Good day folks, I have a P220 Euro 9mm that is many moons old. In the last three years I have put about 20K rounds through it without a hitch. In the last two weeks all of a sudden I get a stove pipe with a fresh round, not a round that failed to eject. I don't know what that malfunction is called. But it's a perfect vertical jammed btween the breech and slide. I have done a lot of amature smithing and after the first time I went ahead and did a full strip, frame and all, cleaned lubed and inspected it and found nothing that appeared out of the ordinary. Once again this weekend I had another. I use my own reloads and nothing has changed with them. At least 15K of them through it. I do have a holosun dot on it, but that's been on for a year or so now. I'm a little baffeled on this. Any Ideas on what causes this? Thanks in advance, Mike R

My first thought is a problem with the magazine.
The obvious first test is to see if it occurs with only one mag as well as inspecting the magazine to look for any obvious damage or how it may differ from others. If you switch among magazines, mark the one(s) it occurs with.

A new recoil spring fixed a similar problem with mine.

I am not sure if you replaced the springs when you, "full strip, frame and all, cleaned lubed and inspected it and found nothing that appeared out of the ordinary."

If not, replace all springs. Springs are a routine maintenance part, every 5,000 rounds according to Sig. I replace mine around 5,000 to 10,000 rounds whether they seem to need replacing or not.

quote:

Originally posted by sigfreund:
My first thought is a problem with the magazine.
The obvious first test is to see if it occurs with only one mag as well as inspecting the magazine to look for any obvious damage or how it may differ from others. If you switch among magazines, mark the one(s) it occurs with.

Good point, I have 6 and will number them for this weekends shoot.

quote:

Originally posted by Alpha Bravo:
A new recoil spring fixed a similar problem with mine.

That was a thought to. I'll test mags this weekend first and won't hurt to order a spring.

My question here is directly tied to the two suggestions above. With 20k rounds through it, have you followed the recommended maintenance schedule? When was the last time you changed the springs?

Next question has nothing to do with the stove pipe. Since your SIG is many moons old, I'll assume that it's a folded slide gun. If so, how did you put the red dot on it? Thanks.

quote:

Originally posted by 12131:
My question here is directly tied to the two suggestions above. With 20k rounds through it, have you followed the recommended maintenance schedule? When was the last time you changed the springs?

Next question has nothing to do with the stove pipe. Since your SIG is many moons old, I'll assume that it's a folded slide gun. If so, how did you put the red dot on it? Thanks.

As for maintenance not to any schedule but frequently cleaned and lubed. As mentioned ocassionaly a complete frame strip.
Since it has perfromed with no trouble for so long I have not replaced the recoil spring yet! I'll be ordering one today.

As for the Red Dot that was a piece of cake, just knocked out the OEM rear sight and popped in a plate for the Holosun. Was quite easy and quick.

Well, based on what you said there, my money is on the recoil spring. I had similar issue with running my previously new P228 to about 12k rounds without changing recoil spring. It was running fine until it wasn't. Started to get a couple of FTRTB due to weakened spring. Weakened spring leads to worse pounding repeatedly on the frame, which could lead to irreversible damage. Should change it every 5k rounds.

quote:

Originally posted by 12131:
Well, based on what you said there, my money is on the recoil spring. I had similar issue with running my previously new P228 to about 12k rounds without changing recoil spring. It was running fine until it wasn't. Started to get a couple of FTRTB due to weakened spring. Weakened spring leads to worse pounding repeatedly on the frame, which could lead to irreversible damage. Should change it every 5k rounds.

Thanks for that info,

Need to ask an additonal question on the recoil spring. I was looking over Wolf and others and everyone of them have springs and or kits but all of them include .45, .357. 40SW etc. None have said specifically for 9MM so I'm concerned about proper physical size.

I stick with Sig OEM for springs. My first place to buy from is Top Gun Supply and then directly from Sig.

Edited to add a welcome to the forum. Lots of smart folks here. I learn something every day.

The breech block roll pins are supposed to be changed every 5,000 rounds. The breech block might be loose, but not perceptibly so, but is moving slightly during recoil.

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:
The breech block roll pins are supposed to be changed every 5,000 rounds.

A good point that never occurred to me.
If the breech block is loose even a little, perhaps that could affect how the extractor engages—or doesn’t engage—the cartridge, causing the round to flip and end up in the position you describe.

The other reason for replacing the roll pins is that a loose breech block reportedly allows the slide to flex and that puts extra stress on the frame rails and can contribute to their breaking.

The shooter in this video says he was getting failures to fire with the loose breech block.

Regardless if this is the issue causing problems in the OP's pistol, if that pistol has 20,000 rounds through it and has the original roll pins, I would say that it is a very good idea to replace them.

Yeah, 20k rounds without changing anything is invitation to failures.

Send to Sig for SSP. If you want to DIY, replace pins, recoil springs and mag springs. Ensure that over time, the mag lips have not changed.

Update 11/30/2024 Shot 6 magazines today and #5 failed me every time, Sometimes twice.
I bought to Triple K P220 Mags a few months back and this is one of them, #6 hasn't failed yet.

I'll be making another range trip tomorrow to verify a second time. I'm guessing since I haven't had time that the feed lips are out of spec. Seems as though I could to easily tip up[ a round compared to the other 5.

Secondly I am ordering Recoil springs as good measure, as for the roll pins, My breach block is rock solid, nothing like the video posted.

Seems as though once you post you can't edit.
Don't have time to learn the forum right now, hopefully this link will bring up the picture.
Mike R

quote:

Originally posted by MikeSRuth:
Seems as though once you post you can't edit.

You have edit permissions for your posts.

quote:

Originally posted by MikeSRuth:
#5 failed me every time ...
I bought to Triple K P220 Mags a few months back and this is one of them

Two clues:
The same magazine every time and an aftermarket magazine at that.

As a general rule unless there is no alternative, trying to diagnose and fix a bad magazine is not worth the effort (or ammunition needed to check).