I'm a new Sig owner, having recently purchased a P6 from a forum member here. After my first range trip, I found that it has an issue with my chosen carry load, the Speer 124gr +P Gold Dot.

Even with the old style barrel, it feeds fine. However, I got premature slide lock after firing 4-5 rounds of the 8 round magazine.

Closer inspection shows that the Gold Dots are hitting the slide catch lever on the way up. My practice load (124gr FMJ) does not and ran perfectly.

Has anyone successfully filed the end of the catch lever down (the part that engages the follower on the magazine when empty)? I know I can just file away and if I take too much, just replace the lever; I just want to see if others have done this successfully. I don't think a new slide catch spring will fix this problem, unless it will hold the lever further away from the bullets.

I didn't find a lot of info when searching, but I did read this thread and the linked thread about a P220 having similar problems.

http://sigforum.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/150601935/m/8501...641092821#3641092821

An interesting question which to my knowledge hasn't arisen before. Either your slide catch lever is somewhat different from most or people aren't using +P Gold Dots in their P6s.

As you can see for yourself, the shapes of the two bullets that you mention are different. The hollow point bullet is blunter and wider near the nose than the FMJ. The P6 was not designed for HP bullets and the extra width at the front is no doubt the reason why the bullet contacts the magazine follower engagement tab of the slide catch lever.

You could modify the tab, but you must ensure that you don't remove so much material that it no longer works to lock the slide open with an empty magazine.

Whenever I decide to modify a part like that, I cover myself by having a spare on hand to replace it if I ruin something. In this case, a new P225 slide catch lever will probably cure the problem without any modification. If you can find a 225 SCL, I'd just install it and see how it works before doing anything to the original part.

Keep us posted regardless of what you decide to do.

I had that same problem with my both of my 220 pistols, when using Golden Saber in the Sig 8 rd mag. That long fat bullet would rub the SCL, and sometimes lock the slide open. When using the old zipperback 7 rd mags, the Golden Saber sat further back in the mag, and did not hit the SCL. Since the SCL is relatively inexpensive and available from Top Gun Supply, I slowly worked on the friction point of the SCL, wanting to stop this random malfunction, yet maintain 100% lock open on empty mag. Going a little at a time, I was successful, and have no problems.

i have to ask. you aren't using an aftermarket pro-mag magazine are you by chance with the gold dots ? and a factory one with the fmj's ?

Thanks for the replies. I decided to file down the tab on the slide catch lever. I tested it this morning and it ran the Gold Dots fine and still locked the slide back properly when empty.

For hiwaystar: I only have factory mags; no Promags.

Allan

I've also had some problems with pre-mature slidelock on my P6. It didn't happen with the original P6 grips, but when I put some wood grips on it, I began having random slidelocks. Finally realized it was my right thumb that was working its way up to the slidelock lever ... particularly when doing double taps or Bill-drills.

Consider the possibility that the higher power Speer hp gold dots created more recoil and your thumb might have slid up.

For a while I was blocking my thumb by putting a narrow strip of velcro (the rough side) just under the slidelock lever. You'll know for sure if your thumb is riding up.

Good luck.

I'm another one that had premature slide lock problems with my P6 when I first got it. Mine was doing it about 10% of the time, even with FMJs. The solution was to replace the weak slide lock spring. It's been perfect ever since.