The Army’s new service pistol: SIG P320

[Peter1469]

Update on the Army's new combat pistol.

Also, the Army will be issuing pistols to many more people than they have in the past.

Soldiers with the Army’s 1 01st Airborne Division have been the first to receive the services’ new high-tech 9mm pistol engineered to give dismounted infantry a vastly increased ability to fight and close with an enemy in caves, tunnels, crawl spaces, houses and other close quarter combat scenarios.

Service weapons developers and soldiers say the new M17 and M18 pistol, designed as a next-generation handgun to follow the Army’s current M9 Beretta, is expected to substantially change combat tactics, techniques and strategies for dismounted soldiers on-the-move.


“You can close with the enemy in close quarter combat and engage the enemy with one hand. It is tough to do this with the M9,” said Lt. Col. Martin O’Donnell, spokesman for the 101st Airborne.


The new pistol is built with a more ergonomic configuration to better accommodate the widest possible range of hand grip techniques for soldiers and enable rapid hand switching as needed in combat. The M17 is said by developers to bring much tighter dispersion, improved versatility and next-generation accuracy.


“With this weapon, you can change quickly from right hand to left hand. If you are shooting something that is not comfortable on your hand and can't get a comfortable grip, it is not as accurate,” said Sgt. 1st Class Andrew Flynn, 101st Division Master Gunner.

In the recent past, soldiers who found themselves in extremely close combat had to rely on combat knives, hatches, or bare fists. This new pistol, issued to many more troops will give them an edge in close combat.

[Cletus]

It is a good gun, but it is not any better than an M9.

I have to wonder if some of these "experts" think they are talking to an audience of 5 year olds. “With this weapon, you can change quickly from right hand to left hand. If you are shooting something that is not comfortable on your hand and can't get a comfortable grip, it is not as accurate,” said Sgt. 1st Class Andrew Flynn, 101st Division Master Gunner.

Tansition from strong hand to weak hand shooting should be practiced with ANY pistol or revolver. The 320 has no advantage over any other gun in that regard.

“You can close with the enemy in close quarter combat and engage the enemy with one hand. It is tough to do this with the M9,” said Lt. Col. Martin O’Donnell, spokesman for the 101st Airborne.

WTF?