BREAKING: Canadian P320 Withdrawn After Alleged Special Forces Misfire

So far Joint Task Force 2 is the only Canadian unit to have procured the P320, purchasing the pistols to replace their P226s. It is reported that they have now withdrawn the new pistols pending review. CBC report that 400 of the pistols were purchased via SIG Sauer’s Canadian distributor M.D. Charlton. Canada’s Special Operations Force Command declined to comment on the pistols but in statement spokesperson Captain Ian Grant did say:

“One member sustained a minor gunshot injury during the incident, was treated and released the same day and was returned to duty. Immediate actions were followed, including quarantining the weapon and the ammunition in accordance with Canadian Armed Forces standard operating procedures. An investigation is ongoing to determine the cause of the incident.”

Alleged issues with the P320 have been reported in the past. Back in 2017, SIG Sauer announced a voluntary upgrade and revealed that the pistols purchased by the US military, the M17/M18 Modular Handgun System had a different type of trigger set up.

The news reports come just as the Canadian military are about to launch a tender for a new service wide sidearm to replace the Browning Hi-Power’s currently in service.

NEWINGTON, N.H., (February 5, 2021) – SIG SAUER is working with Canadian Special Operations Forces Command (CANSOFCOM) to resolve an incident involving the unintended discharge of a P320. An inaccurate and incomplete report of this incident was recently published in the Canadian media that called into question the safety of the P320. While this incident occurred months ago, this erroneous media report is driven by multiple sources, including our competitors, and coincides with the imminent release of other Canadian military and law enforcement tenders, indicating the timing of its release is an attempt to improperly influence the procurements.

The firearm involved has been extensively tested by SIG SAUER and it has been determined to be safe. The investigation revealed the use of an incorrect holster not designed for a P320. The use of a modified P226 holster created an unsafe condition by allowing a foreign object to enter the holster, causing the unintended discharge.

The SIG SAUER P320 is among the most rigorously vetted pistols in the market. The P320 meets and exceeds all US safety standards and global military and law enforcement protocols, including the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), National Institute of Justice (NIJ), and Department of Justice (DOJ). The P320 is one of the most innovative and sought-after pistols in the firearms market, and the pistol of choice for all branches of the United States Military (M17/M18), along with numerous law enforcement agencies and other military units worldwide.