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Feeding Issues With Brand New P229 SAS Gen II

6K views 24 replies 17 participants last post by  CMM 
#1 ·
So, I am new to this forum and to Sig Sauer ownership as of today. I just purchased a brand new P229 SAS Gen II of which I was very impressed with the fit and finish. It evoked quality. However, I'm not sure of what to think now. I said that I "was" impressed because I have discovered an issue within 12 hours of getting it home. I noticed that the feed ramp on the frame is separated from the feed ramp on the barrel by nearly 1/4". This alarmed me as I am an avid 1911 shooter and know full well how unreliable a 1911 with a feed ramp and a barrel throat that are separated by even a 1/16" can be. I cycled FMJ snap caps though the gun earlier that fed fine, so I broke out the Sig Sauer Elite Performance JHP ammo to see if that would feed. Sure enough, it did't. I literally have to pull the slide back and release it an average of three times just to chamber the JHP ammo. That was the case with the entire box. I haven't fired the gun yet, but I have no reason to assume I won't also experience FsTF when I do get to the range. The gun is very clean and very well lubricated. I am very meticulous, some would say OCD, in cleaning and lubing my firearms. In fact, once I got home from picking this gun up, I cleaned the factory oil off and relubricated it with my preferred brand of lube (Wilson Combat Universal) that I have always experienced reliability with. I maintain several 1911s with a record of 0 failures or malfunctions of any kind in any of the 1911s. I find it incredibly hard to conceive that this P229 SAS model made it through the Sig Sauer Custom Shop with a feed ramp that wasn't properly cut and thus I have a Sig Sauer Pistol that cannot feed Sig Sauer ammunition. I have included pictures to assist you guys to hopefully assist me with information on what to do about this issue. Please help. I'm very discouraged having spent $1,000 on a Sig pistol when I could have just bought a decent 1911 or two Glocks or something that is reliable. I have already registered my gun's warranty and I will contact Sig Sauer Customer Service, however they are closed until Monday and I would like to know possibly what to expect.





 
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#2 · (Edited)
Your frame & barrel feedramp distances appear the same as my P229R 9mm. However, I know nothing about how the SIG ammo is working. I've got 1300 rounds, so far, through my P229R, mostly with various weights of fmj ammo, but also 124gr Speer Gold Dot (GDHP).

Also, this is a ramped barrel and the round doesn't bounce off the frame's feedramp as a 1911's feedpath does.

With ~60,000 rounds through my 1911s, I haven't been as lucky as you to have gone 100% without any failures.

More info on ammo here:
 
#4 ·
Your frame & barrel feedramp distances appear the same as my P229R 9mm. However, I know nothing about how the SIG ammo is working. I've got 1300 rounds, so far, through my P229R, mostly with various weights of fmj ammo, but also 124gr Speer Gold Dot (GDHP).

Also, this is a ramped barrel and the round doesn't bounce off the frame's feedramp as a 1911's feedpath does.

With ~60,000 rounds through my 1911s, I haven't been as lucky as you to have gone 100% without any failures.
This makes me more comfortable for sure. I honestly didn't know the feed path was any different than a 1911. I've only ever owned 1911 pistols, so that ignorance is my fault for never having branched out until now. I certainly don't have 60,000 rounds through my 1911s, but hopefully I can keep the record. We shall see! ;) I think I may have 10,000 on one of my 1911s, but it's only ever had premium ammo shot through it, no more than 300 rounds in a shoot, and completely stripped and cleaned after each shoot. That video was quite interesting. I may take the Sig ammo back, assuming they will take it back. Thanks for the response LL2!


Is it possible that the gun was field stripped prior to you buying it, and then not put back together properly? Have you field stripped and lubed it? If not, try that and make sure it is assembled properly. It could be that something was put back together slightly off.
I was the only person other than my guys at the gun shop to have held the gun. I doubt they field stripped it. I did field strip it myself when I cleaned and lubed it. I made sure everything went back together 100% correct. I also run my guns pretty wet. I lubed the P229 the same way. Thanks for the suggestion though, MisterB!
 
#3 ·
Is it possible that the gun was field stripped prior to you buying it, and then not put back together properly? Have you field stripped and lubed it? If not, try that and make sure it is assembled properly. It could be that something was put back together slightly off.
 
#5 ·
Like LL2 indicated, its a very different barrel design with the ramp being integral to the barrel, the frame is more incidental. Cant really be compared to a 1911.

If you are manually cycling the rounds, you cant be ginger about it. If you are riding the slide you could be inducing a problem by short cycling or reducing the force that is intended to be supplied by the recoil spring. If you are not doing so already, combat rack or use the slide stop with slide locked back before pronouncing real rounds a problem.
 
