Unusual wear & Problems on my P226.

[Black Majik]

Hi folks.

I have a problem. I love my SIG P226.



I have shot approx 2500+ rounds through this gun, and 200 rounds ago I have started to experience problems. I shot the 200 rounds in 2 searate days.

On the first day, I was experiencing a lot of the slide failing to lock back. I used to have problems, but I believe this is due to a new magazine. This was a magazine I never used. So I think its due to the new magazine.

I also began to experience light primer strikes. I NEVER had any problems with this before. During the 2nd day, It began to be more pronounced. At least 3 light primer strikes in a 10 round magazine.

Furthermore, I've been getting REALLY weird wear on my slide and barrel.



As you can see on the inside of the slide, there are grooves on both sides of the slide. I can run my finger along it, and feel it being uneven. If you look at my barrel, it shows wear that I never noticed before, at least not this badly.

I broke my gun down to fieldstrip and lube before the range session and I didn't notice the grooves on the slide. I honestly think that the barrel and grooves came within the 200 rounds, when I first began to notice the light primer strikes, and the failure to lock back.

Other than that, This gun has NEVER had a FTFeed, or FTE.

Any ideas? Possibly I have some springs to replace, that leads to the battering of my slide? I'm looking at the rails, and there is no abnormal wear on my frame or slide rails.

Any ideas also to why I'm all of a sudden receiving light primer strikes?

Any insight on the wear on my slide? I'm gonna stop by my gunsmith tomorrow for his opinion, but you guys have never failed me before so I wanted to check with you guys first.

oh btw, the barrel and guide rod was polished before, but that never proved to affect the function of the gun for the thousands of rounds. So I dont think its because I went polish happy on my barrel & guide rod.

Thanks for any insight you guys and gals can give me!

 

[AirPower]

That's very odd, it sure doesn't sound normal. I wont say it's just the magazine as it could not possibly cause so many issues.

About the wear on slide, there shouldn't be anything that can cause it, because alloy frame is much weaker vs. slide steel. There maybe a hidden crack on the frame rail or the slide, or somewhere else and it's causing this abnormal wear. Photo would be the best thing for this situation, other than that, I'd say stop shooting and avoid damaging it further.

 

[Tom Servo]

Feeding problems definitely sound like they're caused by the magazine. Your barrel looks like it's wearing normally on the bottom. Is there any scoring or unusual wear on the top, where it locks up with the slide? Is the gun very tight in terms of slide/frame fit?

I've had a couple of very tight Sigs that show that wear pattern in the slide, and it's nothing to worry about. As long as the barrel's not getting gouged up in the contact areas, it won't cause any problems.

 

[WillBrayJr]

Has your P226 been detailed stripped and given a thorough cleaning? Don't do anything with the P226 and contact Sigarms and try to explain the problem the best you can. Sigarms will tell you what needs to be done. If your P226 is truly defective I have no doubt that Sigarms will give you another P226 free of charge.

 

[patrol120]

The wear, know as Sig Smilies, is normal.

 

[Black Majik]

Thanks for the replies so far.

I'm not getting any feeding problems, the main problem is light primer strikes.

As far as the wear, the barrel doesn't bother me so much since I do know about the smilies around the barrel, but it seemed sorta long on both the top and bottom of the barrel. I'll take another picture of the barrel soon. There isn't any gougings on the barrel, nor can i see any peening or such anywhere else.

The gun has never been detailed stripped. I've only recently noticed the wear on the barrel and definitely just noticed it on my slide, since I lube the inside of the slide every time I take the gun out to shoot. So I know it just got there 200 rounds ago, since I broke the gun down twice... once before shooting and once after shooting.

Thanks for the help guys, keep the advice comin'.

 

[WillBrayJr]

Light primer strikes means one of two things. Either the ammo you're using has hard primers or there's residue in the firing pin channel. My suggestion is simple. Take your pistol to a licensed gunsmith or send it to Sigarms to have detailed stripped, inspected and cleaned. All firearms should be detailed stripped, inspected and cleaned once a year by a licensed gunsith or factory. Firearms used for defense need to be oiled weekly and firearms not used for defense need to be oiled monthly.

 

[Black Majik]

Thanks Will for your advice.

I've been using WWB value packs since I first started shooting this gun. So I dont think the ammo is the problem.

I took the gun to my gunsmith yesterday, and he took the slide to the back to clean it. After the pencil test, the pencil shot out of the barrel as it should.

I'm going to replace the springs to see if that helps any. Also, the gun is lubed regularly, minimum once before the range and right after shooting.

Thanks for your help

 

[atblis]

Isn't it possible

that gun that is ever so slightly out of battery could result in a light strike?

 

[Moonclip]

Wear looks normal. Once the firing pin and channel and such were cleaned as best as possible, if not able to disassemble, a dunk kit from C&S might be an option as well as a blast of gunscrubber.

I'd go ahead and try another lot of WWB and other mags and I would say there would be no more problems most likely.

 

[PO2Hammer]

I think there are three different issues here.
1. The slide barrel wear looks normal for a P226. I can actually feel a slight dent (smile) one the top of my well worn P226/9mm barrel. The blueing is worn like yours. I don't think there is any cause for concern here.
2. Light primer strikes. This is your most serious problem. You should feel confident that the 'smith took care of that.
3. Wolff mag springs. 'nuff said.
One reason I like lithium grease so much is it never migrates into the FP channel like oil can, and it makes my Sig feel like it's slick as spit on a marble.