Dept of Homeland Security Buys SIGs (merged threads)

Status
Not open for further replies.
Correct. The "K" is the initial of the guy who developed their DAO design.

Like the K in AK-47? So is Kalashnikov now doing design work for SIGArms :)

Do the Feds ever sell off the handguns that are being replaced? Will Franken-Fienstein et al let them do that? Seriously, did the previous guns used by, say, the FBI, get sold to us peons? The 3-inch S&W's? The 10mm S&W's?

Bart Noir
 
Anyone know what type of system they went with the HK???

Just curious if they went with LEM to at least have the same style of system (DAO) as the Sig DAK...
 
Farnam says," the K-Trigger is a smooth, consistent 6.6 pounds. Link is shallow, similar to a Glock trigger. Hammer spur is gone (along with the decocking lever) and the system can be used in conjunction with a either regular or short trigger. K triggers will supercede Sigs manual decocking system also."
There is a second strike capability without cycling the slide and the second pull is heavier, around 8.5 pounds.
One can not convert an existing Sig to the new K trigger.
 
Do the Feds ever sell off the handguns that are being replaced? Will Franken-Fienstein et al let them do that? Seriously, did the previous guns used by, say, the FBI, get sold to us peons? The 3-inch S&W's? The 10mm S&W's?
Click to expand...
They have in the past, but Clinton put a stop to it. What they will do in the future is an open question. I would like to see them sell off some of the handguns they are replacing if for no other reason than it makes good fiscal sense--after all, it's my "tax dollars at work."
 
Someone didn't let me buy my 19 when we switched to Sigs in 93 or 93. I really liked the 19 and I guess someday I'll pick up one at the gun show.
 
Regarding ammo..... I don't think that they will go for the FBI "lite" load. The INS/BP has been using a 155gr/1200fps load for years. They like the load. I think that the CBP may go for the H&K because their former INS Special Agents have been using it for years with excellent success and many of the newer former INS Inspectors currently are equipped with it. A lot of former Customs Inspectors are panicking because they can barely qualify with the G17 and the thought of a .40 is scary.

It's all going to be interesting to see.:D
 
I was wondering about the INS/BP .40 S&W load. That could be really interesting. Most of LE has moved away from the 155-grain loads toward the 165-grain (full--not medium loads) and 180-grain loads. There's at least some indication that the INS/BP 155-grain load may have contributed to the problems they had with the Beretta 96.
 
Internally, the INS used to call the 155/1200 load a ".40 magnum" or a ".40+P". Most of the gun problems are of a spring failure type. They've replace all of the springs on all guns a couple of times. Some other problems have been parts failures. Supposedly before they chose the Beretta they ran it through a 10K round torture test with that round. I question that because of the failure rate in the field. Before they chose the H&K for their Agents, they did the 10K test on all of the popular police .40s and the H&K had the best performance. It even beat the SIG and Glock!

Also realize that most INS Inspectors are not "gunnies" and give the gun minimal maintenance. Unfortunately they have to equip for the lowest common denominator. Having said that I think that the H&K is an excellent choice. It will be interesting to see the long term results from the SIG. I think it will also be excellent.

Also one other thing to factor in is that the organization that coordinated the purchace is the old INS NFU (National Firearms Unit) and they may be swayed to the Border Patrol thought process.
 
Also one other thing to factor in is that the organization that coordinated the purchace is the old INS NFU (National Firearms Unit) and they may be swayed to the Border Patrol thought process.
Click to expand...
Just out of curiosity--I didn't it follow it very closely, but wasn't old INS NFU largely retired/reassigned after the Beretta/155-grain Remington deal? --some hint or scandal or impropriety?
 
I have been underwhelmed by just about everything HLS has done. After all, making grandmothers take off their shoes before boarding a plane obviously makes us safer than worrying about the open sieve the Mexican boarder represents.

Given their brilliant performance to date, their choice of any weapon (caliber or make) is hardly a recommendation for me. Then of course I'm just an old retired fart who went to the wrong war and was dumb enough to carry a badge for a career. What do I know.
 
Too bad they didn't get rid of the decocker bump on the grip panel of the DAK models. I hate that bulge.
 
Yeah! Me, too! I slapped a Hogue finger groove grip on a 228 just to get rid of that damn bulge. Made the whole grip fatter, but it's an improvement.
 
