Happy Thanksgiving Monty and L-2,
When I was in business of catching bad guys, I've carried on-duty at least four handguns manufactured by S&W, Sig, and H&K. My absolute favorite was my Sig P229 .40 S&W. I had and still have complete confidence in it. I have no clue of how many thousands of rounds I've fired through it with 100% reliability. The H&K USP .45 ACP and S&W 5904 were superb and flawless weapons. But my Sig P229 was my favorite. I had complete confidence in it. All three were/are more reliable than any revolver I've carried and owned/own.
At one time, possibly though the early 21st century, Sig was the definitive name in double-action semiautomatic law enforcement handguns. Of late, I've become aware of diminished quality control at Sig.
I have not read every post in this thread. I rarely read all posts in threads before offering an opinion. Who has that much time?
Having a Sig armorer examine Monty's gun is an option. However, were I Monty, I'd go with a POST certified armorer every time.
Every single problem I've had with a handgun (all were revolvers) save one I had repaired by POST certified armorers, all of whom were retired cops who had/have taken retirement gigs with my former agency. The lone exception was a Springfield Armory EMP 3. I knew it would probably have uncorrected problems before I bought it. If Springfield Armory had corrected design flaws common to the original version of the EMP 3l, CA DOJ would have considered it a new handgun. As a new handgun, it would have had to have been equipped with microstamping, a nonexistent technology. Hence, CA DOJ would not have allowed and will not allow a flawless version of the SA EMP 3 to have been sold/to be sold within CA. I was elated that Springfield Armory kept the EMP 3's original design for sale only in CA, flaws and all, because it allowed me to buy a copy. Springfield Armory's customer service is exemplary. I shipped my EMP 3 to Springfield Armory at its expense. Within two weeks, Springfield Armory's Custom Shop returned a flawless EMP 3 to me. It is a Custom Shop EMP 3. It has been 100% flawless thanks to Springfield Armory's Customer Service and artisans at Springfield Armory's Custom Shop. Every other Springfield Armory handgun I own has been flawless. I can't write that about S&W revolvers. I've had two that have suffered catastrophic failures and were repaired by my former agency's armorers.
My advice to cops is always go to their agency's POST certified armorers. Most armorers are retired cops. They know of the extreme importance of firearm reliability. They are ethically committed to officer survival. If a cop were to bring a junk gun to an agency's POST certified armorer, such an armorer would tell the cop to trash a junk gun that might used to save his life. POST armorers are not bound by manufacturer loyalty. They're bound by professional and ethical commitment to officer survival.
I'm honorably retired. I hold retirement credentials from my former agency. Hence, I'm viewed as an employee when it comes to retirement-carry handguns After I received my Springfield Armory custom Shop EMP 3, I asked one of my former agency's armorers to examine it for reliability. He is a retired cop. He disassembled it. examined every part of it, reassembled it, and told me that it was a perfect gun. I took it to my former agency's range and put about 150-200 rounds through it, range and duty ammo, without a single issue.
That's why I recommended a POST certified armorer examine Monty's gun.
I've read about too many defective guns that were returned to their factories and then returned to their owners with problems uncorrected along with manufacturers' claims that their guns met or exceeded manufacturers' standards, which were obviously inferior to PSOT armorer standards.
BTW, my former agency's armorers would not and will not approve for duty and off-duty use any handgun that did not/does not meet or exceed their agency's standards of reliability. POST armorers are only concerned with officer survival, not brand loyalty.
BTW, there were two armorers on duty at the time I brought my Custom Shop EMP 3 in for reliability inspection. Both agreed that the Springfield Armory TRP .45 was among the best (the best) on-duty law enforcement handguns. They said that simplicity of 1911-A1 design combined with Springfield Armory's unrivaled quality control created a perfect handgun. Based up their professional opinion, I bought a Springfield Armory TRP .45 ACP. They were 100% right. That gun is flawless. It has become my primary carry handgun when I'm fishing the Eastern Sierra and Rockies. The Springfield Armory TRP is the factory production version of its famed Custom Shop FBI gun. Springfield Armory's FBI gun bested all entries, including Wilson Combat, in that agency's vigorous firearms test. It was selected as the official handgun for specialized FBI units and many LE SWAT teams. In essence, one could pay twice as much for another brand, but he would not be buying a better gun than Springfield Armory's FBI gun. In fact, he might be paying twice as much for an inferior gun.
Monty, the above is a lengthy explication of diplomatically opining that it might be wise to sell your problem Sig and replace it with an EMP 3. Especially off-duty, without body armorer and no back-up, a completely reliable handgun is absolutely essential. I've long ago retired what was once the quintessential off-duty cop gun, an S&W Model 60, after reluctantly accepting the fact that it was a poor choice for saving my life. I'd sell it, but its sentimental value prevents me from parting with it.
BTW, Monty, besides its complete reliability, my EMP 3 is phenomenally accurate.
Monty, my primary concern is that you always return home to your family.
Stay safe my brother,
SATRP
