The Army has released photos of soldiers testing out its new handgun

pulse

September 10, 2017 8:33 AM

In January, Sig Sauer won a $580 million contract to provide the Army's new sidearm, which is slated to be fielded this fall.

The Army posted photos of soldiers testing the new modular handgun system, the Sig Sauer P320, at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, on Thursday.

Most of the soldiers present at the August 27 tests were from the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, according to a release.

While no other branches have signed up for the P320, the Army said sailors, airmen, and Marines will also take part in the testing, drawn from across units and specialties.

"These are the soldiers who would be using the weapon every day, so getting their feedback on the pistol is really what is important for operational testing," said Maj. Mindy Brown, an Operational Test command test officer.

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Soldiers testing out the new pistol discussed how it worked with the M4 as well as how it functioned with cold-weather gear. Sig Sauer boasted the P320 is adaptable, with interchangeable grips and convertibility to 9 mm, .357 SIG, and .40 Smith & Wesson calibers.

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The M9 Beretta was introduced in 1986 and is reaching the end of its serviceability. "The specific performance improvements from MHS over the M9 are in the area of accuracy, dispersion (and) ergonomics. And ergonomics isn't just about the comfort of the shooter," Lt. Col. Steven Power, product manager of Soldier Weapons, said in July.

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"It's good. We don't really get the opportunity to test the equipment in the unit we're in," Sgt. 1st Class Kevin Custer of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment said of the exercise.

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"It's a great opportunity for soldiers to get to shoot more rounds," said Sgt. Emily Todd of the 16th Military Police Brigade. "It's nice to have a forward look into what the Army might use some day."

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