Been a LOOOOONG time since I posted last.....
Just found out three of my 'law enforcement" friends in Dallas are actually Federal Air Marshals.
FWIW, they carry SIG 229 in .357 SIG when flying.
Same for an acquaintance thru them who lives in LA, who is also a F.A.M. also Sig 229 in .357 SIG

My .02

RTFM
 
New DHS Handguns

After much waiting and speculting, the contract for the new handguns goes to.....(drumroll please)

SIG-SAUER!




SIGARMS® Awarded Major Pistol Contract by U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Up to 65,000 SIG SAUER® pistols to be called into service in the war on terror.
EXETER, NH - Aug 24, 2004 - SIGARMS® Inc. announces that it has been awarded a major five-year contract for up to 65,000 SIG SAUER® pistols by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The contract is for the SIG SAUER P239 in DAO and the P226 and P229 Rail pistols with the new DAK™ trigger system in the calibers of 9mm and 40S&W. The contract is valued at $23.7 million.

“We are pleased that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has recognized the superior performance of the SIG SAUER line of pistols with this award. SIGARMS has invested heavily in equipment and engineering resources to ensure that law enforcement has the best and most durable firearms to bring to bear in the war on terror and that those pistols are made right here in America,†said Jim Pledger, SIGARMS Vice President for Law Enforcement and Military Sales.


The selection of SIGARMS was made after an extensive testing and evaluation process which included pistols manufactured by several companies. As part of this contract the SIGARMS Academy will provide armorers and instructors training to DHS personnel.


The SIG SAUER pistol has long been a mainstay in law enforcement community and the introduction in 2003 of the new DAK trigger system for the P226 and P229 has helped increased SIGARMS’ popularity among law enforcement. With this new contract SIGARMS greatly expands its presence at the federal law enforcement level where it currently has some of the most prestigious agencies carrying its pistol.


In 2003 SIGARMS expanded operations at its Exeter, New Hampshire, facility with the addition of several new state-of-the-art CNC machines increasing production capacity by over 25%. In 2004 SIGARMS received certification as an ISO 9001: 2000 company
Click to expand...



This means that the Coast Guards Berettas will be replaced by not only a much better handgun, but also a lot better round because the .40 is going to replace the 9mm. This is news that I've been waiting for quite awhile. :D

http://sigarms.com/news/index.asp?display=detail&id=67
 
I didn't realize H&K was that much larger than SIG...

From the DHS press release...

'SIGARMS Incorporated, a small business...'

'Heckler & Koch, a large business...'
 
That seems odd given the fact that H&K doesn't yet have a factory in the U.S. while Sigarms does and the fact that both are simply the U.S. Divisions of large foreign firearms manufacturers. Overall, I should think they are about the same in size.
 
Don't Sigs have a reputation for being particularly prone to rust? Does this sound like a good idea for a Coast Guard gun?
 
Oracle - the good news is that SIGARMS does not charge extra for its 'brown chrome' finish.
 
The 229 is a blackened stainless slide on an aluminum frame. Seems less likely to rust than the M-9s carbon steel slide on aluminum. Now, stainless will rust eventually, but I think it will hold up better overall. The CG M-9s are in pretty rough shape. Weird, they come back from major overhauls with parkerized slides mated to blued frames.

SEAL teams use the 226 to some extent, although I don't know for what and how often.*

*I base this strictly on various Discovery channel specials and third/fourth-hand info, I am not in any way affiliated with the Naval Special Warfare community. How is that for a disclaimer? :D
 
Weird, they come back from major overhauls with parkerized slides mated to blued frames.
Click to expand...

You'd think they'd choose something a little more corrosion resistant. At least the Sigs that they are going to be issued have the possibility of being more corrosion resistant. Hopefully someone will engage brain and make sure the ones that are likely to be near salt water (Coast Guard, etc.) will be constructed of a material or have a finish that can withstand corrossion more readily. Thanks for the info!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

A
  • Locked
SIG sells 551 to Feds - may manufacture in USA
2
Replies
35
Views
4K
Zak Smith
Zak Smith
Rockrivr1
  • Locked
SigArms is doing well in the US
2 3
Replies
52
Views
5K
KLR
K
D
  • Locked
SIG SAUER, Inc. Secures a $306 Million Pistol Contract by the U.S. Army's Material Co
2
Replies
33
Views
2K
Frog48
F
T
  • Locked
SIGARMS contract
Replies
17
Views
2K
BrokenArrow
B
D
  • Locked
Private Security Guarding US Military Bases ???
2
Replies
29
Views
3K
SapperLeader
S
Back
Top