BATFE rejects SIG handguns from selection

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BATFE is looking for a new service sidearm to replace their current issue .40S&W SIG P226/P229 pistols.
They sent out a RFP for a polymer framed full size and compact size .40S&W pistol.

SIG submitted the P250 and P250 Compact.
S&W submitted the M&P40 and M&P40C.
Glock submitted the 22 and 23.

After Phase 2 testing, the SIG pistols were dropped from the competition.
SIG appealed being dropped and BATFE rejected the appeal.

SIG complained the testing was biased with BATFE testors favoring the S&W pistols.

BATFE gave the reasons for the rejection was due to the unreliability of the SIG P250 and P250 Compact.

Phase 2 testing was a live fire test involving 40 agents.
Agents fired 200 rounds per pistol.

Agents rated the reliability of...
... the SIG P250/P250 Compact = 25% excellent, 30% very good, 25% good, 15% fair, 5% unsatisfactory.
... the S&W M&P40/40C = 52.5% excellent, 30% very good, 5% good, 5% fair, 4.5% unsatisfactory.
... the Glock 22/23 = 47.5% excellent, 32.5% very good, 7.5% good, 10% fair, 2.5% unsatisfactory.

Agents rated overall assement of...
... the SIG P250/P250 Compact = 15% excellent, 42.5% very good, 20% good, 12.5% fair, 2.5% unsatisfactory, 7.5% no answer.
... the S&W M&P40/40C = 32.5% excellent, 35% very good, 15% good, 7.5% fair, 5% unsatisfactory, 5% no answer.
... the Glock 22/23 = 30% excellent, 27.5% very good, 22.5% good, 15% fair, 2.5% unsatisfactory, 2.5% no answer.

Evaluators recorded...
... the SIG P250/P250 Compact had a total of 58 malfunctions. 13 gun induced & 45 shooter induced.
... the S&W M&P40/M&P40C had a total of 16 malfunctions. 0 gun induced & 16 shooter induced.
... the Glock 22/23 had a total of 9 malfunctions. 0 gun induced & 9 shooter induced.
 
It also appears that the Federal Air Marshall's have stopped issueing the SIG P250 Compact (.357SIG), due to the reported unreliability from the BATFE testing.

They appear to be in a wait in see mode, with some Air Marshalls still using the SIG P229 (.357SIG) and some using the SIG P250 Compact (.357SIG).
 
I have always felt that G-Men or any LEO ought to supply their own Arms anyway.


I would never trust a Carpenter or Plumber who had to use Tools his boss had to buy for him, and, which his boss still owns.

That is what serfs and peons traditionally settled for.


I wish we could have grown ups in these jobs.

Not like they do not get paid more than plenty anyway, to afford their own Arm(s).

If any given unit or organization wishes to decide a particular Caliber or choice of Calibers, so be it, their personel would then elect Side Arms obliging that Caliber or Calibers.


Oye...
 
Numerous threads on different boards have suggested that the Sig 250 is by far (one of) Sig's worst product (s) and has always had issues.

As Sigs just don't do it for me I am not a Sig expert but many Sig fans suggested that the 250 was a poor choice to submit but that the criteria called for a certain type of gun and the 250 was the closest. The USCG seems pleased with the 229DAK so who knows why the ATF was limiting in choices for submition?

Of course the remaining two entries have started some back and forth between Glock guys and M&P guys but that's another story...;)
 
That strikes me the air marshalls would use the .357 sig, wouldn't they be thinking of over penetration in an airplane be an issue? Don't get me wrong I love the .357 sig but just curious..
 
That strikes me the air marshalls would use the .357 sig, wouldn't they be thinking of over penetration in an airplane be an issue? Don't get me wrong I love the .357 sig but just curious..

They may need to shoot through a seat or, God forbid, another passenger to take out a threat to the plane or something on the ground. Sounds harsh but it is what it is.
 
Have to say, My M&P .40 was comfortable before, and feels even better now. one bad feed in the first mag, nothing since in 900 rounds.

It's nice to see bits of justification of my choice after the fact, considering the super-low price points on the 250's nearly caught me.

I'm still ergonomically incompatible with the Glocks, held a few more at the range last week too. (bah) the gent let me feel the harder, audible trigger reset he'd put in.

