NEWINGTON, N.H. –-(Ammoland.com)- SIG SAUER, Inc. is proud to announce the M18, the compact variant of the U.S. Army’s Modular Handgun System (MHS), has successfully completed a recent Lot Acceptance Test (LAT) with zero stoppages during the required MHS Material Reliability Testing.
Historically, Lot Acceptance Testing would include testing handguns to 5,000 rounds and allow for up to 12 stoppages to pass. The recent MHS Material Reliability Test consisted of firing three M18 pistols to an unprecedented 12,000 rounds each, and in an extraordinary display of reliability, the M18 performed with zero stoppages. Additionally, despite undergoing this level of strenuous testing the M18 passed a parts interchange test, met all of the stringent accuracy and dispersion requirements, was tested for firing pin indent and trigger pull measurements to ensure consistency, and conformed to all workmanship standards.
The success of the MHS program, and the performance of both the M17 and M18 pistols, was further confirmed in the recently published Director of Operation Testing and Evaluation (DOT&E) Annual Report, which provides an independent review and analysis of the U.S. Department of Defense weapons systems. The report states that, “the MHS meets or exceeds requirements for accuracy, lethality, ergonomics, and safety,” in addition to stating that, “both the XM17 and the XM18 are operationally effective and suitable.”
Ron Cohen, President & CEO of SIG SAUER, Inc., began, “the results of this testing for the M18 pistol is truly impressive. The M18 withstood the harsh testing and performance requirements set forth in the MHS contract and has set a new standard for reliability in service pistols.”
The M18 is a 9mm, striker-fired pistol featuring a coyote-tan PVD coated stainless steel slide with black controls. The pistol is equipped with SIGLITE front night sights and removable night sight rear plate, and manual safety.
After one of the most rigorous and highly competitive selection processes in the history of military firearms, SIG SAUER was awarded the Modular Handgun System (MHS) contract for the full-size M17 and the compact M18 with the P320-based pistol platform. Both the M17 and M18 pistols are being adopted by the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard. The MHS contract was awarded to SIG SAUER in January 2017 for delivery of 480,000 pistols over a period of ten years; to date SIG SAUER has delivered over 20,000 pistols.
“For this testing, the U.S. Army set very high standards for quality and performance, and at SIG we relish the opportunity to meet a challenge and exceed expectations. The performance of the M18 not only surpassed the U.S. Army’s testing requirements, its performance was simply outstanding and nothing short of perfection,” concluded Cohen.
About SIG SAUER, Inc.
SIG SAUER, Inc. is a leading provider and manufacturer of firearms, electro-optics, ammunition, airguns, suppressors, and training. For over 100 years SIG SAUER, Inc. has evolved, and thrived, by blending American ingenuity, German engineering, and Swiss precision. Today, SIG SAUER is synonymous with industry-leading quality and innovation which has made it the brand of choice amongst the U.S. Military, the global defense community, law enforcement, competitive shooters, hunters, and responsible citizens. Additionally, SIG SAUER is the premier provider of elite firearms instruction and tactical training at the SIG SAUER Academy – a world-class, state-of-the-art, 140-acre training facility. SIG SAUER is headquartered in Newington, New Hampshire, and has more than 1,700 employees across eight locations, and is the largest member of a worldwide business group that includes SIG SAUER GmbH & Co. KG in Germany. For more information about the company and product line visit: sigsauer.com.
I have gen 3 Glock 17 and 19 and have put 14785 and 9350 rounds through each respectively. I have had to replace the striker spring on both around 7500 rounds. Other than this they are both running fine. The ultimate in reliability is the CZ75B which I used and carried for 23 years. I put 328675 rounds through it in the time I owned it and only replaced the take down/ slide lock lever and recoil spring. The slide stop / take down pin broke at around 305000 rounds. Try and match that for reliability.
I own a p320 subcompact a 365 and a p229 legion. All are awesome shooters, the legion takes the cake for sure. Brand loyalty can be a real bitch, I currently own a glock 33 a ruger sr9c a canik tp9da and a shield. All are good guns in their own right except the shield which sucks. The p320 and 365 get the nod for edc. The canik is the house mouse the glock and ruger ride the bench in the safe. I have owned many many guns in years past and have no brand loyalty, if I like it,… Read more »
Was drop problem really fixed? Telling people not to drop them is not really a fix. Dropping occurs from many causes.
