant like TW25b or even BreakFree before shooting it? How about your magazines? Sigs like to be clean and run "wet". One of theeee most common causes of malfunctions in SIGs is lack of proper lubrication.

 

[teombe]

My guess is that your extractor hook is sheared, or it has lost tension.

Sigs like to be clean and run "wet".

Agreed - a thorough cleaning and fairly heavy lube are manditory for a P-series. Your CPO has likely been refinished, so it needs lots of lube on the rails in the beginning.

However, they don't necessarily like to be "clean". I quite often go 4-5 range sessions (about 800-1000 rounds total) without cleaning one of my Sigs. The only time I've ever had a problem was with improper lube.

If you still have a problem, Sig will fix it... just don't call during peak hours.

 

[gudel]

The good news is my new HK P2000sk worked perfectly

heh... stating the expected.


If I were you, I'd send that P228 back to Sig. Someone apparently fell asleep during this "certification".

 

[Cousin Mike]

Sounds like it could be a problem with your extractor to me. It could be a lot of things though. I'd give Sig a chance to make it right before I thought about getting rid of it. Everyone (regardless of brand) let's a bad one get through once in a while.

 

[Autolycus]

I think you may have gotten the exception versus the rule.

Of course the HK worked right out of the box...

 

[gbelleh]

Yes, this gun was thoroughly cleaned and lubed before heading to the range. I'm a stickler for clean guns.

I'll definitely contact Sig and see how they handle it. Luckily this is just a range gun.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

The failures all seem to relate to ejection problems. Six were FTE with the empty case still in the chamber and the next round trying to load on top of the empty case. The other 2 were the slide closing on the empty case before completely ejecting.

This sounds like an extractor problem. The hook that protrudes from the slide into the breechface could be chipped, broken off or have crud built up under it. There may be crud built up inside the slide/breechblock preventing its proper movement (it bends slightly every time the slide cycles). Or it may have lost tension, since it is itself a spring.

 

[2ndAmendment]

That's funny - my friend has the same problem with the same ammo, except with his p228 a live round always seems to get jammed in the barrel. Maybe the Winchester brand just isn't good with Sigs? Maybe you should try firing a different brand of ammo? Just my 2¢.

 

[SnakeEater]

Or sell it and get a P2000 to go with your SK.

 

[Cousin Mike]

You'd be crazy to sell that gun before you've exhausted every other option. As I (and a couple other posters) said before, get your extractor checked out and THEN take it back to the range. As for the ammo, that's not the problem. I've put everything I can think of through both of my Sigs and have yet to see either of them fail in any way.

Sig's are no less reliable than H&K's, just like Glocks are no less reliable than Sigs. I could list a bunch of other brands that are just as reliable. All quality guns are reliable... And all quality gun makers let something get out the door that shouldn't have from time to time. Sig will make it right.

It's your money - don't let someone else talk you into doing something stupid with it.