SIG 1911 thoughts and SIG quality question

[LarryL]

I currently have a number of handguns from various makes including SIG.  I am considering adding a 2nd 1911 to my stable.  The one I looked at locally is the SIG two tone C3.  Two local shops have one.  One is asking $995, and the other is asking $1150. Anyone out there have any experience with the SIG 1911 platform, or this C3 in particular?

http://www.sigsauer.com/Products/ShowCatalogProductDetails.aspx?categoryid=25&productid=165#specs

One difference I see from the SIG site pics is that the beavertail grip safety is blued on both of the ones here locally.  I absolutely love the smoothed slide.  It is the most rounded off smoothed corners I have ever seen on a 1911, and would make a slick carry gun.  I would like the grip to be slightly longer so I can get the last finger on it.  I don't know if they have a commander sized frame and slide version with the same smoothed slide.

I'm puzzled on mag capacity.  On the C3 it says mag capacity 7, but says 6+1 in the description.  On their Stainless carry model it says mag capacity 8, and  says 8+1 in the description (see link below).  I'm not sure which one of these is in error.  Anyone out there have any comment on this?

http://www.sigsauer.com/Products/ShowCatalogProductDetails.aspx?categoryid=25&productid=132

I currently have a SIG 228 in 9mm that I've had for close to 15 years.  Quality is superb.  The finish is worn off on the corners of the slide now, but it still shoots flawlessly and is very accurate.  I don't shoot as much as most of you, but I probably put 500 rounds a year through it.  In 15 years, I don't recall a single misfire or jam of any kind.  The only "problem" I have had is that the 100 round boxes of USA Winchester from Wal-mart don't seem to have quite enough oomph to engage the slide stop on the last round.  Corbon and other hot stuff works fine.

Recently a friend went to Kittery Trading Post and got negative feedback on SIG.  At the time, he was looking at a uses model 232 made in Germany.  The guy at the counter said that SIGs made in Germany were great, but the ones made in the US had a lot of quality problems.  He stated that the recently US made SIGs account for the most handgun returns of any guns in the case.  I have never heard anything negative about SIG before, so I wonder if it is true, or if it is just that he was trying to hype up the German made 232 he was trying to sell.  Has anyone out there heard anything like this?

Thanks!

[rockbilly]

One of prudent judgment should be aware of the fact that any item produced on a production line may contain a flaw from time to time. I am quite sure this is true for Sig, but it is also true for many other manufactures.  I recently had two Kimbers that were pure trash, one went back to the factory several times but the stovepipe and jam problems were never corrected, both guns found new homes.  I own several Sigs and have never had a problem with any of them, I have burned thousands of rounds through the 9mms, and have fired quite a few through the .45s with no problems what so ever.  It is possible that you may purchase a bad Sig, but not very probable.................

[LarryL]

thanks Rockbilly,

That was my experience with SIG too.  It just struck me as odd to hear that kind of feedback from a large dealer like Kittery Trading Post.  KTP is perhaps the largest gun dealer in all of Maine and NH.  They have many many hundreds of long guns and several hundred handguns in their cases, new and used, from pretty much every manufacturer.  Hearing negative feedback from a dealer of that size made me wonder.  Maybe it was just a zealous sales guy trying to B.S. my buddy into thinking he was getting a great opportunity to get a "German made" SIG instead of American made.  It just seemed strange that he said American made SIGs were accounting for more returns than any other manufacturer of new guns they were selling?!  I mean come on, Taurus vs SIG?!  Not to knock Taurus, but I know several people who have had trouble with them.  I'm sure they exist, but I don't know a single person who has had trouble with a SIG.  Of course I have no idea if those were German or American made SIGs.

[Ole Man Dan]

Late Reply:

I've had a Sig GSR 1911 for some time.  I've never had any problems with it.  I bought it used...  The previous owner called it a jam-a-matic, (He was 'Limp Wristing it', and using some trashy USA type mags. No wonder he had problems.)  I trashed em, and bought a bunch of Wilson mags, and  load only Jacketed ammo for all my semi-autos.
I've had no failures to feed or extract (3,000 plus rounds). 
My GSR shoots tight groups at 25 and 50 yards.   I'm a happy camper...  The GSR quickly became my carry gun. 
This is a serious gun for serious carry.  No complaints from me on quality control.  I may be the lucky one, but I've never bought anything from Sig that had quality problems, or that didn't work as advertised.  HINT:  I've got a bunch of Sigs.

