Skip to main content
Tags: army | handgun | shootout

Army Sidearm Shootout: Gun Makers Go After $580M Bounty

Army Sidearm Shootout: Gun Makers Go After $580M Bounty

A Beretta M9, the Army's current sidearm, being fired. (AP Photo/Stephen B. Morton)
 

By    |   Thursday, 02 March 2017 10:08 AM EST

A shootout over the Army’s new handgun has broken out among gun manufacturers wanting the bounty that comes with it: a contract worth as much as $580 million.

Glock is, as they say, hotter than a $2 pistol over how things have turned out so far. It wanted to be the gun Army officers wave when they yell, "Follow me, men!"

The Glock, first produced in 1982, has become one of the most sought after handguns in America for police officers (and criminals), according to The Fiscal Times. The fact that 65 percent of police departments in the U.S. today use Glocks speaks to its popularity.

However, that statistic must not have meant much to the Army because it opted to replace its M9 Beretta — which has been seen on the hips of soldiers for decades — with the Sig Sauer P320.

The Army went into contract talks with Sig Sauer and is handing over its Modular Handgun System to the firearms company, worth an estimated $580 million, The Fiscal Times noted.

Glock is firing back, though.

The manufacturer has filed a protest with the U.S. Government Accountability Office disputing the contract between Army and Sig Sauer, according to documents filed with the GAO on Friday.

According to the Army, however, that filing doesn’t stop it from moving forward with the contract, the Army Times noted.

“Glock received a debriefing concerning why they did not receive an award on Feb. 17,” said the Army. “Glock’s protest to the GAO is timely but was not filed within five days of receiving their debriefing, meaning that under the Competition in Contracting Act, Sig Sauer can continue contract performance during the pendency of the protest.”

The Army first announced their plans to change handguns in 2011.

The contract will not just include the manufacturing of the new handgun, but will also include accessories and ammunition, which will be delivered to the service for 10 years once the contract is final.

United Press International noted Sig Sauer’s P320 comes with several features and is expected to improve shooting accuracy with its “slide-mounted reflex optic.”

© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.

Sign up for Newsmax’s Daily Newsletter

Receive breaking news and original analysis - sent right to your inbox.

(Optional for Local News)
Privacy: We never share your email address.

TheWire
A shootout over the Army’s new handgun has broken out among gun manufacturers wanting the bounty that comes with it: a contract worth as much as $580 million.
army, handgun, shootout
350
2017-08-02
Thursday, 02 March 2017 10:08 AM
Newsmax Media, Inc.
Join the Newsmax Community
Read and Post Comments
Please review Community Guidelines before posting a comment.
 

Interest-Based Advertising | Do not sell or share my personal information

Newsmax, Moneynews, Newsmax Health, and Independent. American. are registered trademarks of Newsmax Media, Inc. Newsmax TV, and Newsmax World are trademarks of Newsmax Media, Inc.

NEWSMAX.COM
America's News Page
© 2025 Newsmax Media, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
Download the Newsmax App
NEWSMAX.COM
America's News Page
© 2025 Newsmax Media, Inc.
All Rights Reserved