With Sig Sauer officially winning the XM17 US Army pistol contract, and Glock protesting the outcome of the trials, somebody has to supply the military ammunition. That is where Winchester comes into the picture. They have been selected as the ammunition supplier for the U.S. Army modular handgun system program.

Winchester already supplied the ammunition for all of the testing for the MHS trials. The US Army will now look to them to provide Full-Metal Jacket rounds as well as more Special Purpose ammunition in the future. This will give them plenty to do in the upcoming year by needing to fill both a substantial military obligation and to satisfy civilian consumer demands.

The formal press release announcing their successful bid for the ammunition contract can be read below in full:

Winchester has been awarded as the ammunition supplier for the U.S. Army Modular Handgun System (MHS) program, considered one of the most important military handgun contracts in recent history. Winchester will supply Full Metal Jacket and Special Purpose ammunition in support of the MHS program.

‘This is a significant opportunity for Winchester to continue its steadfast support of the U.S. military, just as we have for decades,’ said Brett Flaugher, President of Winchester Ammunition. ‘We are honored to work with SIG SAUER as part of the MHS contract.’

On January 19, 2017, it was announced that SIG SAUER would be the next supplier of pistols for the United States Army, replacing the M9 pistol, which had been in service members’ holsters since the mid-1980s.

Winchester, a current provider of ammunition to the U.S. government, collaborated with SIG SAUER in supplying ammunition for the rigorous MHS testing. The testing began in August, 2015.

‘Partnering with Winchester to provide the U.S. Military with the Modular Handgun System is a point of pride for each and every employee of SIG SAUER,’ said Ron Cohen, President and CEO of SIG SAUER, Inc. ‘Winchester has a long history of supporting our service members, and we are honored to collaborate with them on this project.’

So there you have it! The US Army’s pistol will be a SIg Sauer P320 (assuming Glock’s crying goes unheard), and their projectiles of freedom will be loaded by Winchester!