Sig 238 failure to return to battery. New recoil spring?

[harmon rabb]

I traded a gun for a Sig 238, which I promptly took to the range. I have fired a colleague's 238, but that was just a few mags, so this was the first time I got to spend some quality range time with one.

Before I get to the good, here's the bad -- two times, the gun failed to return to battery. A slight tap did it every time. I see that Wolf offers 12lb recoil springs (stock is 11lb). Am I crazy in thinking that might very well fix the issue? If that alone doesn't work, then I guess I need to adjust the extractor, no?

Well, beyond that, let me say that after spending some quality time with the 238, it completely changes my notions of what a pocket gun is and can do. I have a LCP, which I consider to be pretty much a 10ft and under weapon due to the crappy trigger. Therefore, I never feel properly armed when carrying it.

The 238... it has real sights. It has a decent trigger and I can shoot well with it (I know, some guys can shoot the LCP's well. I can't.). It's comfortable to fire, so I can actually practice with it. It really changes my notions of what a pocket gun can do. I wouldn't feel so underarmed carrying it, because I can actually shoot with it.

Just need to fix the failure to return to battery issue first. I fired 200 rounds through it, with no other failures, thankfully.

Anyone have experience swapping the recoil spring to fix this issue?

 

[LightningMan]

First a question, are you using factory ammo or reloads? If its reloads, I'd be looking at the quality of them. If its factory ammo, I'd say check the recoil spring for breakage or having a collapsed spring. If nothing is wrong with the spring, then I'd try getting the 12 lb one from Wolff. Or give SIG a call & get a replacement spring. LM

 

[harmon rabb]

Factory ammo, not reloads. I think I was using PMC.

 

[M1key]

Is the gun new? May be underpowered ammo. A lot of cheaper factory ball is.... Try some hotter stuff, like Fiocchi.

Also could be the recoil spring, if the gun is used. May be why the owner sold it.

Read this: http://www.glocktalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1212589


M

 

[sidheshooter]

No expert here. That said, springs are cheap: get a new spring and some of M1key's Fiocchi. My 238 just eats that stuff up.

 

[Jed Carter]

Many P238 owners have had or expressed problems with the recoil spring. One thing to check before buying a new one or sending it to SIG, is that the recoil spring is oriented correctly. The spring has a taper on one end and a flat cut on the other. The taper needs to be on the guide rod toward the breach, not seated in the muzzle end of the slide. The spring if misinstalled can thread itself past the guide rod and interfere with cycling of the slide. There is nothing in the owners manual about recoil spring orientation. If the pistol is new then call SIG their CS is the best. I recently sent in a SIG RCS 1911 that had issues, it took only 9 days, and the repaired pistol was back in my hands.