A one of a kind FrankenSIG: 220ST in 9x19 - Topic Powered by eve community

So, some may have noticed that I've been gathering up 220 components lately. For some time now, I've been trying to gather all the parts necessary to capitalize on my good fortune.
In January 2007 I learned of the existence of a small number of one piece, stainless 220 slides with breechface dimensions compatible with the 9mm cartridge.
The part was originally intended to be a Force on Force conversion kit for the 220, that ultimately was never developed. The basis of the kit was a 9mm cartridge necked down to a .30 cal paint pellet. This is a Beta prototype, which means that it is produced with the correct materials, on the correct machines, and processed correctly. This slide is complete with the exception of any markings of any kind.

It took me a year to wrest this slide from the SIG collector who possessed it, and having obtained it, finally, in January of this year, I began to gather up the necessary parts for a complete pistol. In searching for a frame, I was fortunate enough to run into a 220ST frame, something I would have said one is not likely to encounter, but that's the way it turned out.
Being configured for the .45 ACP cartridge, I needed to change two components in the frame: a 9mm slide lock lever, which was relatively easy to obtain, and a 9mm locking insert, which was more difficult to obtain. Thanks, however, to the good folks at Top Gun Supply, I now have the insert I need. Also, 220-1 magazines in 9mm are needed. The 220-1 .38 Super mags supposedly work for 9mm as well, but I'd rather have the correct mags. I've managed to secure a few of these.
I installed a 220 9mm solid guide rod from Steve Bedair, switched out the slide lock lever and locking insert, and today tried out my new pistol.
I fired about 75 rounds total, divided between Remington 9mm3 fmj practice ammo and Speer 124 grain +P Gold Dots.
The pistol fired and ejected all chambered rounds, but I experienced roughly 20% misfeeds. Mostly, these were the last rounds in the mag. On some, it was the first round in the mag. That is to say, the first round would not chamber, getting hung up on the feed ramp on the locking insert. I would guess that the attitude of the top cartridge in a loaded single column mag is perhaps at a slightly different angle (lower) than subsequent rounds. It was interesting to see this happen not only with the hollowpoints, but also with the fmj ammo.
However, I'm not discouraged by this, as it could have been worse with my parts assembled from here and there.

A good gunsmith can correct this issue, and I've already discussed this pistol with Bruce Gray. It will be making a trip to his shop for the deluxe treatment and a Melonite finish. So more waiting is in the offing, but AFAIC it will be well worth it.

And how does it shoot? Well, as one might guess, a 40.5 ounce 9mm pistol is a bit on the mild side in terms of recoil.

With the Remington practice ammo, it felt only a little more than a .22, and even with the +P Gold Dots, it still was a pussycat. Hang a Surefire X-200 off the rail, and you'd have a great home defense piece.

So what are the chances of running into one of these slides? Well, there are 12 total in existence, and to the best of my knowledge, this is the only one in consumer hands. To be continued...

Posts: 24931 | Registered: January 20, 2000

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