SIG 220 how do they hold up with hard use?

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45automan

New member
Hi guys I want one of these guns,but do they hold up under hard use? I shoot anywhere from 200-300 rounds of .45acp a week. Will a SIG 220's frame crack? How does the finish hold up? I wipe all my guns down daily with a gun cloth. Also how is the recoil of the SIG 220? Is it a push like on my 1911 or is it snappy? The range I use doesn't have a 220 for rent and I can't shoot it before I buy it. This is the only thing stopping me from buying this gun.
Thanks,45automan
 
While large 45's aren't my cup of tea, I'm sure you've heard of Sig's great reputation. I doubt you'll ever have any trouble with it. If ANY gun can handle lots of rounds, I'm sure the Sig is it. Other "TANKS" that I can think of are Ruger P-90's, and Glock 21's and Beretta Cougar 8045's and CZ-97(?), and most all-steel S&W's.

Ben

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Almost Online IM: BenK911
ICQ # 53788523
"Gun Control Is Being Able To Hit Your Target"
Different, just like everyone else. (Ben Original)

[This message has been edited by Ben (edited October 08, 2000).]
 
I'm one of those people who will skim over hundreds of positive reviews and single out the few negative ones, and I've never heard of any sig having frame crack problems, nor of anyone having a problem with recoil in the heavy 220. my range ammo is Win 230 FMJ, and the kick is definitely more push-y than like the snap of, say, a .40. I trust my life with my P220.

OTOH, its K-Kote finish began showing holster wear after only about a month and a half. I knew that sigs have that problem, I've already rationalised it by remembering that it is a daily carry weapon, but still. if you don't plan on getting some kind of more durable (aftermarket?) finish, and if that kind of wear bothers you (perhaps it won't, not since you take good care of your weapons) you may want to look at, say, a USP .45.

of course, the best solution is just to get one anyway. heck, I'm looking at going ahead and buying my dream-list of guns now in anticipation of a Gore win.

[This message has been edited by traitorjack (edited October 08, 2000).]
 
Hello; Lot's of good cholice's in .45's; but
if I were in the market for a new one, it most definitely would be a Sig P220A!!! :)
I have owned one for many years now; shot
lot's of rounds (?) and she still looks
and functions perfectly. I've heard some
remarks regarding Sig's finish; but if
properly taken care of, you should not
have a problem!!! :p Recoil of these guns
is not bad at all; with accuracy being
superb, right out of the box!!! :)

I know a friend of mine who has carried a
P220 daily, for years as a member of the
F.B.I.'s fugitive task force; and while
the finish has worn, this weapon is still
capable of 2" groups. And he still qualifies
with it upon requirement.

Clean and lubricate your Sig's with "Break
Free CLP", and they should last a lifetime
with normal use.

Regards,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member
 
All guns break if you shoot em enough.

The Baltimore County PD had cracks in the slide/frame of over 50 of their SIGs (out of 1400). Not a real problem, the guns still worked, accuracy suffered a little bit. Switched to the sig pro IIRC. Other PDs have had the same happen. Have seen the occasional SIG frame/slide crack, broken locking block, etc.

It will not stand up like a 1911, CZ, Glock, Ruger, but it will take way more than most will shoot through it.

If you can afford to shoot enough to wear it out, you can afford to replace it, get a spare? :)

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I am not Anti-Sig, I have seen too many Officers at the local range complaining and or having their Sigs fixed.
Last week an officer couldn't qualify because his barrel wasn't seating properly and the gunsmith told him the chamber was weakening and It was too dangerous to shoot.
I really love the looks of the Sig and have fun renting them at the range..
They are incredible shooting guns...but cannot bring myself to buy one.....
I shoot the rental Sigs and trust my life with an HK...
Don't want to start any wars here, just posting what I have seen...

[This message has been edited by DAKODAKID (edited October 08, 2000).]
 
When I was qualifying people I had a number of officers using 220s,including my sidekick. They and the Glocks were extremely reliable--as in boringly reliable--guns. My partner put a LOT of rounds through his; the finish is worn as per normal but that's all. Took the SIG armorer's course about 10 yrs ago; I think it will hold up well. As someone said, if you can afford to fire off that much ammo a rebuild is no big deal. One of the gun rags did a 10,000 round test on one a few years ago and other than the barrel getting heavily fouled, no problems. If the frame cracks SIG will probably spring for a new one gratis.

The only thing I don't like about the 220 is that it is a bear to detail (not field) strip. For ridiculously severe service I would prefer a nice rattly old 1911 Colt that I can clean all the sand and mud out of if I have to.

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If ya mean the Shooting Times test, they broke a trigger pin along the way, replaced it and kept going to the 10K rounds.

I remember a Glock demo where they took 20 guns apart, mixed up the parts, put a gun together, and shot 10K rounds through it. The trigger spring broke along the way, they replaced it and kept going to the end.

