Air pistol Sig Sauer P320 BLK 4.5 mm GBB (AG-P320-177-30R-BLK)

Type of semi-automatic pistol

SIG Sauer P320

is a modular semi-automatic pistol made by SIG Sauer, Inc. in Exeter, New Hampshire, and SIG Sauer GmbH of Eckernförde, Germany. This is a further development of the SIG Sauer P250, using a firing striker mechanism instead of a double action hammer system. The P320 can be chambered in 9×19mm Parabellum, .357 SIG, .40 S&W and .45 ACP and can be easily converted from one caliber to another—changing from .357 SIG to .40 S&W requires only a barrel change; Changing caliber from 9mm to .357 SIG or .40 S&W and vice versa is accomplished using a caliber change kit.

The P320 chambered in 9×19mm Parabellum was introduced to the North American market on January 15, 2014, followed by a compact .45 ACP model at the SHOT Show in January 2015. [2] On January 19, 2022, it was announced that a customized version of the SIG Sauer P320 won the United States Army's XM17 Modular System Handgun competition. The full-size model will be called the M17, while the portable model will be known as the M18. [3]

CONTENT

• 1 Design details 1.1 Features
• 1.2 Starting system
• 1.3 M17 and M18
• 1.4 Reliability

Design details[edit]

Features[edit]

The P320 was designed to be double-edged in handling, with a catch lever on both sides of the slide and a user-openable magazine, and all other controls were designed to be operated from either side. Firearms can be field disassembled without tools. Additionally, the firearm can also be field disassembled without pulling the trigger, an added safety feature that prevents the weapon from being fired carelessly. [4]

Fire control unit SIG Sauer P320

Launch system[edit]

The P320 trigger is available in standard (solid) and raised (safety) versions. [5]

M17 and M18[edit]

When the requirements for a new pistol for the U.S. Army were formulated, one of the principles of the proposal was that an existing model of the pistol must satisfy the requirements set forth in the Modular Pistol System Request for Proposal, known as the XM17 Procurement. SIG Sauer entered the P320 with a number of modifications and entered them into the XM17 Modular Pistol System competition.

Modifications include:

• Sliding cutout for easy addition of reflex sight. (This is a slide from the RX series) [6]
• Double-sided thumb safety
• Loaded camera indicator
• Improved slide assembly to capture small components in an exploded view
• Improved "splash guard" trigger mechanism to prevent foreign objects from entering the gun action.
• Barrel length 4.7 inches (120 mm) for a full-size pistol
• 3.9 in (99 mm) barrel length in a compact pistol
• chambered in 9×19mm Parabellum (can be adapted to fire larger calibers such as .357 SIG and .40 S&W)
• Pistols chambered in 9mm can have a 17-round magazine as standard, with optional 21-round extended magazines. [7]

On January 19, 2022, it was announced that the SIG Sauer P320 MHS variant had won the US Modular Pistol System trials. P320 will be called M17

(full size) and
M18
(compact) in US military service. Although the pistol will remain chambered in 9 x 19mm Parabellum rather than the larger caliber, the contract allows the services to purchase SIG Sauer's proposed XM1152 full metal casings and XM1153 special purpose ammunition. [8] [9] The ammunition selected for the pistol was a Winchester hollow point cartridge.

In May 2022, the Army announced that the first unit to receive the M17 would be the 101st Airborne Division by the end of the year. At the same time, the rest of the US Armed Forces stated that they also intended to purchase the pistol, which would make it the standard pistol for the entire US Army. In total, the services plan to purchase up to 421,000 weapons; 195,000 for the Army, 130,000 for the Air Force, 61,000 for the Navy (XM18 compact version only) and 35,000 for the Marine Corps. [10] [11]

On November 17, 2022, 101st Airborne Division Soldiers received the first XM17 and XM18 pistols, with more than 2,000 pistols delivered. The XM17 has better accuracy and ergonomics, and a tighter dispersion than the M9. It will also be applied more widely, distributed to squad and fire team leaders; while Special Forces armed all its members with a pistol and rifle, previously junior leaders in regular infantry units were not allowed to carry sidearms, but the policy was changed to give them more choice and close combat capabilities. All Army branches plan to replace the M9 with the M17 within ten years. [12] [13]

Reliability [edit]

It was noted that the initial production P320 models had a "drop safety" issue if the firearm was dropped at a certain angle, causing it to discharge. Sig has since re-equipped the P320 with a new, reduced-weight trigger and a new hammer release, making it drop-safe. Sig also offers a voluntary exchange program to repair any defective P320s.

Initial problems aside, the P320 has proven to be an extremely reliable pistol for civilian, law enforcement, and military use. Many police departments in the United States and around the world have begun issuing their officers' P320s. [14] [15] [16] [17]

The Canadian military recalled the P320 in 2022 after it misfired. [18]

Gun with tape. Pneumatic SIG-Sauer P320

The SIG-Sauer P320 model presented in this article is not only a successful copy of a modern pistol that has become a classic, but also the first 4.5 mm weapon with a magazine capacity of 30 bullets. The distributor of this gas pistol for amateur shooters in Germany is German Sport Guns (GSG). It was tested by employees of the German editorial office of DWJ magazine

The philosophical question: which came first, the chicken or the egg, is not so relevant in relation to replica pistols. In this case, the answer is clear: first the military weapon appears, and then its copy, mainly intended for entertainment purposes. The exception to this rule is primarily the replicas of historical models that have returned in the form of airguns to satisfy collectors' passions and evoke nostalgia.

The carefully crafted gas-cylinder replica of the SIG-Sauer P320 pistol is almost impossible to distinguish from the original. In order to insert the carbon dioxide cylinder, the rear part of the handle should be snapped off and moved to the side. The membrane is pierced without the use of an auxiliary tool.

