I have a 2008 P229R. After only 400 rounds (both .357 and .40) the slide has stripped the black finish from the rails at the front and rear of the frame. I would add that the pistol has never been fired without adequate lubrication. As a comparison, the finish on the frame rails of my 1995 P229 (.40) are almost compltely intact as is the finish on my 1999 P226 (.40) and 1989 P226 (9mm). I use Break Free products for lubrication exclusively.

Is this something to be concerened about?

I suggest that you use something heavier than Break-Free to lubricate the frame rails. Use something like Mil-Comm TW-25B or Enos Slide Glide. I think your wear problem will decrease and stop with further use. There is probably no need for concern at this time. Use grease.

Thanks Gary. Do you have an opinion on whether shooting he .357 SIG accelerates slide wear? I use a factory SIG barrel.

Also, in 1985, the SIG factory trainer/rep recommended Break Free CLP to lube the W. German 226 (9mm). My department was switching from S&W revolvers to the "new" Sig Sauer. I've used the CLP ever since but I will take your suggestion and switch to the grease.

I have not noticed appreciable differences in wear between my 40 229 and my 357 229.

What you are seeing is the initial wear through the color layer of the anodizing at high points on the frame. That should slow radically or stop within several hundred rounds.

I would also recommend that you use heavier lubrication as GaryBF recommended above. Don't use copious amounts of grease but a light layer and some oil floated on top is what I use.

Good luck

quote:

Originally posted by GaryBF:
I suggest that you use something heavier than Break-Free to lubricate the frame rails. Use something like Mil-Comm TW-25B or Enos Slide Glide. I think your wear problem will decrease and stop with further use. There is probably no need for concern at this time. Use grease.

This.

Bruce Gray says that he's seen the .357 SIG guns show some additional or accelerated wear than 9mm or .40 S&W guns. However, as others have suggested, using a better lube more liberally (and then perhaps a thin layer of oil over that for extended range sessions) will help mitigate frame and slide wear.

Also keep in mind that the degree of frame/slide wear seems to vary greatly among SIGs. I've had some that demonstrated wear very quickly and then stopped. Other guns have the same number of rounds through them and show very little wear.

I have been told that .40's and .357's do have some slide wear at the ends of the slide. I do not know this first hand due to only having 9mm sigs.