SIG P226 MECGAR MAGS 15 vs. 18 RDS FOR CARRY/DUTY

[Dcowboyscr]

I've been debating which magazines to standardize on for my SIG P226. I can get OEM style parkerized 15 round($20) or AFC flush fit 18 round($25) both made by Mec Gar. Are the 18 round magazines proven reliable enough for duty use such as being loaded for long lengths of time? Todd I read a thread from 2009 on another forum where you had reservations on carrying the 18 round magazines for serious use such as duty carry and recomended going with the 15 rounders. Does your opinion still hold true 7 years latter? Thanks.

[Hambo]

I've been carrying 18 and 20 round Mec-Gar magazines for my Beretta for over a year now without any issues.

[GJM]

The 18 round MecGar is essentially the same magazine as the MecGar AFC for the Beretta 92 and CZ 75(with tiny differences reflecting each platform and a different color follower) and is my standard magazine for all three platforms.

[LSP552]

I like and use both without issue. When I order new mags they are the 18 rounds, because why not? One thing to note is the slightly different body shape. The edges of the 18 round mag are slightly more rounded and doesn't fit as tight in some carriers.

[SteveK]

I've used MecGar mags for Berettas and Sigs for years without issue. The 18 rounders are approved for use with our duty P226s and I carry them in my active killer bag. Just remember that magazines are disposable and trash them should they start to give you issues.

[Chuck Haggard]

I can't speak to the Sig models, but the MecGar mags that I used in my 3rd gen S&W 9mms were top notch gear, both the 17 round flush fit and the 20 round extended mags.

[Dcowboyscr]

Thanks for the replies. Good stuff.

[taadski]

I've been using Mecgar 18 rounders for both duty and otherwise for years and actually find them quite a bit more robust than the parkerized factory mags. Our agency began replacing issue mags with them 5+ years ago. They're GTG.

Incidentally the Mecgar 20 rounders (18s sold with + two bases) run like a sewing machine also. I found out the hard way, however, at a major, that they do NOT fit in the USPSA Production class box. :-(


t

[pblanc]

I don't have a SIG P226 but the Mec-Gar 18 round flush fit and 20 round "Plus 2" mags for my Beretta 92FS have functioned perfectly. As you probably know, standard factory Beretta mags for the 92 also have a 15 rd capacity.

[Dcowboyscr]

Does anyone have a pic of the SIG MecGar 15 rd follower compared to the MecGar 18 round mag follower?

[Kyle Reese]

I pretty much use the 18's in my Beretta 92G w/o issue. Used the 18 rd Mec-Gars in my P226 as well. Solid mags for the money.

[OnionsAndDragons]

Easily 7k through my six 18rd 226 MecGars, no issues whatsoever.

My experience with the 20rd version has been similar, but less extensive. I love MecGar mags.


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[Lon]

I've been using the 18/20 rounders for duty and competition for the better part of 10 years. No issues at all. As soon as we got our new Sigs in 2014, I replaced the factory mags with MG mags. Now I'm running the 15 and 18 round 229 mags in addition to the 18/20 round 226 mags.

[FreedomFries]

Sorry to necropost but didn't find the info I wanted searching. I heard rumors that the recent P226 Legion pistols have a two piece magazine catch different from the original P series design and that there are compatibility issues with the Mecgar 18 round magazines. Has anyone has this issue?

[Sammy1]

I use the mec gar 18rd mags in my P226 w/o issue.

[FreedomFries]

I use the mec gar 18rd mags in my P226 w/o issue.


Does your P226 have the two piece new magazine catch like the new Legion pistols?

[AMC]

Sorry to necropost but didn't find the info I wanted searching. I heard rumors that the recent P226 Legion pistols have a two piece magazine catch different from the original P series design and that there are compatibility issues with the Mecgar 18 round magazines. Has anyone has this issue?

The answer is yes....there can be compatibility issues. Sig changed the construction design of the 226 mag catch to what they use in the 320 design....a two piece unit. Our SWAT team moved to 9mm 226 Legions a few years ago after cracking about 20 .40 S&W 226 frames. They ordered the 18 round Megan's for the guns, which had worked flawlessly with the T&E guns....but 9 days before our guns shipped, Sig changed the mag release design. It CAN be an issue.....don't let them tell you otherwise. The mags would just not lock in place, and would fall out during firing.

[Screwball]

I know the P226 magazines are similar to the Beretta 92 magazines… only issue I’ve ever heard about those MecGar magazines are .40 versions not working in either 96 pistols or .40 CX4 carbines (could be both or one of them… this was awhile ago). It was right when they started the .40 production, so likely resolved by now… but figured I’d mention it.

I have the 20 round version for my Beretta… zero issues. They are good to go in my book.

[Sammy1]

Does your P226 have the two piece new magazine catch like the new Legion pistols?

No, I'm shooting a 2005 P226.

[HCM]

I've been using Mecgar 18 rounders for both duty and otherwise for years and actually find them quite a bit more robust than the parkerized factory mags. Our agency began replacing issue mags with them 5+ years ago. They're GTG.

