Frustrating Mosquito

7

7Cedars

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I purchased a Sig Sauer .22 LR Mosquito in the stainless over black configuration about 7 +/- years ago?. It does nothing but jam. I have had nothing but problems with the Sig feeding ammunition. The only ammo for some reason that doesn't have as many issues is Federal LR. When I purchased it the gun came with two separate main springs, I guess that should have been a clue. A little back ground:
  • I always keep the pistol squeaky clean with a LIGHT coating of oil
  • The pistol has had no more than 500 rounds through it
  • I have tried both mainsprings with the ammo that does not work with poor results.
  • I have seriously considered taking my acetelene torch to it!
I am sure that this has been discussed here before but every time I take it out I get really frustrated with it and threaten to sell it. I hate that I hate this pistol, I really want to love it. If some one can give me some insight into a possible fix , I would be indebted to you. My brother in law purchased a Walther .22 months before I purchased my Sig and I loved it. Apparently I should have bought one of those.
 
It's been years since I attempted to communicate with them, but when I did the official response went something like " Any issues with feed jams can be addressed by using the alternate spring". Not a direct quote but must say I was not impressed with the answer.
 
The following is off of the Sig Sauer FAQ, obviously they have issues. I have done all of the the things listed.

Please try these basic trouble shooting tips before requesting service: *Please make sure the recoil spring is installed correctly. The narrow end of the spring MUST be on the guide rod first...pointing towards the rear of the gun. If it is not, this will cause feeding, extraction and firing issues. *Like many .22 LR’s, Mosquito’s can be sensitive to ammunition used and to cleanliness and lubrication. Be sure your Mosquito is cleaned and lubricated regularly and before the first use. *There is a lubrication port on the right side of the slide for the extractor, be sure you add a drop of lube in this hole every hundred rounds or so. Make sure the gun is very clean. *Some Mosquito's benefit from a break-in period. *Be sure to use factory recommend ammunition - CCI Mini-Mags. Winchester Super-X, Remington Golden Bullet, Federal High Velocity etc...also usually work well.
 
It was a feed ramp issue or "lack of" back when they first came out.. that was longer than seven years ago though.. wasn't it?
 
I have one of the early ones that were supposed to be trouble. Guess Ive been lucky, mine seems to shoot anything I put in it, and has had quite a few thousands through it.

Mine came with the lighter spring installed, and other than trying the heavier one with Mini Mags or Stingers a couple of times, thats what I keep in the gun.

Most of what Ive shot out of it has been Winchester Super X, as thats what I have had the most of. I bought a number of cases of it back in the late 90's, and Im just now burning through the last case.

One thing Ive always noticed with pretty much every .22 auto Ive had, and regardless who made them, is they like to be kept clean, and some of them spotlessly. They tend to get grumpy when dirty. Ive always cleaned mine well after every outing, and have always had good results doing so.
 
Well, the mosquitos have been rather notorious for spotty reliability, but they usually run pretty well with the high velocity stuff. If you're having issues with all 22 ammo, I would definitely contact them again and get a return label.

I've never run the mosquito myself. I have the 22 conversion for the P226 and it has been quite good. Maybe one or two failures per 100 rounds using bulk ammo.

My M&P 22 has been oddly 100% and it has well over 1000 rounds through it now. I enjoy shooting the 226 with the 22 conversion more, but if I really want a reliable 22, I can always go with the M&P.

I imagine it's probably not on your radar, but Bruce Gray does mosquito work that is supposed to be excellent... but for the price, you could probably sell yours and buy another in hopes of it working better.

Really though, 22's are rather notorious for reliability issues, but the way you're making yours sound is that it won't run through any kind of ammo at all without a ton of failures. That's not acceptable and I would push Sig to take a look at it.
 
I keep all of the receipts for the firearms I buy so I'll have to check tonight when I get home to see when I bought it exactly. I hadn't heard about the ramp issues. I am also trying to figure out when they first came out, it wasn't long before I bought mine, at least that's what I remember.
 
Thanks for all the advice, I think I will look into contacting Sig again. I am incredibly meticulous and Anal with my firearms; if you ask my nephew its to a fault. So I'm sure its not a maintenance issue.

I hate to sell it, I have always loved Sig. Of all the firearms I have purchased or have inherited I have only ever sold one, and I regretted doing that.
 
Oddly enough (or perhaps not) the most reliable .22 semi auto pistol I have ever shot is a .22 that I inherited from my grandmother and I shot it A LOT as a teenager. I personally have put probably 4000 rounds through it in my life time. That pistol is a Colt Woodsman. Putting aside the sentimental attachment to it, that pistol is my favorite .22 of all time, it doesn't care one bit where the ammo came from, it just fires.... :)
 
I purchased a Sig Sauer .22 LR Mosquito in the stainless over black configuration about 7 +/- years ago?. It does nothing but jam. I have had nothing but problems with the Sig feeding ammunition.

I get really frustrated with it and threaten to sell it.

If some one can give me some insight into a possible fix
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Sell it off to someone whose eyes glaze over at the Sig name, and spend the money on a Ruger Mk I, II or III.

Life's to short to mess with guns that don't work. (Among many other things we don't have time to waste on).
 
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The wording of the instructions could be confusing, it seems to me. The recoil spring is crimped on one end (the back end) so it will be held on to the guide rod and not go flying when the slide is removed. That crimped end MUST be to the rear, and the other (front) MUST be open so it doesn't drag on the guide rod or interfere with the slide.

If that spring is in the wrong way, it could cause all the problems described.

Jim
 
Every Mosquito owner that I personally know has had trouble with their gun, mostly FTFs. After watching their frustration at our local "shoots" I know enough to stay away from the Mosquito. (As well as the fact that it is Zamak construction.)
 
SOME .22s have been known for spotty reliability. I have a Ruger MK II and a Beretta 70s that are totally reliable. The Ruger, if dirty, will have a FTF maybe once a year; the Beretta never with CCI standard or hi vel ammo.
 
One thing Ive always noticed with pretty much every .22 auto Ive had, and regardless who made them, is they like to be kept clean, and some of them spotlessly. They tend to get grumpy when dirty. Ive always cleaned mine well after every outing, and have always had good results doing so.
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I've found the Ruger Mks to be exceptions to that.
 
Dig a hole in your backyard and throw the mosquito into it and bury it like Sig should have done from the get go.

They are horrible guns. The guns that have gone threw more changes in shorter amount of time as the buying public was beta testing. The only one that comes close to its initial out of the box issues was the P238.

When Sig released the contract built Mosquito was a dark day for the Sig name. To this day it is maybe the worst pistol they every produced, or should I say paid someone else to produce.
 
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One of the first things I always do with a new pistol is get some rubbing compound and polish the feed ramp and inside of the chamber to a mirror finish. I have done the same with my Mosquito and it eats every kind of ammo I feed it flawlessly.
 
I've found the Ruger Mks to be exceptions to that.
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I had a couple of MKII's back in the 80's and 90's, and they got grumpy too when they got dirty.

They also put you through some changes until you figured out the knack on how to get them back together. :)

I dont think any .22 is immune, or at least thats been my expereince. Off all of them, my 10-22's seem to have been the best. My Beretta 21A's, the worst. My Charter Arms AR7 would give you three and four round bursts if you didnt blast out the trigger group every couple of bricks.

Its just the nature of the beast. The round is a dirty shooter, and less than 100% ignition, which is no fault of the guns, just adds to the aggravation.
 
My advice is to sell it and buy a quality .22LR pistol like the Ruger Mark-series or Browning Buck Mark.

Avoid the potmetal rimfires.
 
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