Sig 228 Questions

[Crapulence]

Sig 228 Refinishing & more

I just picked up an older Sig 228. It seems that it lived a quiet life in a holster of some sort that rubbed the nitron finish off one of the front corners of the slide. The only wear through on the frame is a small patch on the inside of the slide groove. It is my semi ignorant guess that this gun wasn't fired much or the slide would have wore more of this area away. My questions about this gun are;

1. Should I mess with trying to refinish the slide?- It shows no signs of rust where the finish is worn through (I'll post a picture at the end of this rant). I don't think it is likely to be able to mimic the factory finish so I'd end up with a two tone gun. My gut feeling is to wait and see if oxidation is going to be an issue but I am looking for input from the expert masses found here.

2. It has what I think is the old style trigger bar spring. Long ago when I was looking to buy a new 228 I ran across a short article on the history of this spring and how it tended to fail or rub the finish off the frame. The finish is currently fine under the grips but I would like to order a spare to have on hand. Am I right in recalling that there was a redesigned spring and if so does it require new grips?

3. It currently has trijicon night sights they seems very dim when compared to the meprolight sights on my Glock 31 and CZ-75. Off hand I don't know the half life of the Tritium but figure it shouldn't be too short or it would start causing 3 headed babies. Do these sights usually crap out after about a dozen years ( my guess at the half life) are the older trijicon sights just dim to begin with? I found that I didn't like these sights as much as my others, but it could have just been me fixating on the unimpressive glow up front. Are there any recommendations for replacement sights that will work better with my again eyes yet be nice and durable?

Thank you all for any help given. Although I rarely post here I visit every day to help improve my edumacation.

Oh yea almost forgot, here is a picture of the dreaded worn spot, At this point I still hadn't given it a thorough cleaning the rest of the finish looks splotchy but it cleaned up fine;

EDIT:Well it seems my picture has become a bit shy and isn't showing anymore. I'll try and get that fixed.

 

[gunney 67]

sig 228

can't help with the spring, but the tritium sights do have a half-life of 10-12 yrs. Tritium is a radioactive isotope of hydrogen gas. It is safe as used in sights. They are dimming in yours as a result of age. I have a newer Sig 220 with nite sites that are brighter than my Kimber's are, due to age. I would just leave the honest finish wear alone. I don't think you will ever be happy with anything short of refinishing the slide. It very easily could end up looking way worse, if your luck is like mine. PS. if you opt to replace the sights, consider replacing only the front site. It will be brighter and help differentiate it from the rear site in a fight. You will focus on it as you should.

 

[Crapulence]

I may have to take a look at some other Trijicon sights that are already mounted. I seemed to have a harder time finding the point of impact with these sights. I am not sure if it was due to the dim range lighing, me being used to meprolight sights or me just having sucky aim. It seemed that the front site has a lot more "slop" when viewed through the rear sight. I really need night sights on this gun, my G31 sits at hand near my bed to keep the ruffians at bay, but I would like to have a milder gun on hand for my wife to shoot said ruffians while I cower in the closet. She is dead on accurate with the 357 sig round but the recoil with a light frame is a bit harsh for her to consider it a fun range gun. I was hoping to get her attuned to the 228 and let her have that on hand. Maybe I should take her sight shopping for her birthday.

 

[Nnobby45]

2. It has what I think is the old style trigger bar spring. Long ago when I was looking to buy a new 228 I ran across a short article on the history of this spring and how it tended to fail or rub the finish off the frame. The finish is currently fine under the grips but I would like to order a spare to have on hand. Am I right in recalling that there was a redesigned spring and if so does it require new grips?

Yes, they redesigned a spring that has a coil in it. Because the coil is wider than the flat "C" type spring, it will likely rub against the grip panel, and jam up the trigger bar---it won't move. If a fellow didn't test his gun when it went back together, he might not know his gun has been deactivated.

It's possible to modify the grip panel with a dremmel by hogging it out, but it would be easier to call Sig and have them send you a set for the P229 (same frame) (which went to the coil spring). Newer P229's all have a panel that will accommodate the coil spring, and they are also re-designed for the newer short hammer strut with plastic insert. The P228 has the older long hammer strut.

If I recall, the new (P229) grip panel will work for the newer coil spring AND the old hammer strut, so I think you'll be all right. Check with the cust. svc. rep. when ordering.

The "C" springs are not as durable as the coil springs inspite of the fact that SIG denies it. I've broken a couple of flat "C" springs. Admittedly, one was after tweaking it. One broke after time.

You should order several TB springs, an extra recoil spring or two, and some grip screws. Also, the guide rod will get battered over time, so order an extra couple of those. Those items, to keep your gun running, aren't that expensive.

Oh, and as far as rubbing off the finish, just consider it another working part that produces friction like all the other parts that get shiny when they rub against things as designed.