Sig P250 9mm FTF Problems

[Sharkbait08]

OK, I've had my Sig P250 compact in 9mm for about 3 years, fired between 2,000 and 2,500 rounds. Until recently, this was a very reliable gun with no malfunctions what-so-ever in the first 1,500 rounds. It is still a "gen1" grip/mag combo.

Recently I have experienced a large number of FTF, mostly do to what I think are light primer strikes. Every time I pull the trigger, it's a 50/50 chance of the gun going "bang." This has occured wth every brand/type of 9mm I have tried, from Powerball carry loads to cheap 115gr plinker rounds from all manufacturers.

Someone suggested it could be gunk in the firing pin spring, so I cleaned it really well and took it to the range today. Still happening. At first it was a FTF on 3-4 rounds out of every 15 in the mag. By the end of the 200 round day, it was virtually every round. Granted, it's a DAO, so I just pulled the trigger again and again until it went "bang" but this used to be my carry gun. I can't rely on it if I don't know it's going to fire. :banghead:

I love the trigger on this gun, and the grip. I can't find a local gunsmith or shop that works on Sig's. Is my only option to send this gun back to sig? Does anyone have any experience sending guns back to Sig for warranty/repair work? If so, how long do you usually have to wait? Are they $$$ for repairs?

I hate for this gun to just sit in my safe and collect dust... :banghead:

 

[WinThePennant]

Send it back to Sig.

I've heard of people having their Gen 1 P250s REPLACED by Sig with a brand new gun after sending them in with light hammer strike problems.

I sent my P226 in for some work (night sights, and other refinements), and it was back in my hands in about two weeks.

 

[Sharkbait08]

Yeah, I'm calling Sig tomorrow once they open. I kept trying to figure it out on my own, but I'm past that now.

I hadn't heard of Sig replacing the entire pistol, I was under the impression the only differences between Gen 1 and 2 were the magazine floor plates and the grip assembly. Now I really need to call them tomorrow...

 

[Crosser]

Yeah, I'm calling Sig tomorrow once they open. I kept trying to figure it out on my own, but I'm past that now.

I hadn't heard of Sig replacing the entire pistol, I was under the impression the only differences between Gen 1 and 2 were the magazine floor plates and the grip assembly. Now I really need to call them tomorrow...

Any answers from sig?

 

[masterofchaos]

I have an early Sig P250 Compact and just replaced the floorboard of my mags and the grip...shoots fine. I haven't come close to 1,000 rounds, but am shooting more than before so i will keep you posted. When I called Sig this summer to update my Gen 1 to a Gen 2, I found the customer service helpful. I bought new parts and they sent them promptly. I can't complain. Well, maybe I'll complain...the CSR told me they updated the Gen 1 b/c it's rail was different from the other guns. But I suspect that was the PR speech.My gun has been great. Eats any ammo...does seem to choke on Blazer nickel cartridge. But I am pleased overall.

 

[Sharkbait08]

Well, called Sig. Customer Service guy tried to convince me it was the recoil spring. If it wasn't happening on the first round in the magazine, MAYBE I might believe that. After talking with him for about 5 minutes, he said it was my call, I could try a recoil spring, or send it back to them. I had to pay the $55 shipping charges (air both ways) but Sig will take care of the rest. I should have the gun back 2 weeks after I sent it out on Monday of this week.

While I was on the phone with him, I also ordered the mag plates and grip shell to update from Gen 1 to Gen 2. Mechanically there is NO difference between Gen 1 and Gen 2, it's just the magazine plate shape and the grip shell (including the rails).

I'll update once I get the gun back, hopefully late next week or early the following...

 

[Crosser]

Well, called Sig. Customer Service guy tried to convince me it was the recoil spring. If it wasn't happening on the first round in the magazine, MAYBE I might believe that. After talking with him for about 5 minutes, he said it was my call, I could try a recoil spring, or send it back to them. I had to pay the $55 shipping charges (air both ways) but Sig will take care of the rest. I should have the gun back 2 weeks after I sent it out on Monday of this week.

While I was on the phone with him, I also ordered the mag plates and grip shell to update from Gen 1 to Gen 2. Mechanically there is NO difference between Gen 1 and Gen 2, it's just the magazine plate shape and the grip shell (including the rails).

I'll update once I get the gun back, hopefully late next week or early the following...

The shipping charges of $55....did you pay $55 there and then $55 back?...I thought Sig paid both ways.....

 

[Sharkbait08]

$55 paid once covered there and back.

If it fixes the problems, I won't complain about SIG not paying it... Still waiting to hear back from SIG, prob won't be until early next week...

 

[Sulaco]

Wow, Glock paid shipping both ways on my return, over night there and back. And they replaced the gun, no questions asked (I had an ambi-mag release model 21SF that wouldn't eject full mags). Sell it and buy a Glock!

 

[WinThePennant]

While I was on the phone with him, I also ordered the mag plates and grip shell to update from Gen 1 to Gen 2. Mechanically there is NO difference between Gen 1 and Gen 2, it's just the magazine plate shape and the grip shell (including the rails).

I'm not so sure about that. Gen 1's had light strike problems. I know you don't have the gun in your hand now, but do you remember hearing a loud 'click' when your trigger resets? My understanding is that the Gen 1's don't have that sharp 'click' sound upon resetting.

 

[Sharkbait08]

It's back!

Well, I got an email yesterday saying FedEx would be delivering the gun today and I had to be present to sign for it. When you track via FedEx's website, it just says "On 21 Oct by NLT 4:30". Imagine my surprise when the doorbell rang at 0930!

