SIG Sauer M17

Last updated

M17/M18
Sig Sauer M17 transparent.gif
Standard issue M17 with 21-round magazine inserted
Type Semi-automatic pistol
Place of originUnited States
Service history
In service2017–present
Used byUnited States
Denmark
Wars
Production history
DesignerTim Butler [1]
Designed2015–2017
Manufacturer SIG Sauer, Inc., Newington, New Hampshire, U.S.
Produced2017–present
No. built200,000 [2] [3]
VariantsM18
Specifications
MassM17 834 g (29.4 oz)
M18 737 g (26.0 oz)
LengthM17 203 mm (8.0 in)
M18 183 mm (7.2 in)
Barrel  lengthM17 120 mm (4.7 in)
M18 98 mm (3.9 in)
Width35.5 mm (1.40 in)
Height140 mm (5.5 in)
Cartridge 9mm NATO
Action Short recoil-operated
Effective firing range25 m (27 yd)
Maximum firing range50 m (55 yd)
Feed system17 or 21-round box magazine
Sightsself-illuminating iron sights for low-light conditions

The SIG Sauer M17 and M18 are service pistols derived from the SIG Sauer P320 in use with the United States Armed Forces. On January 19, 2017, the United States Army announced that a customized version of SIG Sauer's P320 had won the Army's XM17 Modular Handgun System competition. The full-sized model was designated the M17, and the shorter length carry model, the M18. [4] The guns have subsequently been adopted by the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Space Force. The Coast Guard is the only military branch that will not be receiving the M17 and M18, they will be replacing their SIG Sauer P229R DAK with the Glock 19 Gen5 MOS. [5] [6] [7] The M17 and M18 will be replacing the Beretta M9, as well as several other handguns across five of the six service branches. There are two color variants, coyote brown and black, for both the M17 and M18, though almost all have been produced in coyote brown.

Contents

Modular Handgun System competition

Standard issue M18 with 17-round magazine inserted M18 pistol.png
Standard issue M18 with 17-round magazine inserted

When the requirements were formulated for a new handgun for the U.S. Army, one of the tenets of the proposal was that an existing model handgun was desired to fulfill the requirements laid out in the Modular Handgun System Request for Proposal, known as the XM17 Procurement. SIG Sauer submitted a P320 with a number of modifications for the XM17 Modular Handgun System competition.

Modifications

The Modular Handgun System has self-illuminating tritium sights for low-light conditions, an integrated rail for attaching enablers and an Army standard suppressor conversion kit for attaching an acoustic/flash suppressor. [11] Every M17/M18 handgun is test fired before leaving the factory with 13 rounds -- three to break in the weapon and ten to test accuracy. [12]

History

The XM17 prototype with 17-round magazine inserted. Brown triggers, levers, and catches were used only early in production. XM17-XM18 Modular Handgun.jpg
The XM17 prototype with 17-round magazine inserted. Brown triggers, levers, and catches were used only early in production.

SIG Sauer wins the contract

On January 19, 2017, the United States Army announced that the SIG Sauer P320 MHS variant had won the military's Modular Handgun System trials. The modified P320 was subsequently designated the M17 (Full-Size) and M18 (Carry) for U.S. military service. The M17 has better accuracy and ergonomics and tighter dispersion than the Beretta M9 and will be fielded more widely, being issued down to squad and fireteam leaders. US special operations forces will all be armed with both a pistol and a rifle. Junior leaders in regular infantry units who were previously excluded from carrying sidearms will be given more choices and options in close quarters battle situations under a new policy. All Army units are planned to have the M9 replaced with the M17 within a decade. [13] [14]

U.S. military services adopt the M17 and M18

In May 2017, the Army announced that the first unit that will receive the M17 would be the 101st Airborne Division by the end of the year. At the same time, the rest of the U.S. Armed Forces revealed they also intend to acquire the handgun, making it the standard sidearm for the entire U.S. military. The services plan to procure up to 421,000 weapons in total; 195,000 for the Army, 130,000 for the Air Force, 61,000 for the Navy (M18 compact version only), and 35,000 for the Marine Corps. [15] [16] The Army primarily ordered the M17 version, whilst the Air Force and Navy opted for the M18 version as their standard service pistol.

