Pentagon declares M18 handgun 'safe and reliable' after review

Published Aug 19, 12:34 PM UTC

The Pentagon has declared the M17 and M18 handguns, military versions of the SIG Sauer P320, as 'safe and reliable' following a review prompted by the death of an airman in 2025 due to an alleged 'uncommanded discharge.' The Army's review concluded that all investigated incidents of alleged uncommanded discharges were traced back to the trigger being pulled, and that firearms mishaps account for less than 0.006% of all MHS pistols issued. Officials blamed 'public speculation and online misinformation' for safety concerns. Three airmen involved in the deadly shooting were charged with lying to investigators, claiming the gun 'went off' when the shooter pointed it at the victim in a 'joking manner.' The civilian version of the handgun, the P320, has been linked to dozens of injuries and deaths and is the subject of over 100 legal challenges. Unlike the civilian P320, the M18 and M17 are equipped with a manual safety. Over 400,000 M17 and M18 pistols are currently in service across the Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Navy.