Posted on 01/20/2017 7:09:32 AM PST by Paul46360
SIG SAUER, Inc. announced today that the U.S. Army has selected the SIG SAUER Model P320 to replace the M9 service pistol currently in use since the mid-1980s. Released in 2014, the P320 is a polymer striker-fired pistol that has proven itself in both the United States and worldwide markets. The P320 is the first modular pistol with interchangeable grip modules that can also be adjusted in frame size and caliber by the operator. All pistols will be produced at the SIG SAUER facilities in New Hampshire. The MHS Program provides for the delivery of both full size and compact P320s, over a period of ten (10) years. All pistols will be configurable to receive silencers and will also include both standard and extended capacity magazines. I am tremendously proud of the Modular Handgun System Team, said Army Acquisition Executive, Steffanie Easter in the release. By maximizing full and open competition across our industry partners, we truly have optimized the private sector advancements in handguns, ammunition and magazines and the end result will ensure a decidedly superior weapon system for our warfighters.
(Excerpt) Read more at armytimes.com ...
Nope, S&W (M&P), FN, KRISS, Glock (finalist) and Beretta were all in as was Springfield Armory.
The P320 is a terrific choice and is truly modular. i found the ergonomics to be first rate.
When I take to the range other shooters want it.
Calibers available are 9mm, .40 S&W and .45 ACP.
Really, I like most anything chambered in 9mm. I never cried about thick grips, weight, or the M&P trigger. All are training issues, easily overcome. As long as it works, I really don’t care which model. M&P 9, the full size job, is actually one of my favorite pistols and I don’t notice the trigger anymore. It’s ALL solved by training
“Is this the pistol preferred by most of our SEALs past and present?”
In the SEAL kit is a variety of potential sidearms, but I imagine this is in the current kit. Others I know of are the Beretta M9, Glock 19, different models of H&K and, of course, the 1911.
9mm is my favorite. I have a smaller hand so the double stacked pistols sometimes are a bit too thick to use comfortably.
I use an H&K P7M8 and will probably pick up a Walther P99. I have fired an older (1st generation) P99 and was impressed by its ergonomics and easy of shooting.
Really interesting choice. The Sig 320 is unique in that the only part of it that is serialized is the trigger group, hence you can get a kit that changes a full-frame to a compact to a sub-compact, 9mm to .357 Sig to whatever. At the moment they cost around four bills (the kits, that is, they’re called Caliber X-Change Kits). There may be one in the Drill collection future...
Should have gone for the Hi-Point. Inflict massive damage just by throwing it at the enemy when you’re out of ammo.
;)
Have you shot the Sig 320.
https://www.sigsauer.com/products/firearms/pistols/p320/
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/SIG_Sauer_P320
http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2014/10/foghorn/sig-sauer-unviels-p320-mhs-edition/
https://youtu.be/IyBfrf7iitA
Thank yo for your article. I personally have not fired the Sig Sauer P320, and until I do the jury is out. I was in the any for a few years (1970 {yes, drafted} until 1992). I fired what I do consider the best M1991A .45 CAL. Pistol. Others will disagree with me but That little guy saved my butt on more that one occasion. AND YES, I Was able to by one and still have it today and it still operates beautifully.
I love my Sig Sauer and even have a P320, but am amazed the Army did not go with the Glock.
Years of being a Glock holdout, I am now convinced it is the most reliable gun on the planet. Simply the best tool in the shed
Re: Really interesting choice. The Sig 320 is unique in that the only part of it that is serialized is the trigger group, hence you can get a kit that changes a full-frame to a compact to a sub-compact, 9mm to .357 Sig to whatever
That is a great feature if one lives in a country like Germany where it is difficult to get a pistol permit. One gun does everything. However, this is the USA where it is relatively easy to get a gun if one is not deranged or a felon. Never met a single person who used this ‘feature”.
Why make fun of a gun which, although cheap, does work? I own one as a shower gun and it has never failed, something I cannot say about pricier Guns I have tried over the years.
Air base AND F-16 purchases, which were “held up” while the grand deal was hammered out.
There were two parts of the pistol trials, durability/reliability tests (rounds fired, freezing, mud etc) and ergonomic/usability trials. My friend was involved in the latter as an instructor, but was aware of the results of the former.
In his trials, recruits who were non-shooters were trained on all of the pistols. According to my friend, who was there, who was an integral part of the tests, the SIG won HANDS DOWN. The Berretta “passed” also, but won the contract in a trade involving base rights and the F-16s.
Now, if you had a good friend who was RIGHT THERE during the entire trial and test phase, maybe ask him what he thinks.
As we all know, “official reports” are usually “massaged” to line up with the political decisions. But from the POV of an instructor who was RIGHT THERE, hands on all the way, it’s what I said.
The main problem with 9mm is that the military is not allowed to use hollow points in combat, just FMJ which has much less stopping power.
One solution is to just abolish our being subject to that provision (is it Geneva Convention or some other treaty?)
Back in my day, we didn’t even carry pistols, generally. The thinking was, better to have another 30 round mag of 5.56 or two than a pistol and spare mags for the same weight.
That has changed. It’s always been a hodge-podge of pistols in the Teams. The west coast stayed with 45s for a long time, the east coast had gone to S+W39s threaded for a suppressor (”hush puppies”). SIGs are certainly well regarded, so is the Glock 19. The 92 was always considered too big and bulky. In the Teams where they could purchase their preference, 92 were never issued to my knowledge. Mostly Sigs the last 20 years.
I like to carry a Kel-Tec P-11. Most shooters sneer at KTs, but the P-11 is “just right” sized for me to carry, and the long DAO trigger won’t go off by accident, no matter how you carry it, in a pocket, Mexican, no matter. And it’s reliable and I can still make hits at 50 feet, although I consider it a “7-11 gun” for shootouts at point-blank range.
My “real” carry pistols are Springfield XDs, but the KT-P11 is just so much easier to carry and conceal. The “chopped” Glocks and XDs for concealment just don’t feel right in my hand. The KT-p11 fits my hand (and pockets) perfectly. I carry with a round in the chamber, and I’ll even stick the KT into my pocket “naked,” something I’d NEVER do with a chopped Glock or XD etc. That long DAO trigger pull on the KT means you REALLY have to “mean it” to make it go bang. But when you mean it, it really goes bang.
Point is, go with what you like that works, and don’t worry about the gun snobs.
Thanks!
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