The pistol model trusted by US SEALs for 30 years

Compact and suitable for many combat conditions is the reason why the P226 pistol has been trusted by the US Navy SEALs for the past 30 years.

The pistol model trusted by US SEALs for 30 years

Test firing of US Navy P226 prototype

While soldiers of other US military branches widely use the Beretta M9 pistol,US Navy SEALs againSig Sauer P226 pistol has been a favorite and trusted weapon for the past three decades., according toNational Interest.

The Beretta M9 9mm pistol was widely adopted by the US military in the mid-1980s to replace the M1911A1 that had been in service for decades. The M9 is considered a modern, safe, and easy-to-use pistol with twice the ammunition capacity of the M1911A1.

However, SEALs gradually realized the disadvantages of this pistol model, especially with high intensity training in harsh conditions.In 1986, a SEAL was injured by the rear of the breech cover.M9 gunThe SEAL suffered only minor injuries and only a few M9s had cracks, but the SEALs were still looking for replacement pistols.

The SEALs’ first choice was the Austrian-made Glock 17. The Glock 17 passed saltwater corrosion tests, as SEALs often have to be submerged in seawater. However, the Navy concluded that it was inferior to the M9 in other aspects.

The SEALs then decided to test the P226 pistol from the German-Swiss joint venture Sig Sauer in harsh environments such as sand, seawater and mud. Worried about a repeat of the M9 incident, the SEALs tested all five P226s, each of which had to fire up to 30,000 rounds.

A P226. Photo: National Interest.

After passing the most rigorous tests, the P226 pistol was assigned to the SEALs with the initial designation P226 Navy, before the P226 Mk. 25 version was introduced in 2011.

Initially, SEAL ordered 800 Navy P226sand entered service in 1989. The P226 Navy has a barrel length of 11 cm, slightly shorter than the M9 barrel, using 9x19 mm Parabellum ammunition. The gun frame is made of steel alloy, the breech cover is made of stainless steel for increased durability and coated with anti-corrosion material. The gun weighs 964 g when fully loaded with magazine.

Unlike the M9, the P226 does not have a manual safety, all safety mechanisms are integrated into the fire control system to prevent accidental triggering. The gun is also equipped with a safety that releases the hammer but does not cause the gun to fire.

SEALs typically use 15-round magazines. While it can provide sustained firepower, the large magazine size has forced manufacturers to extend the grip, making the P226 less suitable for people with small hands.

The P226 pistol has been the SEALs' sidearm of choice for the past 30 years. However, the US Navy is looking for a replacement for the pistol in the future. In late 2015, the US Navy Special Operations Command decided to add the Glock 19 pistol to the SEALs' arsenal to gradually replace the P226.

According to VNE