The preponderance of double-stack 9mm 2011s arriving from various manufacturers appears to be heralding a new era of handguns. What was previously thought of as a competition-only application is now going mainstream. Single action triggers mated to a heap of 9mm sitting in a magazine seems a match made in heaven. What if I said SIG Sauer has been offering discerning consumers this ability since the early 2000s with a proven design that requires no magazine tweaking or tuning that the early 2011s were known for?

While SIG has become a standard-bearer for the polymer striker fired genre with its P320 and P365 series, SIG is still representing with the P226/229 family of metal framed, hammer-fired weapons. A little-known SIG Sauer decision made circa 2006 was to offer a single-action-only (SAO) trigger option to shooters with certain models of the P226/229 family. We are going to explore multiple examples of recent SIG handguns featuring single action only triggers—P226Zev, P226XFive Legion, and P229 Legion Compact SAO. Each offer different utility while benefiting from the P226’s proven design that’s combined with single-action-only trigger capability.

SETTING THE STAGE

At the turn of the 20th Century, semi-automatic handguns were typified by hammer-fired steel frames and most likely single-action in that the exposed hammer was cocked rearward when ready to fire. The Mauser 1896 “Broomhandle” and Browning 1911 serve as good examples. In the 1930’s, the double-action/single-action (DA/SA) hammer fired handgun genre arrived in the form of the German P38. Its emergence was just as revolutionary as the polymer, striker-fired Glock’s arrival 50 years later. Yes, other examples existed before each; however, both are recognized as the most successful, establishing the handgun genre to follow. The rise of DA/SA designs and polymer striker-fired handguns surely took away the preeminent position of the “cocked & locked” pistol. This is for a variety of reasons stretching from manufacturing procedures, the perception of added safety, and other reasons.

While there’s no doubting the popularity and staying power of DA/SA and polymer striker-fired weapons, hammer-fired SAO “cocked and locked” handguns have not faded quietly into the sunset. In fact, the case can be made that the popularity of this format is actually flourishing.

HISTORY

Before we get into the details, here’s a little background on the P226 family. The SIG P226 was spawned from the P220. P220 design work started in the late 1960s due to the Swiss wanting a less expensive to manufacture sidearm in lieu of the P210. The P220 entered Swiss service in 1975. Many of the innovative features introduced with the P220 family still prevail today, including on other manufacturer’s weapons.

A great example of this is how SIG modified Browning’s locked breech short recoil design. Instead of slots in the hood of the slide interacting with locking rings on top of the barrel, SIG utilized the forward edge of the chamber locking into the ejection port. This removed complex machining operations from the production process. The De-cocking lever, automatic firing pin safety, pinned breechblock in the steel slide are other examples of the P220 perfecting these concepts.

The P226 reflected SIG’s quest to generate an entry for the early 1980’s U.S. XM9 Joint Service Pistol trials conducted to find a replacement for the venerable but aged M1911A1. The P226 was modified from the P220 to accept double column magazines. When the dust settled after years of testing and evaluation, only the Beretta 92F submission and the SIG P226 satisfactorily completed the trials. As most readers already know, the P226 was not chosen to replace the M1911A1. The Beretta 92F was given the nod for a variety of factors outside the scope of the article. The P226 test performance impressed, thus gaining the attention of various military units, many with elite status, and law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and around the world. The U.S. Navy SEALs were the preeminent unit on this list of adopters. Early on, it was evident that the P226’s reliability, accuracy, safety, and capacity set it apart from its handgun peers.

P226 ZEV: MASTERFUL COLLABORATION

Unlike other manufactures who often forget about their civilian customers after getting a taste of military contracts, SIG’s leadership team keeps the hammer down with both current production and by offering new items based on feedback from its customers. SIG has no problem teaming up with other firms to create unique, enhanced versions of existing SIG products. The P226 Zev Technologies collaboration stands as an excellent example.

The P226 Zev is more than just a P226 with Zev’s aesthetic flourishes. Zev and SIG created a P226 that pushes the envelope. Immediately, the SAO trigger caught my attention as I’ve never been fond of DA/SA hammer-fired trigger characteristics. Distinctive texturing found on the Nitron-coated stainless slide, hard-coat anodized alloy frame with undercut trigger guard and extended beavertail, Zev-pattern hexagonal textured Hogue G10 grips, and a threaded dimpled barrel create a unique offering.

The P226 Zev offers users the best of the P226 design with a preferred single action trigger. Icing on the cake is the flat style trigger shoe. This offers a 90-degree break that’s less likely to pull the sights to the right or left as the trigger is pulled. I have come to prefer flat triggers based on experiences with SIG’s P226 brethren—P320s and P365s. Ambidextrous manual safeties are present on the P226 Zev in lieu of the de-cocking lever usually found on the standard P226.

Red dots are becoming standard equipment on handguns. Manufacturers have caught up to the red dot revolution with factory-equipped red dot handguns taking over from custom milled slides that dominated early red dot configurations. The P226 Zev arrives with a SIG ROMEO1 PRO reflex optic installed. A 4.9-inch, textured Zev Tech ½- 28 threaded barrel with protector protrudes from the slide. A SIG MODX-9 suppressor was quickly teamed up with the P226 Zev. This can features the newest innovation in suppressor technology with its modular, 3D-printed, segmented titanium baffle stack.

P229 LEGION COMPACT SAO: COMPACT WITHOUT COMPROMISE

SIG realized that a more compact P226 design would help them attract even more consumers, especially considering the expanding concealed carry laws spreading across the majority of U.S. states at the time. Thus, the P229 was born. The SIG P229 Legion Compact SAO is a compact variant of the classic P226 model. The Legion designation carries extra weight in SIG world. Legion nomenclature indicates factory custom shop upgrades based on feedback from SIG Sauer’s elite professional clients around the world. A Legion weapon is intended for customers who rigorously use their gear.

What sets the P229 Legion Compact SAO apart from its P229 stable mates? First, is the Cerakote Elite Legion gray coating covering the stainless-steel slide and aluminum frame. This is not merely idle window dressing; the coating improves durability. Custom G-10 grips with a Legion medallion are also present. The SAO trigger is what focused my attention on the P229 Legion Compact SAO. SIG XRay3 day/night iron sights arrive on the P229 Legion Compact SAO. Don’t worry, the slide is factory milled if user wants to mount a red dot compatible with the SIG PRO or Leupold DeltaPoint Pro footprint. Ambidextrous manual safeties are present on the P229 Legion Compact SAO.

The P229 Legion Compact’s compact profile makes it ideal for concealed carry, especially with inside-the-waistband carry techniques. Someone who is a practitioner of concealed carry quickly realizes that length, grip size, overall weight, and width of a pistol are the key defining parameters for discrete carry handguns.

While the safety lever is located within natural thumb swipe distance, the slide lock sits further toward the rear of the frame compared to other weapons. This all but eliminates the chance of unintentionally engaging the slide lock during strings of fire, as can happen if shooters rest their thumb on the lever with other designs. Another nod to the P229 Legion Compact SAO’s more modern design versus the 1911 is the safety’s ability to stay engaged while manipulating the slide.

