Sig Trailside - 3000 Round Review

[twinhairdryers]

I'm one of the lucky ones that bought one of the 4.5" barrel Sigarms Trailsides from CDNN for 299.00 about a year and half back. When I received it I expected a fixed rear blade and it is fully adjustable. I think it was a mistake on their part since these "target" models were more buck by 50 or so.

The first 2000 rounds were absolutely seemless. I have put 8 different rounds through it, from wally world bulk golden rifle rounds to match grade standard LR velocity rounds and everything in between including CCI, Wolf, Federal, Remington. After 2000 rounds, the slide lock stopped working after empty mag. I also had to replace the firing pin since I would get a 1 in 200 light strike count. This thing is still more accurate than any shooter I found behind it, great barrel, great action, nice sights with optics rail option. Awesome grip/feel for my tastes. Everything I would like to have in a not serious target 22LR.

My bitchin list:

mags are all plastic and i'm worried about long term reliability.

parts and service are very difficult to come by (hammerli discontinued this model, and sig passed it on to a few US shops only)

I can't even figure out the failed slide lock part or mechanism myself (happens with all 10 mags I have)

the field stripping requires a small screwdriver to remove a ****ty plastic cap up front. the only arm I own that requires a tool to strip.

other than these bad points, this thing is the best 22lr non-serious match target pistol you can buy for the money, and will last a long time. The accuracy for this price is unreal. I put an 8x scope on the rail for fun and could shoot 1/2 groups with crappy wally world ammo all day at 50 yards.

 

[CPshooter]

I've never even heard of it.. do you have any pics so I can take a look?

 

[PH/CIB]

I believe they are imported by Larry Carter of Larry's Guns in Maine. You might call him on the slide stop problem. I ordered two magazines for my Sig Trailside from him, good shop to do business with. Just type in Larry's Guns on Google.

 

[Technosavant]

Larry's Guns is the contact for warranty work and parts.

http://www.larrysguns.com/

They seem to have about anything needed.

 

[Frandy]

A photo

Here's mine, though mine has a fixed rear sight, the longer 6" barrel, and X-esse sport grips (plastic) that I bought from Larry's.

 

[Technosavant]

Frandy, that's nice looking. Are those grips rubber or plastic? I checked the site, but it seems they changed the look and they're having some issues.

 

[Shipwreck]

I was tempted to get one once. Always heard good things about them. Sorry U had issues with yours.

 

[America First]

This gun used to be the Hammerli Trailside. I am supposing that Sig acquired Hammerli and changed it to Sig Trailside. For marketing purposes, I would think that Hammerli is a preferable brand name to have associated with a target pistol. Sig is however more widely known.

Whatever the problems with the gun, I doubt that it can be worse than the Beretta Neos...Ugh.

 

[Frandy]

Sig no longer sells the Trailside. Hammerli had made them for Sig, but around the time Sig hit the market with their Mosquito, they dropped the Trailside from their line.

Oh, and those X-esse sport grips are plastic on my Trailside.

 

[9x19]

Here's my 4.5" adjustable sight model:



It has been good to me.

 

[B3nT]

Mine Trailside's been a wonder, too.

A buddy and I each purchased adjustable sight 4.5" Trailsides about two years ago, on the strength of this rave review:

http://hunting.about.com/od/guns/l/aasthammerli22a.htm

The review proved to be completely accurate. Both pistols have proven inhumanly accurate at all distances, and - with a caveat or two - extraordinarily reliable. A weakness is the trigger bar spring; we've each had that fail. Larry's Guns offers a choice of replacements -- stock, or a custom part with a lifetime warranty. Easy choice. Easy dealer with whom to do business, too!


The other minor caveat is ammo. It's important to avoid high velocity and hyper velocity rounds; the manual says so. My experience with RGB was fraut with misfires, FTL, FTF, etc (with similar behavior in my Colt Huntsman). Federal Automatch (Walmart, about $13-14 per 350 rounds, loose bulk pack) has been awesomely consistent and accurate; these for me average 300-500 rounds or more without mishap. My buddy had been doing pretty well with CCI green tag until he got an over-waxed box that caused jams and left visible wax peelings in the breech; no problems the Federal Automatch. (Lots of info on this and other rimfire ammo on rimfirecentral.com.)

I added a 3 MOA Millet Redot sight to mine (Sportsman's Warehouse, about $77) that has been completely solid and precise, and a real boon to my aging eyes that no longer see iron sights easily; the gun's accuracy leverages the small spot nicely. I have easily got 12000-15000 rounds through mine. Accuracy, and that incredible trigger, are as good as the day I bought it. Accuracy is SO good that I invariably rest the butt on the block provided at my local range, just so I can see those 1/2" groups and ragged holes. I am completely accustomed to having folks walk up to me and ask "What in the WORLD are you SHOOTING???" It's a blast, and I usually let 'em shoot a mag or two. They're invariably impressed: the bullets go where the dot shows.

Each of us has two factory plastic mags, completely reliable and durable. No complaints; they handle well and load very easily.

You're right about the plastic "weight" with the plastic screw on the forestock. It is really out of place on such a well-conceived piece. Larry offers a metal replacement, though. But the piece is removed easily, and at that point, disassembly is a dream, and the mechanism is clean, clear, and simple.

One other note: it's necessary to remove the sight-ring assembly to disassemble the gun completely; I do this only every 1000+ rounds, but eventually found some rimfire scope rings that have screws on only one side. This allows me to register the non-screw sides against the rail pretty reliably, and so only minor tweaking is needed to re-sight after disassembly.

Love your Trailsides: we all got a heck of a deal, including those who may have paid full retail. Too bad they're no longer easily available! Anyone who spots one would be well advised to snap it up.

B3nT

 

[bannockburn]

B3nT

My experiences with my Trailside pretty much sound like yours. I used a red dot sight for a while but eventually I went back to the iron sights because they proved to be much more accurate. Larry's Guns is a great place for all your Trailsides needs, they're very easy to deal with and their parts perform as advertised. I also agree with you about the plastic magazines; while they may look somewhat less than substantial, I've yet to have had a problem with any of them.

 

[B3nT]

Oh -- one other thing: in another forum (I think) a senior member advised Trailside owners that the metal magazines for the Smith & Wesson model 41 fit the Trailside. I have not verified this personally, beyond noting that the look similar; it could be true, or that some minor notching for the mag release would be needed. Has anyone tried this?

B3nT

 

[Claude Clay]

S&W 41 mags ( B3nT--might have been me) fit and function fine. even hold open after last round. inserting them....the last half inch offers some resistance sometimes, just push ( really isnt that much resistance) to seat it. enjoy.
i have a L&G 2moa red dot on mine and it shoots within 5 points of my model 41. amazing performance for the money. it likes DNoble and cci hv's.

 

[jmoln]

I picked up my 4.5" Trailside used a month ago and am enjoying it. My eyes also need assistance and I'm looking at various red-dots. Can they be mounted directly to the rail or are rings necessary? Anyone have any pictures of a mounted red-dot to share?

 

[Walkalong]

Love mine. I like it so much, if I run into a good deal on another, I will buy it.

 

[jmoln]

Beautiful picture - can you tell me more about the mount? Is that something you got from Larry's? Would it fit on the shorter barrel version? Some sights claim to fit 3/8" rails, so would they mount directly or is the adapter still necessary?

 

[RickH]

Mine stopped slide lock somewhere over the thousand round mark. Sorry for the hijack, but anyone know how to remedy this?