Compact, consistent combat conditions are the reason P226 pistol guns are the SEAL specialties of the US Navy believe in the past 30 years.
While other US military personnel used the Beretta M9 pistol, US Navy SEALs favor Sig Sauer P226 guns and have been using them for three decades, according to the National Interest .
The 9 mm 9-mm Beretta M9 was widely used by the US Army in the mid-1980s to replace the previous M1911A1. The M9 is said to be a modern, safe and easy-to-use model with twice the bullet strength of the M1911A1.
However, the SEAL Task Force recognized the shortcomings of this pistol, especially with its high intensity of training in extreme conditions. In 1986, a SEAL soldier was injured because the back of the M9 lock gun was cracked and splashed in the face. Although the task was only slightly injured and only a few M9s showed cracks, SEAL forces still wanted to find a replacement gun.
SEAL's first choice was the Glock 17 manufactured by Austria. Excellent Glock 17 passes the test of metal corrosion resistance in salty environment, because SEAL specialists often have to soak in the sea. However, the US Navy concluded that it was still inferior to M9 in other features.
SEAL decided to test the P226 pistols from Sig Sauer joint ventures in Germany and Switzerland in harsh environments such as sand, sea and mud. Concerns about repetitive events such as the M9, the SEAL Task Force conducted a test of the strength of all five P226s, each of which fired up to 30,000 rounds.
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One P226. Picture: National Interest.
After passing the most stringent tests, the P226 pistol was repackaged for SEAL with the original designation P226 Navy, before the P226 Mk. 25 was born in 2011.
Initially, the SEAL ordered 800 P226 Navy launchers and began to use it in 1989. The P226 Navy has a barrel of 11 cm, slightly shorter than the M9, using a 9x19 mm Parabellum. The barrel is made of steel alloy, the lid of the lock box is made of stainless steel to increase the durability and anti-corrosion materials. The gun weighs 964 g when fully loaded.
Unlike the M9, the P226 does not have a manual safety lock; every safety mechanism is integrated into the fire control system to prevent the robbery. The gun is also equipped with a safety lock to release the hammer but does not cause a fire.
SEAL missions usually use a 15-round magazine. Although it can provide long lasting firepower, the large size of the shell allows the manufacturer to extend the grip, making the P226 unsuitable for the smaller hand.
The P226 Pistol has always been the favorite weapon of the SEAL Special Forces in the last 30 years. However, the US Navy is seeking solutions to replace the gun in the future. By the end of 2015, the US Special Operations Command decided to add the Glock 19 shotgun to the SEAL pistols to replace the P226.
Duy Son