The P229 Legion Compact features a contoured, reduced-profile beavertail allowing better hand placement on the frame while limiting concern from printing through cover garments. The beavertail’s protrusion from the frame guides one’s hand to the optimum grip position during the draw stroke and aids in recoil management. More aggressive front strap checkering and additional checkering under the trigger guard enhance grip purchase. An undercut has been applied below the trigger guard, allowing for a higher grip and more control when firing, especially during rapid shot strings.

The P229 Legion Compact’s shorter barrel/slide provides an optimal mix of sight radius, concealment, balance, and reliability. The SIG XRay3 day/night irons compliment the P229 Legion Compact’s intended role as a concealed carry weapon. The P229 Legion Compact SAO’s 3.9-inch, cold hammer-forged barrel and short reset, single-action trigger combined with near perfect lock-up in the stainless-steel slide ensure maximum reliability and accuracy. The SIG single-action trigger pull measures 3.5 to 4 lbs. The aluminum frame features a Picatinny rail dust cover for tactical versatility in the way of lights and laser target designators.

P226 XFIVE LEGION: MATCH MASTER NOW MADE IN AMERICA

Even with their current, preeminent position, SIG has no problem expanding its product line by offering weapons that many considered unobtainable. A recent entry into this category has pistol aficionados sitting up and taking notice—the P226 XFIVE is now made here in the U.S. in the SIG Custom Works shop. Previous P226 XFIVE’s were Teutonic offerings from the German-based SIG MasterShop. These were discontinued in 2012. SIG recently decided to expand on the P226XFIVE by offering a Legion version.

Whereas the P226XFIVE has the competition and target crowd as its focus, the P226XFIVE Legion is more utilitarian with its setup. Yes, if you want to relentlessly punch steel during a match, the P226 XFIVE Legion will accommodate. However, the presence of a slide-integrated expansion chamber, suppressor-height XRAY3 adjustable sights, and subdued Legion Cerakote Gray finish indicate a this model was meant for general, defensive use. It is not hard to fathom why some may consider the P226 XFIVE Legion applicable to personal defense work. Under the rear sight plate, SIG milled the slide to accept red dots with a SIG ROMEO PRO or Leupold DeltaPoint Pro footprint.

The XFIVE Legion’s fully adjustable AX3 SAO trigger is a key component in the XFIVE equation. The XFIVE Legion’s trigger is adjustable for pull weight, over-travel, and length-of-pull. The XFIVE Legion’s trigger is a flat faced as described with the P229 Legion. The XFIVE trigger characteristics aid in rapid target engagement with a trigger pull just over 3 pounds, out of the box.

The XFIVE Legion’s longer slide and barrel combo (when compared to a standard P226) contributes more mass, aiding in increased muzzle control for double taps or longer strings of fire. The pistol’s ergonomics combine with the slide’s smooth tracking during recoil and manageable 9mm muzzle signature to present a very stable sight picture, no matter how many or how fast rounds are fired.

SIG uses the term “integrated expansion chamber” instead of “compensator” in its P226 XFIVE Legion literature. This is a nod to the fact that the 4.4-inch barrel stops short of the slots in the slide. Whereas compensators usually list 30 to 35% recoil/muzzle rise reduction, the integrated expansion chamber provides less than this. Subjectively, it seems like a 10 to 20% effectiveness listing. There’s no need to debate the finer points of compensator effectiveness. Any advantage gained by their use is beneficial. The integrated expansion chamber design with the P226 XFIVE Legion means it can never come loose and requires no extra steps for field stripping due to its integrated construction in the slide.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Each one of the SIG pistols discussed above have been used extensively for extended time frame. All have proved capable of firing groups into one jagged hole at 10 yards with multiple loads. The P226 Zev’s threaded barrel, ROMEO1PRO optic, and single-action trigger allow a user a range of options related to the pistol’s intended role. Combining SIG’s MODX-9 suppressor to the pistol expands this line of thinking. The P226 Zev occupies the role of nightstand weapon with aplomb.

The P229 Legion Compact SAO often accompanies me in a personal defense capacity. Numerous holsters are available, facilitating a multitude of IWB or belt carry options. Comparison of the P229 Legion Compact to the Commander-size 1911or Glock 19 should quell the concerns of anyone thinking the SIG is too large to carry. The SIG P229 Legion Compact SAO is ideal for anyone wanting to capitalize on the SIG reputation for out-of-the-box reliability and accuracy combined with single-action trigger for the utmost control and precise shot placement.

The P226 XFIVE Legion is the newest member of the SIG tribe we have discussed. All will appreciate what the P226 XFIVE Legion offers in terms of accuracy, reliability, handling, and capacity. The P226 XFIVE’s uncanny accuracy will get everyone’s attention. The P226 XFIVE-series now being U.S.-made increases availability and creates a more palatable price for the boutique offering.

While it’s hard to quantify the “feel” of a pistol in the hand, the mystique of a well-put-together single-action semi-automatic handgun is hard to deny in our current polymer striker-fired age. A trigger that arrives featuring minimal to no creep, limited travel and reset, and a break like the proverbial glass rod is hard to resist. All of these things become magnified as knowledge and skills are gained in the quest to run a handgun with ruthless efficiency—albeit in a tactical, duty, competition, or personal defense role.

Lastly, do not underestimate the ability to configure these guns into condition one, cocked and locked carry, which Americans are intimately familiar with thanks to the iconic 1911 design. The 1911’s enduring appeal with the American shooter goes beyond what many can fathom. The resultant attraction of this surely has an effect on the U.S. consumer.

Does nostalgia play a role in the rebirth of hammer-fired SAO only handguns? Hell, yeah it does. SIG has you covered.

In May of 2010, the annual National Defense Industrial Association’s (NDIA) Small Arms Systems Symposium was rolled into a new format joining forces with NDIA’s Guns & Missiles Division to host the first ever NDIA Joint Armaments Conference. The Dallas, Texas Hyatt Hotel was packed full of Industry and Government personnel all anticipating a full schedule of academic papers and an exhibit hall loaded with new gear. Some of the hot topics this year included the growing debate surrounding 5.56mm ammunition effectiveness and new information concerning the Army’s carbine solicitation. Vendors and presenters were well rounded and included everyone and everything from the usual American suspects as well as participants from the EU, Asian Pacific Region, and even China.

Goings on in Government

A main feature of any NDIA small arms event is the plethora of interaction between government and industry personnel with this year being no different. Embodying this concept were the keynote speakers: Major General Brogan of USMC Systems Command (SYSCOM) and BG Fuller of the US Army, Program Executive Officer, PEO Soldier. The generals were not ill prepared or poorly informed as to what the crowd was there to hear and pointedly addressed some of the hottest and most contentious topics in the industry – carbine and ammunition performance – which MG Brogan referred to as a “significant and emotional event in the U.S. military.”

