January 16, 2012, 04:11 PM | #1 |
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Sig 220
Stopped by gun shop to browse and found a used Sig P220. Made an offer and ir was accepted. So I know it has a lot of wear but really I'm just hoping for a good functioning and hopefully reliable gun. The store does stand behind each sale and will fix if any problem. Will post pics later.
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January 16, 2012, 04:18 PM | #2 |
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I found my 1989 W German P220 the same way... still got a lot of mileage left on it.
Did you steal it? |
January 16, 2012, 05:24 PM | #3 |
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Hopefully it will work just fine, but just in case be aware that SIG has a pretty good service plan for used pistols.
http://www.sigsauer.com/CustomShop/SSP.aspx
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January 16, 2012, 05:31 PM | #4 |
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Don't know if it was a steal. Don't know what year either. Got it for $500. Is there a way to find out manufacture date?
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January 16, 2012, 06:19 PM | #5 |
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Not date of manufacture, but year of proof, which is usually close enough for government work. If the gun is German manufactured, which yours probably is, there will be three proof marks on the bottom front of the slide. The two letter date code is the bottom proof mark of the three and is the year of proof. It is two letters "XY" where X and Y are letters between A to K, and A=0, B=1, C=2,..., H=7, no "I", J=8, and K=9; for example, a date code of "JD" translates to "83" which means the gun was prooofed in 1983 and is probably the year of manufacture since German guns are usually, but not always, proofed within a month or so of manufacturing.
If the grips are original, then you possibly can get another estimate for date of manufacture because a lot of times there is a circle of numbers 1-12, like a clock, on the inside of the grips with an arrow pointing to the month the grips were made, and the two digit year on either side of the arrow. Or you can go here: http://sigforum.com/eve/forums/a/tpc...5/m/7320040262 where there is a better explanation along with a list of serial numbers so you can get an idea of contemporary pistols in the range of your gun. |
January 16, 2012, 06:31 PM | #6 |
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what he said
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January 16, 2012, 09:09 PM | #7 |
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No proofmarks
There are no proofmarks on the lower portion of the slide. The grips have the date 11/03 and the serial number on the frame is G356 xxx. It would seem from the link that this was made 2004.
I cleaned and lubed it lightly. Will not be able to shoot until next Friday. I'm hoping it's good to go. Here's a few pics. |
January 16, 2012, 09:17 PM | #8 |
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I love my 220/45acp. It is the Hammer of Thor!! I predict a new favorite for you!
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January 16, 2012, 09:39 PM | #9 |
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congratulations on your P220. i've got a few variants of the w german P220. over time... the P220 has become my favorite Sig.
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January 16, 2012, 10:00 PM | #10 |
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Thanks BarryLee for the link. I hope I will not have to use it but if I ever do...
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January 17, 2012, 12:55 PM | #11 |
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looks fine
My issue/duty P220, which I have walked beside for near 15 yrs now, "looks" a lot worse than that, and runs fine.
Looks like you have one factory mag, and one aftermarket, I think. I would immediately be suspect of the non factory mag. Pay attention to the recoil spring. During reassembly "tight is right". One end of the spring has a smaller mouth, than the other, and the tight end goes over the recoil spring first. I have seen this effect function. Also, my recoil spring compacted over thousands or rounds and lost about 1/4" of length. I should have changed it much sooner, but it still ran fine. If it does not run quite right with the factory mag do not despair. I Sig rep told me that most pistols (like 90%) returned for failure to function, were resolved by a detail strip/clean/lube by a trained armorer. Mine and all I have worked with on the line and on the job, have been very accurate and reliable. |
January 17, 2012, 02:54 PM | #12 |
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@bamaranger - both mags are Sig - one is a 7 rd and the other an 8-rd bought new from LGS. I did notice the recoil spring opening during reassembly. Gotta remember that one. I need to download the owner's manual and read up more on it.