Included in the box with my gun was a slip of paper and the top to a box of Blazer 9mm (I assume the test ammo). The paper had my original complaints, S/N#, RA #, and a section labeled "Gunsmith Comments."

In this section it reads:

"Inspected the pistol.
Upgraded the trigger group and mag.
Test fired with no malfunctions.

JH 10/17/11"

The gun has a new hammer (no wear marks) so I assume there were some significant part change outs. And the trigger feels "stiffer" but as I don't have a pull guage, I can't quantify that. It's still well with-in what I would expect on a P250 DAO, just a little more than mine was.

So I guess I was wrong and there was a difference in the trigger assembly. Prior to me sending it back the trigger did "click" on reset, but I don't think it was as loud as it is now. Seeing as I don't have the ability to get to a range right away, I can't fully diagonse the repair. But I did have 5 empty 9mm cases primed, so I tried those. 5 for 5, first pull of the trigger. Considering pre-repair I was getting 1-2 of 5 for first pull, I think they more than likely resolved my issue. I'll tryto get to the range this weekend for a full test...

As for the Glock comment, I've considered adding one to my collection. But every time I shoot one, I remember that Glocks do not feel "right" to me. The finger groves are just "off" and being left handed, I prefer the ambi-slide lock of the P250. That's the beauty of commerce, there's an option for everyone's personal preferance! And seeing as it only cost me $55 for the complete repair, I'm not complaining. Would it be nice to have been free? Yes, but that doesn't affect my opinion of my first experience with Sig Sauer Repairs.

Side note, the Gen 2 body has a more defined "thumb groove" on both sides of the grip. If you hold a Gen 1 grip shell then a Gen 2, you will feel a difference. Again, once I get to a range, I'll provide feedback on the new grip shell...

 

[WinThePennant]

Congrats!!! You basically got a new gun since it sounds like they performed all the upgrades to your fire control unit. The louder 'click' on the reset is the clue.

I'm sure it is completely fixed now. Now, you get to play around with all those fun caliber exchange kits.

 

[Sharkbait08]

Range Report

Ok, so I was able to get the range late this afternoon. Here's what happened:

Started with 50 rounds of 115gr FMJ Remminton Factory ammo. No malfunctions.

Next, 16 rounds of Cor-bon Power'ball (my carry load) 124gr JHP, no malfunctions.
Followed by 25 rounds of Federal Hydroshock 124gr JHP (old carry load), no malfunctions.

Here's where my supply of factory ammunition ended. I brought along some of my reloads. I wanted to stick with factory for a few hundred rounds before trying the reloads, but that was all I had on hand. I had tested the same bullets and powder charge previously in this same gun. I shot about 40 rounds of a 115gr FMJ with 4.1gr of Bullseye. No malfunctions. Next box (same load set up) I had 4 malfunctions in the next ten rounds. Two were light primer strikes that fired on the next attempt. The other two were Squibs, and both bullets lodged in the barrel at about the same distance. So I'm thinking that was MY fault, and I had not gotten a full powder charge in those two rounds. :banghead: After the second squib, I stopped all together. I only had more of that same batch with me, and I won't fire any more of those until I open a few and weigh all of them.

I'll pick up some more factory ammo and try again tomorrow (2-300 at least). If all goes well, I'll just chalk it up to a learning experience to be more careful loading my own rounds... At least no damage was done to the gun/barrel!

 

[WinThePennant]

I never shoot reloads. I've never understood the obsession with reloading.

 

[Sharkbait08]

Range Report #2

Ok, went back to the range Sunday morning with 150 rounds of Remmington UMC 115gr FMJ, 50 rds Winchester 124gr FMJ and 100rds of a completely different batch of my reloads (using 124gr JHP).

Once again, all 200 rds of factory ammo fired flawlessly. No light primer strikes, no malfunctions of any kind. Of the 100 reloads, I had 14 light primer strikes that fired on the second try. All of my reload primers were out of the same box of 1000 from Winchester. So I'm wondering if that might be part of my issue? I know before I sent the gun to Sig it was happening to factory ammo too, so at least that part of the issue is resolved...

As for the primers, that was the only box of small pistol primers I had. I'm going to pick up some more of a different brand at the gun show in a few weeks and try again. If it doesn't fix it, my reloads will just be for my Kel-Tec PF-9, which chews them up like it's nothing, and leave my P250 on a factory diet...

 

[ATLDave]

FWIW, that's fairly consistent with my Sig customer service experience. They won't tell you much over the phone, and will tell you less in writing when the firearm returns. But they will fix the problem (took two tries on mine to keep it from recurring), and they'll keep paying shipping. At the end of the day, they take care of their customers, although they're oddly tight-lipped while they do it.

 

[WinThePennant]

I don't think your P250 is light striking. I think your reloads have either faulty or really hard primers.

 

[Sharkbait08]

I would agree with you on that WinThePennant. I wish I had more small pistol primers to try, but all I have is the rest of that same box. I'll get some of a different brand at my next gun show and go from there... At least my Kel-Tec PF-9 will chew through the rest of what I have already loaded...

I also pulled a few bullets from that same batch with the squibs. It should have been 4.1 gr of powder per bullet. After pulling 3 bullets I had a total of about 2 gr. So it was definitly a malfunction in my Lee progressive press that I didn't catch. Lesson learned... always verify everything is functioning correctly, regardless of how many I've loaded in that batch.