[SHOOTALL]

funny how the gun companies have all tried to beat the 1911 for years and now so many have started building them !
Bet JOHN M. BROWNING is smiling , with approval of course !
the sig's i have owned and shot were top notch as far as quality . I just didn't like how high they set in my hand .

[wvshooter]

I have a 1911 SIG TTT that I purchased Aug 08.  The weapon has been a delight.  Ive shot some FMJ through it but shoot primarily 200 grain LSWC home loads through it.  I have beeen extremely happy with this gun.  It is reliable and accurate.

[rockbilly]

As I said in my post yesterday, I shot one!  It is a fine shooter and seems to be quality all the way.  It may have some parts that will interchange with a 1911 Colt, but ther are also major differences in the guns, one that is readlly noticeable is the external extractor on the Sig.

In my opinion, If Sig put their name on it, it is a quality piece and worthy of condersation when buying.

As I have posted many times, "If I get caught in a SHTF situation and my butt is on the line I hope I am packing a Sig.

[32 Magnum]

I bought a GSR 1911 in stainless, back when they first came on the market - 5...6 years ago (?).  It is a beauty.  However, during the first trip to the range, I shot 36 rounds through it and the slide jammed open.  When I inspected the problem, I found that the little "spanner" screw on the right side of the slide had come loose and allowed the firing pin block plunger and spring to drop down and that is what was jamming the slide in the open position.  I pushed it back in place and tried to tighten the spanner screw - no luck.  So I called SIG ARMS service and they FAXed a prepaid UPS shipping label to me.  I boxed the gun up the next day, sent it out UPS and within 10 days it was back in my hands with a letter explaining that someone had failed to put "LokTite" on the threads of the spanner screw.  They replaced the plunger and spring - just in case they were damaged and sent the piece through their custom shop for a complete trigger job - to compensate for my trouble.  I took it to the range and damn if they didn't smooth out the trigger to what I'm estimating to be a competition level.  It is one of my favorite pieces and it performs excellently with ANY of the ammo I've tried - even the cheapest stuff.  Accuracy is also excellent, with 3/4" to 1" groups routine at 25 FEET, off hand.  I called the QC Manager who signed the letter and thanked him, he seemed surprised to hear from a satisfied customer, but then, as I've spent over 30 years in QC, I realize that most calls these folks get are irate and complaints.
There were two articles published, early during the initial issue period, one in "Guns & Ammo" and one in its sister publication "Handguns" about this piece.  The author stated that this gun is the result of giving "carte blanche" to a top level national shooter, his name escapes me, with the instruction to design a production piece using all the best domestically (USA) produced custom internals that he would personally use to build a competition piece - and so he did.  The GSR is the result - if you were to buy a bare bones 1911 frame and install all the parts used by SIGARMS, it would cost you well over 2 grand.  SIGS are fine guns and have an excellent reputation, which in my experience, is well deserved - including their customer service.
http://links.pictures.aol.com/pic/9c407f0fnhDr6iHXIX*AWfggu9BGD4ieoffkv4xQp5Fd3Ig=_l.jpg

[rockbilly]

32 Magnum.  I am sure that many of the parts from the Colt 1911 MAY interchange with those on a Sig, but they are two diffrent guns, they have things that may appear to be the same, but are not.  One of the major things that comes to view immediately is the Colt employs an internal extractor,  while the Sig has an external extractor, two totally diffent systems.

[32 Magnum]

Rockbilly,
Thanks for your input.  I've shot 1911's since the late 1960's, while on active duty with the Army - including qualifying - was required to carry one while on courier duty and as an aircraft crewman in Viet Nam, so I do have some experience with them.  As you say, the external extractor on the SIG is different - as to the other internal parts perhaps not fitting in a "standard" 1911 - you'd have to take up that claim with SigArms, Exeter NH.  They're the ones making the claim that was reiterated in their literature and in the two magazine articles.  From my experience with the piece that I own, it is top notch with regard to fit, finish and function and all the parts (except for the external extractor) sure seem to be in the same shape and position as on a mil-spec 1911 A1. Thanks again.
Jim Hauff