Slide fails to lock Opinion Please

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jtpur

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Today at the range, I had a slide that failed to lock on the last round. I had loaded my magazine with five rounds as I was shooting a specific course of fire. I was using Monarch 115 grn FMJ. This is the first "malfunction" I have had with this Sigma 9VE. It happened twice with the Monarch, both times with the mag loaded to five rounds. I switched to Fiocchi 115 grn FMJ and had one slide fail to lock with five in the magazine.

I spoke to the range people for some suggestions on why and he said, either a weak magazine or perhaps a not too strong grip. The magazines I used is the extra that the gun came with and I never keep rounds in it. I have probably loaded it with 15 less than ten times. I thought I had a pretty good grip but noticed today I shot slightly low and to the right of the 10 ring on a shillouete target....

Any comments or thoughts is appreciated....In other words was it me, the ammo or the gun?
 
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If you haven't done so, I'd start with cleaning the gun and magazines, and lubing the gun per S&W manual.

If it only happens with one mag after you've done the cleaning and lubing--there's your answer. The mag follower pushes up the slide lock on the last round.
Grit in the mag or slide can cause the malfunction, in addition to actual equipment problems.
 
jtpur said:
Today at the range, I had a slide that failed to lock on the last round. I had loaded my magazine with five rounds as I was shooting a specific course of fire. I was using Monarch 115 grn FMJ. This is the first "malfunction" I have had with this Sigma 9VE. It happened twice with the Monarch, both times with the mag loaded to five rounds. I switched to Fiocchi 115 grn FMJ and had one slide fail to lock with five in the magazine.

I spoke to the range people for some suggestions on why and he said, either a weak magazine or perhaps a not too strong grip. The magazines I used is the extra that the gun came with and I never keep rounds in it. I have probably loaded it with 15 less than ten times. I thought I had a pretty good grip but noticed today I shot slightly low and to the right of the 10 ring on a shillouete target....

Any comments or thoughts is appreciated....In other words was it me, the ammo or the gun?
Click to expand...

HOw many rounds do you have through it? How offen do you clean it? Lubed it? Does it slide lock when you pull it back manually?

I say take it apart, clean,inspect,lube, and hand cycle the gun about 50 times. Then try again.
 
Thanks to those who have so far responded. I have probably fired about 300 rnds through it. Maybe 400... I clean and lube it after each firing. I usually only fire 50 at a time. I have not dissasembled the magazines. I sometimes wipe the follower down with a clean rag. It does lock back when I hold the slide and lock it back. It only did it three times. As I said twice with the Monarch and once with Fiocchi...I do not think it is the bulletts. I rather doubt the magazine but will take it apart clean it and put it back. I think maybe CMJ might be onto something. I did change my grip slightly today.... I would still like to hear from anyone else on their thougts and if it has happened to anyone.
 
I think you may have a bad follower or spring, the slide lock has nothing to do with the ammo, the mechanism is controlled by the magazine follower and the slide stop lever, so it will be one of 3 parts; The mag spring, the mag follower, or the slide stop lever itself, but chances are it is the spring/ follower
 
Well, it could be the ammo. If the ammo doesn't have the power to fully cycle the slide and catch the slide stop. I've only had it happen with low power reloads, never factory ammo, but it could happen. My fist guess would be weak mag spring, or dirty or damaged follower.
 
thanks for all the comments and if anyone has anything different Im all ears. so the consensus is that it may be the mag causing the problem...anyone know of a good way to check that? I havent yet taken it apart to clean it, but then I dont plan to shoot it until next week.......anyone know if the spring should be lubed or just the inside of the mag with a lite coat of lubricant? I dont suppose there are any tension meters you could put on the spring to see if that is the problem.......
 
anyone know if the spring should be lubed or just the inside of the mag with a lite coat of lubricant
Click to expand...

Here's what I do:
Disassemble the magazine.
Spray everything with CRC "dry" silicone spray and wipe it all clean and dry. It should be dry and slick.
Reassemble.

Don't try stretching the spring while the magazine is apart; that ruins it for sure.

Anytime you get a malfunction involving the magazine, mark the mag. Sometimes it is one bad magazine.
 
again thanks for all the help. I took the mag apart...It was actually very clean. I used a bit of synthetic cleaner, aka lube, and put it back together. I put several round into the mag, it felt really tight......we will see what happens at the range...
 
since I posted about the slide not locking, I took one mag apart and cleaned it....went back to the range and shot 100 rounds...not one slide fail to lock problem. Went to the range today and had one FTF....it was the last round of a string of 50... I put it back in the mag, chambered it and fired it. My guess with the FTF, is I limp wristed it, although I thought I had a great grip. Today I fire a box of Kinematics Research (reman) 124 grn FMJ and the FTF was with that brand. The next batch of 50 was Am Eagle 124 grn FMJ.....its a funny thing about these auto pistols.....hold em just wrong and they do weird things. I came to the conclusion that the fail to lock was my big thumb barely touching the slide release...but Four eyes, has an interesting link I think I will investigate.....I have come to the conclusion that I really love my wheel guns......
 
The sigma is an amazing gun. It just needs to be tweeked some times by the pros, at least that's my main conclusion.

jtpur...if your FTF's and slide locking issues have left a bad teaste in your mouth I don't blame you. Sure did for me, but I would suggest sending it in ...I mean really..what have you got to lose? I had the same type of FTF issues you did too with no ryme or reason.

Since I got it back, not one single issue. Call and ask them to send you a shipping tag, they will pay for it!

it was worth the work for me.
 
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