Sig Saur P220 .45ACP Mag Problem

[Confederate]

When my father passed a few years ago, I inherited his virtually NEW Sig Saur P220 German-made auto. I'm not really a .45 fan, but I decided to pick up a few magazines for it and head to the range.

Apparently, though, Sig Saur doesn't realize it ever made such a pistol. When I ordered several 10-shot magazines made by Sig, none of them fits! They go into the magazine well okay -- they just don't lock! Excamining them more closely, I saw that they were made for a model with a side-mounted magazine release. And mine locks and disconnects from the bottom.

I understand there may be differing models, but I also know that Sig could have easily made magazines that fit both. And if they didn't, they should have marked their magazines as fitting only the American model. Needless to say I'm ticked. The mags that I bought only say that they fit the P220, period. Only when I moved the extension slipcover did I see that it's made for the P220-1!





I'm sorry, was the P220-1 blocked? Yes, and it had black plastic on
top as well. The package says it should work. It's a P220, it's a .45
and it takes ten rounds. Why doesn't it say P220-1?



The magazine slipcover has a cut-out that accommodates the
European P220 magazine release. It just doesn't lock in place.

I just wonder if the magazine needs to lock? The magazine seems to fit in the well pretty tight and pulls out. So my question is whether the magazine fits or doesn't? I mean, why would a company make a magazine with a cut-out on the slipcover if the magazine didn't work?

So I'm wondering if the magazines work and, if they don't, why? Talking to Sig, they have no idea whether their 10-shot magazines will work or not, or whether they can be made to work. If I drill a hole in the side, will the spring be retarded by the magazine release? Talking to Sig, one would think my gun were made by Beretta!

Does anyone know enough to give me some advice?

 

[Ohen Cepel]

SIG USA may well not know about that pistol.

Pretty sure you need the European mag release version magazines, but I'm not a SIG expert.

 

[zaitcev]

I mean, why would a company make a magazine with a cut-out on the slipcover if the magazine didn't work?

Sorry to burst your bubble, but that cut-out is for the grip. See the attached picture.

You need flat-bottom 7-rounders. But hold onto your char, because asking prices for them are above $100.

 

[1KPerDay]

If you have a heel clip release type it's fairly obvious that the only magazines that will lock into the grip are the 7-round flush fit metal baseplate magazines. The extended plastic baseplate 8-round magazines and extended tube 10 rounders are designed only for the later variants with the American type thumb button magazine catch.

 

[9mmepiphany]

I understand there may be differing models, but I also know that Sig could have easily made magazines that fit both.

Actually they can't

No 10-round magazine can be locked into a 220 with the heel release as that release needs to go under the floor plate. As a matter of fact, you'll find that there are no reliable 8-rd magazines for the heel release 220. The only magazines that will function reliably with your 220 are the two versions, dovetail and zipperback, of the 7-rd magazines.

The reason that no one at SIG CS seems to know anything about your 220 is because the heel release models were all of German manufacture. All 220s made domestically have had their magazine release at the root of the trigger guard

 

[Confederate]

Thanks, that's what I was afraid of. I had mine buried in my safe, but it has three magazines with it, so it's not horrible. The gun is very well made, but I also wondered if I could drill a magazine detente into the magazine itself. (My only concern is if the spring would be impeded.) I'm not thrilled with the .45 round to begin with as I never bought into the whole Jeff Cooper thing. I found some old reviews of the Sig P220 (butt release like mine) and accuracy beat out the Colt Gold Cup with just about all ammo. I just think the 9mm is a better round, being flatter and packing more punch. Even with my three rounds I'll most likely never shoot it. And if the SHTF, it'll be first gun I barter.

 

[4v50 Gary]

Heel release probably takes only shorter 7 round magazines (or at least 7 round with eight round follower). The heel release has to catch on the bottom of the floorplate. Can you try shorter P220 mags?

 

[Confederate]

Heel release probably takes only shorter 7 round magazines (or at least 7 round with eight round follower). The heel release has to catch on the bottom of the floorplate. Can you try shorter P220 mags?

No. Too expensive. Too few rounds for good defense. I have a bunch of .45 ammo, but I also have a S&W 645, which I believe is the best .45 out there when it comes to defense. I have 9- or 10-round magazines for that gun and it will feed empty cartridges into the chamber, and I've never seen a gun do that before.

 

[bannockburn]

Confederate

I had an old Browning BDA in .45 which was just a relabeled SIG P220. It also used the heel mag release. If you go online you can still find magazines for either gun going for between $40 and $50 each.

I also had a Colt Gold Cup at the time I had the BDA and shooting the guns side by side with the same ammo, the BDA gave up very little in the way of accuracy to the Gold Cup.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

No. Too expensive. Too few rounds for good defense. I have a bunch of .45 ammo, but I also have a S&W 645, which I believe is the best .45 out there when it comes to defense. I have 9- or 10-round magazines for that gun and it will feed empty cartridges into the chamber, and I've never seen a gun do that before.

