Beretta submitted a new APX striker-fire pistol in the competition instead. Beretta submitted the M9A3, an updated version of the M9, before the MHS competition to try to maintain its contract, but it was rejected.The Army ordered the full-size and compact pistols chambered for 9mm NATO rounds and excluded the other part options Sig Sauer offers with the P320 model.This would address complaints about the 9mm NATO being ineffective in combat. In addition to the pistol, entrants were required to submit a regular and a special-purpose round, which suggests the Army is considering using more powerful rounds.The competition started in 2011 and received criticism for taking almost a decade to pick a winner.The Army held the contest after pressure to replace aging weapons and concerns about the weight and reliability of the M9.The firearm can adapt to special assignmentsĥ things you should know about the Modular Handgun System competition:.Smaller grips are important as more women enter the military.To get acquainted with the new pistol and understand why the Army made the change, we compared the performance and construction of the P320 and M9. Out of 12 handguns entered into the contest, the P320 won because of its lightweight, modular design. The decision was made through a lengthy and controversial Modular Handgun System competition. The Sig Sauer P320 will replace the Beretta M9 as the Army's standard-issue pistol.

Beretta m9 trigger pull