Sig P226 Tac Ops Questions/Problems

[futureAT]

Okay so I made a trade this weekend for a brand new Sig P226 Tactical Operations 9mm pistol w/night sights. I've never shot a Sig and I don't know much about their stuff; but I liked it and made the trade (this gun is gorgeous and feels very good to me), went to the range, and put about 100 rounds of Magtech FMJ through it. I took it slow for the first 30-ish rounds to see how it groups. Very good! Then I started having problems. 1. Slide wouldn't lock back after the last round with all 4 of the 20 rnd mags which I only loaded with 5-10/mag. This happened the majority (70%) of the time. Now I know why. My dominant hand thumb rests on the slide lock lever (see pics) which would prevent it from catching the slide. 2. Had ONE failure to eject a spent round on maybe the 20th-ish round. 3. Empty mags won't fall free with the slide locked back.
So here are my questions. 1. Does any of this sound familiar? 2. Is it because the gun is brand new and just needs broken in? 3. Besides changing my grip, is there anything I can do about the slide lock lever so it will reliably lock slide after last round?
I really love this gun but I'm very disappointed so far about these issues. Keep in mind I've had this gun for 2 days and need way more practice with it but I haven't had any issue like this with my M&P and in my mind, a factory $1000 gun shouldn't really have these kinds of hiccups. Any info/advice is greatly appreciated!

[Reagans Rascals]

Congrats on the new acquisition. I love SIG and have an older P226 .40 cal. I think your issue with the gun stems mainly from it being a brand new gun. I think it just needs to be broken in. The P226 beat out a lot of others to earn a place as the secondary of choice to Naval Special Warfare personnel. So there is no doubt you have a very capable, strong hand gun. IMO, my SIG .40 is the most accurate stock gun I have ever shot. I bought it used, with standard sites and I can hold sub-2 inch groups at 40 yards with it.

This issue with the slide lock engagement on the other hand, may require a little more preemptive action if you so so choose. You can disassemble the gun, which really isn't too difficult, and then shave a little off the slide lock release lever. There is a 6 part series on youtube that shows you exactly how to do it all.

here is the link to the videos: http://www.youtube.com/results?searc...snum=0&spell=1

good luck

[Magic_Salad0892]

Congrats on the new acquisition. I love SIG and have an older P226 .40 cal. I think your issue with the gun stems mainly from it being a brand new gun. I think it just needs to be broken in. The P226 beat out a lot of others to earn a place as the secondary of choice to Naval Special Warfare personnel. So there is no doubt you have a very capable, strong hand gun. IMO, my SIG .40 is the most accurate stock gun I have ever shot. I bought it used, with standard sites and I can hold sub-2 inch groups at 40 yards with it.

This issue with the slide lock engagement on the other hand, may require a little more preemptive action if you so so choose. You can disassemble the gun, which really isn't too difficult, and then shave a little off the slide lock release lever. There is a 6 part series on youtube that shows you exactly how to do it all.

here is the link to the videos: http://www.youtube.com/results?searc...snum=0&spell=1

good luck

No offence, but not only was that when SIG had an amazing reputation in the civilian sector, but I'm pretty sure the ones SIG sends to them now are a lot different than the ones we civies get.

[Reagans Rascals]

No offence, but not only was that when SIG had an amazing reputation in the civilian sector, but I'm pretty sure the ones SIG sends to them now are a lot different than the ones we civies get.

why are you hijacking this thread... you provided no response to the OP's question, you simply posted your opinion... how about next time... if you don't like something... you don't waste your time commenting on it

[Magic_Salad0892]

why are you hijacking this thread... you provided no response to the OP's question, you simply posted your opinion... how about next time... if you don't like something... you don't waste your time commenting on it

Hm. Probably good advice. Don't think I was attacking you though.

For the OP: Could be the magazines.

[5cary]

My dominant hand thumb rests on the slide lock lever (see pics) which would prevent it from catching the slide.

Perhaps you are not looking for technique critique, but I would make an attempt to adjust your grip a little. Your thumbs both appear a little high on the slide from my perspective. Looking at the pic that shows your grip, I would try to get your support hand thumb lower and a touch farther forward to balance the gun better. With a high initial grip (on the draw) with your strong hand, if your support thumb ended up off the slide, with the pad of the thumb resting just in front of the takedown lever, you would find your support wrist rotated forward enough to allow your strong hand thumb to move slightly lower. In general this results in a better balanced weapon (and less interference). Slightly more "thumbs forward" might help.

I say all this (as a firearms instructor) knowing that that one photo is not enough info to go by (stance, weapon control, etc.). But it's a start if you feel like experimenting. I would do that long before making modifications to the weapon.

YMMV.

[Littlelebowski]

why are you hijacking this thread... you provided no response to the OP's question, you simply posted your opinion... how about next time... if you don't like something... you don't waste your time commenting on it

He responded to your off topic comment. You're just as much at fault.

On topic; I agree that it sounds like it might be grip. No way to know for sure.

[futureAT]

Thanks for your replies and your thoughts. I've decided I can train around the slide lock issue. My biggest concern about this gun now is why the mags, empty or not, will not drop free with the slide locked back. All 4 factory new 20 round mags fail to drop free with the slide locked back. Although I haven't cleaned it yet, it is not that dirty. I only put like 80-100 rounds through it so far and not once have they dropped free from slide lock. This is not good! Any thoughts??

[Littlelebowski]

Thanks for your replies and your thoughts. I've decided I can train around the slide lock issue. My biggest concern about this gun now is why the mags, empty or not, will not drop free with the slide locked back. All 4 factory new 20 round mags fail to drop free with the slide locked back. Although I haven't cleaned it yet, it is not that dirty. I only put like 80-100 rounds through it so far and not once have they dropped free from slide lock. This is not good! Any thoughts??

Yes. Send it back to Sig. Call their customer service. Let the manufacturer deal with it.

[rathos]

Are they mec gar or check mate? I had heard rumors that sig changed to check mate mags and have had nothing but issues with them.

Also a lot of folks that haven't used sigs before tend to ride the slide stop. You might want to try and move your thumb away from the slide stop, especially if you use anything like the letham/enos grip.

If you are still having issues then you might want to ship it back to sig.

Regards,

Chris