Frustrating Mosquito

Except for the early versions with no feed ramps, most problems are caused by the operator. It never ceases to amaze me how some folk can screw things up—even the "experts".

We love our Mosquito. It has never missed a beat. Of course good ammo is important, as with any semi .22LR. Life is too short to shoot crappy ammo.
-SS-
 
These forums are not the final word, but they can be "yet another" bit of evidence or research. Someone who has owned ONE EXAMPLE of a particular gun, who has had very good service from that one single example, will typically, firmly believe that this particular model of gun is a very good product.

Likewise, a person who had ONE example of a gun and had a litany of trouble with it is often unlikely to EVER try another example of something that which has brought them a bad experience, and it would be difficult to ever convince them that this particular model of gun is generally good.

What we're left with is to see, hear and read all we can and come to our own conclusions.

It is not a stretch to say, regardless of which end of the spectrum your own opinion and/or experience sits on... the Sig Mosquito has not garnered the widespread reputation of being a great running, high quality, fantastic to own pistol.

If you've had it for this long a time and you can't find a happy groove, it seems senseless to me to keep the handgun. If I was in your spot, I would attempt to get the gun back to Sig for low or no out of pocket cost and let them try to make a working handgun out of it. If I couldn't accomplish that, I would sell it, at a loss if that's what it took.

Believe me, as much as anyone, I know the emotional attachment to a gun, particularly a handgun. I don't rid myself of one without long, deep thought. I understand what regret is like. But if the gun doesn't run, the options seem obvious to me.
 
I currently own nine rimfire handguns. Well, let's be honest, I have eight as one of them is a Jennings J-22. :p

Of all those, only one is a revolver and all the rest are semi-automatic. With God as my witness, these guns run and each of them is it's own different kind of fun and they have different levels of, well, "capability" for lack of a better term.

I had a Sig Mosquito for a short time. I don't anymore. It ran some of the time. It was butt ugly, there was very little I ever liked about it and I don't miss it in any way. But I believe (it sounds like) it ran a bit better than yours.
 
Overseeing pistol leagues and having the opportunity of shooting many Sig Mosquitoes, I have come to the conclusion that this pistol is the finest paperweight ever made. Keep it loaded and it will hold more paper down. This is not an unsafe practice because the chance of this weapon discharging without a malfunction is nonexistent.:p

Eric
 
I had a Mosquito a few years ago. It seemed like it was haunted. Somedays it would work fine and some days it jammed jammed jammed.

Here's what I did to correct the problem. Took it to a gunshow and sold it to someone with a junk handgun table.
 
I had a friend that had one and it drove him nuts. We took it to the range and he handed it to me to see if I could get it to work and it drove me nuts. I had a number of different rounds to try in it - same problem with all of the ammo that you are discussing. He asked me what he should do . . . I was honest. "Get rid of it and get something that works.".

Sig was no help to him and he called them a number of times. He finally got rid of it and ended up getting a Ruger SR22. He is much happier now!

It's no fun when you have a gun of any description or make that gives problems. I once had a High Standard Sport King that I inherited from my Dad. He never shot it. I never could get it to feed correctly in spite of three different reputable gunsmiths looking at it. It had no sentimental value to me (I have several rifles that were my Dad's that do have sentimental value). I ended up selling it and buying a Ruger MKIII Target. Even though 22 ammo is hard to come by, at least I know I have a handgun that will work and is fun to shoot. I still enjoy my 38s more but if the availability / price of 22 ammo ever gets better - I will start shooting the MK IIII again.

I know it's easy enough to say when it isn't yours - but I'd get rid of it and get something that you know will work. A SR22, a MKIII, a Browning Buckmark - there are better ones out there that Sig's "insect gun" that "bugs" you.

Good luck - hope it all works out for you. :)
 
Fishbed77
Funny. My Mark III will digest and cycle any ammo I run through it.
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As will our Mosquito. If you want to shoot wobbly, crap, golden-colored ammo that shoots shotgun patterns, go right ahead, be my guest.
-SS-
 
As will our Mosquito. If you want to shoot wobbly, crap, golden-colored ammo that shoots shotgun patterns, go right ahead, be my guest.
-SS
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If that's the case, then you are one of the fortunate ones.
 
If I were in your shoes, I would just sell the Mosquito and get another .22. There are many others with good reputation -- Ruger (MKxxx, SR22, 22/45) and Browning Buckmarks.
 
Well, the comments made here have made me smile a bit. I guess its a good thing I can still laugh about it. I have contacted Sig and are awaiting a response. I really appreciate everybody's thoughtful advice and if after Sig can't fix it, you'll find it for sale. I won't bother to ask if anybody is interested, lol :D
 
If that's the case, then you are one of the fortunate ones.
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Having answered a number of these threads since they showed up, and hearing some of the comments, I have to wonder sometimes if people actually read and follow the "suggested" directions the manufacturers usually provide before the shoot the gun.

I noticed before, quite a few people were using improper ammo, or improper ammo for a given spring, didnt follow suggested break in, etc., and then got mad when the gun wouldnt function properly.

I understand you probably think the gun should work with anything, but you just have to face it, there are some guns out there, that have specific handling and ammo requirements, and it would probably be a pretty good idea to follow the makers suggestions if you want a pleasant experience.