Neither of these applies to the SIG-Sauer P320 4.5mm gas pistol reviewed in this article. Nevertheless, increased interest in it is obvious. Perhaps this is what will surprise many, since the military weapons of the long-standing manufacturer from Eckernförde (Eckernfo..rde) attracted attention only in 2022. It was then that it became known that the P320 model would enter service with the US Army as a service weapon. The cost of the contract, which is due until 2027, is $580 million. It is possible that a decision will be made to purchase the SIG-Sauer P320 pistol for other branches of the armed forces - the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps. Prestige weapon

The above contract is not only a great success for SIG-Sauer, but also increases its prestige, even though the pistols supplied to the US Army will not carry the “Made in Germany” inscription. This is due to the fact that they will be produced at the factories of the American subsidiary. The branch on the other side of the ocean has long been the true heart of the SIG-Sauer company. It is located in Exeter, New Hampshire. Not only do most of the employees work here, but the most modern equipment is also located here. This division not only has a good effect on the overall financial condition of SIG-Sauer, which, as before, belongs to the L&O holding company located in Germany (the author made a mistake - the headquarters of the Lueke & Ortmeier Gruppe holding is located in Switzerland. - Translator's note), but and ensures the stability of the work of German factories that have fallen on hard times.

Vertical inclined corrugations, applied on the sides in the front and rear parts of the bolt, make loading easier for the shooter. The trigger mechanism and magazine release button correspond to the original.

Not much later than the start of production in 2014 of the P320 combat model, its pneumatic copy appeared. The SIG-Sauer P320 gas pistol was presented by German Sport Guns in 2016 at the international exhibition for sporting and hunting weapons, accessories and outdoor products IWA & OutdoorClassics, held in Nuremberg. German Sport Guns is also part of the L&O holding, which allows it not to deal with licensing issues. By this time, the P320 model had already been presented in the article “From pneumatics to large caliber” in the Russian version of DWJ magazine (see No. 2/2016). In 2015, it was tested by DWJ staff at the SHOT Show in Las Vegas. The new model was mentioned in an article dedicated to the exhibition. Of course, at that time the SIG-Sauer P320 pistol was not yet as famous as it was after the announcement of the decision of the US Department of Defense to purchase it as a service weapon for the Ground Forces. Almost simultaneously with this striker-fired pistol, a similar model SFP9 from Heckler & Koch entered the market, and manufacturer Carl Walther, among other things, introduced the hammerless model PPQ M2. All three German companies took part in tenders for the supply of new pistols for government agencies. If we take into account the Austrian company Glock, which over the past three decades has been successfully popularizing the theme of striker-fired pistols around the world and constantly presents its new models, then the manufacturer SIG-Sauer with its P320 pistol could be relegated to the background, including including due to the fulfillment of a contract for the US Army.

However, such a threat is a thing of the past. That is why on the packaging of the P320 4.5 mm gas pistol, in addition to the SIG-Sauer company logo, there is the inscription: “Shoots like a SIG, because it is one.” The small cardboard box the gun comes in has a large window through which you can view the weapon. In the box, in addition to the gun itself, there are instructions for use and a warranty card - that’s all that is needed to use the gun. It is produced both in black and in the recently popular gray-sand color Coyote Tan (slightly lighter than color 8000 according to the RAL catalogue). The distributor does not particularly highlight the fact that the gas-cylinder model is produced in Japan, and not in the USA, not to mention Germany. As is known, such copies are made exclusively in East Asian countries. In our case, this is the Japanese company Maruzen. In this region, the production of copies of famous weapon models over the past decades has turned into a real industrial production, which copes well with the tasks assigned to it, delivering copies that are visually indistinguishable from the originals. They give the impression of a military weapon. The fact that these copies have a significantly lower cost than firearms is also very important. Comparison

Like the original, the replica's bolt is made of steel, and the barrel is rifled. The copy has a length of 105 mm, while the original is 20 mm longer. The massive and durable polymer frame is practically no different from the original one. Both pistols have a picatinny base in the front lower part of the frame, on which, among other things, you can install a laser target designator. Due to the fact that the use of laser designators is prohibited by law in Germany, other auxiliary sighting devices can be placed on the standard base. Many shooters who are unsatisfied with a stock scope will undoubtedly do so.

The dimensions of the P320 combat pistol and its gas-cylinder copy from GSG are almost completely the same. The highlight of the P320 air pistol is its 30-bullet belt magazine, which is currently manufactured only by SIG-Sauer.

The total length of the gas pistol is 208 mm, and the weight is 820 g, which is 5 mm more and 13 g less compared to the original. Like a combat pistol, its pneumatic copy has a center of gravity slightly shifted to the front. Summarizing the above, we can conclude that compared to the original, the SIG-Sauer P320 gas-cylinder model has slight differences in size and weight, and when you pick up a copy of the GSG company, you get the complete impression that this is a combat pistol.

Both pistols have a double-action trigger and an open sight with one white dot on the front sight and two white dots on the rear sight, which are clearly visible against the general background of the weapon even in poor lighting and allow you to quickly lock on to the target. This open sight is especially effective on the gas-cylinder model, which is usually fired outdoors and targets drink cans. Also, both pistols have a similar vertical inclined notch, applied on the sides in the front and rear parts of the bolt and making it easier to grip when chambering a cartridge. However, the P320 pneumatic model does not require preliminary loading of a bullet into the chamber to fire a shot. The pistol is ready to fire immediately after the protective membrane of the 12-gram carbon dioxide cylinder, which is inserted into the handle, is pierced. In its lower part there is a clamping screw, with the help of which the protective membrane is pierced. Thus, there is no need to additionally use a wrench for internal hexagon screws, which is typical for many models of gas-cylinder weapons.

