Sig Sauer doubles down on P320 safety amid avalanche of reports that accuse the popular firearm of firing without the trigger being pulled—a claim the company adamantly denies. The growing controversy has triggered legal action, competition bans, and even a military suspension, putting the gun manufacturer in the center of an intensifying storm.
The focus is on Sig Sauer’s P320 and its military variant, the M18. Once praised for their modular design and adoption by law enforcement and the U.S. military, these handguns are now under fire from critics, plaintiffs, and media outlets claiming safety issues tied to unintended discharges.
Company Defends Product Integrity
In response to the backlash, Sig Sauer has released firm public statements defending the P320’s design. On its official website, the company wrote:
“The P320 CANNOT, under any circumstance, discharge without the trigger first being moved to the rear.”
They claim this has been verified through extensive testing conducted not only by Sig Sauer engineers but also by the U.S. military, multiple state and federal law enforcement agencies, and independent labs.
Despite these reassurances, the U.S. Air Force’s Global Strike Command suspended use of the P320 after a fatal accidental discharge at Warren Air Force Base in late July. Though an official investigation is still underway, the incident has added fuel to the public’s concerns and reinforced the wave of scrutiny facing the company.
Lawsuits and Public Verdicts Pile Up
Since its launch roughly a decade ago, the P320 has been the subject of repeated lawsuits alleging that it can fire without the trigger being pulled. While early challenges were largely dismissed or settled quietly, recent high-profile cases have shifted the tide.
Two significant jury verdicts—in Georgia and Pennsylvania—awarded millions of dollars to plaintiffs injured by alleged accidental discharges. One man was shot in the leg while his P320 was still holstered, while another case involved severe injury due to an unexpected firing.
These legal wins for plaintiffs have emboldened others to file lawsuits, and video clips circulating on social media showing the handgun firing under stable, resting conditions have only increased skepticism.
Sig Sauer, however, maintains that these claims are either exaggerated or rooted in misinformation. They argue that many of the videos lack context, are edited, or fail to prove that no external force acted on the trigger.
Pushback from the Shooting Community
Adding to Sig Sauer’s PR woes, the International Defensive Pistol Association (IDPA) announced this week that it will ban the P320 from its competitions. The decision comes amid safety concerns raised by its members and the broader shooting community.
Sig Sauer quickly criticized the IDPA’s move, calling it “reactionary” and based on inaccurate information.
“Following several of these inaccurate reports, a number of ranges, training providers, and training facilities made the reactionary decision to ban the P320 and its use in their facilities,” the company said in a statement.
“We are actively working to provide these individuals with accurate information along with a detailed understanding of the P320 and its safety features.”
The company has begun a campaign to rehabilitate the P320’s reputation, reaching out to gun ranges, law enforcement training programs, and shooting clubs to reinforce their position.
Despite Sig Sauer’s efforts to maintain control of the narrative, public confidence in the P320 appears shaken. With new lawsuits emerging, safety concerns spreading, and the military reviewing its use of the weapon, the battle over the P320 is far from over. Whether Sig Sauer’s defense will hold up long-term may ultimately depend on the outcomes of ongoing investigations—and whether the gun-buying public continues to trust the brand.
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