Key Points – SIG Sauer has achieved a dominant position as a key weapons manufacturer for the US military, supplying the new standard service pistol (M17/M18 based on the P320), rifle (XM7 based on the MCX Spear), and light machine gun (XM250).
-This “trifecta” highlights the company’s reputation for quality, reliability, accuracy, and innovative design, such as the P320’s modularity.
-These military adoptions have also fueled significant success in the civilian market, with pistols like the P365 and P320 consistently ranking as top sellers. SIG Sauer’s diverse product line and robust construction are trusted by military, law enforcement, and civilian users.
Why SIG Sauer Is THE Weapon Manufacturer For the US Military
The weapons manufacturer SIG Sauer is sitting atop the mountain right now, and for good reason. SIG produces the US military’s pistol, rifle, and machine gun. How is that for a trifecta?
And when the military buys it, the civilian market also flocks to buy it. According to the GunBroker.com 2023 Top 10 Best-Selling Handguns report, the SIG P365 was the top-selling handgun, and the SIG P320 was the second-best-selling handgun for the second year in a row.
“The SIG P365 and SIG P320 are unequivocally America’s favorites,” said Tom Taylor, Chief Marketing Officer and Executive Vice President, Commercial Sales, SIG SAUER, Inc.
“The announcement from GunBroker.com that our flagship pistols have garnered the top two spots on their top-selling list is a resounding endorsement of the innovation, quality, and safety craved by consumers and synonymous with the SIG SAUER brand.”
SIG Is Now The Army’s Pistol, Rifle, and Machine Gun Manufacturer:
What a coup for the good folks from New Hampshire, my former home. The SIG Sauer M17 was awarded the Modular Handgun System (MHS) contract for the U.S. Army. The M17 is a P320-based platform selected for its uniquely innovative modularity, reliability, and accuracy.
The SIG SAUER M17 is a 9mm striker-fired pistol that comes with either a 17-round or 21-round magazine. It features a coyote-tan PVD-coated stainless steel slide compatible with the ROMEO-17 red dot optic and black controls. The M18 is the compact version.
The Army’s new M7 rifle is “a 6.8x51mm version of Sig Sauer’s increasingly popular MCX Spear family of rifles. Though Sig’s MCX family is a separate development, the core design is derived from the AR-15/M16 pattern family of rifles, and upper receivers from certain versions of the former can be directly paired with lower receivers from the latter with the help of an adapter. The overall configurations of guns in both families are very similar, as are the basic ergonomics and control arrangements.”
The M7 is a modular, piston-driven, select-fire, magazine-fed, 6.8mm rifle. Its fully ambidextrous controls are similar to M4/M4A1 carbine operations with additional ergonomic features to enhance user operation, including a non-reciprocating left side charging handle, collapsible/side folding buttstock, and free floating MLOK® handguard.
The weapon was designed to be suppressed and comes with a quick detach suppressor optimized for the system to deliver reduction in both sound and visible flash signatures with a significant decrease in the flow of gases back to the receiver.
SIG Sauer was also awarded the contract for the Army’s next squad automatic weapon, the M-250. The M250 is a lightweight, belt-fed, select-fire 6.8mm light machine gun with fully ambidextrous controls, a collapsible buttstock, MLOK mounting locations, and a recoil mitigation system.
The weapon was designed to be suppressed and comes with a quick-detach suppressor optimized for the system to reduce sound and visible flash signatures and significantly decrease the flow of gases back to the receiver.
“You Had Me At Hello”
As I’ve written several times on different posts for other military sites, my first introduction to SIG Sauer was in the military while stationed at an Embassy overseas. One of our FBI agents was teaching marksmanship to a presidential security detail. He asked another Special Forces Warrant Officer and me to help him out. We were given the same weapon as the presidential security detail would carry: the outstanding SIG P226.
We spent a day on the range getting familiar with P226, and each of us put about 300 rounds down range through some familiar drills, basically what we’d be teaching the locals the next day.
It was love at first sight, or as in Jerry Maguire, “you had me at hello.”
After a day on the range, myself and the other SF guy and I looked at each other, and I can’t remember which one of us said first, “How in the hell did this pistol lose to the 92F?” (meaning the competition for the Army’s pistol to replace the ubitiquous M1911A1)
The P226 was everything a combat pistol should be and more. I was always a 1911A1 guy; my feelings on the 92F are well known. But I always thought the P226 was the true worthy successor to the 1911A1.
Many would often ask, “Is the SIG P226 worth it?” I think the best answer came from the Tactical Hipster, who said, “Yes, the Sig Sauer P226 is the wonder nine of choice for discerning connoisseurs of tactical finery. With it comes an air of elitism that few production-grade handguns—even the illustrious HK USP—can match.” His review was one of the best I’ve read. I want to party with that guy.
What Are Some Factors That Make SIG Sauer So Popular?
SIG Sauer’s popularity has been built from its decades-long reputation for quality, reliability, accuracy, innovative design features, and diverse product line. They are trusted by military, law enforcement, and civilian shooters alike for their robust construction and proven performance. Other factors contributing to their popularity include, but are not limited to:
-Sig Sauer pistols have a long history of reliable performance in demanding environments, earning them a reputation for dependability and accuracy.
-The P320, now the M17/M18, is known for its modularity, allowing users to customize their grip and frame to suit their preferences.
-SIG Sauer offers a diverse range of firearms, catering to various needs and preferences, from compact carry pistols to long-range rifles.
-SIG’s popularity has created a huge aftermarket that offers a variety of accessories and customization options for its firearms.
-SIG weapons are very popular and have been adopted by the US military and others, including law enforcement agencies, further solidifying their reputation for quality and reliability.
As I have mentioned frequently, my go-to carry weapon is the SIG Sauer P365 XL with the Romeo red dot sights. When you put your life on the line, you want the very best, and that’s why I choose the SIG Sauer.
About the Author:
Steve Balestrieri is a National Security Columnist. He served as a US Army Special Forces NCO and Warrant Officer. In addition to writing on defense, 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 many military publications.
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