Possible problem, Sig P320

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ArchAngelCD

ArchAngelCD

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As many of you know I'm very new to semi-autos being a revolver guy, that said... I have only about 100 rounds through my new P320 Compact and 3X today I had a problem. The public range I shoot at only allows 6 rounds in the mag. I was shooting 115gr factory Federal 9mm ammo. After I fired the 5th round the empty case was still in the barrel but almost half pulled and laying against the last round in the mag. The slide also locked back. When firing the gun the brass is dropping at my feet and some actually hit my chest with two going into my shirt pocket.

I'm not sure any of this is important but I'm telling you everything I noticed in case it will give a clue. All three times this happened on the 5th shot of 6 and it wasn't just one of the 2 factory mags. The first time it happened to my adult son, the next two to me. When I did it to me I put that mag aside and it happened with together mag too.

Any ideas? Maybe just break in pains? Thanks...
 
Call SIG customer service and send the pistol back for adjustment. I had a new P229 that acted similarly and I took SIG customer service advice to just give it more break in firing. The problem persisted and finally was resolved after two trips back to the factory. While the pistol is now ok the prolonged period with malfunctions greatly lessened my trust in it.


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ArchAngelCD wrote,
I was shooting 115gr factory Federal 9mm ammo. After I fired the 5th round the empty case was still in the barrel but almost half pulled and laying against the last round in the mag. The slide also locked back. When firing the gun the brass is dropping at my feet and some actually hit my chest with two going into my shirt pocket.
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Tenncvol wrote,
I had a new P229 that acted similarly and I took SIG customer service advice to just give it more break in firing.
Click to expand...
I've seen this pretty often on internet forums, usually in regards to 9mm HK's & Gen 4 Glocks. The combination of a new gun with a stiff recoil spring, and lightweight, low powered ammo cause the rounds to barely have enough "oomph" to work the slide and eject the rounds.

It certainly may be a problem with your gun, but most folks seem to report the problem goes away with a round with a heavier bullet, such as 124gr, or with more powerful defensive ammo. After the gun has been shot a bit, the problem seems to go away.
 
Sounds like an ejection issue - which can be caused by the ejector itself or the extractor (if it's not holding the brass well and it doesn't impact the ejector consistently).

As stated - just get in touch with SIG and have them look at it. This isn't something that would break in. If anything extractor/ejector issues tend to get worse over time.
 
ArchAngelCD said:
After I fired the 5th round the empty case was still in the barrel but almost half pulled and laying against the last round in the mag. The slide also locked back.
Click to expand...
Just so I understand you correctly

Are you saying that the fired case was partially ejected/extracted from the chamber, then the case was released, and the slide locked back while there were still rounds in the magazine?

I've seen this with Gen 4 Glock G19s before, but never with a SIG 320.

Judging from my Glock experience, it is likely that your extractor is loose or broken. It really isn't extracting much at all and surely isn't controlling the case all the way to the ejector. This is also what is causing the the weak (at feet) and uncontrolled (to chest and face) ejection.

It isn't something that would usually cure itself with more rounds, although the weak and light ammo isn't helping. A normal cure would be a simple ejector replacement.

Call SIG CS in the morning. They'll likely provide a shipping label for you to send it back to the factory
 
If metal magazines?

The last round in the mag is riding to high, nose up, it stops the brass from coming out of the chamber. The mag spring pressure is lighter as it empties. Both factory mags may do it, if formed at the same time. I dont know if Sig mags can be adusted? Some S&W's cant be bent, like some 1911 magazines. I would bend the sides of the mag in, to make the rounds ride lower in the mag, if possible.
attachment.php
https://www.sigsauer.com/upFiles/CmsContent/documents/SIG_P320MiniManual_8501300-01REV00_LR.pdf
 
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Thank you everyone. I was afraid this gun might require a trip back to Sig and it looks like I might be right. I'm going to shoot it one more time before I call Sig. I only shot 10 rounds the first time out because I had no time but still wanted to shoot it. Yesterday was the second time out and I shot about 100 rounds.

Damn, just my luck!
 
Try this when you go out again.
1. Load a mag
2. Chamber a round
3. Remove the mag
4. Fire the round
5. If the casing falls out the empty magwell, as opposed to coming out the ejection port, you have a less than optimal extractor
 
Not the type of issue that can be "fixed" with more firing.

And, I've never neard of a range's rule about only loading six rounds. What nonsense!!
 
