Used SIG P220 ?'s

[Higgins]

I have an opportunity to get a police trade-in SIG P220 .45 for $360.

Questions:

1. Is this a good price?

2. What to look for in evaluating a police trade-in P220? Anything peculiar to P220's to watch out for or be aware of?

Thanks for any responses.

 

[WhoKnowsWho]

Considering it was a police use firearm, it should be in completely working order with just some external wear.

Buy it and shoot the heck out of it! Any problems, send it back to Sig and they will make it right!

 

[Dienekes]

Sounds like a good price. I am a little rusty on these (took a SIG armorer's course circa 1990). But about the only thing I can think of going out on these (besides finish wear) would be the frame in extremis. I would field strip it, pull the grips, and really examine it for cracks, just in case. If it were me I would want an armorer to go through the whole gun and pay particular attention to the firing pin and its block which do batter a little. You might even want to contact SIG to see if they would do a thorough check-out. If the frame were suspect I am sure they would replace it (for a price, of course) However, the norm is that police guns are more carried than shot.

Bearing in mind that there is no such thing as a free lunch, it would be worth pursuing further.

 

[valnar]

This may or may not matter to you, but there were some (better) changes made to the P220 after 1994, per a FAQ I read online. If I were buying, I'd prefer one made between 1994 and 2002.

----------------------------------------------

The "New" P220: In 1994 at Serial Number G219166, SIGARMS made a few design changes to the P220, one of which has been already mentioned here: the addition of the hammer reset spring. Other changes made at that time included:

Removal of serations milled on the frontstrap
Thickening and strengthening the alluminum alloy frame to better withstand +P ammunition -- a change that required modification to aftermarket grips for the P220.
A somewhat stronger recoil spring (a 20-22 pound spring tinted green for easy differentiation from the older model.
Internal changes to permit a double-action only variant of the P220.


-Robert

 

[TCD]

why not after 2002?

 

[Highland Ranger]

New they are high $700ish in NJ so the price is right.

Quality weapon, accurate and reliable.

Write-ups and my personal experience indicate that at 10,000 rounds, its just breaking in so it should last you a long time.

 

[BryanP]

For that price I'd snap it up, even if it is pre-94. In that case just feed it standard .45ACP and stay away from the +P stuff.

 

[Ala Dan]

Excellent price! While the weapon may suffer some
cosmetic displeasure; it should function fine with it
being a police trade-in! And who knows, if you do
your best at "sweet-talking" SIGARMS may refinish
this weapon absolutely free? As I
have heard of strange things coming from the SIG
plant in Exeter, NH!

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

 

[Prof]

Ala Dan: I just purchased a Sig 220 from a friend who bought it new in 1993 and has only put around 500 rounds through it. It looks new and shoots really well. Given the comments above, and seeing as how I only shoot regular .45 ammo, is there anything that I should be concerned about since this is one of the pre-1994 Sigs? Thanks!

 

[Ala Dan]

Greeting's Prof -

Many thanks for your inquiry. One sure fire way to tell is
my looking at the recoil spring in your SIG P220. If its a
blue-green color (kind'a like a piece of fake gold that has
had a drop of muric acid applied), then its +P rated.

But even so, I have NEVER shot +P ammo in MY .45 cal
P220A! Today's loading's by all major manufactuer's are
hot enough for me; and fill MY needs. Let's look at the
standard pressure 185 grain JHP from Remington; NOT
their Golden Saber round, just the standard loading. I
tested this ammunition in my SIG P220, as well as a
full size H&K USP. I found this loading not only to be
very accurate*; but slightly on the warm side as well.

As far as thing's to look out for in way of problems?
SIG's like to be clean; you will find they run a whole
lot better! Also, some people say the blued finish is
kind'a weak; but I've carried a standard blued, .45
caliber P220 daily for over 15 years without any kind
of a problem. I clean and lube MY SIG's (and all other
weapons) with "Break Free CLP". Hope this helps to
answer your question? Many thanks for purchasing a
SIG; I hope you enjoy it immensely!

*FootNote: Sorry, but I don't have the exact data in
front of me right now!

 

[Prof]

Ala Dan: Thanks for the info! I'll check the spring. I usually carry Federal 230-gr. Hydra-Shoks in my 1911's and will in the Sig (I don't think that they are +P ammo). I rarely shoot them ($) but practice with some commercial reloads I buy which are very mild rounds. So, it sounds like the Sig should hold up fine. I also keep my guns very clean and use Breakfree so no problem there, either. One other question if I may: I have heard that Sigs need to be sent in after x-number of rounds to Sig to have certain roll-pins replaced. Can you shed any light on that for me? Thanks!

 

[Ala Dan]

Greeting's Again Prof-

I think the "roll pin's" that they are speaking of are
found mainly on the guns with the stamped sheet
metal slides, such as the P220, P225, P226, and the
P228. The pins are located near the rear-top portion
of the slide; close to the serrations. I've never had a
problem with them on any of my SIG's; but it might
pay too keep and eye on them from time to time.
If caught in time, they are easily put back in place
with the approiate size punch.

One other thing I thought of, some folks say that
the stock screws work loose often when shooting
the 230 grain ammo in the P220. Again. just keep
an eye on things and if they start backing out a
small drop of blue Loc-Tite will keep 'em in
place. Hope this helps clear up your concerns?

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

 

[JNewell]

IIRC (and I may not be), deformation of the roll pins holding the breech block in the stamped slide pistols is believed to be a factor contributing to the occasional frame failures you read about. I believe SIG eventually issued a recommendation to change these annually, but again I might be suffering from faulty memory.

With any used pistol, I would replace as many of the springs as I felt capable of. One spring especially worth replacing is the trigger return spring. The newer design is more robust than the older style.

Don't let any of this scare you. The P22x series is still top-drawer.

 

[Prof]

Thanks to both of you! I will keep an eye on the pins and screws and I will check out the springs. Feeling better about my purchase. I have always wanted a 220 as I have heard such good things about them. I may contact Sig about the breech block pins. Thanks again!

 

[rjcardinal]

I looked at a used police 220 a while back. The gun was a double action only. I was told that the law enforcement agency that it saw duty for required their guns to be double action only for safety reasons. I passed because of this. Might want to make sure that the one you are looking at is a normal da/sa.

Ron