The US armed forces selected the M17 and M18—the military versions of the Sig Sauer P320—as their standard service pistol in 2017, despite concerns about accidental firing.
The United States Marine Corps announced that it had authorized the use of red dot optics for the Combat Pistol Program qualification. In a Marine Administrative Message, the service confirmed the policy change to the Marine Corps Combat Marksmanship Programs (MCCMP).
The red dot optic can be used on the M17/M18 semi-automatic pistol, which serves as the primary sidearm across the United States Armed Forces, except for the United States Coast Guard. The Marines began fielding the compact M18 in 2020.
However, the Marine Corps also stated that the optic, an M17 Romero red dot sight, would henceforth be purchased and issued by the unit.
“Over the past decade, pistol-mounted red dot optics have surged in popularity among civilian shooters and police. Today, most major handgun models offer optics-ready variants,” the Military Times wrote. It further cited expert opinion that red dot sights have an “advantage over traditional iron sights,” as they allow the shooter to focus on the target by placing the red dot on it.
Every Marine Is a Rifleman—but Not a Pistolier!
This announcement won’t likely impact the majority of Marines. Although the core ethos of the service is that “Every Marine is a rifleman,” regardless of their specific assignment, not every Marine is qualified with the service pistol.
“Only certain military occupational specialties, officers, and staff non-commissioned officers require annual qualification on the service pistol. In order to ensure these Marines are properly trained with the weapon, the Marine Corps implemented the Combat Pistol Program,” the USMC explains on its website.
The CCP was introduced in 2012 as part of efforts to update the pistol qualification.
About the SIG Sauer M17/M18 Handgun
The United States Armed Forces officially selected the Sig Sauer P320 as its service pistol in early 2017, with the handgun adopted as the M17, while the shorter-length carry model was designated the M18.
The P320 platform had numerous features that the US Army and other branches of the US military found appealing, including its ambidextrous handling and a catch lever on both sides of the slide. It also features a user-reversible magazine, and all of its primary controls are easily operable from either side.
The handgun was also designed to be field-stripped without tools, and it can be field-stripped without depressing the trigger, which prevents negligent discharge of the weapon.
The M17/18 are chambered in the widely used 9x19mm Parabellum round, but the contract with Sig Sauer allows the military to procure the proposed XM1152 Full Metal Jacket and XM1153 Special Purpose ammunition. The M17 can be used with either standard 17-round or extended 21-round magazines. The compact M18 uses the same frame as the M17, but with a size-medium grip and a 3.9-inch barrel and shorter slide.
The P320 is chambered in several calibers, including 9mm, .40 S&W, .357 SIG, .45 ACP, and 10mm Auto, and is available with caliber exchange kits. The US military primarily employs M17/M18 pistols chambered in 9x19mm Parabellum (9mm Luger).
Despite the praise the firearm has received, it was in the crosshairs last year after the United States Air Force Global Strike Command ordered all units under its purview to immediately cease using the M18 Modular Handgun System, following the accidental death of an active-duty airman whose firearm was reported to have misfired. Last August, the AFGSC completed a review that found no weapon discharges were attributed to a malfunction.
The weapon has faced similar scrutiny in 2023, when a Marine Corps-issued M18 allegedly fired while it was holstered at Camp Foster, Japan. An investigation determined that the M18 was not mishandled.
SIG Sauer also disputed the findings of an FBI Ballistic Research Facility report that raised concerns about accidental misfires and criticized the testing methods involving the P320. The M17/M18 remains in active use by the US military.
About the M17 Romero Red Dot Scope
The M17 Romero was developed by SIG Sauer specifically for its M17/M18 handguns. It is a MIL-SPEC, fully enclosed red dot sight that utilizes a proprietary SIG-LOC mounting system, attaching directly to the slide.
It features a 7075 aluminum housing that fully encloses a sealed, nitrogen-purged optic with a distortion-free aspheric glass lens and a 2 MOA red dot/32 MOA circle reticle inside.
The US Army officially endorsed the M17 Romero in October 2024 and added it to its Approved Accessory List.
About the Author: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu has contributed to dozens of newspapers, magazines and websites over a 30-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a contributing writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].
