Fair point.

I will not be the least surprised if the armed forces dump the M17 and M18.

There is almost certainly one or more officers in an influential position who has completely bought the “uncommanded discharges” claim despite what any study to the contrary declares. The military services have always tried to defend their positions about every conceivable question, only to later lobby for a change (sometimes quietly, but not always).

When they start pushing for the change this time they—like other decision-makers—will point to the numerous lawsuits and ignore how they all turned out—something I have witnessed in face-to-face person. The “Where there’s smoke, there’s fire,” argument has convinced countless decision-makers regardless of whether there was actually any fire.

So, what will it be? The “perfect” Glock? Why not a staggered column magazine 9mm 1911? That model was in service for decades and not a single soldier, sailor, airman, or Marine ever had an unintentional discharge due to mishandling that weapon.

If the Army can go back to “pinks and greens,” why not ol’ slabside?

Don't think they'll toss the M18, it's a stable good platform, it's in place and SIG is standing behind it, an SIG is winning the lawsuits.

Air Force Releases Results from Inspections of M18 Pistols

Sept. 3, 2026 | By Matthew Cox

The Air Force has ruled the M18 service pistol is “safe and reliable” after inspecting more than 100,000 of the service’s 9mm pistols, according to a Sept. 2 announcement. Leaders ordered a force-wide inspection after a July 20, 2025, discharge of an M18 killed an on-duty security forces Airman at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyo.

The death of 21-year-old Airman Brayden Lovan was originally believed to be “a result of an accidental discharge” and fueled safety concerns about the M18—a Sig-Sauer pistol based on its P320 striker-fired weapon. Multiple lawsuits filed against Sig Sauer, mostly by law enforcement officers, have alleged that P320 pistols can discharge unintentionally...

Complete article:

https://www.airandspaceforces....-inspection-results/