The FBI fired 20K through six pistols, two Glock 22s broke trigger bars at 17,131 and 19,494 rounds.

I've seen plenty of US issue M1911A1s break slide stops, bushings, barrel links, firing pin stops, etc.

**** happens. To everybody. :)

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[This message has been edited by BrokenArrow (edited October 08, 2000).]
 
When I was shopping for a .45 I really wanted a SIG, but then I tried out an HK.
If interested, take a look at the HK USP (or tactical). It is +p rated and has multiple of variations you may like.
 
Buy the Sig.Yes there was a small run a few yrs ago that the frame cracked.Problem fixed and new guns for all the cracked ones.I shoot a old 220(front sight a la colt style)and have had 0 problems.It is a every day carry gun for me.The finish is getting worn but no faster then the colts I used to carry.The gun is very accurate out of the box and will shoo anything.For a test and brag rights I loaded 7 rds of 200 gr semi wads backwards.No powder or primers.The gun feed them with again 0 problems.Try that with other brands.

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Bob--- Age and deceit will overcome youth and speed.
I'm old and deceitful.
 
My Sig P-220 is an outstanding semiautomatic. I have had absolutely no problems with it. Sig's reliability, durability, and accuracy are every bit as good -- and perhaps better -- than my 1911A1 designs (a pre WWII Colt and a modern stainless Kimber) and about equal with my H&K USP .45 Tactical, which is saying something.

With proper treatment and maintenance, the P-220 will outlast any of us. FYI, I do not use +P, +P+ or Super loads in any of my handguns. The standard pressure .45 ACP is more than adequate for my purposes, and the Sig's aluminum alloy frame certainly does not need to be "fatigue tested" with unnecessary loads.
 
I think I can say I've feild tested my 220.

I've worn it daily for a few (8)years now. it has withstood sweat, sand, mud, automotive grease, coffee, soda pop, rain, foam from a fire extinguisher(dont ask), more sweat, road tar(dont ask), and I'm sure I'm forgetting something. I've used this gun in several advanced tactical courses and put over 3000 rounds through it in a one week course without cleaning it (won $20.00 from a glockhead) no prob! If I had to trust my life to any gun in the store I'd grab a Sig!
 
Broken Arrow, you are correct on the pin--I have the article around someplace. Still an impressive performance.

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We`ve had one report of a P220 with a cracked frame here at TFL about 2 years ago. It cracked because some gunsmith polished the parts and the gun went full auto (opps). To the credit of Sig, even though they were not at fault, they replaced the gun at no charge.

If you`re really worried about the P220, be sure to use the green color recoil spring in it. It`s for the plus P ammo.
 
My Sig 220A is about 10 year old and has had over 27,000 rounds through it now and it has had no problem. Only thing I had to change were recoil spring (every 3,000 rounds), magazine spring (every 3 years), firing pin spring (every 10,000 rounds) and main hammer spring (after 20,000 rounds). I usually shoot my handload of 200gr SWC lead at 850 fps and it is totally reliable and accurate. Also, the finish is still in good shape. Great pistol.
 
good gun but the finish really stinks. I've seen several police trade ins with rust spots on the slide and the feed ramp of the barrel.

If you want an anytime anywhere gun - go drastic plastic - go GLOCK!

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The Seattle SharpShooter - TFL/GT/UGW/PCT/KTOG
 
FWIW, my department used to issue 220's and 226's. (They issue Sig 40's now.) Everyone that I talked to said that they had never had one problem with their 220, but I watched numerous .45's puke and die during qualifications. Broken extractors, broken trigger bar springs, failures to feed, magazines wouldn't drop free, etc. These were not guns that were shot a lot either. We qualify 3 times a year, 100 rounds at a qual, and I know for a fact that most of these guys did not shoot any more than that. 300 rounds a year! I never saw a cracked slide or frame. But a broken extractor or trigger bar spring is far worse in a firefight. You can keep shooting with a cracked frame, but with a broken trigger bar spring you have to know the trick and even then you're still in a world of hurt. I never saw a 226 have any problems at all. IMO their reputation for reliability is for real. I know saying anything bad about a 220 is heresy but I'm just relating what I saw.
 
Or how about a broken firing pin? That is worse than a cracked frame at any particular critical moment. It renders the pistol inoperable. There are reports of all models of USP breaking firing pins, dryfiring with and without snapcaps and while firing live ammo. I have never, ever heard of a 220 doing that. The Sig will last, and if H&K would simply own up and do a recall to fix the problem with the USP, it would probably last forever.
 
All the firing pin probs with USPs I've heard about have all been 45 compacts. The 9/40/357 full/compact seem immune.

Have seen a 220 shoot 45 Super and not fall apart before our eyes. Waaay outta my league though.

Buy the 220, put $5-10 in the bank every month, by the time ya wear it out, you will have enough to buy another. :)

[This message has been edited by BrokenArrow (edited October 10, 2000).]
 
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