Pentagon declares M18, M17 handguns safe and reliable after review

Published Aug 19, 12:34 PM UTC

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The Pentagon has declared the M18 and M17 handguns 'safe and reliable' following a review of the Modular Handgun System, initiated after an airman was killed in 2025 due to an alleged 'uncommanded discharge.' Army officials stated that all investigated incidents of alleged uncommanded discharges were traced back to the trigger being pulled, and that safety concerns stem from 'public speculation and online misinformation.' The review found that firearms mishaps account for less than 0.006% of all issued MHS pistols. However, the civilian version, the SIG Sauer P320, has been linked to dozens of injuries and deaths, with over 100 legal challenges. Unlike the civilian model, the M18 and M17 are equipped with a manual safety. Over 400,000 of these pistols are currently in service across the Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Navy.

Source

Military TimesWestern

Original headline: Pentagon dubs M18 handgun ‘safe and reliable’ after review

Original language: EN

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Pentagon declares M18/M17 handguns safe after airman's death review

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Pentagon U.S. Army