Sig Sauer C3

[Miracle]

Anybody have experience with this beauty? It's my new every day carry gun. I love it. Have yet to shoot it, but hopefully to the range tomorrow.

Anybody know any quirks with this one? I'm a little apprehensive about the external extractor personally.

 

[leadcounsel]

I would NOT carry anything without having tested it first unless unavoidable.

Case in point, a few guns that I've bought new or used malfunctioned. One that comes to mind was a CZ97 that completely siezed up and stopped working after 2 shots.

 

[jon86]

It's my new every day carry gun. I love it. Have yet to shoot it

 

[Miracle]

Maybe I said that wrong. I still have my broken in Metro Arms that will be carried until I can get this one to a range. I've got the ammo to go, just haven't had a chance.

I bought this one, however, to be my new carry gun.

 

[jon86]

(sigh of relief)

 

[righteoushoot]

^^^ What he said.

 

[Olympus]

I think you did good. The C3 is considered a CCO size 1911 (commander length barrel and slide on an officer frame). Sig 1911s seem to get overlooked, but they are one of the most underrated 1911s on the market. They are very high quality guns with fewer MIM parts that most other 1911s on the market. Slide design can make them difficult to find holsters for, so they get overlooked frequently. But they also make traditional models. I'm sure you'll enjoy it. Shouldn't be any "quirks".

 

[Miracle]

All my previous 1911 holsters fit fine...? The only quirk( not really a quirk, just something I'm not used to) is the whole series 80 FCS. took me forever to get it back together after detail stripping it. I wonder why these aren't as popular... they are beautiful guns, and I rather like the different slide design really.

 

[vail2073]

As mentioned above, you should really shoot that pistol before carrying it. I actually own a C3 and it has been a great shooter. I've carried it for CCW and as a range gun. As with most new Sigs, the first couple rounds are usually a little snappier than the rest. your setting the springs and all the moving parts. Luckily, my C3 has been completely reliable. However, I have had a couple 1911's which were not fully reliable from the beginning. Even the "big name" pistols can have their flaws. I had one Kimber that would not feed properly. Turned out to be the magazine. I had one Ed Brown which would not eject properly. Had to send that one back. Had one Nighthawk that would fail to fully seat in battery. Sent that one back to. So, basically, you should really shoot it before carrying. Also, highly recommend switching magazines to Wilson or Chip McCormicks.

As for holsters, if the holster is kydex and designed for a standard 1911 slide, this pistol will not fit properly and maybe not even at all. With leather holsters however, it should fit just fine.

 

[Miracle]

It fits my crossbreed and both of my Fobus C21 and a C21B just fine with no issues... I'm wearing it in the C21B right now... No fitment issues at all.

 

[Scuba_Steve]

I suspect you will be very pleased with this. The C3 was my first 1911 bought in November and I immediately fell in love with it. Enough so, that in the 2 months since then I have bought 5 more 1911's.

 

[righteoushoot]

I carry my C3 Plus w/CT in a Galco V-Hawk leather holster. Same one for the Colt style slides.

The gun carries and shoots great. Love mine.

 

[Miracle]

Finally got this thing to the range... had several of these... what would cause this?

 

[righteoushoot]

What mags did you use, and did this occur with different types or just one brand?

 

[Miracle]

5 Different mags, 2 of them being the OEM Sig mags, 2 being the Chip McCormick Power 10+ 10 rounders, and another Chip McCormick shooting star mag. It would only malfunction on the 2 10 round mags for some reason. It misfed (stovepiped, like in the photo) 2 times, and the slide would just BARELY lock back on the 2 10 round mags, 6 pr 7 times even with more rounds still in the magazine.

 

[Dr_B]

I got mine in August 2011. I have over 1000 rounds through it now, and its like a revolver in terms of reliability and very accurate. Three things I know about it other than it is generally awesome:

1. Occasionally rounds fail to go into battery, but that only occurs with some of my reloads if I don't crimp them enough. It will eat factory ammo all day long. And both Critical Defense and Remington Golden Saber hollow points feed reliably. I have put more than 200 rounds of ball ammo through it in a single range session and it worked fine when dirty.

2. It likes its own magazines. The two that came with it from Sig. Mine has never worked properly with Chip McCormick magazines.

3. Carries nicely in a Bianchi Pistol Pocket holster made for commander-sized 1911's.

Give it cartridges fed from the Sig magazines, and if you reload be sure to crimp the cases a little, and the C3 will work just fine. Slap some Sig butter on the rails too. It likes that. That's the goo in the little white tube that comes with each Sig pistol. Other lubes will do, but the butter seems to make it extra smooth.

 

[Dr_B]

and another Chip McCormick shooting star mag

Those mags will make the slide lock back on the C3 and cause feeding problems.

You have a keeper pistol. In spite of its preference for certain magazines, it is an outstanding concealed carry gun. And it is extremely easy to unload accurately and quickly into a target. Try some paper targets at about 6 feet.

 

[Miracle]

Thanks for the help Dr. B. Its just a little strange to me for a 1911 to not like the Chip magazines. How much are the mags straight from sig sauer?

 

[Dr_B]

Their price is something like $26.00 and I think they come with the metal base plate, rather than the plastic one shown in the photo on the Sig website.

 

[johnnydollar]

I used the 10 round McCormick mag in my Kimber Warrior for awhile. Nothing but trouble. I don't have the Sig, but I would stay away from that 10 rd mag.

 

[Lonestar49]

Good thing -

It's my new every day carry gun. I love it. Have yet to shoot it, but hopefully to the range tomorrow.

...

And then the_Miracle showed itself at the range..

Not your daily carry..


Ls

 

[CordovaNate]

I bought my C3 w/CT grips back in early Jan. from Bud's GS. 300 FMJ rnds thru the factory mags w/o failures of any kind. Ordered 3 more mags from Sig and found the J&J magazine pads online. I got 4 pads for around $11 shipped. Very happy with my C3, but trying not to get too excited, I haven't put any HP's thru it yet.

Oh yeah...Hello All! I suppose after almost 3 years it might be nice say something.

 

[Dr_B]

Update on what I said before regarding magazines:

I took a pair of pliers and slightly bent the lower metal tabs downward on my Chip McCormick magazines so that they apply less pressure to the slide stop lever on my C3. Now they work fine in the gun. The still lock the slide back on the last round, but no more lock backs on every shot.

 

[thefamcnaj]

You made a fine choice on the c3. I love mine and its been flawless. I havn't tried hollow points in it because its not a carry gun, and never will be. Its accurate as can be, and I love the trigger on it. The finish is also holding up well on it, which suprises me becase my lgs told me the nitron finish wears easily. So I've been keeping an eye on the lower and see no noticable blemishes.
I only have two small gripes with the c3.
1) At its price point it should of come with night sights
2) It will spit brass straight back from time to time, but it has never failed.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

It seems that your stoppages were with the non-factory magazines. With the proliferation of both 1911 and magazine designs, mags are not necessarily interchangeable between guns.

The finish is also holding up well on it, which suprises me becase my lgs told me the nitron finish wears easily.

The whole point of Nitron is that it is tougher.