SIG SAUER M17 ASP Air Pistol Review

The Clarys review the SIG SAUER M17 ASP Air Pistol.

USA – -(AmmoLand.com)- If you check out the SIG catalog, you will find the P320 ASP air pistol which was designed as a training tool for those agencies which have purchased the “regular” SIG-SAUER P320 9mm Luger pistol.

SIG SAUER M17 ASP Air Pistol

It was shortly after the introduction of that air pistol that the US Army announced that a slightly modified SIG P320 won the competition to become the new US Army sidearm, designated as the M17.

It was only logical that SIG produce a replicate clone air pistol of the M17 for training purposes. At this point, we should point out that the M17 ASP is NOT the same as the P320 ASP air pistol. They are two distinct and separate clones of two distinct and separate firearms.

For starters, the P320 ASP had a 30-round magazine which had occasional issues in feeding. The newly designed 20-round magazine (RPM – Rapid Pellet Magazine) of the M17 ASP does not have those problems and consistently feeds smoothly.

The M17 ASP can be field stripped (the P320 ASP could not), not only simulating its centerfire “parent” but making it easy to remove a jammed pellet, should that occur. This pistol has the same look and feel as the polymer frame of the M17 centerfire pistol, including a metal slide with a blow-back action. The physical measurements of the M17 ASP are virtually identical to its centerfire counterpart. Although the M17 centerfire is lighter than the M17 ASP when empty (29.4 oz vs 34.4 oz), they are comparable when the M17 is loaded.

All things considered, the M17 ASP is as perfect a functioning clone that is possible. When handling the ASP, it is very easy to forget that you have an air pistol in your hands and not a centerfire pistol.

However, as good as this gun looks and handles, the major question is: “How does it shoot?” In order to be an effective training piece the gun must cycle through the 20 round magazine without jamming and it must be accurate.

Preparing the M17 for shooting is incredibly easy. The quick release magazine button drops out both the 20 round magazine and the housing for the 12 gram CO2 cylinder.
Illustration courtesy of SIG SAUER, Inc.

Loading a CO2 cylinder is a snap. Simply pull the cam lever down, drop in a cylinder and close the cam lever….. done! The cam lever loading system is unique and patented by SIG. To load pellets, simply depress the recessed button on the front of the housing (not visible in the picture) and the magazine drops out for loading. When finished, insert the magazine back into the housing and replace the housing into the grip of the M17, as you would do in loading any semi-automatic pistol. Make sure that the ambidextrous thumb safety is on before inserting the magazine/CO2 housing unit…. safety first!

Now it is time to get serious and determine whether this piece will deliver the advertised 430 f.p.s. velocity and record its accuracy. Jim took the gun outside and set up our SIG QUAD shooting gallery at 15 yards and prepared our Caldwell G2 Chronograph to record the average velocity of the pellets.

About Jim and Mary Clary:

Jim and Mary Clary have co-authored over six hundred published articles (and counting) on shooting and hunting. You can read many of them on AmmoLand News.

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