Understanding the Recent Sig Sauer P320 Guidance

Recently, the Liberal Gun Club announced a safety-based policy that affects certain firearms used at its events:

"Out of an abundance of caution (given the information available today), until further notice Sig 320 / M18 pistols may not be used at Liberal Gun Club events, and we are encouraging our instructors to evaluate their use in their classes."

We support this policy and believe it is the responsible thing to do given the credible concerns raised about this platform. However, many gun owners and students may not yet have the context to fully understand why this is such an important issue. This post is meant to provide that background, explain how it affects you, and offer guidance on what to do next.

What Happened? And Why It Matters

Over the past several years, but with increased urgency in recent months, the Sig Sauer P320 series including its military variant, the M17 or M18, has been at the center of safety concerns. Numerous reports have documented incidents in which these pistols allegedly fired without the trigger being pulled. The ultimate cause of many of these incidents are often believed to be inconclusive and may point to potential unsafe handling, issues with holsters, or other negligence. This has led many in the gun industry to initially dismiss the risks.

What's New

A major turning point came in July 2025 when 21-year-old Airman Brayden Lovan was fatally shot while on duty at F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming. His Sig Sauer M18, which was holstered at the time, discharged unexpectedly. The incident prompted the Air Force’s Global Strike Command to immediately pause all use of the M18 across its units and order a full inspection of every issued pistol. This was a rare and serious move by a major military command. In addition to this, new research and testing from the FBI's Ballistics Research Facility concluded that the P320 can, in some circumstances, discharge without a trigger pull. These findings were part of a broader internal report that raised concerns about the safety of the platform, particularly in duty use. This added further urgency and weight to long-standing concerns about the P320 platform.

What This Means for Civilian Gun Owners and Students

If you own or carry a Sig P320 Series pistol, including the M17 and M18, especially as part of your defensive training or everyday carry routine, this should be a wake-up call. The fundamental safety of a firearm, especially one that is carried loaded in a holster, is non-negotiable. Whether you are a seasoned concealed carrier or a new gun owner taking your first class, an uncommanded discharge can be life-altering or fatal.

From a training perspective, these risks also extend to instructors and fellow students. Training environments depend on predictability, and the possibility of a holstered pistol firing without interaction creates unacceptable risk for everyone involved.

For these reasons, instructors certified by PDT are strongly encouraged to follow the same guidance: do not allow use or carry any of the Sig P320 series pistols in training classes until further notice.

What About Other Sig Models?

At this time, the reports and investigations focus on the P320 and its military variants, the M17 and M18. Other Sig models have not been implicated in the same way. That said, how a company responds to a crisis says a lot about its values, its quality standards, and its commitment to safety. The general sentiment in the gun owner community raises concerns that rather than participating in open, independent investigations or issuing broad-based recalls, Sig Sauer has chosen to aggressively defend its position. They’ve even gone so far as to lobby state lawmakers for immunity from lawsuits related to these incidents. In May 2025, New Hampshire passed a law reportedly influenced by lobbying from Sig Sauer that restricts the ability of injured parties to seek damages from gunmakers, particularly for designs that lack external safeties.

Every gun company can have problems. What matters is how they respond. In this case, Sig Sauer’s response raises serious questions. Many people love their Sig pistols, and no doubt there are reliable and well-designed models in their lineup, but every gun owner must decide for themselves if they want to support a company that has yet to respond to these incidents in what many people feel is a transparent and appropriate level of action.

Our Recommendation

Based on the current body of evidence, we do not recommend carrying or using a Sig Sauer P320, M17 or M18, or any variant of this platform in training classes or for defensive carry. If you're an instructor, we encourage you to adopt this policy for your own classes. If you're a student or gun owner, we urge you to reevaluate your equipment choices in light of this information. If you already own one of these pistols, take it seriously. Follow developments from credible sources. Your life and the lives of those around you may depend on it.

Where to Learn More

If you'd like to read further or verify this information, here are some recommended sources: