Sig P220 - Reloads - Magazine issues

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rduchateau2954

rduchateau2954

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I reload for 45. Recently picked up a new P220 in 45. I was loading a few mags at the range the other day and with my reloads and I could only get 4-5 rounds in each of my two Sig mags.

I pulled the gun apart and all the rounds passed the plunk test in all my 45's. Rounds loaded fine in all other mags but the 220 mags. Factory ammo loads fine in the Sig mags.

I'm baffled. Thoughts?
 
Did you check the OAL on the rounds?

Ive had that issue before with other things, and just a little variance can make a difference if the mags dont have a lot of leeway, and/or the bullets are a little erratic in seating depth .
 
The Sig 220 mag gets pretty sensitive about OAL, even though the gun will shoot the rounds fine.

You'll likely have to play a bit to find the right length, but my 245 never had an issue with 1.26" (same mags).

Before I started loading I had a real issue during the 2013 banic with UMC ammo, I was limited with selections and some of the boxes I had 20% of the rounds that wouldn't load in my p220 mags. My 1911s ran em fine though
 
As already mentioned, I’d check your OAL. I had my 45s loaded to the manual stated length. The bullet noses were just touching the inside front of the magazine.

I shortened them up a bit and stay a tenth to two tenths off max charge to avoid going over pressure.
 
Definitely check the c.o.l. A wide meplat bullet will sometimes not fit in a 220 mag. The hornady custom bullets will fail to fit right from the factory.
 
rduchateau2954 said:
all the rounds passed the plunk test in all my 45's
...I could only get 4-5 rounds in each.
Click to expand...
Sounds like a bit of excess variance in your OAL.

While the "plunk test" is part of establishing a "working OAL" when working up a load, the often forgotten/overlooked rejoinder to that is "and fits in the magazine."

The fact that you can get a few cartridges into the magazine would indicate that only some of the cartridges are too long.
Which OAL and bullet are you using?
Which press and die set are you using?
 
9mmepiphany said:
Sounds like a bit of excess variance in your OAL.

While the "plunk test" is part of establishing a "working OAL" when working up a load, the often forgotten/overlooked rejoinder to that is "and fits in the magazine."

The fact that you can get a few cartridges into the magazine would indicate that only some of the cartridges are too long.
Which OAL and bullet are you using?
Which press and die set are you using?
Click to expand...

These were extreme 230gr plated rn. Loaded to 1.2".

Lee carbide dies w/Lee factory crimp die on a Lee turret press.

The reasoning behind the plunk test at the range was just to eliminate any possible diameter issues. I once had a batch of reloads that seemed to randomly not want to chamber in my 1911. Through the plunk test and checking my press once I got back home I determined that my Lee fcd has backed out slightly and the last couple dozen rounds were out of spec.
 
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I wish I would have saved a few rounds to measure them. I'll do some experiments on the next batch of 45 and see if I can duplicate the results and at what oal the issue occurs.
 
It's an issue with the oal for each hollow point, not necessarily oal. It will be different with each bullet shape. They can be considerably under max oal and still not work in a 220 if they are a wider bullet at the tip. Two that will hang in mine are UMC hollow points and hornady custom 180s. A more pointy hollow point will fit better due to the rounded front of the mag. It's a well documented issue.
 
rduchateau2954 said:
These were extreme 240gr plated rn. Loaded to 1.2".
Click to expand...
From the Camp "Long Term Observations" article...

It appears that the Golden Saber’s wide ogive and LOA can sometimes contact the rounded front of SIG-Sauer factory 8-shot magazines, which can result in a stoppage.
Click to expand...
I suspect a 240gr bullet has a pretty wide ogive and would give problems in the P220 magazine.
 
I loaded tens of thousands of rounds, but it took me a few batches to get it right.

1) Resize the case
2) Seat the bullet to just below the size of the mag
3) Seat the bullet properly and straight
4) FMJ seems to be a bit easier to deal with than lead or coated.

I sorta looked at the rounds in the mag and adjusted as needed. The second and third rounds will rub or not. I started with mid-range loads and they seemed to run the slide fine.
 
I have a P220 combat - does not feed certain sarge edge hollow points. Bullet gets stuck on the flat below the feed ramp
 
It's one of the reasons I chuckle when folk tout the 220's reliability over the 1911 (while likely true on the whole) because in my experience with numerous models of both was I had to worry far more about which ammo to use in my 220s and 245 than I ever have in any of my 1911s.

Sure, once you find the right ammo the 220 is very reliable, but it was enough of an annoyance to make me abandon the 220 in favor of the 1911 as my preferred single stack .45 option.

Not so much of a problem with the 226 though, my only current gun that's never had a stoppage of any kind
 
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