I do not want a loaded one near me.
They fixed that a long time ago when it 1st surfaced as a real issue and not just some utube dude with hammer. They did a recall and upgraded the trigger group also. I own a 320 in 40 cal and 9mm have tried to recreate the drop fire and in my experience could not get them to fire. But that’s just in my case. Best of luck to you
Quite possibly only a person who is not acquainted with the facts would make such a statement.
My only concern is whether, or not, the total number of affected pistols/triggers were indeed submitted for the voluntary firing ( trigger )control system modification.
The drop problem was resolved by a voluntary recall from Sig/Sauer when they first introduced the P320 which eliminated the drop problem. What no one above has mentioned, one of this pistol’s best feature is the fact that the trigger assembly can be completely removed out of the polymer frame for 100% cleaning. I own a compact version of the P320 and am very pleased with its reliability. I used to be a fan of Glocks, in fact I own 2, 3rd generation Glock 23s. The problem that I have with it, as well as any other friend or relative… Read more »
Michael, get the p320 in 357sig, you will get the blister, and then some your looking for.
The California Highway Patrol test required 3 pistols to complete a 40,000 round test with no component failures that would disable the gun. That is significant for a .40 S&W caliber pistol. The .40 is hard on pistols (high slide speeds) . I was with S&W at the time and witnessed part of the testing. Alloy framed guns, like the Sigs went an average of 10,000 before frames cracked( alloy frames work harden and crack) and Glocks had component failures that disabled the pistol at about the same round count. The only pistol that made it was a steel framed… Read more »
The question is: How many of us “ordinary” shooters put anything near 10,000 rounds. Not me; I would put enough rounds through any firearm to stay familiar with the operation and accuracy. Putting thousands of rounds by someone like me is the exeption, not the rule. Or…am I wrong?
you are 100% correct,,,the exception to the rule is the local competive shooter
Im a Glock guy, but I did pick up a new p320 carry, in 357sig. So far so good, but I only put a hundred rounds through it, as that’s all I had at the time. The recoil is a little stout, maybe a bit more than my Glock 21 in 45acp, because its a bit shorter. The take down is fairly simple, but the reassemble can be a bit ticky if you don’t have the spring aligned just right, but once you do it a few times its o.k. I like the Glocks though, much faster, and easier, and… Read more »
Hey gcm, I’m pretty much a S&W fan, but at the same time I cannot find anything wrong with Glock handguns. I’m curious as to why you chose to go with the Sig p320 in 357sig because Glock produces the G31, G32, G33, –all in Gen 4 series. The G33-G4 comes with a 3.4″ barrel an is a little more easily concealed. I have not shot the P320 in any caliber so I wonder how it handles with that peppy little 357 Sig round. My experience with Glock handguns is that I could actually hit the target easily, (even for… Read more »
@Dubi,I have no problem what so ever with my Glocks, I have many, from the little ones, all the way up to the g21 in 45acp. Im partial to Glock, not loyal to Glock. I have Beretta’s, Colts, S&W’s and a few others. I just liked the sig with the longer grip and the mag that holds 14rnds, and one in the chamber. I didn’t want the full size, but a wee bit longer barrel would be nice, and I did want an outside thumb safety, but they didn’t have my model in stock. Today at the range I go… Read more »
Just as with the “new” M-16 during the Vietnam war and the “new” M855 Ball ammo during the Iraq war, we won’t know just how good the “new” pistol really is until used/tested in actual combat. I”ll hold off any praise or accolades until then.
Too bad the civilian version is complete shit. Ive broken three of them already but the department keeps Buying more.
Sounds more like “operator malfunction” than weapon problems! Maybe if you just break a few more, “the department” will figure out just what (or who) is the problem.
@David, LOL
Amen
Two more and you’ll be an ace!
When might we see all those surplus M9’s? Or is the department selling them to someone in the middle east? That would he my question.
