After a month-long pause, Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) has completed inspections of its entire SIG Sauer M18 Modular Handgun System inventory and has returned the pistols to service.
The pause, initiated July 21 following a tragic incident at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, led to a command-wide review of all 7,970 handguns. AFGSC said the effort was driven by an “abundance of caution” and a priority to maintain trust in the weapons carried daily by its Security Forces Defenders.
PRESS RELEASE | "U.S. Air Force Global Strike Command Reinstates the M18 Pistol Confirms the safety, reliability, and durability of the P320 based M18…" pic.twitter.com/D18ApPzzgy
— SIG SAUER (@sigsauerinc) August 27, 2025
SEE ALSO: New Major Twist in Airman M18 Death!
General Thomas Bussiere, AFGSC commander, underscored the point: “It is paramount that our Airmen trust their weapon systems. This thorough inspection ensures the M18s in our inventory are in optimal working order, providing our Defenders with safe, reliable, and effective systems to accomplish their mission.”
Table of contents
Findings from the Inspection
Of the nearly 8,000 pistols inspected, 191 were flagged with discrepancies. Most issues involved component wear, specifically with the safety lever, striker assembly, and sear. AFGSC noted that these pistols were immediately removed from service for repair.
The review confirmed that none of the command’s recent weapon discharges were linked to malfunction, reaffirming that the M18 platform itself remains sound.
New Safety Measures
AFGSC has directed enhanced inspection criteria going forward. Semi-annual and annual inspections will now place greater focus on the three components most likely to show wear.
Lt. Col. George Hern, AFGSC’s chief of security forces, explained that these measures will ensure any emerging problems are caught early:
“As we execute M18 inspections in the future, we will be taking a particular interest in these components to ensure these methods address the issues we found and make adjustments as needed,” he said in the press release.
Restoring Trust
The pistols deemed safe began returning to service on August 25.
Alongside the technical review, commanders and combat arms instructors are meeting with Airmen to discuss findings, reinforce proper handling, and emphasize the importance of reporting any weapon concerns.
SEE ALSO: Truth About the SIG P320 Continues…
The move is part of a broader effort to rebuild confidence in the handgun platform following the Wyoming incident.
Leaders are also stressing the basics: muzzle discipline, situational awareness, and chain-of-command reporting when equipment issues arise.
Background on the M18
The M18, the compact variant of the U.S. Army’s M17, is designed to meet rigorous military standards. It undergoes environmental, drop, and endurance testing to withstand the conditions Defenders face in the field.
The handgun is chambered in 9mm and is part of the Modular Handgun System selected by the Department of Defense to replace legacy M9 pistols.
By conducting a full sweep of its arsenal and implementing new oversight, AFGSC says its Airmen can move forward knowing their sidearms are reliable and mission-ready.
What say you?
*** Buy and Sell on GunsAmerica! ***
Available on GunsAmerica Now
is a seasoned outdoorsman, lifelong hunter, and the kind of guy who’d rather track whitetails than scroll social media. As an editor for GunsAmerica, he’s got a sharp eye for spotting both solid gear and bad gun laws. Whether he’s deep in the woods or deep in editorial deadlines, Larry brings a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is approach to firearms, hunting, and the great American tradition of self-reliance. If there’s a hot debate on gun rights or the latest in hunting tech, you can bet Larry’s got an opinion—and it’s probably backed up with both facts and field experience.
Experience:
– Licensed Bowhunter, Hunter, and Trapper – Experienced in ethical hunting and wildlife conservation.
– Concealed Carry Permit Holder (NYS & AZ) – Trained and licensed to carry in multiple states.
– 2A Journalist – Covering firearms legislation, Second Amendment issues, and gun rights for over a decade.
– Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) – Certified to provide emergency medical care in the field.
– Field-Tested Gear Reviewer – Hands-on experience with firearms, optics, and hunting tech.
Inspecting weapons that are handled (and mishandled) on a daily basis is obviously a good safety measure – which might leave one wondering why such inspections were not routine already.
However a far more effective safety measure would be to train airmen the FIVE rules of gun safety (the 5th is new, and apparently needed in some places)
1. Treat all guns as if they are always loaded.
2. Never let the muzzle point at anything you are not willing to destroy.
3. Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on target and you have made the decision to fire.
4. Be sure of your target and what is behind it.
5. When you have a Negligent Discharge, do not holster the pistol and pretend that it “just went off” with no one touching it.
I’m still waiting to hear about the investigation on that particular airman committing suicide or not. Has anybody heard anything on that?
The talk is NOT suicide, but possible manslaughter by an ND. Then used the popular theory of UD’s as a cover.
OK… I’m obviously old and have no idea what those initials mean, lol. What is ND and UD?
UD is unintentional discharge, ND is negligent discharge.
👍🏻
so what is the difference between a ud and an nd?
Unintentional discharge is a result of a mechanical failure, or a design flaw. Negligent discharge is due to carelessness or incompetence e.g. leaving a finger in the trigger well when holstering a side arm. These are not full legal descriptions, as I am not a lawyer, but a paraphrasing of the explanation I was given by a lawyer.
sounds reasonable. don’t here that mentioned a lot.
thanks
I think it would be reasonable for the armorers to keep a log on each pistol of rounds fired, hours carried, inspections etc. The database would flag weapons due for inspection of those components in question. Stay safe. j
well they should at least put that particular gun on “report”
I’ve got 4K rounds through my M18. Thing is solid as a rock.
As a precaution, check and see what play there is with the M18/P320 between the slide and the frame with downward pressure around the front sight. Of course, perform the test without a round in the chamber. Some videos show some disturbing results with that click noise. I have 4 Sig P320/M18 FCU, I do NOT want the firearm to be dangerous.
A rock is a good description of SIG pistols.
I wish they would expound on those findings. Sear wear? How many rounds were on the affected guns?
Absolutely agree! Safety, sear, and striker assembly have everything to do with whether a weapon fires when intended, and only then. My Army career ended 20 years ago, but I find it hard to conceive–OK, impossible to conceive–that today’s USAF M18 pistols have already fired so many rounds as to cause the most critical components to wear down so badly. And if they have, it seems highly likely that the design, materials, and/ or manufacture left a lot to be desired!