SIG P226 Slide Rattle

[ScottDLS]

I've got a SIG P226 9mm that I picked up used at a gun store in Dallas. Some markings on the box seemed to suggest it was a police dept gun. Anyway, I find that the slide seems to rattle against the frame when moving the gun quickly. I don't like this at all and have not carried it since I bought it. I shot it recently and it seemed accurate enough. Any ideas to fix this? Slide moves very slightly forward and backward and up and down. I've got a 11yr Beretta 92 that's rock solid...

[seamusTX]

IMHO, that's normal for the P series. The stamped slides of pre-1996 SIGs can't have the 0.001-inch tolerances of machined slides. OTOH, they are more resistant to dirt. I've put thousands of rounds through mine without a single failure.

If you don't have the SIG date code secret decoder ring, you can look it up.

- Jim

[ScottDLS]

IMHO, that's normal for the P series. The stamped slides of pre-1996 SIGs can't have the 0.001-inch tolerances of machined slides. OTOH, they are more resistant to dirt. I've put thousands of rounds through mine without a single failure.

If you don't have the SIG date code secret decoder ring, you can look it up.

- Jim

Thanks Jim. I think mine's an early-90's gun. It came w/ two 15rd mags (no LE-only markings), so I'm assuming pre-94. Box looks too old to be post '04. Pretty sure I have one of the stamped slides. It seems very accurate. For a full size 9mm I really like the feel/profile/etc. I'm just a little disappointed with the loose slide. I guess this is going to be my car carry gun. Just pulled out the receipt for it and I paid an outrageous price in '05...$625. My Beretta 92SF was $519 new.

[seamusTX]

If it's a German-built pistol, the date code is under the muzzle. They substitute letters to for digits:
A-0
B-1
C-2
D-3
E-4
F-5
G-6
H-7
J-8
K-9

So a piece manufactured in 1993 would have KD.

SIGs that were manufactured in the U.S. have different date codes.

The Wikipedia article is pretty good: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SIG_P226" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

- Jim

[WEC]

Have you cleaned the gun recently? I have a friend who recently bought a used Sig P229 that had a bit of a rattle but when he cleaned it the rattle disappeared.

[ScottDLS]

If it's a German-built pistol, the date code is under the muzzle. They substitute letters to for digits:
A-0
B-1
C-2
D-3
E-4
F-5
G-6
H-7
J-8
K-9

So a piece manufactured in 1993 would have KD.

SIGs that were manufactured in the U.S. have different date codes.

The Wikipedia article is pretty good: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SIG_P226" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

- Jim

Has KA and the German proof mark. 1990 I guess.


EDIT: 8/17 - Found out when mag loaded it doesn't have the rattle. Must be the cartridge pushing up on the bottom of the slide.