Posted on 04/02/2018 9:27:30 AM PDT by PROCON
The full-sized M17 vs. the more compact M18. The guns use the same interchangeable fire control unit and magazines– either flush-fit 17-round or 21-round extended mags. (Photo: Chris Eger/Guns.com)
A report says the nation’s seagoing branch will go with the smaller version of the Army’s Modular Handgun System, the Sig M18, to replace legacy 9mm pistols.
The Navy currently uses the M9, a variant of the Beretta 92F shown above, and the M11, a more compact pistol based on the Sig Sauer P228. The new M18 will replace both. (Photo: U.S. Navy)
The Navy will phase out its current M9 and M11 handguns with the M18, the smaller-framed version of the Army’s newly adopted handgun. The MHS winner, based on the Sig Sauer P320 family, can utilize two different-sized frames, the full-sized M17 and a more compact M18. While the Army is issuing the gun in a kit with both frames and one interchangeable plug-and-play fire control unit that makes up the guts of the handgun, the Navy will go with just the single M18 frame.
Navy spokesman Ben Anderson told Military.com that “money has been allocated for contracting this year, with delivery to the Navy to commence in FY19” for some 60,000 pistols.
The Navy currently uses the M9, a variant of the Beretta 92F, and the M11, a more compact pistol based on the Sig Sauer P228. While the M18 is slated to replace both, there is no word on if other platforms used in smaller numbers by Naval Special Warfare units such as the Mk23 and Mk24 pistols — .45ACP guns made by Heckler & Koch — as well as various unit-purchased Glocks, and the Mk25 — a navalised version of the Sig P226 in 9mm — will be replaced by the new Sig as well.
All branches of the U.S. Armed Forces have placed orders for the M17/18 Modular Handgun System, according to Sig Sauer.
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So what happens to used Berettas?
The Beretta was and is a great pistol.
It’s only weakness imo is the grip is rather bulky.
Maybe they will sell them to civilians. Well it could happen as long as Obama or Clinton is not in the White House.
One would hope they will become available for purchase by civilians.
So.... can I get the 60,000 Beretta pistols at a wholesale/pre-used price ?
Let the enlistees keep them, it's the least we can do for them. Besides, when they go into private life we add more competent carry people who might just save a life some day.
What will happen to all the ‘old’ weapons?..........................scrap? 8^(
The Beretta was always a bad choice for the military. Not appropriate for dirty environment, more difficult to train with being double/single action, tends to ‘get dry’ and have malfunctions if not well lubed. Just not what I would want for a firefight.
Its ok as a range gun.
Disclaimer - I have a M-9. And I am trained to run it, but its no match against a Glock for time from in the holster to shots on target. I used the M-9 mostly for training students in double/single action operation now. And of course many of us just have to have one of everything military. :)
I believe the Military version has a hammer that the pictures do not reflect.
I have owned several Beretta model 92s. They are basically the same gun as the M9. They are anything but unreliable, including in the worst conditions.
My Father worked at Eglin at the place where they were testing them before they were adopted. The most reliable gun they had ever tested. Even more reliable than the Sig tho they were close.
I have larger than average hands and the grip is just a little larger than I would want. Other than that, the best gun in the world.
I do agree that a Glock is marginally quicker to fire the first shot.
P320 is a striker gun. Not sure how this goes down with SIG fans. I will say that they are _relatively_ cheap.
Guns are very ‘personal’ so I expected others to have other opinions.
Having said that, I have comparison field tested the Glock, 1911, Springfield XD, and Smith & Wesson M&P. I was in a dusty dry environment. I that comparison over a few hours I fired no less than 800 rounds in each (which is not much for a field test actually). Only with the Beretta did I have malfunction and misfeed/jam issue. It would get dry faster than any of the others, and required lubing after as few as 100 rounds just to keep it running. With several other experts present, we experimented with different cleaner/lubricants and some did run better than others but overall, that was my experience. So for reliability, I would not carry one and bet my life on it.
But most gun guys have strong opinions about these types of things. :)
Could this have anything to do with other-than-male sailors?
I heard Sig is coming out with a new pistol (I head P350 but not certain) and is supposed to be a nicer size for concealed carry than the P320 X-Carry I just recently purchased. The RX looks nice to but I have got use to a flat trigger and would probably change it out when I get one, which is inevitable. You see I am a Sigaholic and I love it and all my Sigs, MK25 and a couple of Legions, all P226s and 9mm. I am glad they got the Army contract.
It’s about time. James Bond, 007, switched to the Walther PPK in 1956 because his Beretta was “a lady’s gun with no real stopping power”. Our Navy is well behind the British Navy on this. As usual.
Sigs are truly excellent guns. At one time or another I have owned several P226’s, a P220 and a P225. I can’t recall any others off hand.
The P-226 fit my hand really well. Almost as well as the Browning Hi-Power.
They would have to go for a pretty low price to get me to buy one. They are not expensice pistols to begin with which is the main reason they got the contract before. But now that Sig has striker fired pistols at a comparable price they did not stand a chance.
I’m in for 10,000!
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