In 2019, the Marine Corps selected the M18 to replace several pistols. While the other services had previously primarily fielded the Beretta M9 and M9A1, the Corps also planned to replace its M45A1 and M007 pistols with the M18. [17] [18] The M45A1 was made by Colt and the only recently fielded M007 was made by Glock. [18] The Marines began rolling out the M18 in 2020. [19]

Although it was initially announced that the U.S. Coast Guard would adopt the M17/18 handgun, the agency announced in September 2020 that they would acquire Glock 19 Gen 5 MOS pistols through a DHS procurement to replace their aging SIG Sauer P229R DAK pistols. [7] In November 2019, SIG Sauer announced the delivery of the 100,000th M17/M18 handgun to the U.S. military. [20]

Ammunition

Though the pistol remained chambered in 9mm NATO rather than a larger caliber, the contract allowed the Army and other services to procure SIG Sauer's proposed XM1152 Full Metal Jacket (FMJ) and XM1153 Special Purpose/Jacketed Hollow Point (JHP) ammunition. [21] [22] The ammunition is a "Winchester jacketed hollow-point" round; similar in appearance to the Winchester PDX1 round but with some differences to the design of the hollow-point petals. One round is a standard 115 gr (7.5 g) ball/Full Metal Jacket (FMJ), designated the M1152, the other is a 147 gr (9.5 g) Special Purpose/Jacketed Hollow Point (JHP) round designated the M1153. Olin Corporation (Winchester Brand) received a contract to produce approximately 1.2 million rounds of the ammunition. [23] [24]

Assessment recommendations

The first annual report for the XM17/XM18 Modular Handgun System (MHS) program assessment recommended the Army: [25]

  1. Upon identification of the root cause of the double ejections and ball ammunition reliability problems, confirm fixes to both the XM17 and XM18 in future testing.
  2. Work with the vendor to identify and eliminate cause of variability in the manufacture of the trigger group mechanism.
  3. Consider redesign of the slide catch lever and other operator training changes to prevent engagement by operators while shooting the pistol.

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier pistols

Day and night variants of the ceremonial M17 Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Sig Sauer M17.jpg
Day and night variants of the ceremonial M17
Tomb Guard carrying one of the two polished ceremonial M17s in July 2021 Tomb of the Unknown Soldier July 2021.jpg
Tomb Guard carrying one of the two polished ceremonial M17s in July 2021

On October 11, 2018, four ceremonial M17s built by Sig Sauer's Custom Shop were presented to The Old Guard for use by the Sentinels who guard the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. [1] [26] Each of the four pistols bears a specific name and theme engraved on the pistol's dust cover: Silence, Respect, Dignity, and Perseverance. "Silence" and "Respect", are highly polished with brown wood handgrips, used for daylight hours, while "Dignity" and "Perseverance" are matte black pistols with black wood handgrips for night duty and bouts of inclement weather. [27] All four guns use an aluminum frame, rather than the polymer plastic of the standard M17, while the controls are the standard matte black. The rear slide cocking serrations of the regular M17 are replaced with "XXI", a reference to the twenty-one steps the guards take on their patrol in front of the tomb, as well as the 21-gun salute. Various materials of significance are incorporated into the pistol. The wood grips are crafted from wooden planks removed from the deck of the USS Olympia, the ship which carried the first Unknown Soldier to the United States in 1921. Marble dust from the tomb's restoration is also sealed in a glass vial and used in place of the front tritium sight. The M17s only have engravings in one area of the pistol, on the sight plate, which features an engraving of three Greek figures, Peace, Victory, and Valor. [1]

Serial numbers

The pistols are serialized with a unique set of serial numbers that incorporate items of significance to the Old Guard: "LS" represents line six of the Sentinels' Creed, "My standard will remain perfection"; "02JUL37" to signify the first 24-hour guard posted at the Tomb of the Unknown on July 3, 1937; and "21" to signify the 21 steps it takes the Tomb Sentinels to walk by the Tomb of the Unknown and the military honor of a 21 Gun Salute. [26]

Magazines

Tomb Sentinels carry loaded weapons, with the 21-round magazine inserted into the pistol. The magazines are customized, and feature an aluminum base plate engraved with the names of the Greek figures featured on the Tomb of the Unknown – Peace, Victory, and Valor – and include a name plate on the bottom of the magazine engraved with the Tomb Sentinel badge number. [26]

SIG Sauer P320-M17 and P320-M18

An airman fires an M18 with 21-round magazine inserted 181207-F-GX074-001.jpg
An airman fires an M18 with 21-round magazine inserted

