The Sig Sauer P320 Saga
The Sig Sauer P320 series handgun was released in 2014. It was initially greeted with much fanfare, but early issues suggested the gun would fire when dropped if it happened to land in a specific position. Sig brushed the issue off and seemed to appease the concerns with a voluntary recall on the trigger.
Recently the P320 pistol has come under intense scrutiny due to a growing number of reports and incidents involving unintentional discharges, even when the trigger was not pulled. Multiple incidents have been reported, but a fatal incident where a U.S. Air Force airman was killed (specifically the M18 variant) in Wyoming on July 20 has led to many agencies, ranges and instructors banning the P320.
Agencies like the San Antonio Police Department and Tampa Police have suspended or reevaluated use of the P320 due to safety concerns. ICE and the U.S. Air Force Global Strike Command have halted use of the pistol, and even high-profile training institutes like Gunsite, Rangemaster and the Massad Ayoob Group have banned the pistol from classes.
Sig Sauer denies the allegations, claiming the P320 is safe and that incidents are being misrepresented. They even launched a website, P320Truth.com, to counter what they describe as misinformation.
Because of the safety concerns surrounding the Sig Sauer P320 pistol, the use of this firearm at Boondocks FTA™ during matches, training classes, and organized qualification events shall be subject to the sole discretion of the designated instructor, match director or agency.
Instructors, match directors and agencies are authorized to:
• Permit or restrict the use of the P320 based on their assessment of safety, liability, and event-specific considerations.
• Establish additional safety protocols for participants using the P320, if deemed necessary.
• Deny participation to individuals using the P320 if the firearm is determined to pose a risk to the safety of others or the integrity of the event. Participants will be offered the use of a similarly sized rental gun at no cost.
This policy is intended to prioritize the safety of all participants and staff, and to provide flexibility for event organizers in managing potential risks associated with the P320 platform.
