Sig P229 - slide not locking back?

[Grayman]

Hi all -

I've got a Sig P229 that I've had for a few years. Love this gun. It's my tack driver. But the last couple of times I've had it out, the slide is failing to lock back at the end of the mag. My last range trip - it didn't lock back once.

One guy suggested replacing the recoil spring. Another thought it might be the mags (I used three different mags all with the same result). Someone else offered "maybe the ejector"???

Any other thoughts or concurrences?

 

[LopezEL]

Are you using reloads? Sometimes reloaded bullets dont have enough power to push the slide back enough to let it lock on that last bullet.

 

[Greenman]

Your problem is the slide catch leaver spring. It is stronger than the mag spring. It is easy to remove and adjust. This should fix the problem. If your mags have been kept fully loaded all the time, new Wolf brand mag springs would be the first choice for a fix of the problem.

 

[Grayman]

No reloads. Speer Lawman 180 gr. FMJ

Although I typically only have two mags loaded at any given time (and I try to cycle them with the other two I have), I was thinking about replacing the mag springs with Wolf springs anyway. Do you think I'll still need to adjust the slide catch lever spring? If so, adjust it how?

 

[LUPUS]

Be sure that you are not putting your right hand thumb on the slide catch lever accidently. This is a common problem with the classical SIG P series which is easy to fix with a little more attention.
The other common cause is the weak magazine spring. You may try extra power Wolff magazine springs.

 

[RobMoore]

If the mags are new than its most likely as Lupus described. Move your thumb away from the slide a bit. I rest mine on the knuckle of my left thumb.

 

[JDGray]

Be sure that you are not putting your right hand thumb on the slide catch lever accidently. This is a common problem with the classical SIG P series which is easy to fix with a little more attention.

I do this alot! Thought it was the gun, till my Son shot it, and everything worked for him

 

[Greenman]

Greenman

Adjusting tension on the slide catch lever spring. Remove the slide. Remove the take down lever. Slide the locking insert up and forward. The slide catch lever spring will be on the left side. With fingers only, slightly bend the spring up. reassemble and check with empty mag. I would suggest that while the weapon is disassembled, clean all of the parts and frame. If you are not comfortable with doing this, take the weapon to a gun smith familiar with the SIG firearm. By all means, especially if this is your C/C weapon, test fire with no less than 50 rds. and all of your mags to make sure that all is functioning properly. One more parting thing. If your mags have plastic followers this might be the problem in the first place.

Be safe and protect yourself at all times.

 

[GunDoctor]

I beg to differ Greenman. In all my years working with Sig's I have never known that spring to be the problem. It mostly holds in the take down lever. It is usually a weak mag spring of under powered ammo.

 

[Greenman]

Agreed..one of the functions is to apply pressure to the take down lever. The other is pressure on the slide catch lever and most likely it is why SIG refers to it as the slide lever spring.

 

[GunDoctor]

Right. But since the follower is what pushes the slide lock up then you also have other problems. The spring is ment to force the slide lock down. Otherwise you would have the slide lock back after every round. The follower in the mag pushes the slide lock up.

 

[SimpleIsGood229]

How many rounds do you have through the P229 since the last recoil spring change?

Most likely, though, it's a thumb issue.

 

[Grayman]

Yep - I'll bet it the thumb thing. I started carrying and shooting a Glock a year ago, and I'm pretty sure I changed how I hold my thumbs from when I was shooting the Sig regularly. So thinking about how I was shooting the last two times with the Sig - I'll bet that's exactly what it is.

 

[jgo296]

id recommend getting a glock

 

[SoCalShooter]

I have the same problem with 10 round mags for my HK USP if i am not using the 12 rounders its a toss up.

 

[Greenman]

Greenman

I guess that I retired from Schweizeriche Industrie Gesellschaft (SIG) too early.

 

[JDGray]

Do we have a Blueman in the house

 

[GunDoctor]

Sounds like it Greenman.

 

[1BLINDREF]

Good stuff posted so far.

I'll assume that you didn't have this problem before and that you aren't riding the slide release with your thumb.

How many (aprox) rounds are through the gun?

Have you ever changed the springs ( recoil spring, slide catch lever spring , decocking lever spring) ?

Have you had somebody else shoot the gun to see if the slide fails to lock back on them?

I also would not recommend bending any of the springs.
Sig recommends changing the springs every 5000 rounds. I change mine at about 3500-4000.
If you haven't put fresh springs in, try that first. The parts kit comes with all those springs plus new grip screws and a firing pin position pin. For $26.00, it's a great deal. You can get them (plus lots of other great stuff) from Top Gun Supply. The springs are very easy to replace yourself. If you aren't sure about doing them yourself, pick up the Armorers DVD (also available from Top Gun). It will show you how to do everything yourself, both on the older stamped slide Sigs and the newer milled slide Sigs.
http://www.topgunsupply.com/PARTS-KITS-c-98.html

Good luck!

 

[Grayman]

Yep. I'm riding the slide catch. Confirmed it tonight at the range. I don't recall this happening before I starting carrying a Glock - so my grip must have changed in the interim. I'm using a "parallel thumbs" grip - which places my right hand thumb just below the slide catch release, but definitely touching it.

I tried using a "stacked" thumbs grip, bending my left thumb and curling my right one over the top of it, but I just didn't shoot as well.

I'm wondering if there's not some sort of replacement slide catch that would mitigate this problem.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

I'm wondering if there's not some sort of replacement slide catch that would mitigate this problem.

It is really not a matter of the size or shape of the slide catch. It would have to be moved to a different location altogether, which would require a redesign of the gun.

 

[RobMoore]

Its as easy as moving your right thumb (if you shoot right handed) over to ride on the knuckle of your left. If you can't remember to do that, put some medical tape around the base of your left thumb. The difference in texture you feel will remind you to move your right thumb off the slide catch.