Pentagon declares M18/M17 handguns safe and reliable after review

Published Aug 19, 12:34 PM UTC

The Pentagon has declared the M18 and M17 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. Army officials stated that all investigated incidents of accidental discharge were traced to the trigger being pulled, blaming safety concerns on 'public speculation and online misinformation.' The review, led by the Army's Project Manager Soldier Lethality, found that firearms mishaps account for less than 0.006% of all issued MHS pistols. However, the civilian P320 has been linked to dozens of injuries and deaths, with over 100 lawsuits alleging design flaws. Unlike the civilian version, the M18 and M17 are equipped with a manual safety. 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. Over 400,000 M17/M18 pistols are currently in service across the Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Navy.