The Air Force’s Global Strike Command has issued an order “pausing” the use of all SIG SAUER M18 pistols after a reported fatal uncommanded discharge that took place at Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming. The Global Strike Command is the branch of the Air Force that’s responsible for the military’s intercontinental ballistic missiles and long range bomber forces.
The order by USAF General Thomas A. Bussiere was issued after a fatality that occurred on July 20 when a security forces airman reportedly removed his M18 pistol while still in its holster and placed it on a table. The gun reportedly then fired while in the holster, striking the officer and killing him. The details of the incident have not been confirmed but have been widely reported.
The “pause” on the use of P320-based modular handgun system pistols such as the M17 and M18 will remain in place until the incident is fully investigated. Here is the order issued by General Bussiere . . .
This latest incident follows action by DHS’s Department of Immigration and Customs Enforcement pulling SIG P320-based pistols from use about two weeks ago after an FBI evaluation concluded that P320 and M18 pistols can, under certain circumstances, fire uncommanded. SIG SAUER has insisted that isn’t the case and that no one has every been able to demonstrate that P320-based pistols can fire without a pull of the trigger.
Reports of uncommanded discharges, however, have continued and more agencies — both law enforcement and now military — have pulled the pistols from duty and training use. Given the increase in these reports, it’s only reasonable to conclude that the ongoing controversy surrounding the P320 is becoming an increasing problem for SIG SAUER in terms of legal costs, likely reduced sales of P320 platform pistols, and the inevitable reputational hit that will result from such reported incidents. SNW has reached out to SIG for comment on the matter and will update this post if we receive one.
UPDATE:
We have not received a response from SIG for our request for a statement, but they posted this tweet:
But muh manual safety!
We need to know:
1. Was the manual safety engaged, and
2. If so, how is it possible that the gun fired?
Out of all the P320 incidents, I believe this is the first one that occurred with an M17/M18. They were generically calling that last incident firearm an M18, but the photo they used was not an M18.
If it fired on its own with the MS safety engaged, then that’s at least two failures in the design.
Indeed.
The initial run of P320’s was recalled (Sig used the term “upgrade”) when it was determined the triggers were too heavy and dropping a loaded gun could thus result in a discharge. Apparently, all of the M17/18s got the upgraded, lighter trigger.
The dead troop obviously placed the gun on the table with the barrel pointed not in a safe direction…
My Sauer M1913 is a hundred year old striker fired pistol. No history of it ever firing without a burger finger on the trigger.
Maybe technology moved too fast and forgot how to build guns?
What was Wrong with the SIG 226, that required its discontinuance / replacement ??
The old adage that ” If it works ! Don’t Fix it !! ” should be given more interest.
Striker-fired guns are just accidents and negligent discharges waiting to happen. Unfortunately, they don’t wait too long, either. I’m not interested in how you have safely carried your striker-fired pet rattlesnakes for years and you’ve never been bitten. Just shut up.
In the future, Sig Saur
will receive visits from 3 ghosts. The first being the CEO of Remington,. The second ghost will be the Remington production manager.
And the last ghost will be the manager of quality control at Remington.
In the meantime, High Point Firearms has announced that they are building an AR 15 rifle. For those that can’t afford to spend $800 or more for one.
And so far High Point has never had a recall.
Good reply brother !
I guess that lawyer was right along.
Never should have gone to a striker-fired pistol in the first place. Hammer-fired guns, especially with de-cocking mechanisms and double action only (DAO) guns are the only safe-to-carry chambered pistols that I ever carry or transport in a loaded and chambered condition. Striker-fired guns are just accidents and negligent discharges waiting to happen. Unfortunately, they don’t wait too long, either. I’m not interested in how you have safely carried your striker-fired pet rattlesnakes for years and you’ve never been bitten. Just shut up.
One only needs to ask Alec Baldwin how a pistol can discharge without pulling the trigger