Any firearm experts here? (specifically sig)?

Sauer Grapes · 02-27-2009, 05:18 PM

Bought a pre-owned safe queen that the owner claimed he never fired and was the original owner. Got it yesterday and I think "never been fired" must mean put a few clips through it. Gun is VERY clean, and looks great, but it appears the outside of the barrel shows signs of it being fired. My FFL, who isn't an expert agrees with my assumption. I wanted to get another opinion before emailing the seller. Of course, buyer beware always comes into play when buying anything "used."

My other sig, which has been fired countless times has MUCH more of the finish on the outside of the barrel worn off, but to me this doesn't look like something that the barrel would get from just taking the firearm down and putting it back together.

M1903A1 · 02-27-2009, 05:21 PM

Hmm...could somebody have been racking the slide a lot?

King James · 02-27-2009, 05:22 PM

do factories test fire?

I know absolutely nothing but just threw it out there

I will go back to my corner now and wait for the experts haha

elderboy02 · 02-27-2009, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M1903A1

Hmm...could somebody have been racking the slide a lot?

That is what I am thinking.

Sauer Grapes · 02-27-2009, 05:49 PM

Always possible, but wouldn't it take A LOT of racking to do that. He claims it was a safe queen and I wouldn't think he'd take it out and rack the slide a lot. Either way, it's *close* to new.

Smokin Gator · 02-27-2009, 05:52 PM

Yep... close to new!! Looks like to me it has more than just a few clips... but in the end it doesn't matter. If you got a good price then you have a GREAT piece at a good price.

JE3146 · 02-27-2009, 05:55 PM

What color box did it come in?

If it came in a red box, it's considered a CPO Sig, in which case it's a used gun that has been certified as 'like new.'

Clearly judging from the slide alone that is not a new piece.

Granted I'd take a used Sig over most new guns nowadays.

And Magazines people! Magazines! Put down the moonshine and talk like gun owners, not yokels

JaKaacH · 02-27-2009, 05:58 PM

Look at the breech face to see how "new" it looks there.
Thats where a lot of action takes place when the gun is fired, like stripping a round out of the clip-pushing it into the chamber-cartridge pushing against it when fired all in micro seconds.

Miller Lite is fine.

Nick · 02-27-2009, 05:58 PM

Manufacturers test fire the firearms so even if the previous owner never had fired it it still would have a few magazines through it. You still got a nice pistol at almost brand new condition. I wouldn't sweat the small stuff.

Sauer Grapes · 02-27-2009, 05:58 PM

Black case. I think it's *roughly* 8 years old or so.

My other sig was cpo and came in a red one.

tunes · 02-27-2009, 05:58 PM

I'm not an expert but I have a Glock 30 with more than it's fair share of rounds through it and it looks about the same... if the price is right and every thing seems tight, who cares?

02-27-2009, 05:59 PM

I sold handguns for 2 years during college (legitimately, I swear!) and would have to say that our display guns had the slides pulled a lot, and I mean A LOT and they never looked that worn. That one has had more than a few rounds through it. Hell of a cleaning job on it though...

Sauer Grapes · 02-27-2009, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick

Manufacturers test fire the firearms so even if the previous owner never had fired it it still would have a few magazines through it. You still got a nice pistol at almost brand new condition. I wouldn't sweat the small stuff.

Yeah, but to me it looks like more than a few rounds. Still less than a box or two of ammo.

Sauer Grapes · 02-27-2009, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tunes

I'm not an expert but I have a Glock 30 with more than it's fair share of rounds through it and it looks about the same... if the price is right and every thing seems tight, who cares?

Hmm... I'm not sure how a sig would show differently than a glock though. The glock I used to have never showed any wear like that either, so I dunno.

floydpink · 02-27-2009, 07:43 PM

If it was mine, I would take the barrel out and check the frame and make sure there are no machine burrs rubbing on it, which I suspect there is.

A light sanding with very fine sandpaper would smooth that out. I would then rub a small amount of Militec grease on the barell every time I cleaned it.

JE3146 · 02-27-2009, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by floydpink

If it was mine, I would take the barrel out and check the frame and make sure there are no machine burrs rubbing on it, which I suspect there is.

A light sanding with very fine sandpaper would smooth that out. I would then rub a small amount of Militec grease on the barell every time I cleaned it.

That is typical Sig barrel wear. Unless you're referring to something else.

My P229 shows the same wear on the barrel. It's a rub point by design.