In 2018, SIG Sauer released a civilian market variant of the handgun called the P320-M17. The firearm is nearly identical, albeit lacking the tamper resistant takedown screws, and available with or without an external manual safety. The P320-M17 stainless steel slide is PVD coated and the control elements feature a black finish like found on later military M17 service pistol batches. A commemorative edition was also released, called simply the M17 Commemorative, produced in the exact specification of the original gun delivered to the army, including brown trigger and controls, the same choice of magazines selected by the military, and delivered in a plain cardboard box rather than the normal SIG Sauer hard sided black plastic case, just as military pistols were packaged. Production of the M17 Commemorative was limited to a run of 5,000 units. [28]

According to SIG Sauer, 9mm NATO (a commercial +P overpressure variant) 8.05 g (124 gr) loads released in 2018 out of the SIG P320-M17 have a muzzle velocity of 365 m/s (1,198 ft/s) and muzzle energy of 535 J (395 ft⋅lbf). [29]

In 2020, SIG released the P320-M18 model for civilians, which features the same adaptation of the military configuration, this time with the shorter carry size M18. [30]

Users

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">M1911 pistol</span> Semi-automatic pistol

The Colt M1911 is a single-action, recoil-operated, semi-automatic pistol chambered for the .45 ACP cartridge. The pistol's formal U.S. military designation as of 1940 was Automatic Pistol, Caliber .45, M1911 for the original model adopted in March 1911, and Automatic Pistol, Caliber .45, M1911A1 for the improved M1911A1 model which entered service in 1926. The designation changed to Pistol, Caliber .45, Automatic, M1911A1 in the Vietnam War era.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beretta</span> Italian firearms manufacturer

Fabbrica d'Armi Pietro Beretta is a privately held Italian firearms manufacturing company operating in several countries. Its firearms are used worldwide for a variety of civilian, law enforcement, and military purposes. Sporting arms account for three-quarters of sales; Beretta is also known for marketing shooting clothes and accessories. Founded in 1526, Beretta is the oldest active firearm manufacturer as well as one of the oldest continuously operating companies in the World. Its inaugural product was the arquebus barrel; by all accounts Beretta-made barrels equipped the Venetian fleet at the Battle of Lepanto in 1571. Beretta has supplied weapons for every major European war since 1650.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SIG P210</span> Swiss semi-automatic pistol

The SIG P210 is a locked breech self loading, semi-automatic pistol designed and manufactured in Neuhausen am Rheinfall by SIG from 1948 to 2006.

Several sister companies that design and manufacture firearms use the brand name SIG Sauer. The original company, Schweizerische Waggonfabrik (SWF), later Schweizerische Industrie-Gesellschaft (SIG), went through several selloffs, leaving the SIG Sauer brand spread over several companies. The original SIG is now known as SIG Combibloc Group and no longer has any firearms business.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">.40 S&W</span> Pistol cartridge

The .40 S&W (10.2×22mm) is a rimless pistol cartridge developed jointly by American firearms manufacturers Smith & Wesson and Winchester in 1990. The .40 S&W was developed as a law enforcement cartridge designed to duplicate performance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) reduced-velocity 10mm Auto cartridge which could be retrofitted into medium-frame semi-automatic handguns. It uses 0.40-inch-diameter (10 mm) bullets ranging in weight from 105 to 200 grains.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marksmanship ribbon</span> United States Navy, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard award

A marksmanship ribbon is a United States Navy, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard award that is issued to its members who pass a weapons qualification course and achieve an above-average score. Additionally, there are select state National Guard organizations that award marksmanship ribbons for high placement in state-level marksmanship competitions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">10mm Auto</span> Firearm cartridge

The 10mm Auto is a powerful and versatile semi-automatic pistol cartridge introduced in 1983. Its design was adopted and later produced by ammunition manufacturer FFV Norma AB of Åmotfors, Sweden.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SIG Sauer P226</span> Swiss semi-automatic pistol

The SIG Sauer P226 is a full-sized service pistol made by SIG Sauer. This model is available in four chamberings: the 9×19mm Parabellum, .40 S&W, .357 SIG, or .22 Long Rifle. It has the same mechanism of operation as the SIG Sauer P220, but is developed to use higher capacity, double stack magazines in place of the single stack magazines of the P220.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beretta M9</span> Semi-automatic pistol

The Beretta M9, officially the Pistol, Semiautomatic, 9mm, M9, is the designation for the Beretta 92FS semi-automatic pistol used by the United States Armed Forces. The M9 was adopted by the United States military as their service pistol in 1985.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Smith & Wesson Model 10</span> Service revolver

