More Pain for SIG P320

Two Recent Accidental Discharges Involving Texas Police Officers Have Raised More Questions About the P320’s Safety.

by Richard Baimbridge

Over the past few years, Sig Sauer seemed to have overcome much of the negative publicity over safety issues surrounding the P320. After numerous accidental discharges and drop-fires, arguments raged on the internet about whether or not the gun had a fundamental design problem that made it unsafe. The company also faced numerous court cases from consumers and law enforcement agencies.

But in a 2017 deal worth over $500 million, the US Army selected Sig over Glock as its standard issue sidearm. This gave a boost of confidence that the company had turned a corner and addressed the issues that had cost millions and put lives at risk.

However, this past year has seen two new cases of accidental misfire of holstered P320s, both of which caused significant injuries to two separate Texas veteran police officers – one of whom nearly died, but was saved thanks to a quick-thinking civilian who used his belt as a tourniquet and saved the officer’s life.

The first incident involved La Grange Police Officer Kevin Currington on May 9 of this year, who was critically injured when his gun discharged without warning. The bullet ripped through his thigh. He nearly bled to death and suffered with permanent nerve damage.

The second incident involved Marble Falls School Resource Officer Hunter Gally on September 20 of this year, who was wounded in the same way. He says his Sig Sauer P320 just went off out of the blue in his holster as he was reaching into his patrol unit.

Bodycam footage of the incidents shows that both officers had their P320 service pistols securely holstered. In both cases, the officers say their guns discharged while holstered.

Sig Sauer responded by saying, “Claims that the P320 is capable of firing without a trigger pull are without merit and have been soundly rejected as a matter of law by sixteen separate courts, including a unanimous jury verdict in Sig Sauer’s favor. The P320 is trusted by the U.S. Military, law enforcement professionals, and responsible citizens worldwide.”

Yet in June of this year a federal jury awarded a Georgia man $2.3 million in a product liability case against Sig Sauer, after he was shot by his own pistol without allegedly pulling the trigger. Robert Lang, described in court records as a lifelong gun enthusiast with “hundreds of hours behind the trigger,” sued Sig after he was shot in the thigh by his P320 in December 2018 while removing the gun from the holster.

The US Military has also had its own issues with Sig, as well. In February, 2023 at Fort Eustis in Virginia, a sergeant with the Army’s 221st Military Police Detachment said his P320 suddenly fired when another soldier squeezed past him in a narrow hallway. The bullet ripped through his foot, leading to surgery and six months of rehabilitation. The shooting at Fort Eustis is just one of nine separate incidents involving P320s in various US military branches, between September 2020 to June 2023.

The Design and the Problem

Unlike many other striker-fired pistols, the P320 lacks an external safety or trigger safety. Instead, it relies on an internal mechanism to prevent accidental discharges. Critics argue this design can be prone to mishaps. Early issues with the P320 included reports of the gun firing if dropped, prompting Sig Sauer to issue a voluntary upgrade in 2017 to address the "drop-fire" issue.

However, despite this upgrade, the P320 has continued to be linked to reports of accidental discharges.

The core of the issue seems to lie in the gun's firing mechanism, which may allow the gun to fire without the trigger being pulled. Various lawsuits allege that the P320 can discharge under certain conditions even if untouched. Sig Sauer maintains that the gun is safe when used as directed, but the increasing number of incidents has sparked concern among users and safety advocates.

These incidents have intensified scrutiny around the P320, with law enforcement officials and civilian users alike calling for a deeper investigation into the weapon's safety. Texas police departments, in particular, are reevaluating their stance on the P320, with some departments considering pulling it from service or providing alternative sidearms.

Although no official recall has been issued since the 2017 upgrade, calls for more stringent testing and possible recalls have gained traction among safety groups and gun owners.

Sig Sauer’s Response and User Precautions

Sig Sauer asserts that the P320 is safe when used correctly, and they emphasize regular maintenance and proper handling as key to preventing accidents. For those who own a P320, it’s recommended to remain cautious and consider additional safety steps, such as using holsters that fully protect the trigger guard and conducting regular inspections to ensure all components are functioning as intended.

Despite the company’s statements, some law enforcement agencies have taken matters into their own hands. Some agencies are requiring additional training and safety checks, while others are considering switching to alternative models with more extensive safety features, such as manual safeties or enhanced trigger mechanisms.

Whether Sig Sauer will issue a recall or a redesign of the P320 remains to be seen, but continued attention on the model could drive further changes. And one thing’s for sure -- the P320’s reputation is still under fire, and it could be hard to restore gun owner confidence once again.

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