The magazine release button is located in a location familiar to experienced P320 pistol shooters. When you press it, the magazine smoothly falls out of the shaft. Changing the magazine is easy, without any effort. The handle has a texture that is pleasant to the touch, facilitating a secure hold of the weapon, even with wet hands. It is also pleasing that all the necessary markings, such as the letter F in a pentagon, which denotes the free sale of weapons, warning notices, an indication of the caliber of the weapon and its serial number, are applied to the bolt in a neutral black color, and not in conspicuous white, which often done on this kind of copy. Therefore, at first glance, it is not always clear whether in front of you is a combat pistol or a copy of it.

The Coyote Tan P320 pistol retains the rear sight, front sight, some controls, as well as the trigger and magazine in black. Shooters have already become accustomed to the high-quality polymer frame of a combat pistol, to which the frame of a gas-cylinder replica is in no way inferior. The P320 air pistol looks very impressive in the currently popular Coyote Tan color.

What the P320 combat pistol really doesn’t have is a trigger safety gate located on the left side of the frame in its upper part above the handle. For the GSG model, the fuse can be in two positions: “off the fuse” (in this case, the letter F - Fire is visible on the frame) and “put on the fuse” (in this case, the letter S - Safe is visible on the frame). In both positions the trigger is not blocked. But when the weapon is on safety, when the trigger is pressed, the shot does not fire. This is somewhat puzzling at first. In all likelihood, such a decision is due to the design features of the weapon. Shop

The SIG-Sauer P320 gas pistol, provided for testing by the German edition of DWJ magazine, can fire both 4.5 mm Diabolo bullets and round steel explosive bullets of the same caliber. This allows shooters to use their preferred bullet type or use bullets from a possible supply. Many shooters prefer round steel explosive bullets, since they are much easier to equip with a plastic belt-type magazine with a capacity of 30 bullets. Exactly. It's not a mistake. The magazine capacity is indeed 30 bullets. Those who are already familiar with pneumatic copies of weapons from SIG-Sauer know these magazines that are equipped with gas-cylinder copies of MRX or MCX rifles. Among other things, SIG-Sauer has patented a magazine in which bullets are secured in the sockets of a movable belt. The sound of the tape moving is clearly perceived by ear when the trigger is pressed.

The magazine is loaded through a window in its upper part. Bullets are inserted into the belt slots one at a time. When equipping a magazine with Diabolo bullets, you should pay attention to the fact that their head part is directed forward. To load the next bullet, the tape must be turned through the side window, which is not always easy to do in a new magazine. But, as they say: “The work of the master is afraid.” If, when loading with bullets, the upper part of the tape moves slightly to the side, then it can be corrected with your fingers. The magazine can also be equipped by snapping and lifting its back wall. At the same time, almost all 30 nests are accessible. To fully equip the magazine, it is enough to turn the tape forward only six positions. At the shooting range

The GSG P320 gas pistol is equipped with a system for simulating bolt movement (Blow-Back-System). Thanks to it, after each shot, the shutter is automatically first moved to the rearmost position, and then to the front position, which creates the impression of firing from a military weapon. This simulation system increases the class of weapons. It has almost become standard for gas pistols of a certain price category.

The author fired from his hand with steel round explosive bullets from a distance of 7 m at targets specially designed for gas-cylinder weapons and representing steel circles with a diameter of 80 mm. Five circles are arranged in a line in one block. The installation is called Quick Change and is produced by Hack from Sternenfels, Baden-Württemberg. Shooting from a distance of 7 m while aiming required a certain concentration. When hit, the target falls. The SIG-Sauer P320 air pistol has a fairly decent initial bullet speed of 120 m/s. The joy of shooting at Quick Change targets is that fallen targets can be returned to their original position by simply pulling the cord. The targets are brought into a vertical position almost instantly, and the procedure itself does not require any effort. Depending on the rate of fire, one carbon dioxide cylinder weighing 12 g is enough for 50–70 shots. This means that at a reasonable pace, using one cylinder, you can shoot two fully loaded magazines.

To pierce the membrane, after placing a carbon dioxide cylinder in the handle, simply return the part of the gun shown in the photo in the center to its original position. The surprisingly thin belt-type magazine nevertheless has a capacity of 30 bullets. His work is impeccable. The operation of all components and mechanisms of the P320 air pistol is very reliable. During testing, there were no cases of carbon dioxide leakage from the handle.

Subsequently, shooting was carried out from a distance of 5 m at a regular pistol target, most often used in pistol shooting competitions at a distance of 25 m. In this case, shooting was carried out from a sitting position with emphasis on a sandbag. With a certain concentration when aiming, the hits of a series of five shots with Diabolo bullets did not go beyond the “eight” of the target. The holes were visible to the naked eye.

As expected, the pistol's accuracy when firing quickly left much to be desired. This is explained as follows. The pressure of carbon dioxide in a cylinder weighing 12 g is transmitted to the working mechanisms of the gun. When firing quickly in large series, it falls and with each subsequent shot does not have time to reach the required value, thereby not providing bullets of the same series with the same muzzle energy. Even on the packaging of the SIG-Sauer P320 gas pistol there is a warning that rapid shooting in large bursts leads to a decrease in the accuracy of the weapon. Sometimes the shooter is prompted to shoot recklessly quickly by the large magazine capacity. At the same time, we should not forget that in this case we are not dealing with a P320 combat pistol, which must meet both the requirements of high-precision shooting and the requirements of civilian law enforcement agencies or military personnel. Its gas-cylinder copy is intended exclusively for shooting for fun. However, when shooting quickly from a sitting position with an emphasis on a sandbag, the hits did not go beyond the fifth circle of the target.

