Somewhat of a Rant....

Reliable

First of all, I am no expert, I am an enthusiast and that also comes with limited knowledge. I am willing to learn and try to do so by identifying common themes and and facts with support.

I also want to preface my following comments with a statement of my own: I mean no disrespect to any posts that have been made as they are made with the intent to end up with a better performing pistol that what they currently have. My rant is more of exercise caution and some what of terminology.

One thing that I see quite often that raises concern in my mind are threads appearing that start off like this...... "Hi, my name is Zombie Killer and and I just bought my first pistol, what are the best 'mods'?

My brain yells "Ouch, stay away"!
First off, I do not consider what most individuals do as modifications. Most improvements to pistols are, in actuallity, changing out of parts to better suit the users needs. Those parts are designed to fit and work with the platform on which they are placed. This would include grips, sights, refinishing, extended controls, or adding grip tape to the frame. Modifications, to me, means altering the mechanics or physically changing the original design for some purpose. Unless experienced or done by a gunsmith who is experienced these should not be attempted by the first time buyer. Most products produced today are pretty darn good right out of the box (this, of course, has some exceptions) and do not need "modifications" I'm just guessing here, but I believe that most forum participants do not have needs so unique to reqiure modifications. In some competitive shooting sports modifications may be needed and justified for perfomance enhancement but my guess is that they are done professionally or with great care by knowledgable people. If done incorrectly, modifications can result in poorer performance and in worst cases, safety issues!

I guess what I am really trying to say to all new users is that they should focus on learning proper safety, becoming familiar with their firearm, proper maintenance, learning to shoot their firearm, proper techiques (of which there are many), and pratice, practice, practice before trying to modify their pistol. Go ahead, get some new grips or night sights if they are what work for you and your needs. Remember, though, these are personal preference items not modifications

Rant off, sorry just had to get this off my chest.
Just wanted to say, learn what you got before you go and change it.

guyfromohio

Can't argue with that. I've owned dozens if not 100+ (who really counts?) of guns. Aside from changing to a night sight or adding a scope, I've done one mod.... and that was adding a Wilson extended beavertail to my GI .45 because I was tired of bleeding.

Sgt Ed

I concur with RELIABLE. The makers of the guns have a lot tied up in the designs of their products to make sure it works and also to reduce the liability, so what you get works best. GUYFROMOHIO was also super correct.Updates happen.

Archangel54

I couldn't agree with you more, sir. I saw a Glock 19 a few months ago that had a non-stock slide cover installed that had a "Punisher" symbol (sort of a stylized skull) engraved on it. The owner thought it was "way cool," but all I could think was "God forbid you use that weapon in a defensive situation - even a conservative jury would lose its collective mind!" Different strokes, I guess.

Smith3466

Well I do get my hands into many of my guns, but I know my skill set and I stop when I know it's something beyond that.

Bolt guns I have restocked, pillar bedded,and installed oversized bolt knobs.

Handguns that I have messed with include my glock, but not so much my Sigs. Glock got grip tape and trigger job for USPSA. The only Sig I messed with was the W. German 226. Really all I did was refresh it with new springs, pins, and grips. That's more maintence than mods.

My problem is that I like tinkering. I try to keep myself out trouble though.

txshurricane

I've tried to reach gunner (admin/owner) with regards to the direction of the site, but so far it seems we're all on autopilot for now. Whatever he's done to promote the site has brought in users from all ends of the earth. SigTalk is currently not just a Sig enthusiast board...it seems to be regarded as a go-to place for "help needed" one-posts and questions from people who have chosen a Sig as their first firearm or handgun.

It's a lot to sift through. Hopefully gunner has a plan to get the place better organized in the future.

Lite and Loaded

good points, which leads me to my question...

is there any recommended posts regarding proper maintenance and cleaning products used on this Sig?

Aztex999

Otherwise know as "SIG Enthusiasts in the making."

I'd rather see it that way than be like the "other" SIG forum that makes you wait a month before you can post.

008

And is run by a puppet who thinks he wields some real world power.....

txshurricane

Agreed, on both counts. It's not perfect, but it is still the best.

Vetteguy904

sig pistol maintenance is a sticky note on top of the sig pistols forum

Lite and Loaded

thanks. after posting this I was able to find the videos on the Sigarms site. it wasn't as easy to find as the Ruger tech tips on the ruger website, but now that I found it, I should be good to go.

Palmer

Grips and\or sights are about all I monkey with. Only one out of six of my Sigs has non factory grips. Only three have night sights. I am having a hammer and sear worked on because its hideous... like dull steel drug over gravel.

But overall, shoot a minimum of 500 rounds before you start changing or making mods.

IVSRT80

In my line of work everything has to be approved before we can modify a handgun. There was a case where a deputy removed a back plate on his carry glock. Put in a plate that has a skull and crossed bones on it. He had the unfortunate situation arise where he involved in a multiple officer shooting. There were about 6 officers that fired their weapons. He ended up being drawn into court and really made out to look like an asshole over that back plate. Not to mention the loss of his job.

So, therefore we leave ours stock as they come. We can add night sights or a rubber grip if a letter is forwarded to the armorer and then approved. I just wouldn't want anything else done to my weapon and have it fail when I needed it, turn and try to look towards Sig Sauer after I f&^%#@ with it....Not a good situation. Just my .02 cents worth...

sigp229r 

First off, well put Reliable!!!

Here's something to think about... in the event that you ever are involved in an incident, catastrophic in nature, in this day of frivolous lawsuits and gun control, the lawyers will find a way to use those "mods" against you.

Kevin

I hate guns.

Downtownv

Is re-doing a 229 Miami PD in Pink Zebra a mod?
Because some of these things people call a "mod" isn't. It's cosmetic doo doo. Like skeleton triggers and hammers and pink zebra.... all cosmetic. Just think the word MOD is mis-used. But agree that learning the above is where to focus!
IOM

MGF

That's no rant. There's too much common sense in it.

Unless a gun comes with a feature I just cannot live with, I'm going 500 to 1,000 rounds before I consider changes (other than sight adjustments). I have to know how the gun performs day in, day out with different ammunition. What it feels like when I'm executing my basics correctly. Any oddities in feel or operating controls? How's the trigger and my finger placement? Am I slapping, or am I feeling the reset point and flowing with it? Etc.

There are bargain keepers and there are high-priced models that might NOT be all that and a bag of chips. You've got to be patient for a bit before you have a true idea what you really have and what, if anything, needs to be tweaked.

A bit of an aside: I have the happy luxury of having a world-class shotgun smith about 30 minutes from my place. I've heard him more than once say, "Get some more downrange before we tinker with that." He's neither hurting for business nor putting off work. He knows my preferences, fits all my shotguns for me, and I consider him a good friend. The man's just got common sense besides a load of hard-earned talent and one hell of a shop.