New P226 issue

[Freq18Hz]

Thanks all...99% sure it isn't my grip. I'll try re-inspecting the mags/cleaning and checking the follower/catch contact.

FYI dunno if this helps, but compared to other new P226's I've handled, the spring on this guy is ULTRA stiff...action is smooth, but the spring has a ton of force.

-Freq

[9mmepiphany]

I could be the ammo...Sigs in .40 caliber are sprung pretty tightly

Which kind of ammo were you shooting?
Brand?
Bullet weight?

[pTa]

The spring on a .357 I shot was almost too hard for me to rack the slide / I know what you mean / Should get better as it broken in

[thai562]

[Cato]

Thanks all...99% sure it isn't my grip. I'll try re-inspecting the mags/cleaning and checking the follower/catch contact.

FYI dunno if this helps, but compared to other new P226's I've handled, the spring on this guy is ULTRA stiff...action is smooth, but the spring has a ton of force.

-Freq

I'm willing to bet it's the new springs. Keep the rails greased and I bet the problem will go away with use. Try some "hotter" rounds like HD stuff and see if the problem continues.

I never had any issues with my pre Obama p226 .40. I did have a simliar problem with my p228 when it was new and I was using cheap WWB. After some breaking in it corrected itself.

[8200rpm]

Thanks all...99% sure it isn't my grip.

Load one round in the magazine. Shoot it LEFT handed.

If it still fails to lock back, try different magazines.

If that doesn't work, try replacing the slide lock lever.

[Flyin Brian]

FYI this isnt my grip...also only on the last round in the mag.

-Freq

Why would it lock back at any other time??

[Zeke003]

I had to put some hotter rounds through my 226 .40 before the slide would lock back, a few hundred did the trick and it's been flawless since.

[Snapping Twig]

Cleaning the magazines is important.

Checking to see if the offending magazines actuate the slide lock with the slide removed is another good idea.

Hot ammo to rock the slide all the way back is another good idea.

[Federalist]

I initially had that problem with mine. It wasn't my grip. Assuming the mags are new and in good condition, my suggestions are as follows (and were noted by others above):

1. Clean well and lube generously.
2. Apply generous amounts of Slide Glide - Sigs like Slide Glide.
3. Break it in with 500 more rounds (using at least reasonable quality factory loads).

You will be fine.

[Freq18Hz]

So tonight I tried this again with 165, and 180 grain, different brands.

Here's what I found:

1. The black mag that came with the pistol, one bullet in the mag, locks back every time after it is chambered, and discharged.

2. The three grey (but Sig Arms factory) mags DO NOT lock back with 1 bullet chambered then discharged.

3. If I insert any of the 4 magazines empty, and rack the slide, it WILL NOT stay locked open unless I push up on the slide release/catch lever.

Also, I showed this to a gentleman at a nearby range. He thinks that although I just bought this gun new, that the underside of the barrel looks like it has had at least 6k rounds put through it. He showed me his 226, as well as another like new one, neither had the same a amout of wear on the underside of the bsarrel. ...not sure how to proceed. I expressly asked the place I bought it from if it had ever been fired before, I was told no, brand new. A very knowledgable friend seemed to think it had been shot before I ever put a single round through it, as we stripped and cleaned/lubed it before taking it out. Live and learn I suppose.

In other news though, it has never had a FTF, or a FTE. I've put around 400 rounds through it total so far, over the course of yesterday and today.

-Freq

[Voo]

So tonight I tried this again with 165, and 180 grain, different brands.

Here's what I found:

1. The black mag that came with the pistol, one bullet in the mag, locks back every time after it is chambered, and discharged.

2. The three grey (but Sig Arms factory) mags DO NOT lock back with 1 bullet chambered then discharged.

3. If I insert any of the 4 magazines empty, and rack the slide, it WILL NOT stay locked open unless I push up on the slide release/catch lever.

Also, I showed this to a gentleman at a nearby range. He thinks that although I just bought this gun new, that the underside of the barrel looks like it has had at least 6k rounds put through it. He showed me his 226, as well as another like new one, neither had the same a amout of wear on the underside of the bsarrel. ...not sure how to proceed. I expressly asked the place I bought it from if it had ever been fired before, I was told no, brand new. A very knowledgable friend seemed to think it had been shot before I ever put a single round through it, as we stripped and cleaned/lubed it before taking it out. Live and learn I suppose.

In other news though, it has never had a FTF, or a FTE. I've put around 400 rounds through it total so far, over the course of yesterday and today.

-Freq

Sigarms test fires their guns before sending it out. The older models use to always come with a test fire target (not sure if they still include that) Check the backside/inside of the foam case.

Slide glide is a great grease, for sure, but most people don't understand that using it is going to SLOW the speed of your slide down (which is why you use it in the first place). I would say either use grease or CLP the next time you're at the range. But what you can try is "death gripping" the gun and making sure that your thumbs are NOWHERE NEAR the slide release. I mean, not care about the target at all and fire the gun with only 1 round in it, making sure you have the firmest, tightest grip possible while keeping your thumbs nowhere near the release.

I would say to pop the slide off and examine the contact point between your magazine and the slide release lever. Years ago I remember hearing issues with followers and certain slide releases as they redesigned them for the .40 cal and then switched over to MecGar for the OEM magazines. Growing pains possibly..

Sig usually makes it right, so if nothing works, have the place you bought it from ship it back on their dime..

[9mmepiphany]

I agree with Voo

The prior problem was with the 229 slide stop in .40 when they changed over to the 10 round magazines. I'd take it back to the shop and have them send it back to Sig for repair

[Freq18Hz]

Already tried the death grip, and probably 50-70 rounds of 1 in each mag.

Like I said, with empty mag and manualky racking the side back, the slide does not stay locked open...unless I press up on the slide release.


-Freq

[Freq18Hz]

Back to dealer, or to Sig. Thanks very much for the info/help everyone.

Mods: feel free to close this one out.

-Freq