Sig P320 selected as Army’s new handgun
The initial contract of $580 million has been awarded to Sig Sauer. The P320 was selected over the Glock 17 and 19 models submitted for the XM17 MHS competition.
A key feature of the pistol is its modular design. The main module of the P320 is an internal stainless steel frame fire control unit, which consists of the integrated fire control group (trigger, hammer and all necessary linkage and springs), ambidextrous slide release (one on each side of the pistol), ejector and four slide rails. This steel receiver unit is used in every P320 grip module, top end, and chambering combination and is inserted into the grip frame module and held in place by the axis pin of the disassembly lever.
Although the Marine Corps and other services are not due to upgrade their handguns until after 2020, recent comments by Secretary Mattis may be a sign that it could be sooner than later.
The Army’s program to replace the Beretta USA M9 came under fire during his confirmation hearings last Thursday. I will say that the timing of the Army’s announcement seems oddly coincidental.
Category: Guns
Well, anything would be better than the 20 year old M9s we’re taking into Afghanistan and Iraq that could fall apart if you sneeze on them.
Interesting choice though, I’m sure all the glock-lovers will be crying incessantly for a few days.
Delicious tears of unfathomable sorrow?
I had to use my M9 in Iraq. I did the right thing, maybe not the right way and the investigation concluded that I was lucky the M9 had actually fired more than one…
Found out later (based on the serial number) that the weapon pre-dated my first enlistment in 1991.
So glad they leaving service now. I wish they’d gone with the Glocks though. I have ergonomic issues with the grip angle.
That reminds me of this scene: https://youtu.be/7uJyT-UdaYc
Maybe I missed it, but are they staying with the 9mm round?
The -320 is chambered in 9mm, .357Sig, and .40S&W. I know which round gets my vote!
Also comes in .45 which is my vote. But that’s just me.
Unfortunately, with the modular design, the fire control unit will only work in a 9, 357, or 40 configuration, the 45 version requires a seperate fire control unit. I rented a full size 320 in 9mm a few weeks ago and I loved it.
9mm all the way.
Yes. All the NATO member forces for logistical compatibility & simplicity will use common ammo, and the 9MM is as ubiquitous as cockroaches. Don’t fix what isn’t broken I guess. SOCOM/JSOC have settled on the 9MM Glock 19 as their primary pistol.
I am shocked that their is no external safety. The Army might be thinking in the right direction.
the military version is supposed to have a frame mounted safety. I always hated the slide safety on the M9
Keep the lawyers happy, I guess.
Actually the one picture that Fox is running has an external safety, similar to a S&W M&P. I had heard that they were going for a .40 S&W but the article said that they were going with the 9mm. It is supposed to be modular and SIG is touting that it is easy to change calibers, so maybe it will be up to the user on what caliber they want to use. Of all the guns I have owned, never owned a SIG. The P220 and P226 are very nice guns but never fired any of the new polymer guns. Their 1911’s are a mixed bag. So hopefully the folks at SIG in NH have got the Quality control fixed and I wish them good luck.
FWIW, my P220 eats anything I feed it – cheap Ruski to quality self-defense – and has never jammed.
One of my shooting buddies is a huge SIG fan. I have fired the 220’s that he has and have liked them. I recently fired a P-226 in .40 S&W and was pleasantly surprised. I have fired .40 S&W out of polymer guns only and it is a snappy round. Firing it from an all steel gun is actually very nice. As I said, hopefully they will work well.
I own and activly carry the 320. Love it. Never cared for Poly guns but i do love my sig
Logistically this is a huge upgrade over the baretta. Easy swapable everything within seconds to get damaged or worn parts replaced and the weapon back in service. It was really a no brained for such a large organization. Also the actual firearm performs pretty good too and isn’t the antiquated heavy and awkward design the m9 is notorious for.
US Army made a good decision finally.
Sapper3307
Sig Saur uses a DA/SA setup with a hammer-drop safety which will not allow the hammer to impact the firing pin. I use a P220 that has that same safety system. Very reliable and safe.
FWIW, the WWII Walther P38 used a similar system and a safety.
The P320 is a striker fired gun, so no DA/SA. There’s very little creep and the trigger breaks at about 5 lbs.
TRIGGER !!!!!! Look, the P320 is very well made. It was just a matter of time until the military adopted a service weapon that was modular and could be easily modified to meet the needs of all.
The trigger pull is about half that of the M9 in my estimation and it is accurate. But,I hate the way it feels. Its a pointy piece of stamped metal that feels like something out of a Soviet gun shop. Thats JMHO.
Is the P320’s trigger different from the standard Sig triggers? I’ve not picked one up to know.
I love the feel of the M11A1 and the P220 and their triggers. But Oldest Son finds them too bulky for his hand (which matches my hand almost exactly).
I have a 226 Legion, and that first pull is HEAVY,10 lbs according to the manual but after you get into single action at about 4 1/2 lbs and I love it. The 320 trigger is different, to me it’s one smooth consistent pull all the way until it breaks and fires.