I need that.
 
Agreed.

Also, it's a great demonstration of the difference between Cheap and Inexpensive.

250's are cheap, CZ-82's and RIA 1911's are inexpensive.

Edit- Still want a 226 though.
 
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These records show that ATF's agents recorded 58 stoppages with Sig Sauer's full-size and compact pistols, 13 of which were considered to be gun-induced and 45 shooter-induced.

Seems to me it's a training issue.

There's a reason the P250 is so cheap

MSRP between all three are within a few dollars. Cost to built a P250 is less because of the modular nature.
 
Just goes to show that there is always room for improvement, but maybe the agents just wanted Smith and Wessons this go around. In a few years when this contract is up, they might want something else.
 
Just goes to show that there is always room for improvement, but maybe the agents just wanted Glock this go around. In a few years when this contract is up, they might want something else.


Fixed it for ya ;)

Actually have they awarded the contract yet?
 
I haven't heard to many good things about that Sig, every manufacture makes a dud once in awhile.

M&P's are nice pistols, Glock too, they really can't go wrong with either.
 
Sig Sauer also contends that ATF placed too great an emphasis upon reliability in determining which offers should continue to phase III.
Ouch! Think about that statement a minute. Sad to see.
 
Fingers crossed for the M&P. I think it would be nice for government agencies to use American made products.
 
Gimme a 'G,' gimme an 'L,' gimme an 'O,' gimme a 'C,' gimme a 'K,' what does that spell? GLOCK, GLOCK, GLOCK! Gooooo GLOCK!

That strikes me the air marshalls would use the .357 sig, wouldn't they be thinking of over penetration in an airplane be an issue? Don't get me wrong I love the .357 sig but just curious..

What else would they be using? There are plenty of JHPs for the .357 SIG that will get adequate but not excessive penetration. It is just like the 9mm, just faster. The added velocity is only going to help ensure expansion, which is actually going to aid in limiting penetration.

Achieving adequate penetration is necessary regardless of where the gunfight is going to take place. Fragnibles, varmint bullets, and birdshot all produce shallow, superficial wounds that are unreliable stoppers. To work, a bullet must be able to penetrate to the vitals, or you might as well not even send it.

And decompression is apparently not the issue some make it out to be. Even if an agent managed to shoot out an entire window, the plane would, by the reports I've read, just have to descend to 10,000 feet. The O2 masks might deploy, but it would hardly be catastrophic on the level portrayed by Hollywood.
 
I think it would be nice for government agencies to use American made products

Americans still make products? Who knew? :confused:



;)


Actually if I were a pro Glock guy I would actually want the ATF to go with the M&P's as that would mean they wouldn't have the best :neener:
 
I was range officer this past Saturday at Manchester Range & there was a young airman from Shaw AFB with a new SIG 250. With 2 different types of ammo he had about a 50% FTFire even with multiple double-action strikes (and after ruling out the usual problems with dirt etc). I thought it odd that a SIG would do that, but maybe ATF had a similar situation (although 58/8000 isn't quite as bad as the airman's experience).
 
The P250 is "cohen" Sig. It is all concept flash with no meat on the bone. It inbodies the move the metal mentality cohen has brought to Sig. I personally hope this is a wakeup call for Sig management.
 
Having drank the kool-aid recently as well, I do have to admit the M&P series is a pretty damn nice gun. I was very tempted to trade my Baby Glock in for a M&P9c.
 
Fingers crossed for the M&P. I think it would be nice for government agencies to use American made products.

I'm actually pretty sure the Sig P250 is made exclusively in Exeter, NH... and I believe much of the final design work was done there as well.

I love Sig, but I have noticed a general decline in there products in the past few years. The P250 seems like a stillborn, and I know the P238 has had recalls as well. The new 1911, however, seems like a good product (I guess it's hard to screw that one up).

You may prefer American, but these days I'm glad my 226 is German made. :neener:
 
i really like sigs but dont care for the 250 at all. i would like a p228/229 in 9mm some day & my p226 .40 has been great.
 
Never was impressed with the P250, also feel the P226/229 is kind of overrated, though that doesn't mean I don't like them, its just not equal to its price tag. In fact I have a CZ-75PO1 which easily out performs my 226, and it came home at just about half the price.
 
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