DWJ findings

The gas-cylinder model of the SIG-Sauer P320 pistol is successful in all respects. In addition, it has good value for money. There are no comments on workmanship. The idea of ​​using a large-capacity belt-type magazine is also good. Thus, there is no need to frequently replace stores and the rather labor-intensive procedure of equipping them. However, only long-term, comprehensive tests will show the full effectiveness of the new store. We can say with complete confidence that this gas-cylinder copy will find its admirers, especially after the combat pistol was adopted by the US Army, significantly increasing the authority of the SIG-Sauer company. Klaus Ebner Translation by Victor Nazarov

Options [edit]

X-series models[edit]

SIG Sauer P320, full size

SIG Sauer P320 Compact

SIG Sauer P320 RX (with Romeo 1 optical sight)

The X Series line includes handle modules in the following sizes:

• Full Size - Fits any full size SIG P320 9mm, .40 S&W and .357 SIG slides.
• Carry Size - Fits any SIG P320 Compact Slide in 9mm, .40 S&W and .357 SIG. The full-length bolt also fits the carry handle module without a visible recoil spring part.

In January 2022, SIG Sauer announced the XCompact pistol as the newest model in its X Series line. [19]

• Compact size - As of March 2022, the P320 XCompact is only available in 9mm. [20]

The XCompact size handle module is the smallest handle module that SIG currently has as they have not released a sub-compact X series handle module to date.

XFive Legion [edit]

Released in late July/early August 2022, the XFIVE Legion is considered the flagship of the P320 platform with added weight and features. The TXG Grip Module contains tungsten embedded directly into the polymer along with a removable magazine compartment. It comes standard with aluminum Henning group base stocks and a skeletonized flat trigger. The full 9mm action is cut and repositioned to reduce weight and ease recoil and feeding. It also has a sliding plate for optical capabilities. [21]

P320MAX[edit]

The SIG P320MAX is a sport variant of the P320 developed in 2021 for use by competition shooters. The pistol is made of tungsten, weighs 43.5 oz (1.23 kg), has a 5 in (130 mm) match quality barrel and an overall length of 8.5 in (220 mm). [22] [23]

New pistol for the US Army. SIG Sauer P320

The SIG Sauer P320 pistol quickly gained a large number of fans in the US civilian small arms market. Therefore, it is quite natural that at the international exhibition of sporting and hunting weapons, as well as Shot Show on January 19, 2022, it was officially announced that it would be adopted by the US Army as a service weapon, designed to replace the existing models of the M9 line of Beretta.

Since its introduction to the firearms market, the SIG Sauer P320 pistol and its smaller variants, the P320 Carry, Compact and Subcompact, have gained great popularity. Along with the other few successful models in the firearms industry, this pistol is one of the highest quality polymer frame pistols available. The SIG Sauer P320 pistol allows you to quite accurately select the handle in accordance with the anatomical features of a particular shooter, which is one of the significant distinguishing features of the weapon. Despite much competition, especially in the US, among polymer frame pistols such as Springfield's XD line, Smith & Wesson's M&P line, various Glock models, and FN's FNX line, the SIG Sauer P320 quickly became a its market segment and has gained fame as a model worthy of recommendation and a readily purchased weapon, used both for sport shooting and for self-defense.

Therefore, it is quite natural that SIG Sauer took part in the tender for a new short-barreled weapon for the US ground forces, the Modular Handgun System (a pistol of a modular design). The SIG Sauer P320 model, designated XM17 (Experimental Model), took part in the tender. Beretta presented the modernized M9A3 pistol and quickly dropped out of the tender. Thus, until the last day it remained a mystery who would win the contract for the supply of a modular pistol. At the final stage, the Glock model provided worthy competition to the P320 pistol. And finally, on January 19, 2022, the victory of the manufacturer SIG Sauer was officially announced. The company's pistol, subjected to minor modifications, will enter service with the US ground forces as a service weapon chambered for 9 mm Luger, presumably under the name M17 (without the letter X, denoting Experimental). All models will have a Flat Dark Earth color and an additional safety with flags located on both sides of the slide. In combination with a barrel of optimal length with external threads in the muzzle area for installing a silencer, the new pistol meets all the requirements of the technical specifications of the selection committee.

The new service weapon of the US Army will be the M17 pistols (a variation of the P320 and P320 Compact models), which have an additional mechanical safety and are painted Flat Dark Earth.

The $580 million contract with US-based SIG Sauer runs until 2027. Until then, the smaller P320 and P320 Compact pistols should completely replace the models in the M9 Beretta line, which have been in service since 1985. According to various sources, in accordance with the contract, from 280 thousand to 500 thousand weapons (full-size and compact models) should be supplied. 280 thousand units are planned to be purchased when the pistol is adopted only by the ground forces. The most likely supply is 500 thousand pistols, since the Ministry of Defense is considering the use of various models of the P320 line as service weapons in other types of armed forces.

The customer places great emphasis on exceptional reliability, ease of use by both right-handed and left-handed shooters, and a modular design that allows for at least three handle sizes. Pistols of the P320 model range have a single trigger block (weapons law does not classify it as the main parts), which can be quickly removed from the frame and rearranged into one of the other two with a handle size more suitable for a particular shooter or the upcoming operation. There are frames with three handle sizes: S, M and L, that is, small, medium and large. The modular design of the P320 allows the shooter to quickly change the pistol and optimally adapt it to the relevant requirements and conditions of use. You can easily select the desired handle shape, its size, as well as barrels of various calibers.

The trigger block can be removed from one polymer frame and inserted into another

The P320 line includes four models of different sizes. These are Full Size, Carry, Compact and Subcompact, each of which has frames with three grip sizes: S, M and L. This allows the shooter, for example, to install bolts of different lengths on different frames, which was the main reason for the adoption of the P320 pistol in service US Army as a service weapon. It is produced for the most common cartridges: 9 mm Luger, .40 S&W and .45 ACP.

Magazine capacity depends on the caliber of cartridges and the size of the handle. For example, the standard magazine capacity of the Full Size 9 mm Luger model is 17 rounds, while the Subcompact .45 ACP model has a magazine capacity of only 6 rounds.

