S&W Sigma 9mm magazine loading problem.

[Dobey]

Hello, long time lurker, first time poster. I recently (Oct. 4th) purchased myself a brand new Sigma 9mm, and love the thing, I took S&W up on their free magazine offer and got my two free magazines in the mail yesterday (was only a 5 week turnaround time for the rebate).

So the problem I have is the two new magazines have a 16 round capacity but only currently hold 15, I can not force the 16th round in and don't want to break the feed lips of the magazines which I thought I almost did but thank god for well constructed stainless steel magazines. The two magazines that came with the pistol had the same problem initially but overtime corrected itself after I fired 250 rounds through the two magazines.

What I am wondering is if any Sigma owners, or any hand gun owners have experienced the same problems with new magazines?

It is my first pistol, so I haven't had a ton of experience with it, but I figure just like with anything it might need to be broken in. I loaded the magazines to 15 rounds each and will wait a few days to see if that loosens up the spring a little more to accommodate the 16th round. It really doesn't matter a ton, for the range or self defense because 15 is a lot, but I like to get what I pay for. And even though I know keeping the magazines loaded to 16 rounds all the time wont hurt the springs, I figure giving it the extra slack from only having 15 rounds couldn't hurt anything.

 

[EyebrowZing]

I've noticed the same thing. I haven't tried it will the two rebate mags I've got yet, but out of the two that came in the box, one will easily fit the 16 rounds, while the other I can barely fit the 15th in. I never paid it much mind, simply figuring the alternating stacking might not have gone smoothly as I was loading it.
So no, I don't have an explanation, but I share the same issue you describe, and am curious what others will have to say.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

Try leaving them loaded a few days with as many rounds as you can get in, then try it again, perhaps with the assistance of a loading tool. Or something may be interfering with the follower's movement. Try disassembling the mags (usually this is fairly easy to do), clean the tube/body and very lightly lube the follower. Something that sometimes also helps is to tap the mag base lightly on a hard surface like a table top as you insert each round.

 

[Onward Allusion]

Some higher capacity magazines need a 24 hour "break in". Load them 2 less than maximum and let them sit overnight. Unload them and reload the next day. They should be able to take the full capacity load.

http://www.thehighroad.org/member.php?u=85375

Dobey
S&W Sigma 9mm magazine loading problem.

 

[Cornhusker77]

I had the same problem, and they will eventually loosen up.
Personally, I usually only load 15 because it's even rows in the box.

 

[Dobey]

I'm a little late getting back to this, work and all, but tonight I did try to load the magazines again, and this time it worked! I had tried at least once every night since I got them, and it hadn't worked until now. I guess it does take some time to break the spring in, they would still be great mags with only 15 rounds but that 16th just sounds cooler. I hope this helps anyone that has a similar question in the future. One thing that I have to say is that they stack very well, as someone said maybe they were stacking improperly, but I don't think that is the case normally. This is my first handgun, and I am impressed thus far and really couldn't ask for much else as far as effectiveness and simplicity. I also haven't had any feeding failures or jams\ejections to speak of either when shooting.