The USMC

MG Brogan outlined the small arms vision currently held by the USMC that includes continued fielding of the M16A4/M4/M4A1 platform with many officers now being issued M4 carbines in lieu of the traditional M9 9mm pistol as necessitated by current hostilities. He also touched on several key decisions including:

• The USMC selection of the HK416 to fulfill the Infantry Automatic Rifle requirement in Infantry Squads and LAV units as the M27 IAR.
• Selection of the Army’s M110 Semi-Automatic Sniper System (SASS) as the Marine Corps’ Long Range Precision Rifle.
• Large scale fielding of the MK 318 Mod 0, 5.56mm SOST ammunition, amongst USMC fighting units deployed in Afghanistan.

More enlightening were MG Brogan’s key questions to industry relating to both small arms and ammunition; questions that attest to the keen awareness and sensitivity such issues are viewed with. “Should we buy (in the future) an individual weapon or a family of weapons?” He further gave a suggestion that such a family could use a common platform allowing for PDW, Carbine, Combat Assault Rifle, Service Rifle, SDM, and IAR configurations. In the ammunition realm his questions were similar, “Is the current caliber effective?” Brogan continued by adding a potent caveat: “I can assure you there are many enemy combatants that can attest to the effectiveness of it.” Brogan then laid out a simple methodology should a new caliber be considered. He said, “If we are going to consider changing caliber the technology must be equal,” referring to the fact that comparisons have been made of alternate calibers (i.e. 6.8 SPC, 6.5 Grendel, etc.) to new technology 5.56mm rounds, including MK318 SOST and the Army’s M855A1. MG Brogan clearly understands that these comparisons do not accurately compare “apples to apples” so to speak and as a result any truly effective data in the raging caliber debate will only occur when all calibers are tested utilizing the same design technology (e.g. M855A1 vs. 6.8mm SPC utilizing the same bullet technology). Brogan’s formula for ammunition considerations: weight versus effect on the enemy versus ammunition expended.

Other notable information relayed during the brief included:

• Any future individual weapon contract will include provisions giving the government full ownership of the Technical Data Package (TDP) or full use rights.
• Any future weapons and ammunition must be compliant with the laws of land warfare.
• Weight savings are a must.

A presentation shortly thereafter by LTC Brinkman of USMC SYSCOM/Infantry Weapons further reinforced the points made by MG Brogan while praising current successful fieldings like the M32 Multi-Shot Grenade Launcher and the light weight infantry mortar system. On the horizon in the USMC’s future as outlined by Brinkman: more foreign weapons training kits, a long range sniper rifle, light weight machine gun, and a close quarter battle pistol (though details are lacking at this time).

The Army

As the largest service and often the traditional purchasing agent for other services, the Army also had a wealth of information in their briefing sessions. This year was no different with BG Fuller, PEO Soldier, detailing the Army’s ever changing small arms acquisition strategy. The Army’s small arms vision has completely transformed in a short period of time from “pure fleeting” M4s just two years ago to a dual path model meant to substantially upgrade the current issue M4 platform while paving the way for a full and open source carbine competition. BG Fuller expounded on details to eager industry personnel and echoed the sentiments of beleaguered Soldiers across the globe when he acknowledged, “The Soldier is not a Christmas tree that we can keep hanging items on,” bucking the trend of the past decade to keep adding kit and equipment to the basic soldier load.

The highlight topic of course was the update on the long awaited carbine solicitation. Since the past 2009 NDIA Small Arms Systems Symposium, the debate surrounding the carbine issue has not faded and events like the intense battle at COP Keating in Afghanistan, mimicking the Wanat engagement less than a year earlier, have further driven forward movement in an effort to get real time improvements into the field. The battles highlighted again the need for higher rates of fire and die hard reliability in individual weapons for U.S. troops engaged in close quarter running firefights with Taliban and other insurgent fighters. These considerations among others were significant influences leading to the dual path strategy where the Army will improve the M4 carbine while soliciting its replacement. The Army is seeking to address the M4 improvements in phases:

Phase I

* Increase the barrel mass for better performance during high rates of fire.

* Ambidextrous Safety/Selector tailoring the ergonomics to an even larger percentage of users.

Phase II

* Add an enhanced M1913 type rail adapter system to the platform. Most likely the new rail will be of the free floating type to negate operator influences on the barrel achieving a consistent point of projectile impact.

Phase III

* Explore improved operating systems to include short stroke gas piston mechanisms and a redesigned bolt carrier and bolt group with the goal of improving overall weapon reliability.

Furthermore, the introduction of the improved 5.56mm M855A1 round into service in June 2010 should mean that the “improved” carbine will be quite a potent platform, especially since M855A1is optimized for the M4 carbine and not the M16 and provides consistent terminal effects through a large variety of barriers. Fuller was cautious to add that the M4 improvement program must be managed carefully and the options well considered warning that, “we can’t spend the same amount on an improvement that we would spend to buy a new one.”

As far as the solicitation for a new replacement carbine, the going has been slow, but is advancing. As of the time of Fuller’s brief the carbine requirement was in the Joint Staff, but the industry RFP will likely be released before this article is in print. The step following is full and open competition for the Army’s new individual carbine. This competition will be historic in nature and unprecedented in recent Army history. When walking the showroom floor at this year’s event it was not at all difficult to see that this is what all of the industry’s major players are gearing up for.

Follow on presentations by LTC Henthorn at the U.S. Army Maneuver Center for Excellence (MCE- formerly the Infantry Center) and COL Douglas Tamilio, PM Soldier Weapons, were consistent with details given by Fuller. Henthorn took the time to expound more on current and soon to be fielding efforts on the Army radar:

Current Fielding Efforts

* The M110 Semi-Automatic Sniper System (SASS) is now 85% fielded to units. Some early issues with the guns have been resolved and combat surveys show acceptance and approval of the SASS by end users and commanders.

* The M320 Grenade Launcher (HK GLM) is rapidly replacing M203s among the conventional force and will soon be integrated with a day/night range finding sight.

Coming Soon to Units This Year

* The M2A1 enhanced .50 BMG machine gun with quick change barrel and fixed headspace/timing.

* The upgraded M24 Sniper Rifle chambered in .300 Winchester Magnum.

* The M240L light weight machine gun with titanium receiver, (See SAR’s 2009 NDIA Small Arms Symposium article for information on this system).

* The M855A1 improved 5.56mm round (lead free and eco friendly).

Among items Henthorn sees the Army eyeing in the future are suppressors and a sub-compact rifle.

A last note worth mentioning before closing the Army section of this article is a survey conducted in Afghanistan by PM Soldier Weapons. As briefed by the Army at his event, PM Soldier Weapons personnel spent time on the ground with units in Afghanistan evaluating how the everyday dirty boot war fighter employs his weapon system, what shortfalls could be noted, and of course what is being done well. A most interesting find is there seems to be a trend among troops to incorporate substantial amounts of aftermarket equipment into their individual weapon’s configuration, particularly the M4. It is commonplace to find non-standard stocks, grips, optics, and especially magazines integrated into the basic kit of our warfighters. This sparks an interesting and fiery debate between those who believe that troops should have the freedom to select superior commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) equipment and the official “by the book” stance of Army regulations, which requires the issuance of modified weapons orders (MWOs) and numerous tests and certifications to authorize a piece of weapon related equipment. The tone of this debate could not be clearer than the warning issued to the industry during the brief by COL Tamilio that industry suppliers who provide non-standard equipment could be encouraging Commanders and Troops to violate AR750-10, which could be detrimental to their careers.