When selling the civilian version of the P320 pistol, a plastic holster is included in the delivery package. During test firing, the operation of the 17-round magazines was flawless. There were no delays in feeding cartridges

Workmanship

The weapon comes in a black plastic case. In addition to the pistol, it contains two spare magazines and other accessories. In addition to the pistol and three magazines, the delivery set includes detailed operating instructions with numerous illustrations and a plastic holster, in which the pressing force of the weapon and, accordingly, its position are adjusted using an internal hexagon screw.

High-quality steel magazines come standard with a capacity of 17 rounds of 9 mm Luger ammunition. Alternatively, you can purchase magazines with a larger capacity (up to 21 rounds).

The automation of the SIG Sauer P320 self-loading pistol works on the principle of recoil of the barrel during its short stroke. The barrel is skewed using a shaped cutout in the boss located in the lower part of the chamber. Locking is accomplished by engaging the upper breech lug of the descending barrel with a cutout in the rear of the window for ejecting spent cartridges (modernized Browning system), which is now typical of many large caliber pistols from well-known manufacturers. In the tested weapon in the locked state, no play was noted at the engagement of the barrel with the bolt casing, which is mainly due to the accuracy of processing. With striker-type trigger.

The slides of SIG Sauer pistols have a distinctive shape that is difficult to confuse with any other. The rear sight and front sight are adjustable in the horizontal plane

The quality of the pistol is high. There are no tool marks. The matte black outer coating is applied evenly. The serial weapon has an amazingly well-regulated striker-type trigger. The descent is “dry”. The trigger is triggered after overcoming a force of 2490. This is a very good indicator for a military weapon. The return stroke of the 3.5 mm trigger is short and crisp, which allows you to quickly and accurately fire the second shot.

Durable modern materials and external coatings help reduce the weight of the weapon. Standard open sight with three white dots allows you to quickly acquire a target

With the help of optionally purchased empty frames with handles of various sizes, you can easily and without auxiliary tools adjust the existing P320 pistol to the hand of a particular shooter, which is a big advantage primarily for women, who, as a rule, have small palms and short fingers. To do this, after disassembling the weapon, you should completely remove the disassembly lever, then separate the trigger block from the frame and insert it into another frame with a handle of a suitable size.

The surface texture of the handle ensures a secure hold of the weapon. Thanks to this, the P320 pistol is also well controllable when firing quickly in bursts, grasping the handle with wet hands, and even hands covered in blood, which often happens during combat operations and self-defense. Due to the presence of a large number of options for the design of the handle, it can be quite ergonomic for women’s hands. The trigger guard is sized to ensure a confident pull on the trigger with the index finger of a thickly gloved hand.

The presence of a cartridge in the chamber is indicated by the ejector: in this case, it protrudes from the weapon on its right side. The position of the ejector can be determined both visually and by touch. The shutter stop lever flags are located on both sides of the frame. The magazine release button can be rearranged. Thus, the P320 pistol is suitable for shooters with both right and left hands, as well as for shooters who want to shoot and confidently operate the weapon controls with their non-working hand (for example, when shooting with two hands).

The heart of the gun is the barrel. For the P320 model it is made of high-strength special steel and guarantees a long service life. An open sight with three dots ensures quick target acquisition. The rear sight and front sight are fixed in dovetail grooves, allowing for adjustments in the horizontal plane. Correction in the vertical plane can be done by installing front sights of different heights. To chamber the cartridge, a large vertical inclined notch is applied on the sides of the front and rear parts of the bolt. At the front lower part of the frame there is a picatinny base in accordance with the MIL-STD M1913 standard, on which a laser designator or tactical flashlight can be mounted.

In the SIG Sauer P320 pistol, the bolt stop lever flags (pictured left) are located on both sides of the frame, which makes it possible to confidently operate them with both right and left-handed shooters. For ease of loading the cartridge into the chamber, a large vertical inclined notch (English Slide Serrations) is applied on the sides in the front and rear parts of the bolt. At the front lower part of the frame of the P320 pistol there is a picatinny base (pictured on the right), on which a laser designator or tactical flashlight can be mounted

Cleaning weapons

Partial disassembly and reassembly of SIG Sauer pistols is quite easy. After checking that there is no cartridge in the chamber, the bolt should be pulled back until it is set to the bolt stop. There is a disassembly lever on the left side of the weapon above the trigger. After turning it down 90°, you can separate the bolt with the barrel, the return spring and its guide from the frame with a forward movement. Then you should remove the return spring from the bolt with its guide, and then move the barrel backwards. The pistol is reassembled in the reverse order. To acquire sufficient skill, it is recommended to disassemble and reassemble the pistol several times. According to the instructions, before disassembling the pistol, you should pull the trigger and uncock the weapon. For models of the P320 line, you don’t have to do this. However, the magazine must be removed. Disassembling the weapon is impossible without removing the magazine and setting the bolt to the slide stop, which completely eliminates the possibility of an involuntary shot.

Disassembling, cleaning and assembling the gun is very simple. The sequence of actions is well thought out

Individual parts of the gun are subject to general cleaning only. Various types of weapons forgive their owners a lot, and not every delay in shooting is due to improper care. All this applies to SIG Sauer pistols intended for use in the army and police.

At the shooting range

During test firing, the operation of the components and mechanisms of the SIG Sauer P320 model was reliable. No delays were noted when using all available types of ammunition and various magazines. The return spring is precisely designed for a specific model, significantly reduces the recoil force and reduces the weapon's toss. The pistol made available to the editors of DWJ magazine had an open sight that was factory-accurately zeroed “in the center.” Spent cartridges were reliably ejected from the right side at an angle of 120° to 170° and fell to the ground at a distance of three to four meters from the shooter. No traces of brass were found near the spent cartridge ejection window. This indicates that the cartridges were ejected at the correct angle and with sufficient acceleration.

