Folks, ASAP, I need some help with my new P226

H

hjm

New member
I just got a brand new Sig P226 9mm. Prior to this gun, I have only one .357 magnum S&W revolver, so I have a bunch of questions.

1. I cannot get the 10th bullet into the magazine. Should I be able to, or does the 10th go in another way?

2. I am using SPEER Golddot's 9mm LUGER +P. My gun manual does not say ANYTHING about what type of ammo I can use. On the barrell, it says 9mm Para. Does this mean that I cannot use the SPEER's?

3. How do I know what types of ammo I can use? Regular, +P, +P+, etc.? Are the +P's too hot for the gun, unsafe, or will they cause more wear and tear?

4. Besides pulling the ejecting the magazine, pulling the slide back to eject the one bullet in the chamber, and visually checking for any remaining bullets, How can I be abslolutly sure there are no more bullets left "hiding" somewhere?

I know these may sound like stupid questions, but I am doing this alone, so until I can find someone skilled in the use of semi-auto's, I need advice from you all.

Keep in mindthat I do not plan on using the gun until I fully understand everything. In the meantime, I am being careful to keep my finger off of the trigger at all times, and to use the decocking lever to decock the hammer whenever it is back.

Thanks for your advice,

hjm
 
Yeah, you really should go to a handgun training class or something. You'd learn alot,and it would be really fun too.

Anyways

1. You probally have a stiff magazine spring. Just let the magazine sit on a table with 9 rounds in it for now. It should loosen up over time. HKS also sells magazine loaders for about 6 bucks or so. These are plastic devices that make magazine loading easier on the fingers.

2. Any kind of 9mm 9x19 ammo should be fine.

3. Sigs can easily handle +P+ 9mm ammo.

4. Take the magazine out of the gun, pull the slide back (keeping fingers away from the trigger), and visually check the chamber from the chamber's end (NOT the muzzle's end).
 
GO TO TRAINING

Do not pass go, do not collect $200.

This is not meant as an insult. You are not stupid, those are not stupid questions. Those are very, very good questions- but they are not ones that should be answered over the internet. They should be answered in person by someone who is familiar with semi-auto firearms. Almost anyone on this board could walk you through the gun's manual of arms, but its probably best done in person by someone who is familar with the weapon.

If you are relying on this weapon for self defense, please fall back to your revolver. Believe me, it will protect you just as well (better, actually, for you are more familiar with it).

Where are you located?

Mike
 
I am in the Pittsburgh, PA area. 18 miles Northeast of PIttsburgh, to be exact. I have already gone throught the NRA Personal safety course, but I went through it with my revolver. I just need some general safety rules and guidance. I will do my best to find someone who can help me learn the ropes before I start actually using my new gun.

In the meantime, responses and advice are welcome!

hjm
 
I'm with Coronach and Lightspeed. Get some more training before you touch that gun again. I teach NRA Basic Pistol classes. In my classes, you learn how to use both revolvers and semi-autos. That should be true of most NRA Basic Pistol classes.

M1911
 
I have a 220 (.45) which is the big brother to your 226. Action is the same
1. Yes at first you will definitely not be able to put the last round in a new magazine unless your some kind of superman!:p After two or three times through a mostly full magazine you'll be able to get that tenth in.

ditto to lightsped says.
9mm Para is 9mm Parabellum sames as 9x19 and 9mm luger. A 9mm by any other name.... I'd recommend starting out with something a little lighter than +P loads though. Get some FMJ shoot a bit to get used to the weapon and then step into +P.

Also another tip, get used to using the decocker, DO NOT THUMB THE HAMMER DOWN!. The decocker works. Use it a couple times and you get used to it. Have fun and enjoy your new 226.
 
The same rules of safety apply to revolvers as to semi-autos. Follow those and you won't put holes in things unintentionally. However, you still need to get with someone who knows the manual of arms for that weapon, if for no other reason than to save you the time of reinventing the wheel. ;) Plus, you might teach yourself some bad habits in the absence of good guidance.

Here's an idea: go through another safety course with that gun, or a basic pistol class.

Any TFL members nearby?

Failing ALL of the above, go to the local gunshop and get two packs of 9mm snap caps (dummy rounds). Make sure the Sig and all mags are empty, recheck, especially the chamber...load up with snap caps and go through loading and unloading the weapon, and putting it through its paces, and dryfiring it in a safe location. After a while you'll get the hang of how it works, and how it doesn't.

the biggest peril of snap caps is that you will screw up and mix them with live rounds, so CHECK THEM.

Still, the ABSOLUTE best option is to have a one-on-one with a semi-auto shooter.

You wouldn't drive your car without a lesson, right?

Mike
 
You have to respect the person for coming here and aksing. There are so many really smart people here that it can be intimidating at times.
 
1. I cannot get the 10th bullet into the magazine. Should I be able to, or does the 10th go in another way?
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They should all go in the same way, but some mags have such strong springs that getting the last round in is a pain. When loading my 15 round Ruger mags I use a magazine loader from HKS.

2. I am using SPEER Golddot's 9mm LUGER +P. My gun manual does not say ANYTHING about what type of ammo I can use. On the barrell, it says 9mm Para. Does this mean that I cannot use the SPEER's?
Click to expand...

Your P226 shoul dbe able to handle the +P as a carry round. You should run some through at the range to make sure they function, but practice will be cheaper with standard pressure hardball.

3. How do I know what types of ammo I can use? Regular, +P, +P+, etc.? Are the +P's too hot for the gun, unsafe, or will they cause more wear and tear?
Click to expand...

+P and +P+ have increasing levels of pressure. Your SIG is a well made gun, but pure physics says that the higher pressure rounds will eventually take their toll. You may have to replace recoil springs sooner. Again, practice with standard pressure stuff, save the JHPs for bad guys.

4. Besides pulling the ejecting the magazine, pulling the slide back to eject the one bullet in the chamber, and visually checking for any remaining bullets, How can I be abslolutly sure there are no more bullets left "hiding" somewhere?
Click to expand...

The standard clearing procedure is to drop the mag out, then lock the sldie to the rear for chamber inspection. The only places a round can be are in the mag or the chamber.

Hope this helps.
 
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