JohnnyFlake · 02-27-2009, 09:00 PM

The shinny area on the barrel can develop quickly as it appears to be in the area that the slide bushing locks the barrel into battery when the weapon is ready to be fired. That is usually a very close tolerance fit. Simply racking the weapon a fair number of times could cause that.

There are two areas that should tell you if the gun has been fired more than a few times and they are the Feed Ramp on the barrel and the Breech Face, especially within a 3/8" circle surrounding the firing pin opening. It is very difficult to remove all signs of wear and burnt carbon that develops in those areas, especially on the Breech Face where the primer and cartridge case slam against it and ever so slightly cause very minor indentations over time.

If you have a jewelers eye piece (5X / 7X) use it and the slightest amount of true wear, brass residue and/or carbon residue will become evident, if the weapon has been fired very much.

BTW which model is it. I can't see very much of it and it's hard to tell.

floydpink · 02-27-2009, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JE3146

That is typical Sig barrel wear. Unless you're referring to something else.

My P229 shows the same wear on the barrel. It's a rub point by design.

I'm not too familiar with Sigs but am with Kel Tecs, which are famous for burrs and all kinds of stuff that needs minor gunsmithing.

I'd imagine Sigs are different though and much better made.

I'd also guess it's cosmetic and nothing to worry about, but I'm a revolver fan.

Sauer Grapes · 02-27-2009, 09:09 PM

It's a P229 Two Toned.

The feed ramp looks spotless and shows no signs.

I posted the same pics on sigforum and the consensus was that it was never fired outside of the factory. They said all of their new ones come looking like that and they call them smileys.

Sauer Grapes · 02-27-2009, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by floydpink

I'm not too familiar with Sigs but am with Kel Tecs, which are famous for burrs and all kinds of stuff that needs minor gunsmithing.

I'd imagine Sigs are different though and much better made.

I'd also guess it's cosmetic and nothing to worry about, but I'm a revolver fan.

It is definitely only a cosmetic thing. I've only had sig CPOs before this, and they have much more marking than this one.

My only concern was that I was told it was never fired. I believe the seller was truthful now.

Thanks for all the input guys! I should post pics of the entire firearm someday. (I actually almost have twins, but the other isn't near as good condition as this most recent one.) I'm thinking of getting the other one refinished, but I can't decide on color combos (nothing too crazy though).

02-27-2009, 05:18 PM	#1
Sauer Grapes Snatchin' yo people up Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 2,235 Trading: (44)	Any firearm experts here? (specifically sig)? Bought a pre-owned safe queen that the owner claimed he never fired and was the original owner. Got it yesterday and I think "never been fired" must mean put a few clips through it. Gun is VERY clean, and looks great, but it appears the outside of the barrel shows signs of it being fired. My FFL, who isn't an expert agrees with my assumption. I wanted to get another opinion before emailing the seller. Of course, buyer beware always comes into play when buying anything "used." My other sig, which has been fired countless times has MUCH more of the finish on the outside of the barrel worn off, but to me this doesn't look like something that the barrel would get from just taking the firearm down and putting it back together.

02-27-2009, 05:21 PM	#2
M1903A1 Have My Own Room Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 1060 W. Addison Posts: 1,573 Trading: (4)	Re: Any firearm experts here? (specifically sig)? Hmm...could somebody have been racking the slide a lot? __________________ "It's the cigars that bring us together, but it's the people that cause us to stay."

02-27-2009, 05:22 PM	#3
King James Regard Me! Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Jim Location: Dark Side Of The Moon Posts: 2,565 Trading: (2)	Re: Any firearm experts here? (specifically sig)? do factories test fire? I know absolutely nothing but just threw it out there I will go back to my corner now and wait for the experts haha __________________ Mob Herfin' Since 2006

02-27-2009, 05:49 PM	#5
Sauer Grapes Snatchin' yo people up Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 2,235 Trading: (44)	Re: Any firearm experts here? (specifically sig)? Always possible, but wouldn't it take A LOT of racking to do that. He claims it was a safe queen and I wouldn't think he'd take it out and rack the slide a lot. Either way, it's close to new.

