Sig SP2022 .40 S&W problem - is it a fluke?

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socalbeachbum

socalbeachbum

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At a recent gun show I picked up an SP2022 and handled it and really liked the ergonomics, but before buying one, I thought I'd fire one at the local range which has rental guns. They only had it in .40 S&W and supplied me with a box of Remington 180gr FMJ. The pistol looked nearly new and was clean inside and out. It was accurate and the controls feel good, but I experienced numerous failures to feed. About 5 times it happened only on the last round from the mag. So I fed it 2 more mags, this had a 10 round mag, and twice it failed to feed midway through the mag. Each jammed round was roughly halfway up the barrel ramp. Dropping the mag and racking the slide did not always clear the stuck round they seemed really jammed in place. And there was a faint crescent stamped into the brass case.

About 7 failures roughly. I was not limp wristing it. Now, I'm leery to buy one, although I would opt for 9mm if I did. Yes, I could polish the ramp and test various ammos but I don't think I should have to do that with a new out of the box SIG.

Any thoughts on this?
 
:thumbdown: I have a 9mm. SP 2022 and have never had a problem. Did you ask the range if they had another brand of ammo? Sometimes guns have odd preferences for ammo.
I can understand why you'd be leery about buying a gun with the experience you have, but the Sig SP2022 is a good gun with a good reputation.
 
i would say that the range pistol needs some TLC. i might appear clean, but could have grit under the extractor. worn recoil spring, worn mag springs. you have no idea how many rounds it has seen and what springs have beeen replaced. Its a sig, it will work fine.
 
yes, I was really puzzled. The pistol looked new, like almost right out of the box. So a dirty extractor could be the reason for a fresh round not making it into the barrel before the slide closes on it?
 
socalbeachbum said:
yes, I was really puzzled. The pistol looked new, like almost right out of the box. So a dirty extractor could be the reason for a fresh round not making it into the barrel before the slide closes on it?
Click to expand...

Imagine the hook of the extractor completely filled in with immovable junk. The base of the brass couldn't slide up the breechface any farther than its contact with this now-hookless extractor. You'd get failures to feed, with rounds hung up some distance into the process.

Is that what happened (to a less extreme degree) with your range gun? I have no idea.
 
I loved mine. It went down the gun trade trail, but not because I had a problem with it.
I just love revolvers, so I traded for a nice revolver.

Mine wasn't picky about ammo. I shot everything from my own cast 175 grain bullets to factory 180 grain stuff.
I don't remember every having a failure with it.
I'd say it was that particular gun.
 
ATLdave nailed it, top that wit ha worn recoil spring. going to have a day day. I have a P226 that i beat to hell (round count) but has never been in a holster. looking at it tho, could not tell its seen thousands and thousands of rounds. had to replace the springs a few times from stove piping. Cant judge a book by the cover. and my S&W shield has only seen 5-6 hundred but looks like has seen a billion.

If you liked it, get one. you will not regret it.
 
ATLDave said:
Imagine the hook of the extractor completely filled in with immovable junk. The base of the brass couldn't slide up the breechface any farther than its contact with this now-hookless extractor. You'd get failures to feed, with rounds hung up some distance into the process.

Is that what happened (to a less extreme degree) with your range gun?
Click to expand...

ATL, I think you may be correct. I'll see if I can get a look at it tomorrow and check for this
 
Some other ways to get that same kind of jam are over-strong recoil springs (relative to the ammo, which might just mean weak ammo), under-strong/worn out mag springs, rough spots on a feed ramp, rough spots on the roof of the chamber, rough spots on the breech face, and breech face machined at the wrong angle. There are probably others, too. Operator error, such as dragging thumbs on the slide or giving an insufficiently firm base (both of which basically create an oversprung situation) can also cause stuff that looks similar.
 
If it's bolt over base, than the magazine spring is the usual suspect - worn out spring with insufficient pressure. This problem happens when there are few cartridges left because the spring pressure is lower then - when the slide slams the frame on recoil the whole pistol moves backwards, but the cartridge, held by inertia, stays in place and jams into the feed ramp. The cartridge is literally pushed into the feed ramp (at an awkward angle) and the slide slams over it, creating a bolt over base jam. New magazine spring will cure that issue as it will hold the cartridges against the feed lips with more force, thus resisting recoil impulse.
 
Mizar, good call because the pistol looked new but the mag looked to be 100 years old. Do SP2022 mags get shared with all the other P22x pistols? I bet the range has a bunch of older mags that are well used.
 
I own both an older SIG 2340 and a newer 2022 (in 9mm). I have put about 5k rounds down range between both guns. I can remember two or three hiccups over the years. They are superb firearms in my opinion.
 
I have the 9mm also and no issues after around 5400 rounds. The only issue I have with mine is the LCI mentioned above. It is small and not bad looking, but it is one of those cut into the breechface, which makes it harder to clean. I finally replaced the recoil spring and guide rod after 5000 rounds. It is a very reliable gun.
 
stchman said:
The LCI on an SP2022 is very unobtrusive. You have to go out of your way to even notice the thing.
Click to expand...

Well, to each their own, but it is directly in line with the front sight and distracted me when trying to acquire the front sight. Double annoying since they decided to make it shiny so it naturally attracts the eye. I tried to live with it since I loved everything else about the gun, but it eventually annoyed me too much.
 
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