Concern is justifiable since some sub-standard equipment was clearly being used by Soldiers who may have not been fully informed about the products they were using. It is clear, however, that troops in the field will continue to integrate innovative aftermarket solutions often contrary to the rules. The goal of the military and industry alike should be to ensure that these fighting men and women can fight with the best top quality gear without fear of reprisal. Aftermarket and non-standard pieces of equipment are often superior and it is commendable that one priority for PM Soldier Weapons is to develop a menu of authorized aftermarket items for carbines. This will be challenging to do fairly; until then, troops will continue to weigh the risks and rewards of the practice.

The Other Services

Some highlights occurring in the other armed services were also briefed as follows. U.S. Navy (CDR Tom Gajewski, USN) elaborated the Navy’s need for a .50 caliber remote weapons station to protect ships from terrorist attacks while in port. This system must possess corrosion resistant properties as expected for maritime use.

U.S. Air Force (Mr. Randy Roth, USAF Combat Arms Program) reported that the Air Force is supporting broader government efforts to include the solicitation of a new individual carbine and selection of a precision sniper rifle (PSR). Numerous equipment transitions are taking place in the service to include: replacement of the M203 40mm grenade launcher with the M320, replacement of the M2 .50 cal. with the M2A1 QCB, and transition of some M14 EBRs and M4 carbines to the MK17 and MK16 SCAR variants.

U.S. Coast Guard (Capt. Michael Price, USCG Office of Specialized Capabilities) noted that the USCG is looking into acquisition of a Precision Service Shotgun (PSS) with a rifled barrel optimized for firing slugs to disable outboard marine motors and the service is still seeking a gyro stabilized marine enhanced weapons platform to take the place of manned guns on the bows of high speed watercraft with the goal of enhancing gunner safety during operations. Due to a lack of training facilities, the Coast Guard is exploring options for effective simulators specific to the P229 DAK handgun.

Awards and Achievements

With previous coverage in SAR, there is no need to go into great detail, but it is only fitting to profile the well deserving men who received recognition at this year’s Joint Armaments Conference for their hard work and dedication in the small arms field.

Chinn Award Recipient

Mr. Frank Puzycki, U.S. Army ARDEC.
* Over 40 years in the small arms community.
* Key mover and shaker within the National Small Arms Center.
* Personally involved with seventeen ammo type classifications and 13 weapon type classifications.
* Quote: “Team work is indefensible. When Industry and Government are working together good things happen. When we’re doing this we can’t be beat.”

Hathcock Award Recipient
Mr. Jeff Hoffman, Black Hills Ammunition, founder/owner
* Began an active law enforcement career in 1979 and continues to this day.
* At 50 years of age and as head of a well established company, Hoffman is still subject to SWAT call outs.
* Black Hills Ammunition is renowned for quality in the precision marksmanship community to include MK262 Mod 0 and Mod 1 types.
* Quote: “People at the plant know to never tell Jeff ‘We can’t do that.'”

Professional Service Award Recipient
Mr. Hays Parks, DoD General Counsel
* A Vietnam veteran, having entered service with the USMC in 1963.
* Has fought numerous battles as a lawyer to prevent radical restrictions of lawful military ammunition types used by U.S. Forces.
* Has been a champion for the warfighter on the international scene facilitating the approval of new ammunition types for military use.
* Renowned debunker of misinterpretations and deliberate misrepresentations of small arms ammunition related treaties, agreements, and revisionist history.
* Quote: “The most important client I have is the Soldier, Sailor, Airman, or Marine.”

Papers and Exhibits

The NDIA Joint Armaments Conference sported a very high rate of participation from outside of the United States and a large number of vendors due to the combined nature of the Conference. With over a 100 vendors on the floor presenting products ranging from tasers to tank guns, it was largely impossible to cover every aspect in the time allotted, but for a small arms guy there were definitely some products that caught the eye including some new systems largely unseen beforehand.

Domestic

Among domestic U.S. vendors in the exhibit hall, Remington Defense was attracting a lot of attention, not only with the Gen 7 variant of the Adaptive Combat Rifle (ACR), but also with the new Remington Gas Piston Rifle (RGP). While the ACR is becoming a regular feature of these events (beginning life as Magpul’s Masada), the rifle has seen many evolutions since the base design was introduced. In the Gen 7 configuration, which eyes the military and defense markets, the polymer receiver had been replaced by an improved magnesium receiver (which I have been assured does not burn, at least not easily) and a Remington octagonal rail system. “ACR is not our original design,” Remington’s Trevor Shaw noted, “but we’ve made improvements.” On the other hand, the RGP is truly a floor up design and much more than a simple conversion of the standard AR-15 type platform. Though the ins and outs of the rifle were not fully accessible to this writer due to the system’s newness, the quality of the build was readily apparent upon inspection. The RGP features a completely monolithic upper receiver with the recognizable Remington octagonal rail design containing modular attachment points. The rifle does not have any advanced coatings as of yet, but even without it Shaw assuredly states the initial tests are very promising both in terms of accuracy and reliability. Even better to both the government and commercial consumer is the strategy behind the gun as described by Shaw, “We are looking for high reliability and quality at a good price point. We want to make the gun as affordable as possible.” Other notable features of the gun include a regulating gas system for suppressor use, ambidextrous controls, a beefed up barrel extension designed for multi-caliber applications, and upper receiver compatibility with the standard AR-15/M16/M4 lower. The RGP will certainly evolve as time passes, but the base system viewed at this event is exciting and this writer is very enthusiastic to follow the RGP’s progress. Undoubtedly Remington Defense is well postured for the Army’s upcoming carbine solicitation and M4 improvement program with strong designs in both the AR-15 and non-AR-15 configuration.

Smith and Wesson has also been hard at work under the law of supply and demand developing rifle designs geared towards the Army’s requirement. At their booth, Joe Bergeron took the time to highlight some of the company’s recent work to the AR-15/M4 system (S&W’s M&P rifle line) including the addition of fully ambidextrous controls (including the bolt release) and the integration of new “in-house” barrel technology that yields greatly extended barrel life, though due to the proprietary nature of the technology and the ongoing status of testing, no exact numbers were readily given for this article. Smith and Wesson’s rifle line includes both short stroke gas piston and direct gas impingement rifles, and of course, all uppers are compatible with the current issue M16/M4 lower receiver. Furthermore, the gas piston version of the S&W rifle allows for multiple settings for suppressor use that also includes a complete gas shut-off option. Other notable S&W developments are the introduction of Coyote Tan slides and Titanium rust resistant sights for the M&P pistol line as well as ongoing suppressor work and testing in 9mm, .40 S&W, and .45 ACP.

