The Beretta M9 will be replaced by the Sig Sauer P320 as the Army’s standard-issue pistol after a lengthy and rugged debate. Many have questioned why the change is occurring, and our friends at TacticalGear.com have put together a head-to-head comparison infographic to go over some details.
While we covered this a few weeks ago, it’s still nice to take a look at this excellent comparison below.
Why Modularity Matters:
- It’s easier to replace broken parts
- Smaller grips are important as more women enter the military
- The firearm can adapt to special assignments
5 things you should know about the Modular Handgun System competition:
- The Army held the contest after pressure to replace aging weapons and concerns about the weight and reliability of the M9.
- The competition started in 2011 and received criticism for taking almost a decade to pick a winner.
- In addition to the pistol, entrants were required to submit a regular and a special-purpose round, which suggests the Army is considering using more powerful rounds. This would address complaints about the 9mm NATO being ineffective in combat.
- The Army ordered the full-size and compact pistols chambered for 9mm NATO rounds and excluded the other part options Sig Sauer offers with the P320 model.
- Beretta submitted the M9A3, an updated version of the M9, before the MHS competition to try to maintain its contract, but it was rejected. Beretta submitted a new APX striker-fire pistol in the competition instead.
Contract Details:
- 10-year contract (through 1/19/2027)
- Estimated cost is $580,217,000
- Manufactured in New Hampshire
- Included in the contract: pistols, cleaning kits, magazines and training equipment