The Smith & Wesson Model 10, previously known as the Smith & Wesson .38 Hand Ejector Model of 1899, the Smith & Wesson Military & Police or the Smith & Wesson Victory Model, is a K-frame revolver of worldwide popularity. In production since 1899, the Model 10 is a six-shot, .38 Special, double-action revolver with fixed sights. Over its long production run it has been available with barrel lengths of 2 in (51 mm), 3 in (76 mm), 4 in (100 mm), 5 in (130 mm), and 6 in (150 mm). Barrels of 2.5 inches (64 mm) are also known to have been made for special contracts. Some 6,000,000 of the type have been produced over the years, making it the most-produced handgun of the 20th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joint Combat Pistol</span> Cancelled US program for a new military sidearm

The Joint Combat Pistol was the name for a former US program for a new military sidearm to replace the M9 Pistol, extant from late 2005 to early 2006. The program was started in 2005 and run by USSOCOM. It was the result of a merger of two earlier programs, the army's Future Handgun System (FHS) and the Special Operations Forces Combat Pistol. Requirements for the JCP included being chambered for caliber .45 ACP, having an integrated Picatinny rail, including day/night sights, and being capable of accepting a suppressor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joint Service Small Arms Program</span> American weapon standardization coordination program

The Joint Service Small Arms Program, abbreviated JSSAP, was created to coordinate weapon standardization between the various United States armed service branches.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Smith & Wesson M&P</span> Semi-automatic pistol

The Smith & Wesson M&P is a polymer-framed, short recoil operated, locked breech semi-automatic pistol introduced in the summer of 2005 by the American company Smith & Wesson. It uses a Browning-type locking system. While targeted at law enforcement agencies, the M&P is also widely available on the commercial market.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SIG Sauer P250</span> Semi-automatic pistol

The SIG Sauer P250 is a semi-automatic pistol made by Sigarms. Introduced in 2007, the hammer-fired P250 can be chambered in .22 Long Rifle, .380 ACP, 9×19mm Parabellum (9mm), .357 SIG, .40 S&W, and .45 ACP. The P250 chambered in 9mm was introduced to the North American market on November 7, 2007, followed by the .45 ACP compact model in February 2008 at the SHOT Show. The last of the models was introduced in late 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">XM17 Modular Handgun System competition</span> 2015-2017 US Army and US Air Force competition for a new service pistol

The XM17 Modular Handgun System (MHS) competition was a United States Army and United States Air Force competition for a new service pistol. The Modular Handgun System was solicited by a Request for Proposals in September 2015 and is anticipated to be the next U.S. military standard side arm replacing the Beretta M9 and the SIG Sauer M11. The U.S. Marine Corps also participated in the program to have input on source selection, but likely will not order the resulting weapon until their current pistols' life-cycles end in the mid-2020s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SIG Sauer P320</span> Semi-automatic pistol

The SIG Sauer P320 is a modular semi-automatic pistol made by SIG Sauer, Inc., SIG Sauer's American branch. It is a further development of the SIG Sauer P250, utilizing a striker-fired mechanism in lieu of a double action only hammer system. The P320 can be chambered in 9×19mm Parabellum, .357 SIG, .40 S&W, .45 ACP, and 10mm Auto and can be easily converted from one caliber to another; a change from .357 SIG to .40 S&W requires only a barrel change; a change from 9mm to .357 SIG or .40 S&W is accomplished using a caliber exchange kit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beretta APX</span> Semi-automatic pistol

The Beretta APX is a family of polymer-framed, modular, striker-fired semi-automatic pistols designed and produced by Beretta. The series began in 2016, starting with the full-size standard model. The line includes compact, concealed carry, and competition models. The improved APX A1 series was introduced in 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SIG Sauer P365</span> Polymer frame semi-automatic handgun

The SIG Sauer P365 is a striker-fired subcompact semi-automatic pistol manufactured by SIG Sauer, intended for everyday carry. It is offered with Tritium XRAY3 Day/Night Sights and two 10-round magazines; one flush fit and the other with an extended finger tab, and a stainless steel frame with polymer grip module. It is primarily chambered in 9×19mm Parabellum and is rated for +P ammunition while utilizing offset double-stack magazines. A variant chambered in .380 ACP was introduced in February 2022. The P365, which replaced the P290RS, is produced in Newington, New Hampshire. In both 2018 and 2019, it was the best selling handgun in the United States.