Heckler & Koch’s Dale Bohner was enthused to show off the company’s products. HK has seen lots of good news in the past couple of years with the selection and delivery of the M320 40mm grenade launcher to replace the Army’s aging M203s and now the recent choice by the USMC to field the HK416 as the M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle. So far, HK has delivered over 20,000 M320 grenade launchers to the Army and deliveries are continuing. The USMC’s IAR has yet to enter full rate production; according to Bohner, “We’ll deliver a quantity by November this year.” Attesting to the design quality of the original HK416, who’s legacy has become well known both due to outstanding performance and its place among the never ending carbine controversy, the M27 IAR in its final form is nothing more than an HK416 with a bayonet lug and bipod. The HK hammer forged barrel, proven in quality and longevity, coupled with the 416’s short stroke gas piston operating system is believed by many to be the combination that gave the HK system the edge needed to meet the USMC’s IAR requirement. It should be noted that the IAR will augment, not replace the USMC’s M249 SAW fleet, with the SAW being retained in most units and for vehicle use. In the meantime Bohner is optimistic, “As soon as a decision is made regarding to full rate production we can proceed.”

From the Foreign Fields

The NDIA Joint Armaments Conference was clearly global in scale this year as international issues and non-U.S. participants took the spotlight position in many of the presented academic papers and featured exhibits. Notable presenters focused on the NATO role in weapons and ammo solicitation and standardization, with some pretty contentious moments. Also worthy of comment was the presentation and exhibit of the Republic of South Korea’s new K11 Advanced Individual Weapon System (albeit with some U.S. Customs mishaps) and participation from the Chinese engineering team who provided a briefing on the 40 years of successful employment of the Type QLZ87 35mm grenade launcher and the system’s evolution in the Chinese infantry formation.

The NATO related paper topics this year focused, as with earlier papers, on the shortcomings of the 5.56mm SS109 type round being currently deployed in hostilities in Afghanistan. During his sessions, Mr. Anthony Williams of the U.K. championed the idea of evaluating a medium or optimal caliber solution that meets the needs of 5.56mm and 7.62mm users, citing difficulties with 5.56mm effectiveness at longer ranges and through intermediate barriers as experienced by British Troops serving with ISAF. Another presentation by Mr. Jim Schatz had a similar approach and made credible arguments in these budget strained times for a collaborative effort developing the next generation of individual weapons by NATO partners.

Daewoo’s K11 would have been quite a star at this show providing it had made it. Ju Hwan-Song of S&T Daewoo explained in broken English just enough to figure out that U.S. Customs had become a road block to having the actual K11 system present on the showroom floor and as a result a life sized cardboard cutout served as a space filler for the real thing. Despite this mishap, the K11 booth was intriguing and the merits of the platform and its ground breaking novelty was not diminished. The K11 is a “dual barreled weapon system” and vaguely resembles the U.S. OICW prototypes from the late 90s and turn of the century. The K11 features a 5.56mm carbine, 20mm bolt action rifle that fires 20mm airbursting smart munitions, and a sophisticated fire control system (FCS) all integrated into a single man portable individual weapon. The system is very similar in concept to the XM25 Airbursting weapon system being tested in limited field trials by the U.S. Army; the difference that Ju Hwan-Song proudly pointed out is that K11 has been fielded in mass ahead of U.S. system. The K11 replaces the ROK Army organic K201 rifle and under barrel 40mm grenade launcher; two of which are found in the typical infantry squad. The K11’s FCS allows for optical aiming of the carbine using a dual day/night IR based system that projects a digital image to the operator. The FCS also integrates a laser range finder and advanced ballistic computer that accounts for environmental effects when programming airburst ranges for the 20mm projectiles, making the K11 an effective counter-defilade weapon that is simplistic to use. As far as mechanics goes, the K11 uses modern alloys in the upper portion of the weapon with a polymer lower making it possible for the system to weigh in at a portable 6.1 kg (13.45 pounds). Ergonomically, the weapon utilizes one trigger pack and selector with the operator rotating the selector between safe, semi-auto, burst, and 20mm options with a single fluid motion. Magazine capacity for the system is five 20mm airbursting projectiles and the standard NATO type 30-round 5.56mm magazine.

At the Range

One legacy event of the NDIA Small Arms System Symposiums is the annual Firepower Demonstration where vendors get the golden opportunity to put their products into the hands of attendees and let rounds fly downrange. The Joint Armaments Conference continued the tradition with an excellent demonstration out at the Spartan Tactical range facility managed by owner Jim Smith and his staff of professional cadre. The predictions of thunderstorms and flash flooding that were rumored throughout the first two conference days, and seemed even more imminent on the day of, gave way to clear blue skies and the Texas sun. Over twenty vendors were on site showcasing everything from pistols, sniper rifles, and even truck mounted .50 cal. machine guns on three different ranges optimized for the systems being fired thereon.

At the pistol range, vendors included HK with a full suite of handguns and submachine guns, Glock, Inc. with the Gen 4 enhanced .40 caliber pistol and Ruag Ammotec with their frangible ammo line. The line was especially long for EMA Tactical where Eldad Oz (EMA’s president) and Mr. Michael Grundy could not keep the magazines loaded fast enough to satisfy the crowd waiting to fire the Roni pistol conversion kit for the Glock 17 handgun. The Roni (Hebrew for rejoice/rejoicing, but also the name of the designer, Moshe Oz’s daughter), which has seen multiple product improvements just since the SHOT Show in January, allows for the standard Glock 17 to be converted without modification into a semiautomatic shoulder fired weapon system; and when cradling a Glock 18 the Roni takes the form of a true submachine gun. The Roni delivers impressive accuracy in a small package with an integrated M1913 rail allowing for the mounting of any compatible optical devices and a sturdy sliding shoulder stock. As Grundy explained, the Roni conversion allows agencies the flexibility of fielding only a standard service pistol yet gives users the ability to achieve pistol caliber carbine/submachine gun performance. There has already been interest from across the global and domestic spectrum, with one undisclosed school system viewing the conversion as a means for better equipping school security officers to quickly respond to a Columbine type of scenario. The Roni is envisioned as a tool negating the need to secure a separate weapon on the campus premises or in a patrol cruiser, which delays response time when an incident occurs. Better yet for those who read this as a civilian, the Roni conversion kit is BATFE approved and can be mailed to your doorstep. (Introducing a pistol into the conversion, or the mere possession of the two together, can still be viewed as possessing an SBR. All NFA rules apply).

A trek past the main range and up the hill leads to Spartan’s long distance range where light machine guns, carbines, DMR rifles, and sniper systems stood ready to receive shooters. At this range vendors included La Rue Tactical, SIG, Colt Defense, HK (with the HK416 IAR variant and HK416 in 6.8mm), and Remington Defense with their new RGP rifle and Generation 7 ACR. The lines at this range gave testimony to the enthusiasm of the crowd which endured equatorial type heat to get hands on the new weapon systems. For HK, company President Wayne Webber joined Dale Bohner in assisting attendees to firing positions to fire the IAR while Remington’s Trevor Shaw stayed busy with the RGP carbine at the far right. Despite its geographical disadvantage of being located separately from the main range area by a required uphill walk through rough terrain, the long distance range was the busiest per capita at the Firepower Demonstration, likely due to the relevance of the products highlighted there.