If you measure carefully, you might be able to cut your new 10- rounder on three sides with a dremel, fold the flat backside of the mag forward to form a new baseplate, then shorten the spring accordingly. Might need to have a welder tack the fold in place.....

Or just bite the bullet and order some.

The German production P220s are some of the finest combat arms made by man. I have a .45 and a 9mm. It is virtually unheard of for these to malfunction or break using factory loads. Seven rounds of .45acp plus two spares should be more than sufficient for any scenario short of all out war- in which case you need yerself a rifle.

Just my stupid opinion, though based on experience- do whatcha want, bro.

 

[Confederate]

Thanks, but if I were going to experiment, I'd drill a few holes and hope the release would pop into it. OR, maybe I should just cup the bottom with my left hand and hold it in place. If Sig had designed the gun right to begin with, no one would have this problem. And they could have added numbers to their guns to differentiate them when buying parts. Even if I could drill out a part for the release to fit in, I'd have to loop a wire through the release and pull it every time I wanted to release the magazine.

 

[Confederate]

The German production P220s are some of the finest combat arms made by man. I have a .45 and a 9mm. It is virtually unheard of for these to malfunction or break using factory loads. Seven rounds of .45acp plus two spares should be more than sufficient for any scenario short of all out war- in which case you need yerself a rifle.

Yes...things are built like tanks. The magazines are the finest made of any I've ever seen. I'm still wondering why there's a cut-out on the magazine extension piece that slips onto the magazine. It's as if it were cut out exclusively for the release on the bottom. In fact, I don't see any other reason for it. It may be wishful thinking on my part, but maybe the bloody things would work on just pressure alone or if cupped from below. Else why design that cut-out into the plastic magazine sleeve?

There's only one way to test my theory, and that's to drive out to my favorite stop sign and try it out.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

If Sig had designed the gun right to begin with, no one would have this problem.

Many European military and police entities asked for this feature because they felt it was less likely to result in an accidental mag drop. Beretta even used it on some early model 92s.....

 

[9mmepiphany]

If Sig had designed the gun right to begin with

The 220 was designed as a military sidearm, to replace the SIG 210, and was designed to the specifications required. The Swiss army really didn't want magazines dropped into the snow...plus the heel release is ambidextrous.

The original chambering was in 9x19mm, with later chambers in .30Luger, .38Super, and .45ACP.

...no one would have this problem.

I've been around SIGs for over 40 years and you're the first person that I've heard of who has experienced this issue with the gun

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

The 220 was designed as a military sidearm, to replace the SIG 210, and was designed to the specifications required. The Swiss army really didn't want magazines dropped into the snow...plus the heel release is ambidextrous.

The original chambering was in 9x19mm, with later chambers in .30Luger, .38Super, and .45ACP.


I've been around SIGs for over 40 years and you're the first person that I've heard of who has experienced this issue with the gun

He's only having this "problem" because those arent the right magazines for that gun.

Would you expect a water pump for a '67 Camaro to fit a 2017 Camaro? Same brand, same model.....but no, I assure you it will not.

 

[Panzerschwein]

No. Too expensive. Too few rounds for good defense. I have a bunch of .45 ammo, but I also have a S&W 645, which I believe is the best .45 out there when it comes to defense. I have 9- or 10-round magazines for that gun and it will feed empty cartridges into the chamber, and I've never seen a gun do that before.

So 9-10 rounds are enough for defense, but 8 (7+1) are not?

You have a good pistol in that P220. They are excellent, reliable, durable guns. The same firepower as a 1911 but many will claim they are more reliable than the average 1911 (though as with all things related to the 1911, that is a point of contention). Below is my P220 with a 7-round magazine inserted. You'll need to find magazines with the flat baseplate as shown. Mine can accept the later 8-10 round magazines because mine is a later production gun:



What you have is a collectible P220 that is no doubt fully made and assembled in West Germany. If it is in the condition you say, it is surely a peach. Just keep your eyes peeled for the 7-round mags or at least the flat baseplates. Have you tried to return the 10 round magazines yet? If not you can easily flip them on ebay or similar. I wish I had a spare 7 rounder to sell you but unfortunately don't.

If you fancy the SIG and like the S&W 645, check out the new(ish) SIG P227. It accepts 10 or 14 round magazines.

 

[wnycollector]

Confederate, I have a three flat bottom 7 round SIG mags that I would swap for 10 round mags if you are interested. PM me your email and I will send you a few pics.

 

[Panzerschwein]

Confederate, I have a three flat bottom 7 round SIG mags that I would swap for 10 round mags if you are interested. PM me your email and I will send you a few pics.

Boom! There you go Confederate! I'd take up that offer and get out and enjoy your dad's gun.

 

[Confederate]

Confederate, I have a three flat bottom 7 round SIG mags that I would swap for 10 round mags if you are interested. PM me your email and I will send you a few pics.

Sounds good. You can send the photos to Jriler53[at]gmail. Thanks!