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Final Air Force review finds M18 pistols ‘safe, reliable’
Taks and Purpose via Yahoo ^ | 09 06 2026 | Nicholas Slayton

Posted on 09/06/2026 6:23:47 PM PDT by yesthatjallen

The Air Force said last week that its M18 service pistol is "safe, reliable, and functional" following a review of tens of thousands of the firearms. The findings came as part of the final review in a large-scale inspection of the gun ordered last year after an airman was killed by a bullet fired from a M18.

Last July, Airman Brayden Lovan, 21, with the 90th Security Forces Group was shot and killed at F.E. Warren Air Base. The shooting was initially reported as an accidental discharge. Air Force Global Strike Command, which oversees the United States' intercontinental ballistic missile bases including F.E. Warren, said it was pulling the pistols from service shortly after, with some other commands doing the same.

Air Force Global Strike Command ordered an inspection of its arsenal of M18s, and the wider Air Force did a service-wide review. The M18 is based on Sig Sauer's P320 pistol and the pistols have been in use by the Air Force for several years. The report, released to the public more than a year after Lovan's death, but dated to January of this year, found that "inspected weapons exhibited no signs of any condition that could have caused the weapons to experience an 'uncommanded discharge,'" the Air Force said.

SNIP

(Excerpt) Read more at yahoo.com ...


TOPICS: Chit/Chat
KEYWORDS: airforce; banglist; glockleg; m18; pistol; sigsauer

1 posted on 09/06/2026 6:23:47 PM PDT by yesthatjallen
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To: yesthatjallen

Playing Quick Draw McGraw can be...fatal.


2 posted on 09/06/2026 6:41:53 PM PDT by ASOC (YGBSM)
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To: yesthatjallen

There have been many errant discharges with the Sig P320 reported, with guns going off without being touched by the owners. Something is wrong with the design of the modular Sig P320 that was never used before in previous Sig designs. This is well known and has been proven.

The Sig P320 should not be in general use. I get it — the number of incidents of Sig P320’s just going off out of the blue are relatively small. The odds are still overwhelmingly good that nothing bad will happen. That said, the odds are orders of magnitude higher than previous Sigs. If Sig has not fixed the design flaws with the P320, they should be taken ouf of general use. There are plenty of other great Sig designs the military could have chosen to use over the modular P320.


3 posted on 09/06/2026 6:46:23 PM PDT by Freedom_Is_Not_Free (America -- July 4, 1776 to November 3, 2020 -- R.I.P.)
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To: Freedom_Is_Not_Free
"This is well known and has been proven."

No it isn't. You're talking through your hat.

The uncommanded discharge has NEVER NOT ONCE been reproduced under controlled conditions.

4 posted on 09/06/2026 6:48:42 PM PDT by Paal Gulli
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To: ASOC
This firearm is equipped with a manual safety.

A manual safety – when engaged – is designed to mechanically prevent the firearm from discharging when the trigger is pressed, either intentionally or unintentionally.

You should consider whether a manual safety on a handgun is right for you based on your experience level and intended use, keeping in mind best practices for safe firearms handling. It is possible for the trigger to be unintentionally pressed even under normal handling circumstances.

From the vendor website

5 posted on 09/06/2026 7:07:26 PM PDT by ASOC (YGBSM)
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To: Freedom_Is_Not_Free

“This is well known and has been proven.”

NO, IT HAS NOT!

A lie repeatedly told is not a fact.


6 posted on 09/06/2026 7:17:54 PM PDT by CodeToad
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To: ASOC
Manual safeties are good things. I can't think of a weapon that I fired in the USAF that did not have a manual safety.

Some folks absolutely do not like manual safeties.

Fine.

Leave your piece in the "fire" position when carrying.

Choices.

7 posted on 09/06/2026 7:21:58 PM PDT by Seaplaner (Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never...in nothing, great or small...Winston ChurchIill)
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To: Freedom_Is_Not_Free

Gunsite Academy in Yavapai County, AZ does not allow the P320 in its training classes.

Two others shooting ranges in Yavapai County do not allow the use of P320s on their properties.

One Prescott gun store withdrew sales of P320s and won’t accept trade-ins of them.


8 posted on 09/06/2026 7:44:13 PM PDT by chrisinoc
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To: Freedom_Is_Not_Free
Name one other consumer product sold anywhere in the known universe (cigarettes don't count) that has killed or maimed as many people due to a manufacturing defect as claim to have been shot by the uncomanded discharge of a P320 and IS STILL BEING MANUFACTURED and STILL SELLS LIKE HOTCAKES.
9 posted on 09/06/2026 7:45:23 PM PDT by Paal Gulli
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To: yesthatjallen

I’m just an old boomer that loves his 226’s. They have only gone up in value. Like I would ever sell. Maybe I’m biased, but I’ve used it and it worked for me.


10 posted on 09/06/2026 7:46:11 PM PDT by centermass_socrates (Keep it clean, keep it loaded, and keep it handy.)
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To: Paal Gulli
Name one other consumer product sold anywhere in the known universe (cigarettes don't count) that has killed or maimed as many people due to a manufacturing defect

Almost any model of automobile works there.

11 posted on 09/06/2026 8:43:15 PM PDT by pfflier
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To: Paal Gulli

Ah, somebody is defense about the P320 he owns.


12 posted on 09/07/2026 3:45:05 AM PDT by Freedom_Is_Not_Free (America -- July 4, 1776 to November 3, 2020 -- R.I.P.)
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To: Paal Gulli
...NEVER NOT ONCE...

Multiple times, you assert.

13 posted on 09/07/2026 4:43:59 AM PDT by GingisK
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To: Paal Gulli

Fords.


14 posted on 09/07/2026 4:45:04 AM PDT by GingisK
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To: Paal Gulli

I have left my fully loaded Sig M-18 in my gun safe for a year just to see if the fire arm had an uncontrolled discharge. Not one single time. So I took the M-18 out to my range and pulled the trigger with safe on. No discharge. Finally after frustration, I took the safety off and pulled the trigger. Guess what happened? Wow it was a controlled firing right on target. My Sig is back in my carry routine.


15 posted on 09/07/2026 6:54:14 AM PDT by mosaicwolf
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To: yesthatjallen

I have no idea what the truth is about the Sig P320 - at this point I imagine Sig must have tested that pistol repeatedly to fix any possible issue. Personally, I stick with my hammer-fired Sig P226.


16 posted on 09/07/2026 9:21:26 AM PDT by AnotherUnixGeek
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To: chrisinoc

J&G sales?

CC


17 posted on 09/13/2026 1:52:09 AM PDT by Celtic Conservative (Heghlu'meH QaQ jajvam!)
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To: Celtic Conservative

Yes, one day there were several P320s and variants in stock, the next day they were gone. None are listed now. They do have lots of P365s in stock.

You can get new and used P320s from Back Country Arms in Dewey.


18 posted on 09/13/2026 8:51:48 AM PDT by chrisinoc
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To: chrisinoc

I’m currently not shopping, but J&G is good for lots of accessories and mags too. It’s where I get my AR mags.

CC


19 posted on 09/13/2026 1:15:59 PM PDT by Celtic Conservative (Heghlu'meH QaQ jajvam!)
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To: Celtic Conservative

I used to get my guns, ammo, and accessories from Tombstone Tactical in Chino Valley, but the store was closed down in May. Now I’ve been buying from all over the place.


20 posted on 09/13/2026 2:14:39 PM PDT by chrisinoc
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