Down at the main range facility, fifteen vendors lined the firing points, with plenty of steel and La Rue targets on the horizon. The firing line contained everything from FNH’s SCAR rifles on the far left (SOCOM has announced a decision not to field the Mk16 SCAR Light since the NDIA event), to the GUA-21 .50 cal. machine gun on towable trailer on the far right. Sandwiched in between were a plethora of vendors with a very diverse product range to include: Dr. John Kokinis of U.S. Machine Gun Armory with his semiautomatic variant of the Mk46 light machine gun, Aloysius Donovan with the Adams Arms short stroke gas piston carbine, Milkor with the M32 multi-shot 40mm grenade launcher, and LTC (Ret) Mark Westrom with ArmaLite’s AR-15 rifles. To discuss each participating company and their wares would be far too intensive for this article. To say the least, the NDIA Firepower Demo does stand as unique for small arms trade shows inside the United States with its interactive vendor demonstrations and personal one-on-one range interactions. It is commendable to NDIA that they have continuously hosted this event without incident for many years.

(A debt of gratitude is due to Mr. Sal Fanelli and Jim Schatz who, for many years running, have volunteered their time, resources, and sweat to making the Firepower Demonstration both safe and successful. Also a special thanks to LaRue Tactical, whose mobile BBQ trailer provided the large crowd with traditional Texas cuisine at the best price in town… free.)

Conclusion
With so much going on in the world, the changing winds of politics, and the inevitable cutting of defense budgets, the fact still remains that troops in the war zone need the best small arms and ammunition available. With all of these obstacles it is organizations like NDIA and events like the Joint Armaments Conference that can make the difference by consolidating the cutting edge products and the great minds that develop and employ them under one roof for three days that impact the rest of the year. From military units and government agencies that send their subject matter experts to top engineers and scientists from home and abroad, the Joint Armaments Conference is an event where business cards and email addresses are exchanged, where new ideas are birthed, and focus is honed on the path ahead for the sake of the warfighters that put their lives on the line daily in the service of their country, wherever that may be.

By Robert Bruce

(Editor’s Note: With fielding of replacements for all of its aging 9mm Beretta M9 pistols in favor of new .40 caliber SIG P229s, the United States Coast Guard has become the first branch of the US Armed Forces to not only retire the Department of Defense’s standard issue handgun, but also the marginally effective NATO standard round it fires. We dispatched Military Affairs Editor Robert Bruce to get the story of how this momentous decision was reached, what steps were taken to make the best choices, how the transition was progressing, and what users were saying about their hot new pistol. – Robert G. Segel)

“The M9 9mm Personal Defense Weapon (PDW) has served the Coast Guard well for nearly two decades, but the need for a replacement handgun was apparent from both an operational and maintainability standpoint.”Commandant’s ALCOAST Message, 7 October 2005

When the critical need arises to draw and shoot a pistol, there are many reasons why most special operations types don’t carry M9s filled with 9mm hardball. These same reasons are also cited by others in line-of-fire roles whose primary duties don’t facilitate carrying the now-ubiquitous M4 carbine, or who need a reliable and hard-hitting backup.

The United States Coast Guard, the smallest branch of the US Armed Forces with some 47,000 active and reserve personnel, was liberated from the Department of Transportation after 9/11 and is now a star component of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) where law enforcement is deadly serious.

In addition to such traditional duties as search and rescue, and marine safety, the Coast Guard is charged with the gargantuan mission of securing our nation’s ports and waterways against terrorist threats. It also operates far offshore in drug interdiction and with sister services in foreign waters worldwide.

All of these duties have involved “Coasties” with holstered M9 pistols and more than a bit of grief has arisen from aging guns and puny ammo.

Worn-out Berettas were the main problem cited in relevant official USCG announcements along the way. In particular, an “ALCOAST” Commandant’s message on 5 Nov 04 specified “…increased frame failure rates, unreliability issues and that 75 percent have far exceeded their predicted 5,000 round service life (CG fires an average 500 9mm rounds annually, the majority of PDWs have been in service for approx. 16 years, well beyond their predicted service life).”

So, why not buy a bunch of new M9s?

A careful reading of some other CG documentation acknowledges what many in the field have been saying for years. While a politically sensitive issue, there is an unarguable need for more stopping power than that inherent in NATO standard full metal jacket “hardball” 9mm ammunition.

Thus, the Coast Guard was an energetic participant in a big shootout conducted by DHS over several weeks in 2004 on behalf of its enforcement agencies including Immigration, Customs, Border Protection, and Sky Marshals. Six manufacturers, Beretta included, submitted 46 models and more than 2.9 million rounds of various calibers were pumped through 690 guns.

The test regimen was impressive for its relevance to mechanical, environmental and human factors. In addition to strict accuracy and function testing, requirements included repeated four foot drops on concrete, shooting with a plugged barrel, plus environmental torture in 200 degree heat, minus 30 degree cold, windblown sand, and salt water immersion. 22 experienced Coast Guard shooters also personally evaluated each candidate weapon for handling and firing characteristics.

Beretta Overboard!

When the vapors of nitrocellulose combustion cleared, the Coast Guard chose the P229R-DAK in .40 S&W caliber from SIGARMS. In August, 2004, The Exeter, New Hampshire, firm got a 4.2 million dollar contract for an initial order of 12,000 pistols, commencing delivery soon afterward at the rate of more than 1,000 per month.

Pistols and other small arms from the Swiss/German team SIG SAUER have earned a well deserved reputation for reliability, accuracy, durability, and user enthusiasm. SIGARMS, its American operation, offering designs resulting from long service in various forms and calibers with elite military units and law enforcement worldwide, enjoys much recent success in mega contracts with US government agencies on the cutting edge of homeland security and the Global War on Terror.

Transition Plan

Lt. (JG) John Strasburg, USCG Office of Counterterrorism and Special Missions states, “On October 7th, 2005, the Coast Guard officially launched its transition to another handgun – the .40 caliber SIGARMS P229R-DAK pistol. The effort, spearheaded by Coast Guard Headquarters, took nearly two years and thousands of man hours. The need for a replacement to the venerable M9 9mm Beretta was identified in late 2003; the M9 had served the Coast Guard well as the standard service arm since 1986, but wear and tear through the years and the Coast Guard’s requirement for a larger caliber drove the change.”

A comprehensive transition plan was developed at the same time, with the goal of ensuring that units and users would experience no degradation in mission effectiveness during changeover. Much more than just swapping out pistols and ammo, moving to the new Personal Defense Weapon (PDW) comes with a catalog of components running the full range from bore brushes to boarding parties.