The FN 509 is a polymer frame striker-fired semi-automatic pistol manufactured by FN America, a division of FN Herstal. It is chambered in 9×19mm Parabellum featuring double-action operation and a Picatinny rail located forward of the trigger guard. Tactical, midsize, and compact variants have also been made available.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Gao, Charlie (6 November 2019). "Why Sig Sauer Made Only 4 Versions of This Special Commemorative M17 Pistol". The National Interest . Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  2. ↑ Eric B. (20 November 2020). "SIG Sauer Achieves Two Milestones for U.S. Military Handgun". The Firearm Blog.
  3. ↑ "SIG Sauer Achieves Historic Program Milestone for U.S. Military Handgun". SIG Sauer. 17 November 2020.
  4. ↑ Cox, Matthew; Seck, Hodge (19 January 2017). "Army Picks Sig Sauer's P320 Handgun to Replace M9 Service Pistol". Military.com. Archived from the original on 20 January 2017. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
  5. ↑ "MHS Update: Services Embrace Army's New Sidearm". Military.com. 28 November 2017. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
  6. ↑ Rob V. (26 August 2023). "Here's What Pistol Each Military Branch Uses In 2023". Operation Military Kids.
  7. 1 2 "U. S. Coast Guard Selects and Fields GLOCK Pistols". Glock, Inc. 29 September 2020.
  8. ↑ "Details on the U.S. Army's new Sig Sauer M17 Sidearm". TacticalCache.com. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  9. ↑ "SIG Sauer Unveils the P320 MHS Edition". The Truth About Guns.com. 18 October 2014. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  10. 1 2 Poole, Eric R. (13 July 2017). "Exclusive Test Fire of the Army's new MHS pistol, the SIG Sauer M17/18t". GunsandAmmo.com. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
  11. ↑ Marcellus, Matthew (17 October 2019). "Modern Weapons: Newly fielded M17s used at ranges". U.S. Army. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  12. ↑ Arden, Dawn M. (15 February 2019). "Army fields new handgun system to military police". U.S. Army. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  13. ↑ South, Todd (29 November 2017). "In a first, the Army's new handgun will be issued to team leaders". Army Times.com.
  14. ↑ Cox, Matthew (1 December 2017). "Army Explains New Dual-Arming Policy for Modular Handgun System". Military.com.
  15. ↑ Cox, Matthew (3 May 2017). "Army Names First Unit to Receive Service's New Pistol". Military.com.
  16. ↑ "MHS Update: Services Embrace Army's New Sidearm". Military.com. 3 May 2017.
  17. ↑ "U.S. Marine Corps Adoption of M18 Underscores Success of SIG SAUER Modular Handgun System Program" (Press release). SIG Sauer. 17 June 2019. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
  18. 1 2 "USMC Plans To Replace Newly Fielded Glocks With Modular Handgun System". Soldier Systems. 19 March 2018. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  19. ↑ Gonzales, Matt (23 September 2020). "Marine Corps fields first new service pistol in 35 years" (Press release). United States Marine Corps. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
  20. ↑ "SIG Sauer Delivers Milestone 100,000th M17 / M18 Handgun to U.S. Military". SigSauer.com. 22 November 2019. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  21. ↑ "Contracts Press Operations Release No: CR-012-17 Jan. 19, 2017". United States Department of Defense . Retrieved 13 February 2017. Sig Sauer Inc., Newington, New Hampshire, was awarded up to $580,217,000 for a firm-fixed-price contract for the Modular Handgun System including handgun, accessories and ammunition to replace the current M9 handgun. Bids were solicited via the Internet, with nine received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Jan. 19, 2027. Army Contracting Command, Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey, is the contracting activity (W15QKN-17-D-0016).
  22. ↑ "Army Confirms 9mm for Modular Handgun System". Military.com. 26 January 2017.
  23. ↑ "Winchester® Awarded as Ammunition Supplier for the U.S. Army Modular Handgun System (MHS) Program". Winchester.com. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  24. ↑ Hrachya H. (31 March 2021). "US Army's M1153 Special Purpose 9mm Hollow Point Ammo Tested". The Firearm Blog.
  25. ↑ "FY17 Army Programs: XM17/XM18 Modular Handgun System (MHS)" (PDF). Operational Test and Evaluation Directorate.
  26. 1 2 3 "Society of the Honor Guard: Weapons". Tombguard.org. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  27. ↑ Lamb, Kyle E. (28 February 2019). "The M17 Pistols Carried by the Sentinels of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier". Guns and Ammo . Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  28. ↑ "2018 Product Catalog". SIG Sauer. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  29. ↑ "SIG Sauer Introduces M17 9mm +P Ammunition". SIG Sauer. 13 December 2018.
  30. ↑ "2020 Product Catalog". SIG Sauer. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.