Lots of urban legend and misinformation being batted around. The issues with the P320 were not carried over to the M18. Initial, different issues with the M18 were corrected by SIG. Such “teething” issues are common with large scale government/military contracts. As a matter of fact, the SIG M18 set records for reliability in final stage testing conducted by the US Army.
“Historically, Lot Acceptance Testing would include testing handguns to 5,000 rounds and allow for up to 12 stoppages to pass. The recent MHS Material Reliability Test consisted of firing three M18 pistols to an unprecedented 12,000 rounds each, and in an extraordinary display of reliability, the M18 performed with zero stoppages. Additionally, despite undergoing this level of strenuous testing the M18 passed a parts interchange test, met all of the stringent accuracy and dispersion requirements, was tested for firing pin indent and trigger pull measurements to ensure consistency, and conformed to all workmanship standards.”
The price per unit does not mean the price per individual handgun. For every handgun there are a metric crap ton of spare magazines, enough spare parts to build a few more pistols, and required accessories. That pads the price out pretty good.
For the military using a plastic pistol, the modular part makes sense. I’ve seen firsthand what kind of damage a grunt can do to equipment......and caused some of it myself. I’ve seen a Marine grunt bend a Barrett M82 at the action, so damaging a plastic pistol frame is child’s play. With a Glock, damaging the frame destroys that serial numbered weapon. With the SIG P320, damaging the frame requires a simple and easy swap of one of the cheaper parts of the gun and you’re back in business.
“Historically, Lot Acceptance Testing would include testing handguns to 5,000 rounds and allow for up to 12 stoppages to pass. The recent MHS Material Reliability Test consisted of firing three M18 pistols to an unprecedented 12,000 rounds each, and in an extraordinary display of reliability, the M18 performed with zero stoppages. Additionally, despite undergoing this level of strenuous testing the M18 passed a parts interchange test, met all of the stringent accuracy and dispersion requirements, was tested for firing pin indent and trigger pull measurements to ensure consistency, and conformed to all workmanship standards.”
The price per unit does not mean the price per individual handgun. For every handgun there are a metric crap ton of spare magazines, enough spare parts to build a few more pistols, and required accessories. That pads the price out pretty good.
For the military using a plastic pistol, the modular part makes sense. I’ve seen firsthand what kind of damage a grunt can do to equipment......and caused some of it myself. I’ve seen a Marine grunt bend a Barrett M82 at the action, so damaging a plastic pistol frame is child’s play. With a Glock, damaging the frame destroys that serial numbered weapon. With the SIG P320, damaging the frame requires a simple and easy swap of one of the cheaper parts of the gun and you’re back in business.
