What's Going On With The Sig 320?

The Sig 320 has had a rocky history. There is evidence that indicates that when the firearm was first issued it was not completely drop safe. The military determined in 2018 that there were circumstances under which the firearm would discharge if dropped and demanded changes to the trigger and other parts. There were also issues with the civilian/law enforcement models that could go off if struck at a particular angle on the back of slide, including if dropped on a hard surface. Sig has offered to "upgrade" the pistols manufactured before August 2017 without admitting to any problem or initiating a formal recall. 

    But there has also been rare, yet persistent, reports of the firearms discharging even when sitting in a holster, with several videos showing such incidents. Sig has denied that anything is wrong with the firearms and blamed user error and/or holsters. On March 1, 2025, Sig categorically stated: “The P320 CANNOT, under any circumstances, discharge without a trigger pull – that is a fact” and suggesting that those saying otherwise were trying to profit off negligent discharges, avoid responsibility for their negligent discharges, or are simply anti-gun. 

    A recent article at The Truth About Guns digs into one particular incident involving a law enforcement officer, blaming the "accidental discharge" in that case to gaps in the holster necessitated by the use of a weapon light. ("Are SIG P320 Discharges Really About the Gun… or Just Overloaded Duty Rigs?"). The author (I believe it to be Rich Grassi based on this very similar piece at the Tactical Wire) explains:

    Seattle’s KING-5 News recently covered an incident involving a sheriff’s deputy responding to a call involving an emotionally disturbed individual. During the takedown, a round discharged from the deputy’s holstered P320. No injuries, fortunately.

    But here’s where it gets weird: the agency claimed the discharge was caused by a loose handcuff arm getting into the trigger guard while still holstered.

    You read that right.

    The holster in question was fitted for a weapon-mounted light, which inherently adds bulk and leaves a wider opening. That extra room between the gun and the holster mouth? It’s an invitation. Whether it’s a cuff arm, zipper pull, drawstring, or even a suspect’s finger during a scuffle, you’ve now got a clear path to the trigger.

    We’re not looking at a design defect. We’re looking at a setup fail. 

From there, the author moves to a general discussion of whether police (or other shooters) are attaching too much stuff to their pistols, and in particular questioning whether every officer needs a weapon light on his or her pistol; and, if officers are using a weapon light, urging that the holster needs to be designed for that particular pistol and weapon light combination. "If your current holster setup allows foreign objects—or body parts—to reach the trigger," the author writes, "that’s not a pistol problem. That’s a training and equipment problem. Full stop."  

    Others, such as YouTuber "Carry Trainer," have suggested that where there is smoke there just might be a fire. Ben Stoeger, in a YouTube video, suggests that there may be tolerance stacking issues with the sear and striker that could lead to the handgun going off. 

    What do you think? Is this a big "nothing burger" or a repeat of the Remington 700 trigger fiasco? Sound off in the comments.