Help me diagnose my Sig 226 problem

[Thin Black Line]

I have a 9mm that is about 17 years old. Has always digested everything
w/o a problem. Yesterday after only a couple mags I had to hit a rd again
every now and then a second time to fire it. This started happening about
every ten rds or so. One time it was three times. There was even one time
when the slide did not return all the way forward in chambering the next
rd.

Ammo and mags were the same type I've always used w/o any past problems.
A retired LEO I was with said it was time for a "spring overhaul." He said I
should replace both the hammer mainspring and the recoil spring.

Anything else at work here?

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

Given the age of the gun, the mainspring (hammer spring) and/or recoil spring would be my guess as well. A weakened mainspring can cause the hammer to strike the firing pin too lightly, and a weakened recoil spring can cause the slide to not fully return to battery. They're cheap.

 

[Hypnogator]

You might try ammo from a different lot, or detail strip and clean your pistol, but I think your LEO friend hit the nail on the head. Get yourself a set of Wolff replacement springs. They're available in "extra strength" which is about 15% above spec. That should cure your light strikes.

 

[fastbolt]

The age of the pistol and your description of events would naturally make me suspect weakened springs.

A trip back to SIGARMS for a detailed inspection and maintenance service would seem reasonable, unless you happen to know a Sig Sauer LE armorer, or have been through the class yourself.

FWIW, if you can afford to schedule the time off (2 days) and the cost of the class, travel, lodging and meals, SIGARMS allows non-LE civilians to attend their Pistol Armorer classes last time I checked.

 

[wally]

I'd give the gun a good cleaning, especially the firing pin channel and under the extractor. Age won't weaken springs, unless its got a very high round count putting in new springs to overpower the accumulated crud will be temporary solution at best.

--wally.

 

[highrider]

Given the age of the gun, the mainspring (hammer spring) and/or recoil spring would be my guess as well. A weakened mainspring can cause the hammer to strike the firing pin too lightly, and a weakened recoil spring can cause the slide to not fully return to battery. They're cheap.

+1

 

[Thin Black Line]

Sounds like it's time for a late Spring/Cleaning. I've seen both "factory
strength" springs, less weight and more weight. I was leaning toward
factory strength for both the recoil and main spring.

 

[fastbolt]

In a pistol that old I'd also consider replacing the trigger bar spring, decocker spring and slide catch lever spring. Some springs are prone to wear.

Why not call SIGARMS and see if they would offer you something along the lines of their Custom Tune-Up or SIG Service Plan, even though you didn't buy the pistol used. You'd still have to pay for shipping both ways, I believe.

http://www.sigarms.com/Products/documents/2007CustomShopServicesPriceList.pdf

 

[SouthpawShootr]

I think a spring overhaul is probably the best course of action. If you do it yourself, make sure you get the firing pin spring. And while you're there clean out all the gun in the channel. Sig probably offers somes sort of checkup package and I'd look into that. Mainly b/c I have an aversion to detail stripping a $600 gun with no armorer training.

 

[Steve C]

I'd do as Wally suggested and give the pistol a good cleaning first. Also check the firing pin for any peening or nose damage. I have 60+ year old pistols that still set off ammo reliably with their original springs. Perhaps they just don't make them as good as they used to.

If your ammo was reloaded I'd suspect the ammo and I've seen some hard primered military ammo for SMG's that wouldn't go off reliably in all my pistols.