Incidentally the Mecgar 20 rounders (18s sold with + two bases) run like a sewing machine also. I found out the hard way, however, at a major, that they do NOT fit in the USPSA Production class box. :-(


t

We had people running the P229 40 mags with the plus 2 bases (which accepted 14 rounds of .40) for over 10 years without issues.

[stinx]

The answer is yes....there can be compatibility issues. Sig changed the construction design of the 226 mag catch to what they use in the 320 design....a two piece unit. Our SWAT team moved to 9mm 226 Legions a few years ago after cracking about 20 .40 S&W 226 frames. They ordered the 18 round Megan's for the guns, which had worked flawlessly with the T&E guns....but 9 days before our guns shipped, Sig changed the mag release design. It CAN be an issue.....don't let them tell you otherwise. The mags would just not lock in place, and would fall out during firing.

I am having this exact issue with a newly purchased P-226 MK 25. Mec-Gar 18 won’t lock into place and fall out under recoil.

[TheNewbie]

Can the mag catch be replaced with an older style?

What is the QC status of current production P226s?

[AMC]

Can the mag catch be replaced with an older style?

What is the QC status of current production P226s?

Yes, the two style mag catches are interchangeable on the 226.

On the QC question, not sure large scale wise. The 50 226 Legions we got did have the issue with the mecgar mags. A couple of guys also complained that the sights were wildly off. Quick confirmation zero by the range staff, and a reminder that Sig generally regulates their sights for a 6 o'clock hold at 25 yards "cured" that complaint by a couple members of the SWAT team. *sigh*

[stinx]

Yes, the two style mag catches are interchangeable on the 226.

On the QC question, not sure large scale wise. The 50 226 Legions we got did have the issue with the mecgar mags. A couple of guys also complained that the sights were wildly off. Quick confirmation zero by the range staff, and a reminder that Sig generally regulates their sights for a 6 o'clock hold at 25 yards "cured" that complaint by a couple members of the SWAT team. *sigh*

Did you have to replace the magazine catches on your guns?

[AMC]

Did you have to replace the magazine catches on your guns?

We sent four of the guns back to the factory. They replaced them with new mag catches. Said we had worn out the part with aftermarket magazines. MecGars.....in brand new guns. Most of them function okay now, but the 18 rounders are training only at this point.

[TheNewbie]

We sent four of the guns back to the factory. They replaced them with new mag catches. Said we had worn out the part with aftermarket magazines. MecGars.....in brand new guns. Most of them function okay now, but the 18 rounders are training only at this point.

That’s the kind of answer that makes me not even have trust in a “proven” platform from Sig.

[Gun Mutt]

The 226 is by far and away my favorite DA/SA. Still kick my self for owning and selling 2 of them. The first was German built & Exeter assembled, the second was a railed version I let go about a decade ago. Wouldn't want to edc either one, but I feel stoopid for not still having at least one of those gems in my safe.

[jd950]

We sent four of the guns back to the factory. They replaced them with new mag catches. Said we had worn out the part with aftermarket magazines. MecGars.....in brand new guns. Most of them function okay now, but the 18 rounders are training only at this point.

Generally speaking, I am a fan of the Sig P series guns, although i prefer the older versions with short extractors. Your mag experience and the Sig response are disturbing, especially since MecGar is the OEM mag on those guns. Were these the (more or less) flush fit 18 round mags or the ones with the long basepads? If the latter, I wonder if it is the longer length of the mags and resulting extra force when seating them that caused the issue?

I carry the mecgar 15 round flush fit mags in a P229 and have had no problems (yet). I have some 18 round mags for training and now wonder if I should just change the baseplates and make them 15s..... (I don't really care much about the extra few rounds)

[AMC]

Generally speaking, I am a fan of the Sig P series guns, although i prefer the older versions with short extractors. Your mag experience and the Sig response are disturbing, especially since MecGar is the OEM mag on those guns. Were these the (more or less) flush fit 18 round mags or the ones with the long basepads? If the latter, I wonder if it is the longer length of the mags and resulting extra force when seating them that caused the issue?

I carry the mecgar 15 round flush fit mags in a P229 and have had no problems (yet). I have some 18 round mags for training and now wonder if I should just change the baseplates and make them 15s..... (I don't really care much about the extra few rounds)

The magazines were the 'flush fit' 18 round Mecgars. I believe the problem only exists with the new style magazine catch. There's apparently just enough difference in the geometry of the part that not all of th work reliably in all of the guns. Some just would drop out mid shot string.

The design follows the 320 mag catch design (easier and cheaper to produce) and for what it's worth, they work flawlessly with factory mags. Even 15 round Mecgars. It isn't the same part as the 320 one though. The 320 button/catch are triangular, and the 226 one is the classic oval. I believe it's also the same one used in the 320 AXG frame by the way. Likely easier to machine the frame with an oval.....I guess. I have a 320 AXG Pro LE, and I haven't encountered any issues with the factory mags.

[jd950]

I guess I am safe, then. Thanks.

[FreedomFries]

Yes, the two style mag catches are interchangeable on the 226.