Even in the case of a deliberately weak hold of the weapon, which often happens in self-defense, its reloading and ejection of spent cartridges occurred at the proper level.

Test firing was carried out from a distance of 25 m using a standard open sight. The best result with a dispersion diameter of 38 mm was obtained using serial cartridges from Magtech, equipped with an expansive jacketed bullet weighing 115 g. This result when firing from a service weapon with a striker-type trigger can be described as excellent. At the same time, we should not forget that the main effort of the designers was aimed not at creating sports weapons, but at producing a service pistol, designed for tough use in difficult conditions.

The combination of different handle shapes and different frames provides a very comfortable position for the shooter's hand. The extremely short trigger throw with a clearly defined trigger length (approx. 3.5 mm) makes rapid burst shooting possible. In contrast to purely sports pistols with a trigger pull of 1000 g, the P320 model has much more of it, which, however, is due to the purpose of this weapon. With a standard open sight with factory settings, it was possible to confidently conduct effective, fast aimed shooting at paper and falling targets. The trigger has an amazingly precisely calculated and clearly visible trigger point. The shot occurs immediately after overcoming the preliminary move and the stall point. During test firing, DWJ magazine staff assessed the behavior of the trigger mechanism very well. When using a pistol as a sporting weapon and when shooting for accuracy, you can think about certain modifications to the trigger mechanism. Although, in principle, it has good factory characteristics and modifications can be completely avoided, at least when using the P320 pistol for self-defense and in the dynamic disciplines of sports shooting competitions.

After shooting the existing cartridges, no signs of wear were found on the barrel, frame or bolt guides. Everything is well coordinated with each other, the gaps necessary for reliable operation are provided, and they are minimal. Such landings are very rare in weapons produced in large series in this price segment. In this regard, after test firing and shooting for accuracy, the P320 model received additional praise from the staff of DWJ magazine. The stores were flawless. After firing all the cartridges, the bolt was always placed on the bolt stop using the help. When the latch button was pressed, the magazines were freely removed from the shaft under their own weight and fell to the ground.

The relatively wide shaft allows for quick replacement of the magazine, which, when it gets into it, slides like on a sled. And here the direction of the main efforts of the designers of the SIG Sauer P320 model is noticeable - the creation of a service pistol. The ambidextrous arrangement of weapon controls, as well as the ability to rearrange them, make the P320 pistol a complete alternative for left-handed shooters. DWJ findings

The new SIG Sauer P320 model is distinguished by modern design solutions, impeccable processing, ergonomics, massiveness and reliability. This pistol is a natural continuation of the development of models of short-barreled weapons from SIG Sauer, intended for arming the army and police. This model is a serious competitor to weapons from other manufacturers of pistols with a striker-type trigger and a polymer frame. The price is also pleasantly surprising. By purchasing the P320 model, you will receive a reliable weapon that can be effectively used in various disciplines of sports shooting, for hunting or self-defense. Stefan Menge, translation by Victor Nazarov

Shooting problem[edit]

In late July 2022, the Dallas Police Department in Texas ordered all personnel to stop carrying the P320 pending an investigation. [24] Concerns have been raised that the firearm could discharge if dropped and the rear of the bolt hits the ground at a 33-degree angle. The problem was thought to be related to the trigger; some triggers were heavy enough that they continued to move by inertia after the cannon hit the ground. Online publications such as TheTruthAboutGuns.com have conducted independent tests that appear to confirm potential disruptions (with a 40% chance). [25]

On August 8, 2022, SIG Sauer published a notice that they would be updating all P320s to address this issue. [26] The update is described on the company's website as follows: "This will include an alternative design that reduces the physical weight of the trigger, sear and firing pin with the additional addition of a mechanical release." [27] The P320 Upgrade Program is described in detail on the SIG Sauer website at: P320 Voluntary Upgrade Program.

Description of the P320 design

The Swiss modular pistol is a classic self-loading striker-type weapon. The trigger mechanism of such a weapon does not have an external trigger, and five automatic fuses are responsible for the safety of the pistol. The automatic operation of the pistol works by using recoil energy with a short barrel stroke. The barrel bore is locked by engaging rectangular transverse grooves with cuts in the rear of the bolt casing, directly behind the cartridge case extraction window. The mechanism is unlocked when fired when the breech of the barrel is lowered, which is pulled back by the bolt when the return spring is compressed.

The pistol frame is assembled from two components - a polyamide handle, combined with the trigger guard, and a metal frame top, which serves as a connector between the frame and the main mechanisms of the pistol. The metal pommel is connected to the trigger mechanism and also contains a bolt stop, which acts as a barrel travel limiter. In fact, the pommel, only covered with plastic, is the basis of the pistol frame.

The trigger mechanism is striker-type, double-action with preliminary cocking of the striker; residual cocking of the striker occurs when the bolt is retracted to the rearmost position. At the same time, it is impossible to safely release the firing pin from combat cocking due to the lack of external controls. The pistol is not equipped with external safety cocking controls for the sake of quickly removing the weapon from a holster or pocket. For the same reasons, the design of the pistol abandoned the external trigger.

The only relatively protruding elements against the background of the main body are the sights and the bolt stop lever.

The cartridges are fed from double-row magazines designed for seventeen and fourteen (in compact versions) cartridges. The weapon is easily adaptable to four types of cartridges - 9x19 mm NATO, .357 SIG, .40 S&W and .45 ACP. Moreover, changing the barrel and bolt casing occurs without unnecessary tools and in a short time. The magazine release button is located immediately behind the trigger guard on the protrusion of the ergonomic handle.

