Problem with Sig not releasing the magazine

[ChrisTKHarris]

So I've been having a problem with the magazine release on my new P229. When the magazine is fully loaded and you attempt to release the magazine it will not release. There's no "click" when the mag release button is pressed. When the magazine has less than 10 rounds or is empty it releases just fine, but when the magazine has 10 rounds it will not release. This happens with BOTH factory magazines. Any ideas what the problem could be?


Any ideas or help is appreciated.

[matrix056]

I have the same problem with my P239. The mag release "clicks" but does not release the mag. I know a Sig armorer that said it could be the spring, thought it may help.

[pMcW]

So I've been having a problem with the magazine release on my new P229. When the magazine is fully loaded and you attempt to release the magazine it will not release. There's no "click" when the mag release button is pressed. When the magazine has less than 10 rounds or is empty it releases just fine, but when the magazine has 10 rounds it will not release. This happens with BOTH factory magazines. Any ideas what the problem could be?


Any ideas or help is appreciated.

I bet that a full 10 rd magazine (especially if all 10 are still in the mag--rather than 9 + 1 in the chamber) with a brand new spring wants to push the magazine straight down. Probably it puts some sort of downward pressure on the mag catch that prevents it from working correctly.

I guess it's not really "designed" to hold 10 rounds in the magazine with the slide closed (since it wasn't designed for a 10-round magazine in the first place...), and to make sure that they limit the capacity to 10 rounds, they probably don't like to let that 10th round move down very far below the feed lips (which it would have to do when the slide is closed). With standard capacity magazines they don't have the same worries about the chance that it might hold an extra round.

That said, I'm not sure how such downward pressure would prevent the magazine from releasing, and I just tried this and wasn't able to reproduce the phenomenon with my almost new P226 (9mm).

An interesting question...

[leelaw]

I know it sounds stupid, but is the magazine button depressed fully? With all rounds in the magazine, the magazine spring can put a lot of pressure on the magazine catch, and cause it to bind, or not release fully without you applying some serious pressure onto it.

[ChrisTKHarris]

I have the same problem with my P239. The mag release "clicks" but does not release the mag. I know a Sig armorer that said it could be the spring, thought it may help.

I might need to look into that.

I bet that a full 10 rd magazine (especially if all 10 are still in the mag--rather than 9 + 1 in the chamber) with a brand new spring wants to push the magazine straight down. Probably it puts some sort of downward pressure on the mag catch that prevents it from working correctly.

I guess it's not really "designed" to hold 10 rounds in the magazine with the slide closed (since it wasn't designed for a 10-round magazine in the first place...), and to make sure that they limit the capacity to 10 rounds, they probably don't like to let that 10th round move down very far below the feed lips (which it would have to do when the slide is closed). With standard capacity magazines they don't have the same worries about the chance that it might hold an extra round.

That said, I'm not sure how such downward pressure would prevent the magazine from releasing, and I just tried this and wasn't able to reproduce the phenomenon with my almost new P226 (9mm).

An interesting question...

Thanks this is kind of what I was leaning towards. Since the gun is brand new and hasn't really been adequately broken in I feel as if it could just have to do with tight springs.

I know it sounds stupid, but is the magazine button depressed fully? With all rounds in the magazine, the magazine spring can put a lot of pressure on the magazine catch, and cause it to bind, or not release fully without you applying some serious pressure onto it.

No not a stupid question, but trust me that button was depressed fully. I was jammin' on it for a while. If I have the button depressed and wiggle the magazine a bit it will release. Sometimes it takes a few hard presses to get it to release, but with 9 or less rounds it releases just fine.

Hopefully leaving the magazines loaded and in the mag well will help loosen the springs up a bit and solve this issue on its own??

[leelaw]

Leaving the magazine loaded does not wear the spring. Repeated cycling wears the spring.

[ChrisTKHarris]

Leaving the magazine loaded does not wear the spring. Repeated cycling wears the spring.

I've always read conflicting arguments about spring fatigue. Some say springs at rest whether it be in the sprung open or compressed will not wear that it's the continued expansion and contraction like you say. Then I hear the argument that under any compression it will wear.

Guess I'll need to go to the range more to work out this spring.

[forgiven]

Leaving the magazine loaded does not wear the spring. Repeated cycling wears the spring.

Speaks with true

[mej16489]

It sounds like maybe the magazines are defective. Do they have the Sig logo on them?

While depressing the mag release, pull out the magazine. Does it feel like its binding and then pops free? I'm thinking that possibly the magazine is bulging when at full capacity and this is causing friction onto the sidewalls of the magazine well.

I've seen this happen with cheapo PoS magazines, but never with Sig Factory mags.

For reference, I have a P229 and a P229R, both in .40. I have probably 20 magazines, all factory Sig...but only 2 are 10 rounders. I've never had this happen with these items.

[ChrisTKHarris]

It sounds like maybe the magazines are defective. Do they have the Sig logo on them?

While depressing the mag release, pull out the magazine. Does it feel like its binding and then pops free? I'm thinking that possibly the magazine is bulging when at full capacity and this is causing friction onto the sidewalls of the magazine well.

I've seen this happen with cheapo PoS magazines, but never with Sig Factory mags.

For reference, I have a P229 and a P229R, both in .40. I have probably 20 magazines, all factory Sig...but only 2 are 10 rounders. I've never had this happen with these items.

Yes they're factory magazines. Do you think that perhaps the brand new magazine spring is causing the bulging because it's so new and stiff?

With the magazine release depressed and wiggling the magazine it does seem to pop/jiggle loose.

[BIGCHRIS]

Does it have the Factory Grips on it??? after I put the Hogue grips on my Sig I tightend it to much and the mag would not release

[Mr. Meeseeks]

Does it have the Factory Grips on it??? after I put the Hogue grips on my Sig I tightend it to much and the mag would release

This is what I was thinking, could be the grip screws catching the mags.

Try loosening the grip screws and see if the full mags drop.

[kduly]

I would suggest looking at the grip screws also. Some of the aftermarket screws are a little longer than stock.

[s*******n]

If the grip screws are not the problem, try to put some oil around the magazine release button and let it sit for awhile.

[centr0]

what mags did the 229 come with? my 226 came with a slick/shiny finish mag and a rough matte finish mag. the slick/shiny has no problem dropping. the rough matte still has trouble dropping but its mostly friction between the magwell and the finish of the magazine. no idea why i got 2 different mags. im getting the sh*t end of the stick with sig, just sent my 226/9mm in for warranty work.