On the QC question, not sure large scale wise. The 50 226 Legions we got did have the issue with the mecgar mags. A couple of guys also complained that the sights were wildly off. Quick confirmation zero by the range staff, and a reminder that Sig generally regulates their sights for a 6 o'clock hold at 25 yards "cured" that complaint by a couple members of the SWAT team. *sigh*

I do not believe that the new style magazine catches and frames are compatible with older generation frames and catches. The recess milled into the old frames for the magazine catch support plate is absent on the new frames. The new design uses a plastic magazine catch stop with a tab that engages the magazine catch inside. The end of the magazine catch is notched and the magazine catch stop slides into the void formed by the notch and frame. The new design appears similar to the P365/P320 series. It's very easy to remove with just a SIM card tool and I did it without having to even remove the grip panels.

I ended up buying 2x copies of the P226 Legion RXP with the new style magazine catch recently. On one copy, the Mec-Gar 18 magazines engages pretty positively. On the other, copy the click was pretty soft and did not take much movement of the button to disengage. I only have about 75 rounds through each for zeroing and testing so far, but neither one has dumped magazines inadvertently. I swapped the assembly with one from a P229 Legion RXP and now it clicks more positively, similar to the other example of P226 Legion RXP I have. I suspect that the geometry of the Mec-Gar 18 magazines very slightly decreases the engagement with the locking tab on the magazine catch. Also I think there is some tolerance stacking that occurs with the magazine catch, magazine catch stop, and frame. If my magazines start flying out during firing, I'm probably going to experiment with sanding down the magazine catch stop very slightly where it stops against the inside of the frame.

[stinx]

So I brought my gun up to the Sig experience center and an armorer looked at my gun. I was told that since the gun works without issue with the factory made 15 round mags they don’t consider the gun to have an issue. During my conversation with the armorer he said it’s a known issue and he mentioned a police/ military unit in Ireland that had the same issue. Iput 200 round through the gun yesterday and it worked flawlessly with the 15 round mags. I think it bs that the gun won run with the Mec Gar 18 rounders. All my Berettas run the 18 round Mec Gars without issue.

[billt460]

I've been carrying 18 and 20 round Mec-Gar magazines for my Beretta for over a year now without any issues.

I've been doing much the same. "Standard procedure" for all of my full sized Beretta's, including my new 92X Performance, is to install these 20 round Mec-Gars. I pick them up from Greg Cote. He's excellent to deal with, and ships within hours. I'm going to order a half a dozen more next month.

https://gregcotellc.com/cart/beretta-actmag-mecgar-kci-c-126/mecgar-beretta-92fs-m9-cx4-92a1-regard-mc-20-rd-mgpb9220dps-p-2123.html

[LockedBreech]

I've been doing much the same. "Standard procedure" for all of my full sized Beretta's, including my new 92X Performance, is to install these 20 round Mec-Gars. I pick them up from Greg Cote. He's excellent to deal with, and ships within hours. I'm going to order a half a dozen more next month.

https://gregcotellc.com/cart/beretta-actmag-mecgar-kci-c-126/mecgar-beretta-92fs-m9-cx4-92a1-regard-mc-20-rd-mgpb9220dps-p-2123.html

I've bought a lot of magazines from Greg Cote. He's solid as hell. He's one of the (sadly very few) companies I can order from without worry knowing my order is going to be perfect and well packaged every time. Offhand the only other companies I have had that kind of order consistency from are Magpul and SGAmmo.

I may eventually add Velocity Ammo to that list, I've bought 3 different lots of 250+ rounds from them recently due to some good sales, all were shipped and packaged fast and perfectly. But SGAmmo earned my trust over like 12-13 years, that's a high bar.

As for the 18-round Mec-Gar magazines, my only experience is with my Beretta 92FS (2013, Italy) and 92A1 (2017, Italy). Both run with the 18-round Mec-Gars just as well as they do with the stock ones. No issues ever. I consider them home defense/carry ready at this point. For what it's worth as a reference point, I exclusively run Speer Gold Dot 124-grain +P in my 92s. Both of them love that load.

Offhand, I also am nearly certain that the qualified purchaser Sig M17B I bought uses Mec-Gar magazines, they are stamped made in Italy, feel just the same, and load just as easy. Confidence-boosting for sure.

[SecondHandSmoke]

In Beretta 92 and Sig P226 (Later German made) I've used mec gar 18's exclusively and I find them to be well made and have never seen a stoppage in either type of pistol with 18 round Mec-Gars. Thousands of rounds through both type and have been lucky so far.

Mec-Gar generally either is or is as good as OEM in my mind. My old PPQ M1 is fed with Mec-Gar mags for some strange variant of Baby Desert Eagle.

[stinx]

MY Gut tells me Mec Gar is not the issue.

[billt460]

MY Gut tells me Mec Gar is not the issue.

Agree 100%. Mec-Gar is not the problem.... But rather the solution. They're the OEM manufacturer for many companies like Beretta. Their quality is second to none. I have never been disappointed in a Mec-Gar magazine in the last 20 years. Every one that I have purchased has functioned flawlessly. In Beretta's, CZ's, Browning's, name it and they'll run like a scalded dog on a Mec-Gar magazine.