Lawsuits[edit]

Steyr Arms, Inc. v. Sig Sauer, Inc. [edit]

In May 2022, Steyr Mannlicher filed a patent infringement lawsuit against SIG Sauer. [28] Steyr refers to its patent US6260301 (registered in 1999 and approved in 2001) [29] which covers a pistol with a removable chassis. Steyr Arms sought a preliminary and permanent injunction against the sale of any such firearms to SIG Sauer. On March 11, 2022, the United States District Court for the District of New Hampshire found that SIG Sauer did not infringe Steyr's patents and denied all motions. [thirty]

David Hartley et al v. Sig Sauer, Inc. [edit]

A lawsuit related to the aforementioned ground shooting issue, filed in April 2022 in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri, resulted in a class action settlement in February 2020. [31] [32] [33] Elements of the agreement include: [32]

• The mechanical disconnect added as part of the P320 Voluntary Retrofit Program "provides an additional level of safety" is reported to be communicated via the SIG Sauer website and direct customer communications.
• Extension of the voluntary renewal program for 24 months after the estimated date
• For anyone who submitted their P320 to the voluntary upgrade program and found out it was beyond repair, a refund of the purchase price or a new P320
• For anyone who submitted their P320 to the voluntary upgrade program and was billed for repairs, such costs will be reimbursed

The class action form is available on the SIG Sauer website. [34]

Derick Ortiz v. Sig Sauer, Inc. [edit]

In September 2022, an Arizona gun owner who purchased a P320 in September 2016 initiated a class action lawsuit. [35] He claims that SIG Sauer "continued to sell guns with defects," [35] and that the proposed upgrade "still does not fully compensate him for the significantly reduced resale value of his pistol." [36] In March 2022, Judge Joseph N. LaPlante denied SIG Sauer's motion to dismiss the case. [37] [36]

Flaws

In July 2022, the Dallas Police Department (USA) issued a directive ordering the surrender of all P320 pistols in hand, citing the unsafety of carrying them. In particular, the directive stated that the pistol could spontaneously fire when falling to the ground at an angle of thirty-three degrees. It was believed that this was due to the inertial movement of a fairly heavy trigger that occurred after the pistol fell at a certain angle. Experiments conducted by a private Internet portal confirmed the fears of the Dallas police, reporting a 40% probability of such a development.

In response to this, representatives of Sig-Sauer sent a letter of guarantee in which they promised to correct all pistols available to police officers, changing the design to an alternative one in which the weight of the trigger, sear and firing pin would be reduced, with the introduction of a release mechanism into the design.

Users[edit]

• Canada: Joint Task Force 2, Ottawa [38]
• Denmark: Conventional and stealth versions were chosen instead of the obsolete M/49 Neuhausen. [39] Deliveries are due to be completed by the end of 2022. [40]
• France: 9mm Compact variant replacing the Ruger SP101 revolver. [41]
• Norway: The X-series is selected by the Norwegian Police Service as the standard weapon for select agencies, replacing the SIG Sauer P226 and the Heckler & Koch P30. [42]
• Thailand: The Royal Thai Police purchased 152,468 SIG Sauer P320 pistols in December 2022. [43] [44] [45]
• United States: On January 19, 2022, the P320 was selected to replace the Beretta M9 as the US Army's primary service pistol in response to a request for the Modular Handgun System (MHS). Also known as M17. The Air Force and Marine Corps will be equipped with the M18. [8] [46] [47] Also used by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, [48] Cambridge (Massachusetts) Police Department, [49] Chicago Police Department, [50] Hawaii Department of Public Safety, [51] Oklahoma Highway Patrol [52] Pasco County (Florida) Sheriff's Office, [53] Texas Department of Public Safety, [54] and Virginia State Police. [55]

Pistol options

All models of the P320 pistol differ from each other only in size. The weapon is available in three modifications – Carry, Full-size and Compact.

Carry – can be equipped with a barrel of 9x19 mm, .357 SIG, .40 S&W and .45 ACP calibers. Average in size in the P320 model range.

Full-size is the largest pistol in the entire series. Just like the Carry, it can be equipped with four barrels for different calibers; it is the only model in the entire series whose barrel allows the installation of a silent firing device.

Compact is the smallest pistol model, developed only for the 9x19 mm Parabellum (NATO) cartridge.

In addition to these models, a limited edition P320 MAX is being produced, a sports version of the combat pistol, the body of which is made of tungsten. It has a high-precision high-precision match barrel five inches long and weighs about 1200 grams. Not widely available, but can be ordered directly from dealers.

There is also a pneumatic version of the Sig Sauer P320 4.5 mm, which is widespread on the Russian market. For shooting, lead balls of 4.5 mm caliber are used, and carbon dioxide canisters placed in the handle of the weapon are used as a drive.

Links[edit]