02-27-2009, 05:52 PM	#6
Smokin Gator Just plain insane! Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: The Swamp Posts: 6,237 Trading: (106)	Re: Any firearm experts here? (specifically sig)? Yep... close to new!! Looks like to me it has more than just a few clips... but in the end it doesn't matter. If you got a good price then you have a GREAT piece at a good price. __________________ Check out the Cigar Asylum Newbie Sampler Trade

02-27-2009, 05:55 PM	#7
JE3146 Jordan #2 Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Jordan Location: Tigard, OR Posts: 2,115 Trading: (26)	Re: Any firearm experts here? (specifically sig)? What color box did it come in? If it came in a red box, it's considered a CPO Sig, in which case it's a used gun that has been certified as 'like new.' Clearly judging from the slide alone that is not a new piece. Granted I'd take a used Sig over most new guns nowadays. And Magazines people! Magazines! Put down the moonshine and talk like gun owners, not yokels

02-27-2009, 05:58 PM	#8
JaKaacH ROCK Chalk JAYHAWK K U Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Jeff Location: Living in the golden age of ignorance in power. Posts: 1,363 Trading: (32)	Re: Any firearm experts here? (specifically sig)? Look at the breech face to see how "new" it looks there. Thats where a lot of action takes place when the gun is fired, like stripping a round out of the clip-pushing it into the chamber-cartridge pushing against it when fired all in micro seconds. Miller Lite is fine. __________________ --Anger Management Graduate-- WHAT the F^#% you looking at??? Last edited by JaKaacH; 02-27-2009 at 05:59 PM. Reason: To see if jordan was watching

02-27-2009, 05:58 PM	#9
Nick Feeling at Home Join Date: Jan 2009 First Name: That's confidential Location: Cali Posts: 623 Trading: (4)	Re: Any firearm experts here? (specifically sig)? Manufacturers test fire the firearms so even if the previous owner never had fired it it still would have a few magazines through it. You still got a nice pistol at almost brand new condition. I wouldn't sweat the small stuff. __________________ "Kid Pipe" -Thanks Moo "A wise woman never separates a man from his pipe", Laurette Taylor

02-27-2009, 05:58 PM	#11
tunes Still Watching My Back Join Date: Feb 2009 First Name: Bruce Location: East of the Mississippi Posts: 220 Trading: (3)	Re: Any firearm experts here? (specifically sig)? I'm not an expert but I have a Glock 30 with more than it's fair share of rounds through it and it looks about the same... if the price is right and every thing seems tight, who cares? __________________ What if the Hokey Pokey really is what it's all about?

02-27-2009, 05:59 PM	#12
Drat Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Any firearm experts here? (specifically sig)? I sold handguns for 2 years during college (legitimately, I swear!) and would have to say that our display guns had the slides pulled a lot, and I mean A LOT and they never looked that worn. That one has had more than a few rounds through it. Hell of a cleaning job on it though...

02-27-2009, 07:43 PM	#15
floydpink crazy diamond Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Pete Location: Orlando Posts: 1,955 Trading: (17)	Re: Any firearm experts here? (specifically sig)? If it was mine, I would take the barrel out and check the frame and make sure there are no machine burrs rubbing on it, which I suspect there is. A light sanding with very fine sandpaper would smooth that out. I would then rub a small amount of Militec grease on the barell every time I cleaned it. __________________ "If we weren't all crazy we would go insane"

02-27-2009, 09:00 PM	#17
JohnnyFlake Just an old Wiseguy! Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: John Location: Henderson, Nevada Posts: 534 Trading: (18)	Re: Any firearm experts here? (specifically sig)? The shinny area on the barrel can develop quickly as it appears to be in the area that the slide bushing locks the barrel into battery when the weapon is ready to be fired. That is usually a very close tolerance fit. Simply racking the weapon a fair number of times could cause that. There are two areas that should tell you if the gun has been fired more than a few times and they are the Feed Ramp on the barrel and the Breech Face, especially within a 3/8" circle surrounding the firing pin opening. It is very difficult to remove all signs of wear and burnt carbon that develops in those areas, especially on the Breech Face where the primer and cartridge case slam against it and ever so slightly cause very minor indentations over time. If you have a jewelers eye piece (5X / 7X) use it and the slightest amount of true wear, brass residue and/or carbon residue will become evident, if the weapon has been fired very much. BTW which model is it. I can't see very much of it and it's hard to tell. __________________ A real man only needs Seven things in his life, Cigars, Women, Guns, Whiskey, Beer, Beans & Bacon!

02-27-2009, 09:09 PM	#19
Sauer Grapes Snatchin' yo people up Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 2,235 Trading: (44)	Re: Any firearm experts here? (specifically sig)? It's a P229 Two Toned. The feed ramp looks spotless and shows no signs. I posted the same pics on sigforum and the consensus was that it was never fired outside of the factory. They said all of their new ones come looking like that and they call them smileys.