BTW, I noticed that the extractor on the new ones are different. Thanks for the info. |
January 17, 2012, 04:09 PM | #13 | |
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Quote:
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January 18, 2012, 12:00 AM | #14 |
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The internal extractors on the older SIGs with the folded carbon slides are fine. There were some internal extractors when SIG went to the milled stainless slides that had problems. I believe they were with P220 Compact models, but I could be wrong. That may have been one reason SIG went to external extractors on all subsequent stainless steel slides and have not had any problems, as far as I know.
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January 18, 2012, 05:53 AM | #15 |
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My 1996 220 didn't have 'proof' marks either, just a S/N.
Word of note, go ahead and get a pack of the trigger return springs. Mine snapped, rendering it INOP. They're a very cheap, easy to replace part. |
January 18, 2012, 06:44 AM | #16 |
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thanks Chris in va. I was looking at some extra parts last night, mostly springs and such. Where do you get yours from? Midway was mostly out of stock.
About the proofmark, anybody know if not having one signify a change in the manufacturing process of the P220? Maybe they switched location or stopped it at a certain year? |
January 18, 2012, 07:54 AM | #17 |
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SIG 220
My favorite Sig is the 220. I feel they are the BEST Sig's ever produced. Contrary to most, I also much prefer the folded metal slide on the old ones than the machined slide. You will find yours a great pistol I suspect.
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January 18, 2012, 09:04 AM | #18 |
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I have been dry firing (with snap caps) everyday, waiting for Friday to come along. I just love the way it feels in my hand.
Has anyone ever had Sig service theirs? What was the turn around time? |
January 18, 2012, 09:07 AM | #19 |
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Nice P220. Looks like a police turn in. They look worse than they function. Most were carried often but fired little. You should be fine. However, the Sig Service plan is the best bang for the buck, and if you can afford it, I recommend it. That said, I also had a similar vintage P220 once, it also did not have any proof marks on it. As mine, yours was probalbly assembled in the US with German parts, thus negating the need for German proof marks. They are wonderful pistols and it will service you well. Welcome to the Sig fold .
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January 18, 2012, 12:06 PM | #20 | |
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Quote:
Some time ago, I believe it was the late '90s ('98 or '99?), P220s started to be assembled in Exeter, NH from frames and barrels, and maybe slides, made in Germany. The assembly site change may have actually occurred when SIG switched to the milled stainless steel slide, which was made in the U.S. by the way, for the P220. P229s, which were introduced with the stainless slide in the early '90s ('93 or '94?), were already assembled in the U.S. and never had German proof marks - unless you are lucky enough to get a hold of one assembled in Germany that was brought into the U.S. not through normal channels, i.e., SIGarms, or one of the recently imported run of German P229s. Also, if you want to DIY spring kits are available from Top Gun Supply. http://www.topgunsupply.com/sig_p220-45_parts-kit.html |
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January 18, 2012, 01:15 PM | #21 |
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thank you wgsigs. I'll check out topgunsupply.
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January 18, 2012, 02:27 PM | #22 | |
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Quote:
It was late 94 or early 95. My 220 was assembled, in the states, in 95 and the serial number is 257,XXX. |
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January 21, 2012, 08:30 PM | #23 |
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Range Time
I was able to get to the range today. WWB factory ammo, Fiochi 200 gr and 230 gr XTPs, my reloads Hornady 230 gr FMJ RN and FMJ FN, 230 gr and 185 gr XTP, 100+ rounds, zero malfunction.
Funny thing though, I had better groups and accuracy when shooting DA. In SA, I was hitting low and left. There was quite a bit of slack in SA. Is this adjustable or is there a fix? Already looking for the next range time. |
January 21, 2012, 08:36 PM | #24 |
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I found that I used to shoot my P220 better in DA, too. A friend bought it a while back, but it was my favorite for ten or eleven years.
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January 21, 2012, 08:47 PM | #25 |
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In DA, there is pressure all the way through until it breaks and its a very smooth and even pull. In SA, there is the slack then you feel the pressure and then it breaks. I just wonder if the slack throws off my trigger pull.
It may take some getting use to if there is no fix for this slack. |
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