P226 problem... Should I be worried?

M

MackDaddy

Guest
I just recently purchased a new Sig P226R in 9mm and took it out on the range for the first time last night, fired 200 rounds of American Eagle 124 gr. FMJ and didn't have any toruble, no stoppages or missfires but sometimes when the clip was empty and I fired the last round, the slide would blow back and forward again instead of staying locked open like it should be. This happened twice out of about 22 mags full. So I would drop the mag, pull the slide back and lock it for inspection before I fired another relay. Should I be worried? I'm using factory mags...
 
Sounds like your magazine follower is not triggering the slide lock.
TAke out the slide, then slide in an empty magazine in the frame see where the follower is hitting. The follower should push the slide lock up to stop the slide from rocking when mag is empty.
 
Depending on your grip you left thumb might had touched the slide release during recoil. As a 1911 shooter with a 2 hand thumb forward grip, I do that a lot with my P220.
 
nognog said:
Sounds like your magazine follower is not triggering the slide lock.
TAke out the slide, then slide in an empty magazine in the frame see where the follower is hitting. The follower should push the slide lock up to stop the slide from rocking when mag is empty.
Click to expand...
I put it an empty mag and the follower does indeed push the slide lock up, tried it a few times and the empty mag locked the slide everytime... Weird...
 
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The most common reason is high thumb on the slide stop. The second most common is weak ammo or too stiff a recoil spring. If you have a friend with a P226 you can try his recoil spring to see if that is the problem.
 
redleg said:
The most common reason is high thumb on the slide stop. The second most common is weak ammo or too stiff a recoil spring. If you have a friend with a P226 you can try his recoil spring to see if that is the problem.
Click to expand...

This has been discussed before here and it seems the high thumb situation discribed by redleg is very common.

Anyways, I used to encounter the same problem because I have my thumb on the slide lock without realizing it, especially when I was shooting with gloves. Just pay attention to where your thumb placement is next time you hit the range. Just try shooting with one hand.
 
reddot said:
Depending on your grip you left thumb might had touched the slide release during recoil. As a 1911 shooter with a 2 hand thumb forward grip, I do that a lot with my P220.
Click to expand...

Reddot has a valid point. If you are use to shooting 1911's, you will find it kinda weird handling P226 because of its unique grip and slide lock location.
Sounds like your P226 is working fine, except that you may not be aware that you are unintentionally releasing the slide lock during recoil. Mind you it does not take much to release the slide lock on SIG P226. :) :)
Have fun with your 226. I love shooting mine :D :D :D
 
MackDaddy said:
I just recently purchased a new Sig P226R in 9mm and took it out on the range for the first time last night, fired 200 rounds of American Eagle 124 gr. FMJ and didn't have any toruble, no stoppages or missfires but sometimes when the clip was empty and I fired the last round, the slide would blow back and forward again instead of staying locked open like it should be. This happened twice out of about 22 mags full. So I would drop the mag, pull the slide back and lock it for inspection before I fired another relay. Should I be worried? I'm using factory mags...
Click to expand...
SIGs are known to do this when brand new. My dad's P226 failed to lock back a few times during the first couple of hundred rounds (it works fine now). Shoot some more and see if the problem goes away. Like redleg said, the recoil spring could be too stiff. Also, SIGs are relatively sensitive to lubrication, so make sure the slide rails are well-oiled/greased.
 
nognog said:
Reddot has a valid point. If you are use to shooting 1911's, you will find it kinda weird handling P226 because of its unique grip and slide lock location.
Click to expand...

I had this problem with my sigs; always took a bit to re-train my thumbs. I even have the same problem if I shoot my Glocks right after shooting one of my 1911s (though my glocks have extended slide releases so that doesnt help either *LOL*).
 
Being that your Sig is new. Still in the breaking stage.

Store your Sig with the slide lock back to compress the recoil spring, It should make the spring less stiff and should solve this problem. I believe that was told by us from Sig Arms.

redleg said:
The most common reason is high thumb on the slide stop. The second most common is weak ammo or too stiff a recoil spring. If you have a friend with a P226 you can try his recoil spring to see if that is the problem.
Click to expand...

My spring on my Sig 226R is a bit stiff but I'm using a 40cal
 
reddot said:
Depending on your grip you left thumb might had touched the slide release during recoil. As a 1911 shooter with a 2 hand thumb forward grip, I do that a lot with my P220.
Click to expand...

I will second that as I had the same issue when I tried changing my grip. Be careful that your thumb is not on the slide release.
 
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