Most likely an extractor and/or ejector issue. I'm leaning heavy on the extractor. Tension might not be right or the part itself might be out of spec. A six round limit at a range is the stupidest thing I ever heard of. They mise well post a sign that says " revolvers and single stacks only". I understand 1 round a sec rules because guys come in there commando and shoot the walls and ceilings up, but 6 round capacity rule is absolutely ridiculous
 
Yes, it looks just like the second picture. It would be great to know what caused it, if you know...

As for the range rules, the range is on game lands and is overseen by the PA Game Commission. I'm told the handgun 6 round rule us left over from revolver days and there is a 3 round rifle and shotgun rule too. Hey, I know it's nuts but the rules are the rules. I don't need a ticket for loading too many rounds in my handgun.
 
ArchAngelCD said:
Yes, it looks just like the second picture. It would be great to know what caused it, if you know...

As for the range rules, the range is on game lands and is overseen by the PA Game Commission. I'm told the handgun 6 round rule us left over from revolver days and there is a 3 round rifle and shotgun rule too. Hey, I know it's nuts but the rules are the rules. I don't need a ticket for loading too many rounds in my handgun.
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Check out this thread.

http://sigtalk.com/p250-p320-modular-pistols/58104-p320c-double-feed-4.html
 
Thank you for the link. Now I have a very bad feeling about this pistol. Why did I hear nothing about this problem before I bought a P320? I'm very upset now, how could I possibly trust this gun even after it is "fixed" by SIG. I looks like It may have made a mistake, an expensive one. I should have stuck with revolvers.
 
You prolly didn't hear anything about it because it only affects such a small percentage of them.


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ArchAngelCD said:
, how could I possibly trust this gun even after it is "fixed" by SIG.
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No need to worry about it - or put fixed in quotes.

Guns are machines. Sometimes they have or develop problems. If the problem is corrected the gun no longer has that issue. There's no voodoo or cursed guns involved. If a gun has a problem and it gets fixed it's no more likely to fail again then one that never exhibited the issue.

If your car has a flat and you change it do you worry that the new tire is going to deflate going down the road? ;)
 
ArchAngelCD said:
And as usual, I'm one of the lucky ones!

Thanks again for the information.
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Don't feel bad man, I go in stints with recieving guns that fail to preform to my standards of reliability. I've probably bought 40 handguns in my lifetime and about 10 had problems that needed addressed. And these were all big names in the firearms industry except for the one hi point I bought. The last couple years I've had good luck and hope it stays that way. Nothing like spending hundreds of your hard earned dollars on a gun that's not reliable. Give sig a chance to fix it before you write them off. The p320 is still fairly new compared to other striker fired guns so the bugs should just about be worked out
 
I was just chatting with my little brother that's stationed in Virginia who's also a 320C owner. We've come to an agreement where I'm purchasing his compact slide (that has shown no FTE problems as of yet) barrel, recoil spring assembly and grip module. And then he's going to use some super secret military discount at some super secret store at an undisclosed location apparently and pick himself up a 320C in 9mm for a cool $300. Literally 25% cheaper than what us civvies can get them for from Sig.


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For those who are telling me not to worry about a pistol failing and comparing it to things that are not similar, I'm not stupid and I know very well things break but this didn't break, it came broken. I bought a Sig because they are supposed to be better than most pistols and I'm upset because the problem doesn't seem to be a simple breakage but a flaw.

I spent what is to me a good amount of money on what was supposed to be a high quality handgun only to find out there may be a design flaw in this handgun.
 
243winxb said:
The last round in the mag is riding to high, nose up, it stops the brass from coming out of the chamber. The mag spring pressure is lighter as it empties. Both factory mags may do it, if formed at the same time. I dont know if Sig mags can be adusted? Some S&W's cant be bent, like some 1911 magazines. I would bend the sides of the mag in, to make the rounds ride lower in the mag, if possible.
attachment.php
https://www.sigsauer.com/upFiles/CmsContent/documents/SIG_P320MiniManual_8501300-01REV00_LR.pdf
Click to expand...
I think he is on to something here. If the slide is locking back while you have a round in the mag, the the follower is riding high. Plus you mention it seemed to only happen on the second to last round.

Buy another mag and see if it works.

If you have absolutely lost faith sell it off but don't be discouraged. I have had issues with about 25 percent of the guns I buy new irrelevant of the cost including a Ruger revolver :what: I don't agree with letting qc slip but it happens and is an entirely different topic all together. A good company, like Ruger ( and Sig I would imagine)will make it right for you if needed.
 
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