Reliability Issues with Sig Sauer M18

[MrAceJD]

I was at the range this evening, shooting my M18. It jammed. I looked and there was a brass casing stuck in the extractor. I was not able to pull the slide back sufficiently to eject it. I could not tell at that point what happened so I put the gun down for 30 seconds then picked it back up to again try and eject the brass. No luck. I took my car key out of my pocket and pushed the brass casing down and out through the magazine well.

I still could not pull the slide all the way back. It goes about 2/3 back. Not far enough for me to be able to disengage the slide for slide removal. I was limited as to that I could do at the range. Once I was 100% sure that the gun was not loaded and the barrel was clear, I just put the pistol away.

Once I got home, I was able to safely and privately hold the pistol at different angles to see if I could spot any metal or foreign object. I can't see anything. Not sure what could be happening. I am set on calling Sig tomorrow to create an RMA for repair, but I have never seen this happen to a pistol. It's only got around 300 rounds through it in total.

Is there a trick I can use to get the slide off to better inspect?

 

[Rsadams]

I watched a video where the slide would lock shut on a loaded round.... The guy put an empty mag in it and slapped the slide back with some energy.... You might look up sig M18 slide stuck on you tube and see how he did it....

 

[Sandstorm]

Yea theres ways to get it appart...Youtube is your friend here.

 

[MrAceJD]

For the life of me I can't find a video that fits the need. Slide isn't stuck shut. It only pulls back maybe 2/3 of the way... Tried inserting a mag. Tried tapping with a rubber mallet. Tried chambering a snap cap (won't chamber and won't push out any object).

 

[Jsjac]

Sounds like the ejector is probably bent from slamming a magazine in.
Sig uses a bent tab on the FCU. It can be bent back but gets weaker every time.
This usually happens when a magazine is inserted to "forcefully" when the gun is at slide lock.
This is one of the short comings of the 320 design.

 

[Jsjac]

I forget to mention you should be able to see it through the mag well

 

[MrAceJD]

Sounds like the ejector is probably bent from slamming a magazine in.
Sig uses a bent tab on the FCU. It can be bent back but gets weaker every time.
This usually happens when a magazine is inserted to "forcefully" when the gun is at slide lock.
This is one of the short comings of the 320 design.

That's a fascinating explanation. Thank you! I thought these things were supposed to be tanks.

 

[joshb]

That's a fascinating explanation. Thank you! I thought these things were supposed to be tanks.

Ya should know you CAN break a tank.

 

[MrAceJD]

This stinks. I live in NJ. I called Sig. Sending it back. Problem is that they will likely need to replace the FCU, which is basically a "new" firearm, so a new NJ pistol permit... Ugh.

 

[Jsjac]

Most likely Sig would just straighten the ejector and return it to you.

 

[MrAceJD]

Most likely Sig would just straighten the ejector and return it to you.

I hope they can do that, but also don't want to have a weakened part...

 

[lloydx2]

Bent, Broken ejectors I have seen are the result of using aftermarket mags

 

[MrAceJD]

Bent, Broken ejectors I have seen are the result of using aftermarket mags

These were all factory 10 round mags. I am wondering whether it's the 10 round limiter they use.

 

[MrAceJD]

So I took it to a dealer to return to Sig. They have a master Sig armorer there. He asked to play around with it. He did a "reverse disassembly" and got it working. He did a complete strip down and couldn't find anything wrong. It's a mystery. He suspected the guide rod came out of alignment but in all candor it was a mystery. It was locked up though. No visible damage. I am going to send a few hundred rounds through it later...

 

[Catfur]

Ya should know you CAN break a tank.

Given the fraction of time from my Army days that was spent under/in/beside/on my busted tank, the phrase “like a tank” isn’t a phrase that inspires me to think durable, or low-maintenance.

 

[sqrlgtr]

Another reason to carry a Glock Te He He. Just joking hope you get it figured out. Had a 320 for awhile and really liked it but was already so invested in the Glocks I traded it off....

 

[joshb]

Another reason to carry a Glock Te He He. Just joking hope you get it figured out. Had a 320 for awhile and really liked it but was already so invested in the Glocks I traded it off....

After 35 years of marriage, my only choice for a little variety is guns, so I own a bunch of different makes!

 

[MrAceJD]

Well... Went back to the range tonight. Seized up after 3 rounds. Back to Sig it goes. I do feel somewhat better that the the Sig Dealer told me Sig will rebuild an FCU if it's needed and they take 3 days max...

 

[MrAceJD]

Sent it out. I will share back what was deemed the problem and what the fix was, if they share that info.

 

[drop_point]

It certainly does sound like an ejector issue.

Have you used any extended magazines without the big base pad on the bottom?