I also have an early Walther P22, that like my Mosquito, has been pretty much a flawless shooter since I got it. It too has quite the internet record of being a troublesome gun, but like the Mosquito, has some things suggested by the maker, to help your experience be a positive one. If you choose to ignore that, whos fault is that?

All I know with mine is, I (initially) followed the suggested break in of using hot ammo, and didnt really have any problems with either gun in doing so. Switching later to cheaper, more standard .22's to see if they would work, proved out that they would, and thats what I stuck with. Was I lucky in the draw? Maybe, maybe not, who knows. I do know the guns work, and are fun to shoot.
 
Well I would agree with you, but what happens when all manufacturer instructions were followed? I suppose it would be hard for a reader to actually know what was done from what was written in a forum. REALLY hard to say what wasn't done....just sayin. Sig says that there are not two different spring rates. And according to Sig, directly from their website the following recommendations should be followed:

http://www.sigsauer.com/CustomerService/Faq.aspx

Are there two different recoil springs for my Mosquito?
No, There is only one recoil spring offered for the Mosquito Pistol. Initial production of the pistol noted two different spring weights. Mosquito's are shipped with spare recoil spring as a replacement and is the same as the recoil spring installed in the pistol.

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.
 
Whether you follow manufacturer's instructions or not is irrelevant; If I (personally) see a number of a particular gun having the same problem, then it tells me to stay away from that particular gun.

There are many other similar guns that are proven generally reliable, and it only makes common sense to have one of those than something that may or may not work, and all the more so when "manufacturer's instructions" dictate the use of certain ammunition, or a particular type of lubrication or "break in" periods or what-have-you.

In the case of the Mosquito, what makes it even less attractive is the cost-cutting measure of making the gun out of Zamak.

"Mosquito" was probably an accurate moniker as a mosquito will irritate the heck out of you and, in the end, bite you.
 
Whether you follow manufacturer's instructions or not is irrelevant; If I (personally) see a number of a particular gun having the same problem, then it tells me to stay away from that particular gun.
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Whats to say you didnt personally see a number of people who didnt follow the suggested break in, ammo, spring, or any of the above, and were having issues due to it?

Lets face it, how many who own them, actually read the manuals before they took them out and shot them?

As much as we hate it, the makers usually suggest certain things for a reason, even if it is a cost cutting thing on their part, like "break in". Sorta like those 1911 (and a few other makes) that tell you you need to shoot a couple of hundred rounds to break the guns in on your dime. Ive had a couple of them, and they cost considerably more than my Mosquito, and they never worked right, even after following the instructions.

I guess Ive been lucky with my SIG and Walther. Ive had them a little over 10 years now, and they have worked as well as any of the other .22's Ive had (and Ive had at least one of most of the big makers), and in some cases, better. Right now, they are the only .22 pistols I have, and I usually shoot a brick or two out of them each year.

Ive heard the pot metal complaints ever since I got them, and havent found that to be an issue.

The only one I saw that did have an issue, was a Mosquito that had a suppressor improperly mounted early on and the slide was impacting the rear of the can (a no-no), causing it to crack. The barrel was improperly threaded by the owner (pre factory threaded barrel), and allowed the can to snug up to the slide.

Then again, I have a pic around here somewhere, of a SS Springfield 1911 where that slide cracked and separated in the same place, and it didnt have a suppressor mounted.

Would it be better if they were aluminium or carbon steel? Whos to say? I guess well never know at this point.
 
I too was an unhappy owner of a Sig Mosquito. I tried both springs. Of course the gun was clean. And I used CCI and hot rounds (round-nose, no less, not hollow points) to no success. I called Sig and got no help from customer service: they blamed the very ammo (CCI Minimags) that they suggested using.

I agree. Sell it.

Buy a Ruger or a Buckmark. I own a Ruger now and wish I had never traded up to a Sig Mosquito from my trusty Buckmark. Sadly, I thought my Mosquito would be more reliable.
 
I would call sig and have them take a look. .22 pistols are notoriously finicky but usually not that bad and they sig is one of the better ones.

If you are interested in a new .22 pistol similar to the mosquito (in looks), I just got a ruger sr22 and after the first ~500 or so rounds (federal bulk and mini-mags) I have not experienced a single jam, plus the fixed barrel is great for suppressors.

Winchester NRA branded wildcat ammo on the other hand would FTF every few shots. With .22's ammo is really the most important factor, and federal bulk 525 and all of CCI's stuff has never let me down.
 
I have a Walther P22. Wanna trade junk for junk?
Because of the lower power I guess it is tough for the manufacturers to get it right.
 
I'm going to start this reply on a high note, I love my "MOSQUITO". I've owned
it about 18 mo. and no problems with it. I've feed it a steady diet of CCI HV
ammo , mostly Mini Mags and Stingers. I clean and lube the gun after every outing. I have fired it about 2200 times and only recently tried other brands
of ammo. Remington golden .22lr HP have worked well. I will say, I've never tried any standard velocity ammo in it.
So far it's not lived up to much of it's poor reputation. I've read 100 of pages of disparaging reports and a few reports of good performance.
It seems I got a good one,and thats all good for me.

........................Jack
 
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