broke my sig-sauer .40 cal today......

[Bhawanna]

i had a buddy of mine to load some 200gr .40 cal bullets for me for "special security" and i wanted to try them out.  the first 13 rounds were great....lots of punch!  the third round on the second magazine broke the recoil spring guide in my sig.  the spring guide and the spring got all twisted and mangled between the slide and the frame and i couldn't take the gun apart.  after an hour of finese and patience,  i finally got the slide off with a jeweler's screw driver and a dental tool.  i am ordering a new guide and spring kit from wolff on monday.  guess i'm gonna have to change the factory 17lb spring to a 20lb in order to handle these big rounds.......just my luck!!!!... :emoticon:

[HILMAN76]

Wolff makes awesome springs. I changed all my springs on my blow back design pistols to tame the recoil and hard double action. I changed them on two cz82's and two pa63's all in 9x18 Makarov .

http://www.gunsprings.com/

[Bogey]

Roger, are you shooting a  pistol chambered for the .40SW?   Or a 10mm pistol?   What you discribed is very violent recoil and could be the result of a couple of factors none of which are safe.  A heavier recoil spring may not be the answer.   For the recoil you desribed, the chamber pressure had to be off the charts.   The 200 grain slug is intended for the 10mm and is  not a good choice for a .40 SW.   The 40 SW round is a high pressure cartridge and is at its best with bullets in the 150 to 180 grain weights.  Also you should inquire as to the powders used and in what grain weight for the charge.   And where did the load data come from.   I quit using reloads done by others years ago due to a simular event.  A Colt in .45 ACP was blown apart by a jackass who just filled the cases with Bullseye powder and thought that was reloading.    I only shoot my own reloads now.

Be careful, a pistol coming apart in your hand is not a pleasant event.

[RedFeather]

Why some ranges here don't allow reloads. I would check his whole load, including primers. Also, Google on the guy who writes for the gun mags (Ayoob?). He always cautions against home grown self defense loads. A good defense attorney can turn them on you in a heart beat and, suddenly, YOU'RE the bad guy.

[jwh2]

Now if it's broken I'll give you $20.00 for it just to keep my Sigs company. What is your Sig .40? I have a P226 in .40 and a P239 in .9mm. Got to love em. I picked up a new HK USP .45 Friday and I got to tell you it's got a slight edge over my Sigs for fit and finish.

[triry]

back in the day,...............i used to put an average of 1000rds a month through my P220 in .45acp. it was my primary duty weapon, and one i carried off-duty and in plainclothes as well.
wolff springs were used throughout along with a harts recoil reducer ( ful length mercury filled guide rod) it made for fast transition and followups, typically i carried 3 mags of 230 grain hydrashoks, and carried one magazine of 230 grain ball ...................
and an airweight hammerless loaded with federal nyclads on my left  ankle  

[snatch]

Be careful with those loads. I was told to never use reloads from someone else. If you do go with the heavier spring you will have problems with the cheaper ammo that you may want to shoot at the range and be stuck having to buy the premium stuff to get it to work in your gun.