Wow ! I'm really surprised on how little wear the pistol shows. I would never guess it had that many rounds through it.

I like the "One Way and --> " on the range wall.

Well it also shows the straight trigger bar spring still works, didn't break.

PHASE 2: ********************
Well, I guess I didn’t stick to my original plan of “less volume and longer term” after the first 10k rounds, because I got pretty excited and motivated to push the gun harder. So, 10,000 rounds more went through it in even less time (less than 4 weeks) than the first 10k.

Ammo used:
Geco 115 FMJ = 1100 rds
Geco 124 FMJ = 1000 rds
Magtech 115 FMJ = 1000 rds
Magtech 124 FMJ = 2000 rds
S&B 124 FMJ = 900 rds
Fed AE 124 FMJ = 850 rds
Blazer Brass 124 FMJ = 650 rds
PPU 124 FMJ = 650 rds
Speer Lawman 124 TMJ = 1350 rds
Speer 124 GDHP = 29 rds
Freedom 115 RN = 471 rds


Range sessions: 2/5/19 - 2/27/19
#01- 02/05/19: 500 rds
#02- 02/06/19: 500 rds
#03- 02/08/19: 500 rds
#04- 02/10/19: 500 rds
#05- 02/12/19: 500 rds
#06- 02/14/19: 500 rds
#07- 02/15/19: 500 rds
#08- 02/16/19: 500 rds
#09- 02/19/19: 1000 rds
#10- 02/20/19: 1000 rds
#11- 02/21/19: 1000 rds
#12- 02/22/19: 971 rds
#13- 02/26/19: 1029 rds
#14- 02/27/19: 1000 rds

Conclusions/observations/comments:

- From 10,000 to 20,000, gun was cleaned every 2000 rounds.

- For the 1000-rd sessions, at midway point, gun was given additional lube, with EWL dripped along the rails.

- After 10,000 rds, the original recoil spring was getting pretty soft. But, I kept going with it to see how long it would last. Then, between 11,500 and 12,000, it finally exceeded its useful life, resulting several (12) failures to completely return to battery. A light tap to the rear of the slide each time got it going again. After 12,000 rounds, the recoil spring was replaced with new factory spring (see pic). Note that these failures are totally user fault for pushing the recoil spring way beyond its recommended life, and has nothing to do with the gun itself.

- All other springs remain original.

- Breech block roll pins unchanged. Breech block still immobile.

- Between round 17,500 and 17,971, when the crappy Freedom ammo was used, there were 2 “catastrophic” failures that rendered the gun inoperable – case separations! (see pics) These were old ammo when Freedom was still using the stepped cases for their brass, which had been known to result in case separations (but unknown to me, until this personal experience). Again, this is not the gun’s fault. Note to self, stay away from crappy Freedom ammo.

- There is more wear now on the barrel and the frame rails, and that’s inevitable. The gun now rattles like the spray paint can. But, it still functions beautifully. 20,000 rounds in less than 9 weeks. TO HELL AND BACK RELIABILITY is an understatement.

-The break-in period is over. Now, I can confidently CC this thing.

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PICS:

Barrel wear from 10k to 20k

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Range days

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Gun at 20k, all cleaned up

This message has been edited. Last edited by: 12131,

That is some serious dedication, Q. Very impressive!

Does this mean we won't be getting the annual 2/28 "family" picture, since you just put all your time into this effort?

thanks q for the great pics & story.

Damn. I know 9mm is cheap right now but damn!

I'm assuming you don't reload since it's been all factory/retail reman ammo, so I hope your range is giving you a discount for all of the brass you've given them in the last 2 months.

damn, I need a p228 again. Definitely my favorite Sig.

Thanks for these, Q - I really love this stuff you post!

That recoil spring picture is gold. Solid test, Q. Congrats!!

Just out of curiosity, is EWL/EWL30 your preferred gun lubricant in general for your guns? Or did you decide that would be an extra way to torture test the gun? Not trying to judge or anything of course, it’s just I’ve noticed that sig owners take to grease more than oil (even though EWL30 is more “groil” as you put it) for keeping their pistols lubed.

Your gun looks to have held up amazingly well, and the frame rails don’t show any alarming wear, which is what people who choose grease instead of oil worry about most. It’s cool, because you’ve basically proven that so long as it’s well-lubricated all the time, that it doesn’t necessarily need to be with a thick heavy grease. At least for a nickel P228 anyway

I hate grease. Used to use it, but once I discovered the "groil" EWL30, no more grease for me. The EWL30 is not grease thick, but it is thick enough to not run off like the thinner oil. So, it is the middle ground. And, it is a breeze to clean.

There is no way I will pass on the next P228 I come across after seeing this. Very well done, sir!

An extreme accomplishment for the gun and the shooter. Wow.

Thank's great report! I would suggest you change the recoilspring every 5'000 round per SIG recommandation, a weak recoilspring let the slide strike the frame with more forces than designed and with long term use, can crack the frame. it would be bad if your frame crack in the next 20'000 rounds due to a weack recoil spring.( We want to see more thousands rounds through this little incredible P228 )
It's clear that if the breachblock doesn't move you don't need to change te dual rollpins.
Long live the P228!!!

Great report, pics and documentation of the data!
I'm going to try the EWL30 product too.

Thats a great review and that pistol still looks new. I have a KA P228NI #109xxx acquired over Christmas on GB and after a thorough cleaning and tune up from the Sig Armorer and a lengthy session with Flitz it looks great and I am so glad I picked it up. It does have a little smiley below the takedown lever. Is there any way to touch that up or would I have to have the whole frame re done?

There is no more room to question the nickle finish for durability. Sinse you say this gun has loosened to the point of rattle, any idea what parts or areas have worn in to where it is loose ? I ask because I had a P228 in very nice condition but it rattled on top until I inserted a full magazine. How'd the trigger finger hold up Doc ? Need medical attention ?

Awesome report 12131!! Nicely detailed with pics, not many can do this. Like the "smiley" target...

Awesome story, but I'm wondering why you gave Yasser Arafat and Fidel Castro a pass?

quote:

Originally posted by 12131:
I hate grease. Used to use it, but once I discovered the "groil" EWL30, no more grease for me. The EWL30 is not grease thick, but it is thick enough to not run off like the thinner oil. So, it is the middle ground. And, it is a breeze to clean.

Sounds good my man. I’ll have to give the EWL30 a shot. I’ve been using slide glide standard, and the remnants of my “sig high definition gun grease” tube, which have been great, but I’ve had the problem with slide glide that the excess just smears all over when I try to clean it off. Doesn’t impede functionality, but a bit annoying