Sig P232 Keeps Jaming

[Enialius]

I recently purchased a used (like new) Sig P232 at a local gun store for my wife (self defense gun). She is absolutely in love with it except it has a failure rate of about 10%. The failure is usually failure to feed or the slide will lock back as if there were an empty magazine. I am aware that with a blow back slide, you need to have to have a firm grip (I am a 6' 2" large frame male, strong grip is not a problem). I am using PMC bronze ammo (If a gun cant reliably fire the cheap stuff, I don't want it). I have completely stripped and cleaned every part of the gun down to the frame as well as tried running it with lots of lube as well as with no lube and everything in between. I also have 2 magazines and both have an equal failure rate. My wife really likes this gun so I don't want to sell it if I don't have to. Any insight you can offer would be much appreciated.


Side note: Spoke to Sig on the phone and they want enough money to take a look at it and try to fix it that I could just trade it in for one that works well the first time.

 

[rcmodel]

The failure is usually failure to feed or the slide will lock back as if there were an empty magazine.

Hard for me to imagine a SIG P232 Not working.
Mine has been flawless since day 1.

A. Is the slide held back by the top round in the magazine stopping it?
That could be somebody before you chopped a few coils off the recoil spring so they had enough grip strength to load it.

Mine has a pretty stiff recoil spring and was hard to hand cycle unless you cocked it first when it was new.

B. Check and make sure the slide stop still has the U-spring in place holding it down until an empty mag pushes it up.
Part #43 here:
http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=0/sid=835/schematicsdetail/P232

C. Maybe try another brand of ammo before you give up on it too.

D. Do oil the slide rails and cocking surface on the bottom of the slide.
It isn't designed to run dry with no lube.

E. Other then that, I can't think of a whole lot that could hold the slide back mid-cycle, unless there is obvious wear or galling on the slide rails or something.

rc

 

[Enialius]

I have been looking at replacing that spring that you mentioned. There is something about it that doesn't look quite right (slightly bent inward on the tip) but I could never really see it causing a problem. I will replace this piece and see how it works.

 

[rcmodel]

Count the coils on your recoil spring.

It should have 16 coils, counting the closed ends on both ends.
If somebody cut it off, it won't have.

One end is wound tighter then the other end.

The tight end goes over the barrel.

The looser end goes in the slide first.

rc

 

[Enialius]

Here are a couple of pics I took with my iPhone of a jam. Sorry for the poor quality

 

[Enialius]

The slide spring has the correct number of coils and is on facing the correct direction.

 

[rcmodel]

Well I don't know what it is then.

Are you holding the slide back in the photo away from the round in the mag?
Or is it stuck there?

If it's stuck there?
There has to be some obvous wear or galling on the bottom of the slide where the hammer rubs to cock it.
Or the frame rails themselves.
Or the trigger bar disconnector notch on the right rear bottom slide rail.

rc

 

[Enialius]

that is where it stuck

 

[the_skunk]

The failure is usually failure to feed or the slide will lock back as if there were an empty magazine.

It has a inside slide lock, so check the spring and lever. If it's double feeding, then try a hotter ammo.


Try Finochhi 95 gr ball nose .... it's $14 a box

 

[rcmodel]

If the photo is any indication, this has nothing to do with the ammo.

There is a mechanical defect of some sort holding the slide all the way open.

rc

 

[Enialius]

here is an immage of the slide lock spring. notice the bend at the tip. Is this supposed to be there? I can not find a picture for comparison

 

[rcmodel]

Yes, did you look at the parts drawing I posted in post #2?

Is it holding the slide stop DOWN except when the empty mag follower pushes it UP??

Nevermind, heres a photo:


rc

 

[Enialius]

That is exactly the way mine looks with the exception that the lock lever always wants to twist counterclockwise so that the small end goes into the mag well (caused by the bent tip of the spring) Is this normal? Not sure how it could cause a problem because the slide covers it and holds it in place. I saw your post #2 but the pic they give is not descriptive enough to tell. Thank you all for your help! here is a pic of what I have.



I will continue to search for a fix. I just hope I dont have to send it back to SIG

 

[rcmodel]

I don't think that is your problem unless it is binding and holding up the slide stop under recoil.

Next time it sticks to the rear, look inside the ejection port and see if the slide stop is UP and holding the slide open.

Also look at my photo, and your photo.
Notice mine sets above the silver pin head, and lays flat on top of the frame.
Yours is setting below the silver pin head, and isn't setting flush on top of the frame.

Maybe it is just popped out of place in the photo?

rc

 

[BBBBill]

That part is available from brownells for $3.99 if you want to try that for a fix. Probably elsewhere, too.

http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=0/sid=835/schematicsdetail/P232

scroll down to part #43

732-000-345WB
Slide Catch Lever Spring, Blue, SS, Two Tone
Factory Part Number(s): 34231410

 

[Edarnold]

Not trying to be a wise-guy about your problem, but now you know why that like-new gun was sitting in the dealer's case. Assuming the previous owner had the SIG new, they were just too lazy and irresponsible to send the gun and get it fixed. Instead they dumped the gun on the market to be : "somebody else's problem". That kind of thinking creates a problem of distrust for anyone considering purchasing a used gun. What goes around, comes around.
IMHO

 

[Enialius]

I actually still have the untouched warranty card. The original owner never filled it out and sent it in. Do you think if i sent it in with my information that Sig would honor the warranty. I was not really thinking much of this option because it is a bit dishonest but if it came this way from the factory, Sig should be responsible for fixing it. I really learned my lesson from this. I had never got a used gun before (I like to collect not trade) and because of this, I am not likely to buy any more used guns in the near future.