My first pistol was a sig sauer sp 2022 9mm and I’m enjoying it can’t wait to purchase more sig’s
Whats the difference between the m17 and the m18
SIG SAUER, Inc. is proud to announce the M18, the compact variant of the U.S. Army’s Modular Handgun System (MHS),
The m17 is the military version of the p320. The m18 is their version of the p320c
Both differ from civilian version in that they come with an external safety, among a few other differences (mostly cosmetic).
I am presuming the testing referred to involves taking guns out of the batch being delivered, hopefully randomly selected, and shooting the snot out of them. If that is truly what just happened, then Sig deserves kudos for their product.
Over 5000 rounds thru my P320 so far and no issue. Shot 1000 rounds in a day twice. I’m very satisfied with mine. Will be picking up the X5C grip module shortly. Great job Sig!
Sad that 1-2 hrs of training (1,000 rnds) costs so much. But most don’t begin to understand until knee deep in brass.
Not to knock the P320 but, as I recall, the testing wasn’t so rigorous and was actually cut short and awarded to Sig prior to reliability testing.
Your right about that. This is all just hype not based on real testing. Let me test that gun It won’t last.
Actually the Army decided to forgo the compact pistol reliability testing because they felt they seen enough with the full sized M17 in its testing against the MHS G19x. Both handguns exceeded the reliability standards set by the Army. They could have fired both guns till one failed but why? Especially if both guns exceeded the standards.
Wow, a pistol that finally meets or exceeds the standard set in 1911. Browning’s masterpiece went 6000 rounds without a stoppage when they finally stopped.
Before anyone hollers about supposed 1911 unreliability, the track record is there through several conflicts under every possible condition. The problem is that with the patents long since expired dozens of companies are making 1911 clones, & some of them just aren’t going to make them the way Browning intended.
https://www.ammoland.com/2017/11/new-tennessee-made-beretta-m9-pistols-continue-records-reliability/#axzz5eiVvZgmS
The M9 shits all over the 1911 reliability, and I don’t even care for it.
From that article “During this testing period 42 M9 pistols were fired 210,000 rounds, with resultant reliability almost 10 times better than the rate of reliability required by the U.S. Army in its current Modular Handgun System program.”
Beretta told a bold faced lie in that statement contract competitors regularly exceed the reliability standards set in the RFI the M9 just met the standards set by the MHS RFI both the G19X and the P320 spanked the M9 in reliability.
Can’t wait to get one soon
Sig Sauer makes the best overall pistols on the planet and at a competitive price point. I personally own a 320, 226 Scorpion, and a 365 which I carry daily and trust my life with. NEVER had one single failure of any kind with any of them. If this article doesn’t shut the Sig haters up, I guess nothing will.
Your delusional
@Arron, Most people will disagree, some quite strongly. I will reserve judgement based on how my new P365 behaves and the result of a few years of active duty of the M17/M18 from Sig. Based on Sig’s last 2 releases, the P320/P365 I was put off by Sig and them blaming owners for production and quality problems. But as far as the best on the planet, No way, not with Glock, Steyr, S&W, Walter, Beretta, Ruger and FNH all producing high quality weapons. When the P365 came out I was excited until all the issues arose, After a year I… Read more »
Another overpriced gun
Over priced compared to what?
@Paul, you ever heard the saying, if you have to ask how much, you can’t afford it.
I have a Sig P320 and I have no complaints about it
I only have around 1200 through my p320 but it has been flawless as well. Really impressed with mine. Unfortunately the drop problem scared a lot of people away from a great gun.
I’m very happy with my p320c personally. Fired 1000s of rounds, can confidently say no malfunctions thus far. Muzzle flip took a bit of adjusting to but its totally manageable. Prefer the ergonomics to that of the glock’s.
This gun gets a lot of hate but its good. I’m not saying one is better than the other, each has their pros and cons. But I’m really happy I grabbed one of these.
@jh45gun, shoot a couple rounds through an S&W500, and I promise you won’t ever complain about muzzle flip again with your P320
I shoot a S&W XVR .460 S&W Magnum, and enjoy it very much. However, I have the advantage of having fired several hundreds of thousands of rounds in handguns of just about any caliber you can think of.