#11 ·
Like LL2 indicated, its a very different barrel design with the ramp being integral to the barrel, the frame is more incidental. Cant really be compared to a 1911.

If you are manually cycling the rounds, you cant be ginger about it. If you are riding the slide you could be inducing a problem by short cycling or reducing the force that is intended to be supplied by the recoil spring. If you are not doing so already, combat rack or use the slide stop with slide locked back before pronouncing real rounds a problem.

Forgot to add, looks very similar to my 229, no issues.
I am going to the range in about an hour. For chambering the first round I will definitely remember a combat rack. Thanks for the input. As petty as it sounds, having others agree that their pistols look the same and function properly is good encouragement. I'm looking forward to the range today now.

I know it does not relieve your frustration for this weekend, but call SIG on Monday and they will send you a label to mail it back. If they can't fix it they are pretty good about replacing defective items. Sorry again for the disappointment. Hope all works out well for you. Don't let this experience shy you away from SIGs. They are great pistols and extremely reliable. Good luck. :)
Thanks Old Klingon! I will be going to the range today with a variety of ammo. Hopefully, that will all cycle well, but if not I will certainly call Sig. It's good to hear that they stand by their warranties. I certainly will not let this shy me away. The pistol simply feels and looks like quality. Seems like the general consensus is that the Sig JHP ammo is junk.

CMM, I don't pretend to be an internet/keyboard weapons Guru, but did spend some years as a LE SIG and Colt O-Frame armorer. The barrel throat/frame feed ramp interface is different between the two designs. The SIG barrel/frame area in your photo looks normal to me. Hand cycling may be an indicator, but is not the same as actually firing the pistol. BTW, I would carefully inspect the rounds that you attempted to chamber manually to see if the bullets have set back due to your efforts. I cannot advise you, but were the pistol mine, I would certainly take it to the range for live fire to assess whether or not there actually is a problem......ymmv
Rock185, I figured the hand cycling was contributing to this issue, however I really am as ignorant to not know there are distinct differences in the operation between a 1911 and P-series pistol. I suppose I assumed, "They both have feed ramps, obviously they function the same." Obviously, not so much. Haha I will be going to the range today and I will be testing a variety of ammo. I will certainly inspect the Sig ammo before I try to shoot any.

It looks normal to me. Everything is of course gonna be tight when brand new. Leave the mags loaded and the slide locked backed over the weekend to see if that alleviates anything. Prolly not, but will ease in the springs a bit. Next thing is to ditch that ammo..SIG ammo is definitely NOT the greatest ammo, by a long shot. I always put at least 200 rounds of FMJ through a new pistol prior to trying JHP..just a thought..always use ball first.
Yeah, thats also a piece of conventional wisdom that I share. Usually, with a 1911, that's exactly what I do. Put about 400 rounds of FMJ down range and then try the JHP stuff. I use Hornady critical defense and critical duty in my 1911s with 100% reliability, so I'll try that next. I guess the thrill of a new pistol paired with the unknown of branching out from 1911s has scared me senseless. Haha Thanks for reminding me to break the gun in! ;)

I believe the basic problem is that ammunition with the sharp cone. I had tried the Sig ammo in several of my guns with the same result. Standardized on Hornaday Critical Defense and haven't looked back. Once a round actually gets to the chamber they seem to feed ok, but that first round is hit or miss.
I am right there with you. The Sig ammo does have a cone shape I haven't seen before. I use the Critical defense and critical duty myself, so I think that's what I will return to. Thanks for the response!


Thanks guys for all the wisdom shared. After I get back from the range today, I will be sure to report back and let you guys know how it went!
 
#7 ·
SIG has great customer service.

I know it does not relieve your frustration for this weekend, but call SIG on Monday and they will send you a label to mail it back. If they can't fix it they are pretty good about replacing defective items. Sorry again for the disappointment. Hope all works out well for you. Don't let this experience shy you away from SIGs. They are great pistols and extremely reliable. Good luck. :)
 
#8 ·
CMM, I don't pretend to be an internet/keyboard weapons Guru, but did spend some years as a LE SIG and Colt O-Frame armorer. The barrel throat/frame feed ramp interface is different between the two designs. The SIG barrel/frame area in your photo looks normal to me. Hand cycling may be an indicator, but is not the same as actually firing the pistol. BTW, I would carefully inspect the rounds that you attempted to chamber manually to see if the bullets have set back due to your efforts. I cannot advise you, but were the pistol mine, I would certainly take it to the range for live fire to assess whether or not there actually is a problem......ymmv
 
#9 ·
It looks normal to me. Everything is of course gonna be tight when brand new. Leave the mags loaded and the slide locked backed over the weekend to see if that alleviates anything. Prolly not, but will ease in the springs a bit. Next thing is to ditch that ammo..SIG ammo is definitely NOT the greatest ammo, by a long shot. I always put at least 200 rounds of FMJ through a new pistol prior to trying JHP..just a thought..always use ball first.
 
