National Army's New Pistols (Sig P320) Often Eject Live Rounds and Don't Work Well With Regular Bullets

[Joe Link]

The U.S. Army's decision to select two versions of Sig Sauer's 9mm P320 pistol as the new standard sidearms across the service was not without controversy, including a formal protest by competing gun maker Glock, which claimed the service didn't complete certain critical tests. The Pentagon recently released a report that shows testing of the M17 and M18 handguns exposed a number of significant and persistent deficiencies, including firing accidentally if a shooter dropped the gun, ejecting live ammunition, and low reliability with traditional "ball" cartridges with bullets enclosed inside a full metal jacket.

These and other details were in the Pentagon's Office of the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation review of such work during the 2017 fiscal year, which it published earlier in January 2018. This regular report covers a wide variety of high profile weapon systems and other important equipment across the U.S. military, including the Army's Modular Handgun System (MHS) program. In January 2017, the Army chose Sig Sauer to supply a total more than 300,000 of the full size M17 and compact M18 pistols as part of that project, a deal worth approximately $580 million. The other U.S. military services are now considering following suit and adopting the guns and the company is making essentially the same gun available to civilian shooters as well.

Read More: Army's New Pistols Often Eject Live Rounds and Don't Work Well With Regular Bullets

Read More

 

[Stomper]

$10 says one of the decision makers has an extended relative working for Sig.... just like when the Army adopted that WORTHLESS ACU pattern they've been sporting for the last several years.

 

[kott0n]

I just shot the ol Beretta 92f this weekend. What a nice shooter. Somethings are better left alone.

 

[v0lcom13sn0w]

shoulda went with glock


just sayin

 

[Mainsail]

At least the slide didn't fly off and hit the shooter in the face.
Good thing the gun didn't kaboom in the shooter's face.

Sounds like a bad batch of magazines.

 

[Medic!]

I just shot the ol Beretta 92f this weekend. What a nice shooter. Somethings are better left alone.

And you don't think we said the same thing about the 1911 back in the 80"s?

 

[2Wheels4Ever]

On the plus side, Sig will continue to R&D these pistols like few other handguns would get. All that R&D will trickle down to the civilian market and should end up in a solid pistol.



I still think a small sbr or a stocked pistol would have been a better side arm option. Something along the theory of the M1 carbine, but done in a more compact version. Maybe an improved Beretta 93r, original CZ scorpion, or a micro uzi.

 

[11Charlie]

shoulda went with glock


just sayin

Shoulda went with a double stack 10mm 1911


Just sayin!

 

[308]

I just shot the ol Beretta 92f this weekend. What a nice shooter. Somethings are better left alone.

I don't own one, but have to agree they are nice shooters in my experience as well.

 

[mkwerx]

The guns eject live rounds eh? I am sure tgey do when Private Snuffy racks the slide. No way the gun is going to eject live ammo witout the slide being operated.

As for going off while dropped, other 320s had this issue. The trigger on the m17 was supposed to be different, and the gun has a manual safety. This again sounds like a deficiency in Pvt Snuffy, not necessarily the gun. And low reliability with ball - sorry I don't buy that one unless its bad ammo, or limp wristed shooters. Glocks are equally prone to limp wrist induced malfunction.

The 320 is a decent gun. Maybe they shudda picked the M&P submission though.

 

[Medic!]

I don't own one, but have to agree they are nice shooters in my experience as well.

It took some time. But the M9 and I finally got along.

 

[Diamondback]

Shoulda went with a double stack 10mm 1911


Just sayin!

Not everyone can wrap their mitts around doublestacks... but maybe a 10mm, bulked up to "Kuhnhausen Optimal Spec" with interchangeable MSH "backstraps".

 

[308]

Any chance .mil finds they ordered crap ammo, and shortly thereafter we non.mil folk see .mil surplus 9 'overrun' for cheap over at sportsmansguide dot com

 

[11Charlie]

It took some time. But the M9 and I finally got along.

I'm kinda surprised that you don't have four of them.

 

[11Charlie]

Not everyone can wrap their mitts around doublestacks.

I can!

 

[Diamondback]

I can!

Some of us have smaller hands or shorter fingers, though. Are you trying to say DOD should only take recruits 5'9" or taller?

 

[Medic!]

I'm kinda surprised that you don't have four of them.

I know.
I'm just not as fond of the M9.

 

[11Charlie]

Some of us have smaller hands or shorter fingers, though. Are you trying to say DOD should only take recruits 5'9" or taller?

Just because you can handle a double stack doesn't mean your short!

 

[v0lcom13sn0w]

Shoulda went with a double stack 10mm 1911


Just sayin!

merica!!

 

[Mygrainman]

shoulda went with glock


just sayin

Agreed... I did