Sig 226st Weight Reduction For Use In Idpa Ssp

[sig_dmsmith]

I am looking to pick up a new match gun.

My current, regular shooter is a 266 in 9mm that is going on 4 years old, probably has about 40k rnds of factory ammo through it. My plan is to keep it as the regular shooter and pull out the 'match gun' for IDPA classifiers, IPSC matches, state matches, etc...

I was thinking of going with a 226R, but it crossed my mind (and I have found a little evidence of others doing it on the web) that I could take some weight out of the 226ST frame in order to make it fit under the SSP limits. I'd like to make it into a little IDPA SSP race gun. (I know, I know that isn't tactical, but still...)

I was wondering if anybody has any experience with this and maybe could post some do's and dont's? Or point me to someone else's exploits eslewhere on the web that my googling hasn't turned up.

I plan this to be my first forray into 'smithing' on my pistols. I have a buddy who does a lot of work on his Berettas and has a real nice trigger on his 220, that has offered to learn me up on that aspect. I am looking here for thoughts on weight reduction in the frame.

Remember, taking weight out of the slide is a no-no in IDPA.

Thanks,

-David

[Patrick Sweeney]

My first question is; how much do you need to remove? Next, how much does the bare frame weigh? If (just to pluck numbers out of the air) you need to remove 5 ounces from a 20 ounce frame, you aren't going to do it without it showing. If, however, you need remove only 1 or 1.5 from a 20 ounce frame, then you can easily manage that. I'd look at opening the frame holes the grips go around, then using a ball-end mill to open the dust cover inside.

Even if IDPA rules allowed it, I'd be leery of taking steel out of the slide. It's a good gun, but it isn't a 1911.

[sig_dmsmith]

My first question is; how much do you need to remove? Next, how much does the bare frame weigh?

I am not sure how much the frame weighs. According to Sig's data the 226ST weighs in at 42.2oz with an empty mag. IDPA rules state the gun should be under 39oz with the mag to compete with it in SSP. This puts the reduction at 3.2oz (probably need some extra to account for variances in scales).

I don't have an ST (yet) to put on a scale (actually, I don't have a scale either...), but I will attempt to get my hands on one and weigh the components from my standard 226 (slide, barrel, grips, etc) which should give me a good start to subtract from the overall weight as an indicator for the frame weight...

I'd look at opening the frame holes the grips go around, then using a ball-end mill to open the dust cover inside.

I had been thinking the holes under the grip would be a good starting point, just expand them a little.

Even if IDPA rules allowed it, I'd be leery of taking steel out of the slide. It's a good gun, but it isn't a 1911.

IDPA rules do not allow for weight trimming in the slide, so that is out. There is also a limited list of external modifications that can be done to the pistol (grips, hammer, trigger, sights, refinishing to name a few). It may be iffy as to whether I could take off the Tac rail on the frame. You can't put an external over travel stop on the trigger (nothing against figuring something out to work inside the frame though).

However, in the front end, inside the frame, where the tac-rail is, may be another spot to remove a little metal and drop some weight.

I'd like to get it just safely under weight limit for SSP. It will also run fine for ESP and IPSC.

Someone else I had asked about this mentioned going the .40 cal route which will put it into Major for IPSC. I can always work out a .40 cal load that puts me above, but closer to the power floor when I shoot IDPA and a different load for IPSC major shooting... Buying a .40 would also mean I need all new mags though (I have a good quantity of 226 9mm 10rnd and 15 rnd mags), but I never claimed this habit was cheap.

I could probably call Sig about it, see what they say (my previous experiences with their customer service have been pleasant, who knows

Thanks for your thoughts, I still have a little while before I the cash for an ST, so any other ideas, tips, how-tos would be much appreciated,

-David

[gotm4]

I lightened up my 220EL for CDP division (it's 40oz now) and I want to get or build up a beavertail on mine. I removed a bunch of metal from under the grips. I used a Dremel and a tungsen carbine cutter bit.