Sig P238 failure to eject - HELP!

[armanius]

The recoil spring on my P238 does not look like the one in the photo above. It's identical on both ends of the spring. I can't tell the ends apart.

[DocV]

My 238 has a flat spring and has never had any ejection problems. I use Super Lube and keep the rails on the greasy side:



OTOH, I have had other guns with ejection issues. Most of these issues were either related to the ammo I was using or the extractor.

[philip964]

The recoil spring on my P238 does not look like the one in the photo above. It's identical on both ends of the spring. I can't tell the ends apart.

Maybe they have changed the spring on the newer guns, mine is just like the first picture, not the second one directly above. Spring has to be pointed the right way to work properly.

[G26ster]

The older spring (not flat) has a small end and a larger end opening. Must be installed only one way. Newer flat spring has opening the same size at each end and may be installed either direction.

[armanius]

I just got home. I looked at my P238 and it has a flat spring that is asymmetrical. So I do have the newer spring.

I'll give it (yet) another good clean and now a SUPER LUBE. I'll likely get a chance to shoot on Tuesday, and will report back if rounds 176-275 are better, worse or the same.

Wish me luck!

[rotor]

These are very upsetting issues and I have the same thing with a Beretta 92FS. With my Beretta I have changed the spring, Thorough cleaning including removing the extractor and replacing. Gunsmith stripped and cleaned and tested but still same issue. Here is what I am finding. If I use higher pressure ammo it works great. No stovepipe, perfect extraction, etc. So, I reloaded some 115 fmj and used three different powder loads, lowest to highest. Works great with the higher loaded powder and no go with the lower loaded powder (using 4.1 gr Win 231 to 4.7 gr). Prior to this I have been using Winchester 9MM Nato ( Q4318) which is from what I hear 10% higher pressure than normal 9mm and that works great. Good luck finding the Winchester Q4318 now although I have a ton of it. My Beretta is very old and as a last step I am going to replace the barrel with a new one ( if they ever get one in stock again) and if I can not shoot regular factory ammo reliably the gun becomes a plinker. I have an S&W 380 Bodyguard that never fails. My Glocks never fail ( used the Glock 26 to fire my three custom loaded 9 mm and worked great on all three loads- Very accurate on the lowest load). My Colts never fail. I think there are just some guns, perhaps manufacturing tolerances are off a bit and they just don't work well. That may be what the problem is with yours and my Beretta. I think I am the only one that has ever complained about a Beretta FTE and stovepipe issue but it does happen. Since your is new I would see if the factory can replace it. My Beretta is so old I don't care and with the right ammo (which I can make) works great at the range.

[DocV]

I just got home. I looked at my P238 and it has a fat spring that is asymmetrical. So I do have the newer spring.

I'll give it (yet) another good clean and now a SUPER LUBE. I'll likely get a chance to shoot on Tuesday, and will report back if rounds 176-275 are better, worse or the same.

Wish me luck!

While you are cleaning ( or, were, as the case may be), remove the firing pin stop and pull out the extractor for inspection. Be certain to get rid of any carbon in the extractor claw. Make those rails extra greasy

[armanius]

I just got home. I looked at my P238 and it has a fat spring that is asymmetrical. So I do have the newer spring.

I'll give it (yet) another good clean and now a SUPER LUBE. I'll likely get a chance to shoot on Tuesday, and will report back if rounds 176-275 are better, worse or the same.

Wish me luck!

While you are cleaning ( or, were, as the case may be), remove the firing pin stop and pull out the extractor for inspection. Be certain to get rid of any carbon in the extractor claw. Make those rails extra greasy

I will try! Never took a gun apart past the typical cleaning of removing slide.

[DocV]

Youtube can be your friend. If I linked this one right it will start around 3:32 of the original video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... L38#t=212s

Ignore the polishing the feed ramp part at the beginning.

[rotor]

AndyC
Thank you so much for that info. I ordered the springs and hopefully it will solve the problem. Will post after I try them out. Fix my Beretta for less than $35 hopefully.

[rotor]

Will do and will post back after I try it. Thanks again.

[armanius]

I cleaned and extra lubed before heading to the range. Checked spring, ejector, extractor, and everything looked fine to my layman's eyes.

Started with 50 rounds of PMC 95 grain FMJ. Perfect firing. Got my hope up.

Followed with 50 rounds of Winchester 95 grain FMJ. After about 25 rounds, still perfect.

Then I had two failure to ejects just like before, including one on round 47 of the Winchester box.

Recap:
150 rounds of PMC 95 grain FMJ with 4 FTE
50 rounds of Fiocchi 95 grain FMJ with 3 FTE
50 rounds of Winchester 95 grain FMJ with 2 FTE
25 rounds of Remington Golden Sabre 102 grain JHP with 2 FTE

Total: 275 rounds with 11 FTE.

I'm taking it back to the LGS tomorrow and see what they can do before I send it back to Sig. If they offer me a refund, I'll likely take a refund. Even if someone fixes it now, I will find it difficult to trust this gun as my wife's self defense weapon.

Bummer, because it is a fun and easy gun to shoot.

[G26ster]

I cleaned and extra lubed before heading to the range. Checked spring, ejector, extractor, and everything looked fine to my layman's eyes.

Started with 50 rounds of PMC 95 grain FMJ. Perfect firing. Got my hope up.

Followed with 50 rounds of Winchester 95 grain FMJ. After about 25 rounds, still perfect.

Then I had two failure to ejects just like before, including one on round 47 of the Winchester box.

Recap:
150 rounds of PMC 95 grain FMJ with 4 FTE
50 rounds of Fiocchi 95 grain FMJ with 3 FTE
50 rounds of Winchester 95 grain FMJ with 2 FTE
25 rounds of Remington Golden Sabre 102 grain JHP with 2 FTE

Total: 275 rounds with 11 FTE.

I'm taking it back to the LGS tomorrow and see what they can do before I send it back to Sig. If they offer me a refund, I'll likely take a refund. Even if someone fixes it now, I will find it difficult to trust this gun as my wife's self defense weapon.

Bummer, because it is a fun and easy gun to shoot.

You said, "I just got home. I looked at my P238 and it has a flat spring that is asymmetrical." What did you mean by "asymmetrical?"