I snagged a total beater W. German P220 (1991 ser. no) off Gunbroker for pretty cheap and I’m not sure where to start with it. I took the grips off and there was some rust on the springs, so it’s definitely getting a new spring kit. Is this surface rust the kind of stuff that can easily be removed with mineral spirits or some kind of parts cleaner? I was kind of thinking of sending it to CCR too, but am not sure what kind of finish I want on it. And the lower front corners of the trigger guard have a lot of wear on them, almost like it was used to practice quick draws in a metal holster. LOL. I have a lot of P220s, so this doesn’t have to come out like a holy grail. Gimme some ideas.

Definitely CCR for that slide to be plated in their CPII (original) or CPII Dusk (blackish). The frame can be done in Cera-Hide Black. You won't be disappointed with the result.

Oil it up, springs, new sights and make it a dedicated training gun?

Or have CCR coat it and make it a training gun. Haha.

I have another sort of beater W. German P220 that is a lot cleaner, but still has a cool patina about it. I like it a lot and will leave it as is. This one, however, needs some more TLC.

Send it to Sig for the SSP and then to CCR.

Were it mine, I'd likely hit it with some oiled fine steel wool to knock the rust off, oil it up good and shoot the snot out of it as-is. Put the money you saved on a refinish into ammo. It's a classic that you don't have to worry about marring up. I would change the springs, though.

Thinking that a little oil and steel wool would shine it up nicely.

Definitely scrub down every piece and new springs as you said.

You'll have one you can practice with and not worry about.

Let us know what you ultimately decide.

What kind of oil would you guys suggest for the steel wool treatment?

The first thing to do is to find the sumbitch who let that happen to that pistol and give him such a pinch.

I'd second what Para said. Someone out there needs a lil pimp slap.

0000 steel wool and kroil/WD-40 type oil. Clean it up, then whatever gun oil you prefer.

Id take a serious look at refinishing it. I haven't used them, but no one has a bad word to say about CCR. Robar, out in Phoenix closed up shop a few years back, but IIRC, most of their people went to another refinishing company near by... I just can't remember the name.

quote:

Originally posted by CPD SIG:
0000 steel wool and kroil/WD-40 type oil. Clean it up, then whatever gun oil you prefer.

I've had great success with bronze wool. It's less abrasive than steel wool and will not leave any microscopic remnants that can rust. 3-packs are available at the orange box store or from the big on-line retailer.

Considering the Arizona climate, I have to suspect that gun didn’t spend its whole life in AZ
Before I moved to wonderful AZ I lived in a rather humid area of the northeast and rarely saw rusty guns.

Since a dry climate once cleaned rust is unlikely to accelerate I would clean it up not refinish and use as a training gun.

I have never been a fan of refinishing, as you never get the value back out of the base gun plus cost of refinishing down the road.

I am a bit strange in that I have a soft spot for ugly rough guns that still shoot well.
I get a special satisfaction shooting a good or great score in a match with a rough basic gun - I like it even more when I shoot a better score than the fancy gun guys and girls

The gun was shipped from a dealer in MA. It was listed as a "gunsmith's special." But as far as I can see, it just needs cosmetic work aside from new springs.

I live 10 min from where Robar was and they've NP3'ed a lot of guns for me. I hadn't heard about their employees going elsewhere and offering Robar's coatings. Wright Armory in Mesa took over the dis- and reassembly work for Robar, which I was never gonna deal with, having to drive 30 miles to pay someone to do what Robar used to do and have them deliver the gun to Robar, passing my house on the way.

Anyway, I did have Wright Armory do some other gunsmith work for me recently and I asked about NP3 getting licensed to others. They said it's still being worked out, but they hope to have their own licensed NP3 finish available by end of this year. But I know it will be outrageously expensive.

quote:

Originally posted by YooperSigs:
Send it to Sig for the SSP and then to CCR.

This!!!

quote:

Definitely CCR for that slide to be plated in their CPII (original) or CPII Dusk (blackish). The frame can be done in Cera-Hide Black. You won't be disappointed with the result.

No but your bargain will be wiped out by the cost; $289 - $409 depending on which of their finishes you pick, plus rust removal and shipping.

I am in the steel wool and springs camp. Don't enrich Fedups sending it hither thither and yon.

IF I send it out for refinishing, it's not going overnight. Eff those carriers. Their rules ain't laws. Still not sure what to do, but I have a week long business trip tomorrow, so I'l dig in after that.

I might be tempted to have fun . Tour begins at 6:10. It looks like the frame is in decent shape.

Guessing corrosion from saltwater environment (boat), put up wet.

Your timing is great we are getting ready to offer our annual Holiday Sale soon. We also will have shipping labels available

Take off the grips and soak the gun in Ed's Red for a week. When you pull it out give it a very light wipe down with 0000 Steel Wool.

Clean it up and shoot the heck out of it.