Odd marks on my spent .40 cal casings

[Patriot86]

Some backround: The firearm I was using is a P-226 .40 S&W
I was using a mix of 180GR FMJ Winchester and Federal rounds.


I got to the range for the first time in a couple months this afternoon. Looking closely at some of the spent .40 cal casings I did noticed an odd secondary mark just above the firing pin indentation on almost every spent case.


Another thing to note, I had my first what I would call serious malfunction after about 3000+ rounds through the firearm through its life. The slide jammed half closed, after clearing the jam the offending round almost appeared as if the extractor caught it right in the middle of the case ovaling the round, I wish I had thought to take a picture of it. This MAY be unrelated, I put another 100 rounds through my SIG after the malfunction with no repeat.



I am attaching some pictures below, these MAY have been there before on previous trips, however I do not recall noticing anything before. I am not sure if this means anything good or bad but I will wanted to consult the experts @ TFL.

Edit: Going to have to try to get closer pictures when I get back in the office on Monday morning, if you blow up the first pic I think it is pretty clear.

 

[g.willikers]

Not being familiar with that particular pistol, the shape or position, this is a guess.
Since you mentioned a jam that might have involved the ejector, check to see if the ejector has been bent inward and making the mark on the case.

 

[Don Glock]

call sig.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

That looks like firing pin swipe. It means that the slide was unlocking before the firing pin retracted and was out of the way. My 10mm's do that a lot with older firing pin springs. Call sig if you want, but I would suggest a new set of springs first.

 

[hardhat harry]

Peter has it right on the money, time for a new firing pin spring. Check the Sig website if you want Sig stock, maybe a local Sig firearms dealer or GS will have some in stock.

 

[Patriot86]

The LGS where I bought my SIG has a pretty good Smith on site, next time I am there I will have him take a look at it.
I have by my best estimation about 2000-3000 rounds through it but it is only 9 months old. Is it odd that taking into account the round count but also the age that it would wear out that quickly?

 

[lee n. field]

I did noticed an odd secondary mark just above the firing pin indentation on almost every spent case.

Primer wiping. Both my .40s, the unlamented CZ-100 and the XD40 that replaced it, did/do this.

Other posters have noted the cause. Changing out springs might make it go away. If everything else works fine, I wouldn't worry about it.