The first pull on a P220 is pretty heavy (I don’t have a way to measure it, but it is stock) but after that it feels like a feather – think about it and the round is downrange.
For HEAVY I’ll put the the first pull on a Walther P38. That thing makes sure you intend to send one. After that it, too, is pretty light on the trigger.
here’s a old mans opinion on the 320
HAHAHAHAHAHA, always liked this guy.
I always liked the grips on a Sig. It has just the right amount of friction for a firm hold without abrasion and is big enough to fill my hand.
I’m happy now. I don’t know why I’m so happy.
I feel you bro.
I think I am happy because finally we got a real President, a real SecDef, and the future looks bright for the first time in a decade or more.
And we are talking gunz.
Nice to see local businesses get a good bump.
I wonder if they are going to be hiring.
You’re all obsessed with GUNNZZZ! All of you! You’re like kids in a candy store when you talk about GUNNZZZ!
It’s unbelievable that you can’t just be happy with talking about cooking or Twinkies or those new jeans your mom bought for you.
We are not “obsessed with GUNNZZZ!”
We are firearms aficionados.
There is a difference.
Some would call us “Ammosexuals” and I am one.
My wife and I both have the sticker on our vehicles. Hers next to her “family” of guns and mine next to my NRA Patron Sticker
Ammosexual? It wasn’t a choice. I was born this way. Please respect my alternative lifestyle. Ammo pride!!
I prefer to self-identify as a Firearms Enthusiast, thank you very much! That said, I love me some GUNS!!!!!!
YES!
PH2, guns are to men as dolls are to little girls. Mine is prettier than yours and does cooler things.
thank God no one is obsessed with cats, or horses, etc….. different strokes etc.
Had to laugh at MSG Eric’s comment about “20 year old M9″s…. considering that the service life of M1911s went about 3/4 century. And if you brought ’em back now, only the Mannings of the world would complain.
Ex, ever tried throwing a Twinkie at a bad guy? Somehow the thought just doesn’t gin up the same level of interest in me as the possibility of defending self and family from said bad guy with my Beretta 92FS.
Know what I mean?
“Obsessed” implies something wrong with it. Now, excuse me while I wash the Hoppes #9 off of my hands.
Trump is President. Clothes, twinkies and cooking are soooo Obama….
Well, at least with Mattis at the helm the odds of another cancellation are diminished.
Not sure what it makes me, but I want one of these. And with each of the possible calibers. Sure seems like a compact way to own one of everything. Much less storage space required.
Yeah, that’s it – less storage space.
He was just sworn in!!!!!
Truly the END OF AN ERROR!!!
Ever notice that when the tools of our former trade are the subject of a comment or thread, the berserkly proglodyte is conspicuously absent.
Yeah, isn’t it nice?
Yes it is. I noticed in his blather defending King Putt he is claiming he was in “special operations units” in Afghanistan and Iraq. Since he was MI branch before he transferred to Civil Affairs branch, I am wondering if he is embellishing. I seriously doubt he is SF qualified. I would like to see a FOIA response on him.
I’ve had several Sigs and although they functioned flawlessly and were tough as boat anchors I never liked the DA/SA trigger pull so got rid of them. If you can master that then it seems like a good choice to me.
The P320 is striker fired. No DA/SA.
I just do not see sufficent advantage of the M-9 or P320 over an M1911A1 for basic sidearm use. Unless you are going the “minimal training / troops are stupid” route.
I have never, not once, ever, found a DA or SA/SA trigger superior to a decent 1911 trigger. This includes highly custom/smithed ones.
The .45 ACP works, even with plain ball ammo. The guns work. The safety actually stops unwanted trigger pulls.
Meh. I could go on. They just do the job.
We should have stuck with the Gladius as a sidearm anyway. Now -that- is a fight-stopping steel sidearm……
I have several Sigs, 1911’s and Beretta’s. I’ve never felt any real love towards polymer pistols, and never saw a reason to go with a Striker fired gun. I lean towards a manual safety, DA/SA, and a decocker.
This past summer, Sig showed up at a local range with a truck load of new toys and ran a “introduction to 3-Gun” competition, designed to let you get a feel for 3-Gun while using Sig products. They had a couple of MPX carbines (sweet, very sweet- particularly with some sort of Holo sight which I had never used before)…A Remington 870 pump (of course) and the P320 in 9mm. I shot the hell out of everything. The 320 was as accurate as my Wilson 1911’s, and despite feeling so light to me, recoil was immaterial. If they bring one out with a manual safety, I will seriously consider buying it. The MPX was also easy to fire, and fun. Hadn’t shot a rifle in 20 years and managed to place in the top 10.
I hope Mattis (with Trump’s backing) can put a boot up the Procurement system. The way this procurement has been handled is typical for the military- and its wrong. It should be a lot easier than it is.