SAR contacted USCG headquarters to get the straight scoop and soon got a call back from the right guy with the right stuff. Although too modest to say it himself, Lieutenant (JG) John Strasburg has been a driving force behind the landmark transition program, now well underway as of this writing in Spring 2006. A former enlisted Gunners Mate, with plenty of experience in operations afloat and ashore, this young officer seems particularly well qualified to oversee the program’s complex and interlocking pieces.

According to Strasburg, “Headquarters bought the pistols, magazines and three new types of ammunition, Ball, Jacketed Hollow Point and Frangible, each to support specific missions.” These were stockpiled at central locations to support the second phase when designated units would requisition these and begin implementing training and qualification. While this was going on, he said, a lot of experienced Coasties were hard at work charting the course.

Strasburg arranged a meeting at the Coast Guard’s TCY (Training Center Yorktown, Virginia) so we could sit down with him and senior enlisted representatives of the Engineering and Weapons Branch; key players in the transition.

“TCY has the expertise we needed to turn SIG’s operator, technical and training materials into something like the DoD manuals for the other small arms we use,” Strasburg said. “Staff and Instructors of the Gunner’s Mate ‘A’ School, Small Arms Instructor School, course writers and others were able to give us a really good product.”

Soon after the contract to SIGARMS was awarded, TCY started getting a supply of pistols, ammunition, manuals and maintenance items. These facilitated both study and hands-on evaluation with the goal of practical modifications to things that had long been institutionalized in supporting the M9.

Nearly everything needed attention. The changeover required some new administrative procedures, storage and issue of three types of new ammo, modifications to weapon security racks, changes in manuals for operators and armorers, reworking basic and advanced range qualification programs.

And it wasn’t merely rewriting civilian into military-speak, according to Master Chief Gunner’s Mate Dana Brooks of Training, Engineering and Weapons. “All that’s a joint effort from the GM ‘A’ School instructors, SAI school instructors, and headquarters. We would draft one and send it around for review, to delete or add anything; courses of fire, instruction, weapons, maintenance, and repair.” This round-robin continued, Strasburg added, until all hands approved of the finished product.

Training the Trainers

Yorktown’s Weapons School takes pride in not only providing entry-level “A” qualification for Gunner’s Mates, but several “C” programs as well for more salty Coasties. In addition to in-depth training on the formidable MK38 25mm Machine Gun and MK75 76mm Gun Weapon System, it is also where Small Arms Instructors learn their demanding craft.

Chief Gunner’s Mate Ronald Scoggin, who heads up the Small Arms Instructor School, had also participated in the morning’s round table discussion. It fell to him to explain how his operation contributed to the P229 transition.

The demanding four week SAI School has a reputation for being one of the hardest and most rigorous in the Coast Guard, Scoggin told us, an assertion strongly seconded in a later discussion with Gunner’s Mate First Class John Kelly, an International Training Division staffer, going through the course.

“It’s intense, but it has to be,” Kelly said. “Once a petty officer graduates and goes out into the fleet it means that he has the school’s seal of approval – total trust and confidence that we won’t deviate from anything we’ve learned here.”

Scoggin, a 19 year veteran of Marine Corps and Coast Guard service, heads up a team of similarly seasoned professionals with plenty of trigger time on boarding parties and other maritime law enforcement missions. They have the expertise and the judgment that headquarters was looking for to smoothly integrate the new SIG pistol.

As things worked through, Scoggin said, the SIG wasn’t all that different from the old M9. “Seems a little shorter and bulkier but carrying procedures are the same. The way it’s taken into service in boardings is the same. Even the basic course is the same as that of the M9. But the Practical Pistol Course, because of the magazine capacity – 12 rounds vs. 15 – now we have a couple more magazine changes.”

On the other hand, he noted some important differences. “The SIG’s DAO – double action only – takes some getting used to. Before they even go up and try a qualification course we give our students a box of 50 rounds and tell ‘em to get used to the weapon’s trigger squeeze, handling and function.”

Also the illuminated sights for night fire. “The first time I ever saw it was last class with the night fire. A reservist – a police officer in civilian life – qualified with a perfect score at night. A perfect 50. He said that because the way the (SIG’s) night sights illuminated he was right on target. He was tickled to death and that target’s now in our hall of fame.”

We joined the current SAI class on the range nearby, an austere but well designed multi-weapon facility with concrete floor and heavy wooden beams supporting a translucent roof for natural light. Open on three sides, we were particularly thankful for the luck of a sunny day with temperatures in the mid 50s – highly unusual for coastal Virginia in the dead of winter.

The fifteen students were beginning Week 3 by shooting the Practical Pistol Course with the new P229. One was acting as the designated Instructor, demonstrating his mastery of range commands and procedures that must be recalled exactly and given verbatim from memory.

Other students were demonstrating different firing positions and timed drills which included fast and slow shots at various distances from strong and weak hands with and without support. Magazine changes abound, reinforcing necessary muscle memory for instinctive action.

Interestingly, we noted a couple of “alibis” arising from function difficulties with the pistols and the ammunition. Observed stoppages included failure to feed, stovepipe, and one round needing two trigger strokes to ignite it. This was later explained by Scoggin as a natural consequence of brand new weapons needing more break-in time before they work well with the CG’s new environmentally friendly practice ammo, a big plus on ranges to minimize problems with high lead levels.

The Winchester Ranger Frangible SF is pushing a 135 grain no-lead composite bullet at 1,170 fps, and is a cartridge with less recoil impulse than duty issue ball and JHP. The solution, Scoggin says, is to “First run 100 rounds of hardball through each new gun, something we didn’t have a chance to do with some of these. “

Recent SAI grads, along with others who have attended Transition Train-the-Trainer Conferences, have gone back to their areas and units to conduct the ongoing pistol changeover, eliminating the need for outside contract personnel and reinforcing the “Team Coast Guard” concept of operations.

Sector Delaware Bay

The next step in SAR’s inquiry was to check in with some of the personnel who had recently completed transition training and were regularly carrying the new SIG on duty. Sector Delaware Bay, headquartered in Philadelphia, was identified as the CG’s first major user under Phase 2 of the Commandant’s plan.

We were initially puzzled to learn that headquarters directives specify that the “large cutters and tactical units will receive the handgun last.” It didn’t seem right to us that tip-of-the-spear Coasties would have to wait, until it was explained that DoD facilities won’t allow the .40 cal. commercially procured ammo on naval vessels or installations until it undergoes the type classification process. Score another one for the bureaucrats who aren’t willing, even in wartime, to make a common-sense adjustment in the rules.

Less clear was the current prohibition against tactical lights of any kind on the pistols, even for those who would buy their own. The weapon has a MIL STD 1913 rail on the front end of the frame, just begging to be geared up with any combination of laser, IR and visible illuminators in the DoD supply system or otherwise available. Headquarters directives charge units with the responsibility for buying suitable holsters, but caution that those allowing carry with attached tac lights are a no-go.

We invited official CG comment and what was forthcoming fits the big picture. “The Coast Guard will not authorize attachments … until applicable Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTP) are developed and incorporated into the training (documents).”