1. https://www.sigsauer.com/press-releases/sig-sauer-introduces-m17-9mm-p-ammunition/
2. "SHOT 2015: SIG SAUER Adds Subcompacts and .45-Caliber to P320 Family". miltechmag.com
   . Retrieved February 28, 2022.
3. Omelveny, Sean. "Army Selects Sig Sauer's P320 Pistol to Replace M9 Service Pistol". Military.com
   . Retrieved February 28, 2022.
4. "P320 Pistol - Officer.com". Officer.com
   . Retrieved February 28, 2022.
5. "Review: SIG Sauer P320 Pistol". Shootingillustrated.com
   . Retrieved March 11, 2022.
6. "Details on the US Army's new Sig Sauer M17 pistol". actualcache.com
   . Retrieved March 11, 2022.
7. ↑
   Times, Military.
   GearScout. Militarytimes.com
   . Retrieved February 28, 2022.
8. ^ ab "Contracts Press Release No.: CR-012-17". Defense.gov
   . US Department of Defense. January 19, 2022. Retrieved February 13 +2017. Sig Sauer Inc., Newington, New Hampshire, was awarded up to $580,217,000 for a firm-fixed-price contract for a modular pistol system, including the pistol, accessories and ammunition to replace the current M9 pistol. Bids were submitted online and nine proposals were received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of January 19, 2027. The Army Contracting Command, Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey, is the contracting activity (W15QKN-17-D-0016).
9. Army Confirms 9mm Caliber for Modular Pistol System - Kitup.M military.com, January 26, 2022.
10. ↑
    Army Names First Unit to Receive Service's New Pistol - Military.com, May 3, 2022.
11. MHS Update: New Pistol Army Hugs Services - Kitup.Military.com, May 3, 2022
12. ↑
    First of all, the new army pistol will be issued to group leaders - Armytimes.com, November 29, 2022.
13. Army Explains New Dual Weapon Policy for Modular Pistol System - Military.com, Dec. 1, 2017.
14. https://www.guns.com/news/2019/07/22/milwaukee-police-chose-sig-sauer-p320-as-new-duty-pistol
15. https://www.policemag.com/527034/newington-nh-police-department-transitions-to-sig-sauer-p320-pistol
16. https://directives.chicagopolice.org/directives/data/a7a57b38-137ec5db-e6913-7ec6-7ee3ce8cb24a817d.html
17. https://www.ammoland.com/2019/05/lloyd-harbor-ny-police-department-transitions-to-sig-sauer-p320/#axzz62rUjd4Hu
18. "Special Forces removes new pistols from service after soldier misfires". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
19. "Sig XCompact - Small Arms Parts" (PDF).
20. "P320 XCOMPACT" . sigsauer.com
    . Retrieved March 13, 2022.
21. "Sig P320 X-FIVE Legion - Small Arms Parts". Small arms details
    .
22. S, Luke. "SIG Sauer Introduces P320MAX Pistol Optimized for Competition". Firearms Blog
    .
23. "P320MAX" . Sig Sauer
    .
24. "VIOLATION: P320 Recall Issued by Dallas Police - Banned from Service Until Repaired - Firearms Blog". August 2, 2017.
25. "BREAKING: TTAG Test Shows P320 Impact Fire Pistols Are Unsafe When Dropped - The Truth About Guns". August 8, 2017.
26. "SIG SAUER Releases Voluntary P320 Pistol Update - Sig Sauer".
27. "P320 Voluntary Upgrade Program - US Consumers". sigsauer.com
    . Retrieved March 12, 2022.
28. "Steyr Files' Lawsuit Against SIG SAUER Seeks Injunction Against P320 for Patent Infringement - The Truth About Guns". May 5, 2017.
29. "A pistol whose body is made of plastic". Retrieved July 11, 2022 - via Google Patents.
30. SIG SAUER, Inc. won a patent infringement case against Steyr Arms." sigsauer.com
    (press release). March 11, 2022. Retrieved March 13, 2020.
31. Hartley et al. v. Sig Sauer, Inc. and etc." . pacermonitor.com
    . Western District Court of Missouri. Retrieved March 16, 2020.
32. ^ ab "Settlement Agreement" (PDF). sigsauer.com
    . January 2022. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
33. ↑
    "Hartley v. Sig Sauer, Inc. Class Action Agreement."
    . sigsauer.com
    . Retrieved March 16, 2022.
34. "SIG Sauer P320 Class Action Claim Form" (PDF). sigsauer.com
    . March 2022. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
35. ^ ab Bookman, Todd (September 30, 2022). "SIG Sauer Sues Again Over Possible 'Drop Fire' Defect in P320 Pistol". NHPR.org
    . Retrieved March 26, 2022.
36. ^ ab LaPlante, Joseph N. (March 23, 2022). "Opinion No. 2020 DNH 036" (PDF). United States District Court for the District of New Hampshire. Retrieved March 26, 2022 - via govinfo.gov.
37. "Judge refuses to dismiss proposed SIG class action". US News and World Report
    . A.P. March 25, 2022. Retrieved March 26, 2022.
38. https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/special-forces-pistols-1.5897942
39. "Forsvaretz Pistols: Sig Sauer". forsvaret.dk
    . April 12, 2022.
40. "Day pistols er valgt". fmi.dk.
    _ April 12, 2022.
41. YC (August 26, 2017). "Une nouvelle arme de service pour les agents de la SUGE, la police ferroviaire". Actu17 - L′info Police Sécurité Terrorisme.
    (in French) . Retrieved December 27, 2022.
42. "Norwegian police use the SIG SAUER P320 X-Series as their duty pistol". November 8, 2022.
43. 'Claims of gangsters buying police pistols are false, says RTP spokesman'. Nation
    . December 24, 2022. Retrieved December 24, 2022.
44. "Police Chief Must Get Department Approval to Direct Order 150,000 Sig Sauer Pistols". Thai PBS
    . August 21, 2015. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
45. "General Prayut Chan-o-cha approves Royal Thai Police purchase of 152,468 SIG Sauer Model P320 pistols". Chiang Rai Times.com
    . Retrieved February 28, 2022.
46. "Army".
47. "US Air Force Begins Production of M18 Pistol -". Firearms Blog
    . March 8, 2022. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
48. "It's Official: ICE Tells Employees the Sig 320 is Their New Gun". NEWSREP
    . February 24, 2022. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
49. S, Luke. "Cambridge Police Commissioner plans to cut gun inventory". Firearms Blog
    .
50. "CPD U04-02-01" (PDF).
51. "Hawaii DPS". Thefirearmsblog.com
    .
52. "Oklahoma Highway Patrol Selects SIG SAUER P320". SIG Sauer. June 22, 2015 Archived September 5, 2015CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
53. "Pasco Sheriff's Deputies Trade Glocks for Free SIG Sauer Service Pistols". Tamba Bay Times
    . May 20, 2016. Retrieved August 6, 2016.
54. “Texas Department of Public Safety Selects SIG SAUER P320 | Sig Sauer". Sig Sauer
    . Retrieved June 23, 2022.
55. "Virginia State Police Select SIG Sauer P320 Pistol for Standard Firearm".

Specifications