#10 ·
I believe the basic problem is that ammunition with the sharp cone. I had tried the Sig ammo in several of my guns with the same result. Standardized on Hornaday Critical Defense and haven't looked back. Once a round actually gets to the chamber they seem to feed ok, but that first round is hit or miss.
 
#14 ·
Welcome to the forum!
The 229 is a rock-solid design, a paragon of quality, and life-time warrantied. I think you will be very satisfied with it.
 
#15 ·
Re: "I noticed that the feed ramp on the frame is separated from the feed ramp on the barrel by nearly 1/4"."

Since I don't have a P229, I might be way off base, but for what it's worth, I do have a P226 X5, and the gap between its barrel and "frame" feed ramps (with the slide latched back) is much less than the gap seen in your photos. I quoted "frame" because that short lower feed ramp is not in the frame; it's in a piece called the Locking Insert", which snaps into the frame. If the P229 also has a Locking Insert, I'm wondering if it might be positioned too far back.

Hm.. On second thought, probably not. I don't believe that the shaft of the take-down lever could be inserted if the Locking Insert was mispositioned.
 
#16 ·
Sigs are tight and need a break in as do 1911s. Pretty much any well made gun does. Cars and most metal machines do.
I would never consider running HPs through before 500 rounds of target as it is just a waste of money.
Guns also don't feed well by hand.
Sigs don't really use the frame ramp. The bullet is higher than that.
 
#17 ·
Not down playing Sigs Ammo. quality, but i would try some standard ball 230gr .45 acp Ammo. I also feel it's the sharp crown on the sig JHP Ammo. that is causing the racking into battery problem.
your sig was test fired at factory with ball Ammo. and if it had failed then it would not have shipped.
 
#20 ·
FWIW, I think that ramp on the rear of the locking insert pushes the top round back into the mag when clearing a loaded P-series pistol. My P938 doesn't have anything like that which is one of the reasons it strips the round and poops it out when clearing it. Never had that happen with my classic SIGs.
 
#22 ·
Alright, so I made it to the range today, and I must say that I am truly astonished. All in all I was able to shoot about 350 rounds through the 229 today. Of those 320 were FMJ rounds and 30 were JHP. I shot 115r, 124r, and 135gr ammo. The FMJ ammo was Fiocchi, Federal, and Hornady. The JHP ammo was the Sig stuff and Hornady Critical Duty. Everything functioned flawlessly, albeit I still don't care for the Sig ammo. As pointed out by Targetshooter4741, the crown is too sharp and noticeably wider at the crown than the Hornady defense ammunition. The Sig ammo cycled okay, but I'll stick with my Hornady Critical Duty. It's what I have always used and I've never had a hiccup with it in any caliber. Thanks for all of the input with seasoned Sig wisdom, experiences, and the animations too. I suppose I have never taken the time to understand how different the Sig P-series functions in terms of feeding from say, (you guessed it) a 1911. The false alarm issue aside, I'm really loving the gun. It's a very soft shooter, and I was getting 4 inch groups at 15 yards right from the start! My wife even shot and enjoyed this pistol, which is a first as she will not go near my 1911s. ;) This was my first Sig Sauer, and it will certainly not be the last! Thanks again guys!
 
#24 ·
I had a similar issue on my brand new P226. First time I fed ammo through the factory SIG mags and MecGar mags. I was getting failure to feeds with the first round on the 10 rd SIG mags but no issues with the MecGar mags. I was using the slide stop to rack the slide and it would get stuck. I had to manually tap the slide forward to feed. All subsequent shots would feed reliably. Only the first cartridge would fail to feed. I believe the springs on the mags were too tight when new, so I left the mag full of ammo for a day or two and tried it again. Mags now seem to feed fine with the first cartridge.
 
#25 ·
Yeah, I didn't think of the mags being too tight. I'm sure that didn't help, but I think the real issue was the bullet design of the Sig JHP ammo. The crown is so much wider than say for instance Hornady Critical Defense. It also happens to be pretty aggressive/sharp. It fed fine at the range, but I still am going to stick with Hornady. Maybe I'm speaking too soon, but I don't have a very high opinion of the Sig JHPs. The only other Sig ammo I have any experience with is just FMJ in 300 Blackout. Those rounds were great, and pretty inexpensive. So, I'll buy Sig ammo of some varieties and just not buy their JHP stuff.
 
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