Marines from Weapon Training Battalion, Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, recently introduced the Marine Corps’ new SIG M18 pistol. SIG Sauer, of course, won the highly-coveted XM17 Modular Handgun System Competition in 2017. After SIG won the Army trials, the Department of Defense announced last year that the Marine Corps acquired the platform beginning in 2019.

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SIG M17, M18 Features

“We’re introducing the new modular handguns system, which is based on the SIG Sauer P320 system,” said Col. Howard Hall, Commanding Officer, Weapons Training Battalion. “The two variants are the M17 and the M18, a slightly smaller variant which is more concealable, but just as effective. The key characteristics of the modular handgun system are, number one, the ergonomics. The grip module itself comes in three different sizes, small, medium and large. So this gives us the ability to fit the gun to the shooter rather than forcing the shooter to fit the gun.”

One of the hallmarks of the SIG P320 design is its adjustability to fit. Marines, like any service member, come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. The P320’s interchangeable grip modules and ambidextrous controls enable more shooters to comfortably run the platform.

“The modular handgun also has five safeties inherent to it,” Hall explained. “Four of the safeties are internal, with one being external. The external safety is itself ambidextrous, so a right-handed or left-handed shooter will have equal ease in operating this weapon system. The ambidextrous nature of this gun is also true for the slide lock. The slide lock lever, which allows a shooter who is right-handed or left-handed, to take a look, ensure that the he chamber is clear with ease, both right-handed or left-handed.”

“We are both humbled and proud that the P320 was selected by the U.S. Army as its weapon of choice,” SIG Sauer CEO Ron Cohen said at the time of the award. “Securing this contract is a testimony to SIG Sauer employees, their commitment to innovation, quality and manufacturing the most reliable firearms in the world.”

For more information, visit sigsauer.com.