UPDATED: Problems on refurbished Sig P226. New progress...

Ok...you made me go look. :)
I bought a factory refurb'd P220 (.45ACP) a few months ago. I was initially looking for a nice refurb 226 in .40cal, but it became obvious after looking in a few stores that the P220's were in almost pristine condition, and the P226's were...well...used. What jumped out at me was the rattling slides on the P226's and the scuffed frames (SIG does NOT re-anodize the frames when they refurbish these pistols).
IMHO, the P220's are the best buy in a refurb SIG. If I was to buy a P226, it would either be new, or near new trade-in at a gunshop.
Here's my P220:

P220.jpg
 
My slide does not rattle on my 226 and is in near perfect condition. Everyone who saw it thought it was new gun and I had to show them the CPO band for them to believe me.

334smec.jpg
 
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I know, but this was my first handgun so I wanted 9MM because its cheaper (so far) to feed. I think I'll be getting a .45 next either a 1911 platform or finish my AR upper.
 
--Terry-- said:
Well, not all of my questions were answered......

I will feel more comfortable buying refurbished if I am told that those pistols were actually NOT sighted in.

But if they had been, then it means the barrel lock-up is not right.
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If you're talking about the ones from SIG Arms, I've noticed that some of the latest ones have the "SIG Arms" import stamp done on them separately, which means they were brought in from Europe recently.

There aren't many units that use the P226 in Europe, I wonder if they're from the middle East.

Regardless, you get what you pay for. Just make sure the serial number is higher than U149937 and you should be okay, but I seriously doubt SIG Arms would sell guns with serial numbers lower than that because of all the known problems with them.

Rough trigger pulls and off centre sights are nothing to get terribly worked up about, usually a proper lubrication and a brass pin punch will sort that out. At worst you might need to do some minor polishing with a Dremmel tool.

If you're that worried about it, then yes, buy a new one.
 
--Terry-- said:
Maybe I did not make myself clear.

It is not about adjusting the sights. I can do that myself. What I don't know is whether the sights were installed off-centre intentionally by Sig during sighting in (bad), or was it just some minor carelessness (good).

Once the transfer is complete, I will be stuck with this one if the barrel lock-up is off.
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Or worse yet, that the sights have moved since they left the factory, which means they might be loose.
 
Terry, it sounds like you really need to get that gun out to the range and start shooting it!

We didn't see you and your wife out there this past Saturday... get out there as soon as you can and ease your mind!

It is not unheard of for guns to come out of the factory not sighted in properly. I strongly suspect that you will be making a few adjustments and that the pistol will work great for you.

I know this is a totally different situation, but just anecdotally, you and I both bought our Mosquitos from the same shop, same Canadian distributor, same German factory. Both guns came with targets from the factory. Yours was fine out of the box (except that you switched to the tallest front site). On my gun, I needed to switch to the tallest front site, and the rear site was all the way moved to the right... and sure enough it shot left every time. I moved the rear sight into the middle and sure enough it was dead-on. Some German doofus in the factory shot 5 rounds into a target and signed off on that pistol before it shipped out. And there is no way it was sighted in for anybody at any distance.

Your situation is probably the same. GET OUT TO THAT SHOOTING RANGE and start making the adjustments!

I'm sure it will be a great gun. Can't wait to try it myself :rockOn: Are the two of you going to be out there on Saturday? PM me. You guys haven't tried my USP yet either.
 
Six Star said:
Ok...you made me go look. :)
I bought a factory refurb'd P220 (.45ACP) a few months ago. I was initially looking for a nice refurb 226 in .40cal, but it became obvious after looking in a few stores that the P220's were in almost pristine condition, and the P226's were...well...used. What jumped out at me was the rattling slides on the P226's and the scuffed frames (SIG does NOT re-anodize the frames when they refurbish these pistols).
IMHO, the P220's are the best buy in a refurb SIG. If I was to buy a P226, it would either be new, or near new trade-in at a gunshop.
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Where did you get it, that is a nice gun? It has the old VA import stamp on it, which dates it, from the looks of it they've replaced the whole trigger mech, the takedown lever, the grips, the grip screws and the magazines.
 
cybershooters said:
Just make sure the serial number is higher than U149937 and you should be okay, but I seriously doubt SIG Arms would sell guns with serial numbers lower than that because of all the known problems with them.
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The serial # on the one I paid for was U4422xx. I wonder whether anybody knows the approximate manufacturing date/period.
 
ghostie said:
GET OUT TO THAT SHOOTING RANGE and start making the adjustments!

I'm sure it will be a great gun. Can't wait to try it myself :rockOn: Are the two of you going to be out there on Saturday? PM me. You guys haven't tried my USP yet either.
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You got a USP?? I'd like to try it, too! Never shot one before.

Yes, I've decided to just go ahead and have the refurb P226 registered this week. Hopefully I will have it by the weekend.

Dear God, make this gun work. Please.
 
U4428XX is my serial number.

This thread should help you out. http://ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=5&f=14&t=39757

Your looking for
DATE%20CODE.JPG
on the bottom of the slide. Mine was KA and using that numbers code K is 9 and A is 0; = 1990.

I got 200 rounds through my gun this weekend, functioned flawlessly, shot more accurate than I am. I need to pick my self up some ammo and get to practicing.
 
cybershooters said:
Where did you get it, that is a nice gun? It has the old VA import stamp on it, which dates it, from the looks of it they've replaced the whole trigger mech, the takedown lever, the grips, the grip screws and the magazines.
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Yes, I did find a nice one. I purchased it from Reliable Gun & Tackle in Vancouver last autumn, who had a variety of the 'blue band' refurbs in stock. This particular P220 caught my eye for obvious reasons...it looked brand new. All the parts that you listed are indeed newly updated/replaced by SIGarms, and the pistol looks as if it probably sat in an armoury since new (it's date code is JK which as you know is 1989).
I just wish SIG hadn't decided on a bright red box for these guns....very, very difficult to smuggle past the Guardian of the Gate when she greeted me at the front door. :D
Oh, edited to add: Serial number starts with "G"
 
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Remeber, there may be a HUGE difference between "CPO" (certified pre-owned) that only come in RED gun cases and "refurbed" SIGs.

CPO guns are good to go.... Refurbs are simply used guns.

Sounds like the pistols you were looking at were NOT CPO guns.

my opinion only...
 
TSE JR said:
CPO guns are good to go.... Refurbs are simply used guns.

Sounds like the pistols you were looking at were NOT CPO guns.

my opinion only...
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+1

Mine was in fantastic condition IMHO. And the price is an absolute steal. Buy two...
 
TSE JR said:
Remeber, there may be a HUGE difference between "CPO" (certified pre-owned) that only come in RED gun cases and "refurbed" SIGs.

CPO guns are good to go.... Refurbs are simply used guns.

Sounds like the pistols you were looking at were NOT CPO guns.

my opinion only...
Click to expand...

The ones I looked at did had a red case with one-year warranty. And the blue paper wrap on the grip. Is it CPO, then?
 
I have a similar problem with my Sig P226 that i bought refurb. The sights are way off. It shoots to the right. Ive had some problems with factory ammo jamming in the .40 cal barrel that came with the gun until i had it polished a little. The .357 was fine though. Overall im happy with the gun, just have to work out the kinks :)
 
More info, please. You said "the sights are way off, it shoots to the right."

Did you mean the sights are off, you did not adjust them, and the gun shot to the right?

Or did you mean the gun shot to the right after you moved the sights to the dead centre?
 
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