Sig Sauer: The U.S. Military’s Big Gun Mistake?

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Key Points and Summary: Sig Sauer has become a dominant force in the small arms industry, securing major contracts with the U.S. military for its pistols, rifles, and machine guns.

-However, concerns have arisen regarding the reliability of the P320 pistol and XM7 rifle ammunition.

-While Sig Sauer addressed the P320 issue with a trigger redesign, the XM7’s extraction problems require further investigation.

-Despite these challenges, Sig Sauer remains a reputable manufacturer, and its weapons are considered valuable assets for both civilian and military use.

Sig Sauer: Has the U.S. Military’s Reliance Gone Too Far?

The Sig Sauer company has been on a roll for the past eight years. The brand now outsells Glock in the civilian market, which would have been unthinkable a few years ago. There are several factors involved: price, quality, and optics readiness. Sig Sauer sells weapons platforms. They design and manufacture weapons, optics, ammunition, parts, airguns, and airsoft training systems. They also provide training for civilian and military customers at the Sig Sauer Academy in New Hampshire. 

Sig Sauer: The “Small Arms Company of the US”

Speaking of the military, Sig Sauer now produces the M17 and the M18 pistols. They also make the Army’s newest rifles and machine guns, the XM7 and the XM250. The Sig Romeo M17 Optic and the line of suppressors are in the US inventory. But that isn’t all. 

The U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) chose the Sig Sauer MCX Rattler as its low-signature personal defense weapon. The compact rifle can fire either 5.56mm or .300 Blackout caliber rounds.

Sig Sauer’s TANGO6T optic won contracts for SOCOM and the Army’s Squad Designated Marksman rifle. The Navy SEAL teams used the Sig P226 for years until switching to the Glock 19. The 226 is an excellent full-sized pistol.

The Sig Sauer company is almost like a one-stop shop for the US military. This phenomenon has no end in sight. 

Sig Sauer Chief Marketing Officer and Vice President of Sales, Tom Taylor, commented to Military Times in January, “We are essentially becoming the small arms company of the U.S. military.”

However, was it too much, too soon? Reports of issues with Sig’s weapons and ammunition are a potential trouble factor. Are the Sig Sauer pistols, rifles, and machine guns good enough? 

Problems With Pistols, Ammunition For New Rifle

Issues with the P320 pistol, which the M17 pistol is based on, have been well-documented and have been troubling, with the firearm reportedly cooking off a round in the chamber without the trigger being pulled. The pistol could also fire if dropped at a certain angle. 

The military documented problems using the Freedom of Information Act,, and the report states that there were dozens of instances of this. It should be noted that over 2.5 million Sig P320s have sold within the US, and the military has more than half a million M17s in its inventory. 

Sig Sauer denied there was an issue with the pistol; however, they re-engineered the trigger mechanism to prevent further incidents.

US Army Picks Sig Sauer’s XM5 Rifle and XM250 Rifle.
Image Credit: Sig Sauer.

The new Sig Sauer XM7 rifles’ ammunition has had issues with extraction/ejection. Some infantrymen reported failures to extract spent casings even when the rifle was properly cleaned and maintained. Some troops believe that the adjustable gas system is not working properly in effectively regulating gas pressures all the time, potentially contributing to extraction problems. 

Again, it is a new weapon system, and some quality control issues could be present. Compounded with it is the new hybrid ammunition. The Sig 6.8mm hybrid ammunition uses a bimetallic cartridge to deliver much higher pressure, increasing the weapon’s range, accuracy, and lethality. There may be a quality control issue in mass-producing new ammunition. 

Are The Weapons Good, And Are They Worth It?

These questions need answers because every soldier must be able to trust their weapon in combat, or it will destroy morale. I would never easily dismiss any occurrence that brings out any issue with the weapons we trust our troops to defend us. Any occurrence of malfunctioning is troubling.

However, the issues with the M17 pistol appear to be resolved. With millions sold and used by civilians, the pistol is already successful and will be an excellent weapon for years to come. 

The issue with the XM7 rifle ammunition is entirely another issue. Finding a fix may take a while if it is a design flaw. These issues didn’t present themselves during the Army tests. The problems are probably more of a quality control issue at the ammunition factory that needs tweaking. It is a new ammunition, being mass-produced for the first time. 

Are the weapons worth it? Absolutely. Sig Sauer has been a high-quality weapons designer and manufacturer for a long time. I trust my concealed carry to the P365XL, an outstanding weapon. Both my wife and I carry one. 

Sig Sauer P250.

About the Author: 

Steve Balestrieri is a 19FortyFive National Security Columnist. He served as a US Army Special Forces NCO and Warrant Officer. In addition to writing for 19FortyFive, he covers the NFL for PatsFans.com and is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA). His work was regularly featured in other military publications.