It’s been years in the making — the U.S. military has been in search for a new service pistol which is both lighter to carry and shoot while providing accurate, reliable performance.
Gun manufacturer Sig Sauer has pulled through with a new weapon which fits the bill. Having proven itself through multiple tests simulating the rigors of military service, the Sig Sauer M17, a service version of the civilian P320, has been accepted to replace the long standing proven Beretta M9 as the sidearm of choice for servicemen and officers.
The Beretta M9 has been in military use since 1985, when it replaced the Browning .45 caliber 1911 pistol. The Beretta is based on the 1911 design, but uses a 9mm caliber according to NATO standards. Because the 9mm ammunition has the power to perform equally with the larger .45, the same amount of ammo is lighter to carry, soldiers, or local police forces, have the choice of better mobility due to lighter weight or the ability to carry more rounds as needed.
The Sig Sauer P320 takes the concept further with a more compact gun, which is easier to fire while providing better performance results.
The smaller design is made using modern technology with tighter manufacturing tolerances to improve target groupings. The recoil is directed forward to provide less strain when shooting and better efficiency with a smaller round. An added benefit is that according to personal preference, the steel frame is designed to easily accommodate a modular change of barrel and chamber for the popular .357SIG rounds or even a traditional .40 S&W bullet.
The new Sig Sauer M17 shows the height of modern technology in an exciting new weapon design.
~ Firearm Daily
