What’s everyone’s thoughts so far on the Sig M17/18? And would you like to see a reflex optic in the future on it?

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 17 Aug 2020 20:08:47 -0400

Curious on the thoughts and opinions after these have been released for a while now. I personally enjoy mine and love the polymer. Also I’d be interested to see how a reflex sight would benefit certain shooters, but I believe it would be extremely difficult finding one that could hold up in theater.

Response by SGT Steve McFarland made Aug 17 at 2020 10:10 PM

SGT Steve McFarland — Mon, 17 Aug 2020 22:10:48 -0400

I have had a full-size P320 since October 2018, and it is one of the finest handguns I have ever owned and shot. It has been totally reliable, and is more accurate than I am. I also have a P365, a P226 and a P229, and they are all very dependable guns.

Even though I have shot a few pistols with red-dot sights, I wouldn't pay extra money for a milled slide or a red-dot.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 18 at 2020 1:30 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 18 Aug 2020 01:30:08 -0400

I have two P320's, a compact and a Legion, both are fine handguns, shooting them every Sunday. I used a 226 for 7 years while in a SWAT team, my 226 was very good with all the action and banging around it saw, out shot every law enforcement department on island, even the other island PD's, to include assigned FBI and ATF, and pistol shooters the USMC III MEF SOTG out of Okinawa.
With the proven track using my 226, I'm sure the P320 and or M17/18 will hold up in uses with the military.
As for the Reflex Sight, don't really know, but I was shooting with Tasco Pro Point red dot optics since 1990 on my 1911, it held up good, but just this year it fell apart when used on my AR pistol. So, it served it's value for all those years, and I shot my 1911 every Sunday, and sometimes 1000 rounds on that day with reloads. I still shoot my 1911 today every Sunday without the red dot.
The only way to find out if the Reflex Sight would hold up, is have it in theater, or it's performance with the competition shooters, as they are always shooting their handgun all the time, and set the pace in the shooting world.
As to answer your question, "Yes", the SIG M17/18 is a good handgun for the military, in my opinion.

Response by CPT Lawrence Cable made Aug 18 at 2020 8:01 AM

CPT Lawrence Cable — Tue, 18 Aug 2020 08:01:46 -0400

Isn't there a reflex sight that mounts to the ACOG? That set up has been around for awhile. I can tell you the big advantage of a reflex, it makes shooting a pistol with bifocal or variable focus lens a lot easier.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 18 at 2020 12:31 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 18 Aug 2020 12:31:38 -0400

As a competitive pistol shooter I don't think operationally the pros outweigh the cons.

Mainly, it's a secondary weapon. Advantages should first focus on the primary weapon. Next, as a pistol (unlike a rifle that is shouldered) a novice pistol shooter (even a quasi good pistol shooter) a quick draw pistol with an optic might find themselves having to HUNT for the dot. Now, a grip is a grip is a grip on the draw, but iron sights can be brought back to level quicker because the user can see where the end of the front sight is pointing. If you don't have a COMPETITION level grip and draw skill locked in you run the risk of HUNTING for the red dot longer than you would an iron sight. This matters when fractions of a second count.

Now, if your have operator level pistol skill (PISTOL SKILLS folks, not RIFLE) locked in a Red Dot can be an enhancing piece of equipment.

Then ironically, if one can't shoot a pistol for crap, and shouldn't be issued a pistol to begin with then a Red Dot will help drastically just getting round in the direction of the threat.

I just focus on this top because I love competitive shooting. I was deployed down range in support of an SF team, and while they were a little better than me on the rifle on range days I danced circles around them with the pistol. What I'm saying is one's pistol training needs to be elevated to a competitive level or the presumed benefits of the Red Dot on a PISTOL won't be as hoped regardless of MOS or the color of your beret.

A RIFLE is much different because it is SHOULDERED and puts the red dot right where it needs to be relative to your eye.