Headquarters put us in contact with Lieutenant (JG) Marvin Kimmel, who recently assumed command of SDB’s Ports, Waterways and Coastal Security Division. He told us that some of his Gunner’s Mates were on the 5th District team that implemented the Sector’s transition. Kimmel and his Coasties, along with other units, went through qualification conducted at the CG’s Pomona, NJ, facility over a period of twelve days in December 2005.

First came several hours of classroom instruction to familiarize students with the weapon, its handling, loading and unloading, stripping, cleaning and reassembly. This was followed by unscored practice firing with two full magazines, helping shooters get used to the feel of the pistol, sight alignment, double action only trigger, and recoil. Then record fire to validate those newly qualified to turn in their old Berettas and begin carrying SIGs in the line of duty.

Kimmel says things went very smoothly for the most part. “The GMs handled the whole thing with no need for outside contract instructors. Classroom and range activities proceeded well but there might be some issues with the (frangible) ammo.”

Indigestion

Since the “new pistol shooting frangible ammo” situation had caught our eye at TCY, this flagged a question for further investigation. Was this, we asked, caused by the pistol or the cartridge?

Careful to note a relatively small number of misfires and other stoppages during his unit’s transition firing, Kimmel said the GMs believed these were more a frangible ammo factor than the weapon. No problems with Ball and JHP were reported.

It is instructive at this point to take a close look at a portion of an official transition program message issued by headquarters, addressing a “subtle” drop in qualification rates for a test sample of individuals with the new pistol: “This was attributed to a number of reasons including handgun break in, double action trigger, frangible ammo quality. The slides in the new handgun are tight and, combined with the light projectile weight of the frangible ammo, created a number of jams for shooters. Additionally, the .40 caliber handgun’s double action trigger is significantly different to that of the 9mm handgun.”

Headquarters provided a very practical set of steps in the same message to deal with what seasoned observers recognize as all but inevitable when everything is brand new. First, each pistol will have to be fired with 100 rounds before issue for training or operational use. Then, rookie shooters on the Basic Pistol Marksmanship Course will use only ball or JHP ammo. Finally, those graduating BPMC will get frangible to fire the Practical Pistol Course, starting with 24 unscored rounds for familiarization.

SAR spoke with knowledgeable representatives of SIG, Winchester and the CG. The new pistols work great with the duty ammo they were designed to shoot and the frangible training ammo’s specially formulated non-toxic primers are sometimes a bit harder to light up. Particularly in fanny-freezing cold like SDB Coasties had on the transition range. No big deal.

Expert Opinion

Kimmel agreed to solicit comments from PWCSD Gunner’s Mates Irby and Wood, experienced handgunners with a few years in the job, along with some others under his command. Some selected responses:

SAR: Any specific advantages of the new round and pistol over the M9?

• More accurate, more durable, less malfunctions.
• I like the stability of the weapon. The old M9 was unstable. If you would shake the weapon it would rattle. The new round is more conducive to our job. If one was to discharge a 9mm ball round from the M9 then it had a high probability of ricochet. The new hollow point has less of a chance of passing completely through a person and ricocheting off of a steel bulkhead.
• The new PDW has several advantages over the M9 including increased stopping power. But the main advantage, in my opinion, is the compact design of the weapon despite its larger character and the more consistent trigger pull when compared to the M9.
• Despite its increase in caliber, the new PDW has a slight increase in recoil that does not interfere with target acquisition or the ability to remain on target. I find the new PDW to have very good accuracy which is comparable to the M9.
• The .40 cal hollow point round has much more stopping power. No one is going to keep going after a direct hit from that round, whereas a 9mm may take two or three rounds to take down a subject – especially if the subject is using a narcotic.

SAR: Like or dislike the SIG’s handling compared with the M9 (weight, balance, grip size and angle, etc.)?

• I found the SIG’s handling to be new, not better or worse, just a variation to get used to for the new PDW.
• As an SAI, I feel the SIG is 100 times better than the M9 in every aspect.
• The weight and balance of the new weapon is nicer. It feels more secure in one’s hand. The grip size has been a plus for personnel with smaller hands. Personnel with larger hands don’t tend to have much of a problem with it either.

In a follow-up telephone interview, Kimmel took a bit of exception to the last comment. “I have to remind myself that my big meaty hand sometimes interferes with inserting a new magazine. Also, my long index finger makes it hard to pull straight back on the trigger. If I’m not careful I’ll tweak it to the side. This wasn’t a problem with the Beretta.”

SAR: Anything else that needs to be said?

• Better weapon all around. Better looking weapon. We definitely look like we have newer technology than 1980s. Officer presence is increased in my opinion, in that a newer, more advanced weapon helps us to be viewed as advanced federal officers….

Parting Shot

As the transition program expands throughout the Coast Guard, postings on numerous internet bulletin boards frequented by GMs and other Coasties are noting a percentage of failures to qualify with the new weapon on the first go-round. Typical entries cite the DAK trigger and the pistol’s more energetically recoiling round. But all of this was put into perspective by one salty old GM who had been around for the transition from .45 M1911 to M9: “Takes practice.”

“Semper Paratus” Always Ready

The US Coast Guard is a military, multi-mission, maritime service and one of the nation’s five Armed Services. Its mission is to protect the public, the environment, and U.S. economic interests – in the nation’s ports and waterways, along the coast, on international waters, or in any maritime region as required to support national security.

SAR’s experience with Strasburg, Scoggin, Kimmel and other Coast Guard professionals inspires great confidence in the smallest of the US Armed Forces. While urging the best of America’s young men and women to enlist for any of the CG’s many ratings (telephone (877) NOW-USCG or log on to www.gocoastguard.com), we at SAR are naturally inclined toward that of Gunner’s Mate. Check out the Weapons School at TCY for apprentice level and advanced training opportunities at their website www.uscg.mil/tcyorktown/tew/gm.shtm.

Homeland Security Pistol

SIGARMS’ great line of handguns and other weaponry may be explored in depth at www.sigarms.com. One particularly interesting product is the limited-edition .40 S&W caliber “P229 HSP.” It’s just like the ones now in use by the Coast Guard, complete with barcode on the slide, Picatinny rail, DAK trigger, NITRON finished slide, and SIGLITE night sights. Only 1,000 were made and they’re going fast!

As seen in the accompanying comparison table, the Coast Guard’s interesting choice of SIG’s stubby P229 with double-action only and midpower cartridge departs from predecessors in some noteworthy ways.

Although both weapons feature an alloy frame with steel slide and barrel, the SIG is lighter and more compact for faster handling and a better hold for those with smaller hands. The DAK trigger, developed for use by law enforcement, allows safe carry with a round in the chamber and instant firing with a stroke of the trigger finger. No fumbling for the safety lever and consistent 6.5 pound pull for every shot. The SIG’s low-profile hammer won’t snag on life vests and other gear. Tritium-illuminated SIGLITE night sights feature prominent white dots that glow brightly in low light. The .40 caliber round boasts significantly more knockdown and incapacitation.