Herndon, VA marked SIG 220 - what do I need to know/do?

[Kor]

So anyways, I once fired a .45ACP SIG 220 about 10-11 years ago, and I was VERY impressed with its accuracy and handling characteristics, so I've had a hankering to get one ever since. I just now came across an older-generation SIG 220 with the pointy(not rounded) hammer spur, marked "Herndon, VA" instead of "Exeter, NH" like current guns. This gun looks to be a typical "police turn-in" - the mag-well opening has plenty of wear from magazines being constantly inserted/dropped, and there's a little holster wear on the frame and slide, but the frame ramp and barrel ramp look absolutely cherry, with no marks or wear that I can discern. The DA trigger is smooth but stiff, and the SA trigger is C-R-I-S-P.

Assuming I jump on this gun and make it my very own, what do I need to know about older SIGs, and should I have anything done to it(and by who)? Should I send it back to SIG for new lockwork, K-Kote refinishing and SIGLite night sights? Or would the work be done faster/cheaper/better by someone like Teddy Jacobsen(Actions by "T")?

Thanks in advance!

 

[BigG]

I believe the Herndon, VA guns were the glory years for SIG/Sauer. I love mine. Don't know as you need to do anything. Good old Ala Dan will probably be by to give you the lowdown. He's one of the SIG Experts around these parts.

 

[hksw]

The only problem I've had with my Herndon P-220 was the rolled pin holding in the bolt to the slide walking out. I just tap it back into place. It usually goes about 250 rounds before it is noticable (~1/16"-1/8" sticking out).

 

[guns'ahoy]

haha, Herndon VA. .. .i dont have much to add to this discussion other than i lived in herdon for a year or so, not a great town

i think the US HK plant is around there, not sure though

 

[Blueduck]

http://www.langdontactical.com/main.htm

Can likely handle your action work, refinishing and any questions about what may or may not need replacing. BTW The man can shoot a Sig

I've heard good things about Teddy J's work but after reading a lot of his personal post on other forums, I'd be hesitant to do business with him. YMMV.

 

[spookyspiff]

Boo herndon bashers!! That's my hometown. At least back that up. Didn't know there was such a thing as a herndon Sig. I've got a chantilly P7, now I'll have to get a herndon sig to go with it one day.

 

[JCM298]

Herndon Sigs

My 220 is from Herndon. It was issued to me in `85 and I bought it in `90, when I retired. It's got 75,000+ rounds through it and the only problems were replacing springs: recoil, trigger return, etc. Getting parts from Sig was a pain both for the 220 & my 230.

I had Robar NP3 applied in `90 and bought a set of factory wood grips.

It's still as good as new,

John

 

[Mike Irwin]

Sig's offices were located in the Spring Park Technology Center of Spring Park Place.

The NRA publications office was on the ground floor, Sig was upstairs.

I started with American Rifleman in October 1990, and Sig had just completed its move to Exeter, so that would probably make the guns pre, oh, say, August 1990.

I always liked the Herndon-Reston area, but they have real gang and drug problems these days.

Reston was a social experiment by the do-gooder developer... Nothing like putting Section 8 housing right next to $150,000 homes (a LOT of money when he was doing that).

 

[Blueduck]

Likely my only to chance to correct you Mike.

Never been there, never saw the place, but I can assure you those were $150,000 homes, minute the section 8 went in they ceased to be such

 

[Mal H]

You're right, now they are in the $350,000 to $500,000 range. Same houses.

 

[Blueduck]

Well good for them even if I was wrong. HUD was kind enough to decrease the value of my fathers home a good 30% over less than a year by moving in families on either side on him "who needed a hand up". They did manage to keep the Police and all other social service agencies busy as beavers. Being so busy with so many cops, social workers,children, relatives, and fugitives they didn't have time to keep thier basically free houses from falling down around them...

 

[spookyspiff]

Yeah, there definitely are drug and gang problems. It is amazing though how housing prices in the area climb steadily upwards regardless. So my recommendation is if you live in herndon, you should always carry a herndon sig.

 

[B27]

Replace the roll pin holding the breech block in place.
Replace the recoil spring with the new slightly heavier spring.
Always use the decocker lever to decock the gun. It does not have a rebounding hammer like the newer guns
Go shoot it.

 

[Ala Dan]

Greeting's Folk's-

Many thanks for the grand introduction there Big G,
my friend. Well, I'm certainly not an expert at anything;
but I do love the "Classic" P-series SIG's. With that said,
my current P220A is a 1995 model with the "green" recoil
spring; supposedly designed to handle +P type load's. I
can assure you, there is no finer DA first shot self-loader
chambered for the .45 ACP.

Speaking of the "Herndon, VA SIG's", I have a 1990 model
P228 with that roll mark; with its very low serial number,
it could be one of the first to arrive in this country?
Cuz, the P228 was not introduced until 1989. Both SIG's
are in pristine condition, and deliver really fine accuracy.

As to refinishing a SIG, the field is wide open? I don't care
for brightly finished handguns; preferring the traditional
blue over nickel, stainless, and even hard chrome. And I
definitely do not like SIGLITE night sight's; as they are
extremely hard to see during daylight hours! As a matter
of fact, I tried them on a NIB 9m/m P226 and a NIB .40
caliber P229; and ended up getting rid of both guns cuz
of them. Give me the standard SIG bar-dot sight's
on all SIG's. I hope this bit of info helps to some degree?

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

 

[Kor]

Thanks for the good info, everybody! Now I gotta start scrounging for $$...

 

[WhoKnowsWho]

Now exactly where did you find this P220 eh?

I am saving up to hopefully order one from CDNN in Dec. I am starting to forget how many I have, so I have to slow down a month or so...

 

[Kor]

Well, if inquiring minds want to know...

I stopped in at Tucson Guns & Western Artifacts, up by Broadway & Camino Seco, on my day off and lo, there it was - Bob, the dealer, wanted $550 for it. I'm gonna see if I can horse-trade with him a little Thursday night, so it may or may not still be available; he's also got a 2-tone "Essex, NH" 220 with Siglites in stock for $550, so you might want to jump on that one.

Walt at C&T Enterprises, on North Wilmot, has/had another blued 220 with Siglites for $500, the slide is pretty holster-worn but the guts look REAL cherry - you might want to check that one out, also.

I can't confirm it, but I suspect these are a batch of PD-turn-in guns that S.O.G. has been advertising for the past month or so.