Sig 229 question

CAV · 09-22-2003, 06:07 PM

I have a 229 that fires .40s&w without a hiccup but often fails to return to battery when firing .357sig. I have tried swapping out springs but have not been able to eliminated the problem. Any suggestions?

10-02-2003, 03:26 PM

Could be a number of things. Can you give more detail? Is the .357 barrel SIG or aftermarket? Was it drop in or match fit?

Someone that Gunkid fears

***Rich Z*** · 10-02-2003, 03:50 PM

Hmm, I have the same setup and never had a hint of a problem with it. Got the rails well oiled and slicked up? Probably the recoil impulse is much sharper with the .357SIG than with the .40S&W, so maybe the slide is binding slightly. Just a guess.

CAV · 10-02-2003, 03:50 PM

It has occured with both the Sig factory barrel and an aftermarket one. The springs all work fine with the .40 so I don't think they are the problem.

10-02-2003, 04:06 PM

357 ammo tried in other guns? Maybe the Sig barrel is rough chambered?

CAV · 10-02-2003, 04:17 PM

I have only used the Sig factory .40/.357 mag. I've fired several thousands rounds total, mostly .40. I once fire more than 300 rds without a random FFT. Not the case with the .357 barrels.

The issue with the .357s *appears* to be with the underside of the barrel block (some signs of wear). Could it be oversized and catching??

***Rich Z*** · 10-02-2003, 04:20 PM

Yeah, I think it is something binding ever so slightly. Newton's law is probably having an effect. You are pushing more mass out the barrel with the .40S&W then you are with the .357SIG, and it is making a difference.

Maybe some polishing and smoothing of the sliding surfaces will help out.

10-02-2003, 04:32 PM

MORE. depending upon the loads involved. Use a vernier to check some comparable dimensions on the 2 barrels.

***Rich Z*** · 10-02-2003, 05:34 PM

Yes, it can be more in total recoil, but the impulse is different. The .357SIG feels much sharper in recoil than the .40S&W. That could be enough to make a difference on moving the slide back. If the slide is catching at the peak of recoil with the .357SIG because it hasn't moved back as far as it would be at the peak of recoil energy in the .40S&W, that could make all the difference.

As I mentioned, this is just speculation on my part and is what I would look at if I were having this problem.

***Rich Z*** · 10-25-2003, 03:42 AM

Did you ever figure out this problem?