Article Info
Sig P320 Safety & Recall History
Photo: US Army (Public Domain (U.S. Gov))
| Scope | |
|---|---|
| Impact | national |
| Key Entities | |
| P320 manufacturer; issued Voluntary Upgrade Program in 2017 | Sig Sauer |
| Attorney who publicly suggested the P320 may have discharged unintentionally in the Pretti shooting | Rob Doar / MN Gun Owners Caucus |
| Signed law shielding Sig Sauer from P320 liability lawsuits in May 2025 | Gov. Kelly Ayotte (NH) |
| Army veteran awarded $11M after holstered P320 discharged; plaintiff in landmark case | George Abrahams |
| What It Means | |
| |
| Timeline | |
| 2017 | Sig Sauer launches Voluntary Upgrade Program to address P320 drop-fire issue |
| August 8, 2017 | Cutoff date for P320s covered under the Voluntary Upgrade Program |
| 2020 | Hartley class action settlement completed; covered pre-Aug 2017 P320s for cartridge failures, not unintentional discharges |
| November 2021 | Philadelphia jury awards Army veteran George Abrahams $11M after holstered P320 discharged |
| April–May 2025 | Sig Sauer lobbies NH legislature; Gov. Ayotte signs law shielding manufacturer from P320 liability suits |
| January 25, 2026 | Alex Pretti shooting in Minneapolis reignites P320 unintentional discharge debate |
Sig P320 Recall History Resurfaces
The P320's unintentional discharge problem is back in the news—here's what owners need to know.
From The Boise Gun Club Handbook
The Sig Sauer P320 is back under scrutiny. The Minneapolis shooting of Alex Pretti—a licensed CCW holder carrying a P320 AXG Combat—has reignited a long-running debate about whether the pistol has a defect that allows it to fire without a trigger pull.
Pretti, 37, was carrying a loaded P320 9mm when a Border Patrol agent grabbed the gun from his holster. Seconds later, another agent opened fire. Gun attorney Rob Doar, representing the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus, stated publicly that he believes the P320 experienced a negligent discharge when the agent removed it—triggering the fatal response.
The intrigue: The P320 is one of the most widely carried pistols in America—by civilians and law enforcement alike—and this incident puts unresolved safety questions about the platform squarely back on the table at the worst possible moment for Sig.
- More than 100 allegations of "uncommanded" discharges have been filed against Sig Sauer involving the P320.
- In 2021, a Philadelphia jury awarded Army veteran George Abrahams $11 million after his holstered P320 fired while he was walking downstairs, causing permanent leg injuries.
- In April 2025, Sig Sauer successfully lobbied the New Hampshire legislature for a law shielding the company from P320 liability lawsuits. Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte signed it in May 2025.
Sig addressed the drop-fire problem back in 2017 with a Voluntary Upgrade Program, allowing owners to swap their pre-August 2017 pistols for updated models. A class action settlement followed in 2020—the Hartley settlement—which covered owners of P320s manufactured before August 8, 2017, who experienced internal mechanical failures during firing.
By the numbers: The 2020 Hartley settlement had limits that matter now.
- It covered refunds for prior repair costs and a lifetime warranty against cartridge failures.
- It did not cover personal injury claims from gunshot wounds, and it did not address unintentional discharge allegations—the exact failure mode now being discussed in the Pretti shooting.
- Sig's position remains that accidental discharges are exceedingly rare given the millions of P320s produced, and that the platform is among the most tested handguns in recent history.
If you own a P320 manufactured before August 8, 2017, and haven't gone through the Voluntary Upgrade Program, that's your first move. Sig has been running the program for years and it's free. The upgrade addresses the drop-fire issue that was at the center of early lawsuits—though critics argue it doesn't fully resolve all discharge scenarios.
Zoom out: The P320 isn't the only pistol with a recall history. Sig's own lineup has seen safety alerts on the P238 and MCX. FN's FNS pistols, Smith & Wesson's M&P Shield EZ (manufactured between March 1 and October 31, 2020), and Ruger's Mark IV and American Pistols have all had notices, among dozens of others. There's no federal agency with authority to compel a firearms manufacturer to issue a recall—unlike cars, toys, or power tools. Every recall or safety notice you see from a gun manufacturer is voluntary. If a manufacturer decides to sit on a known defect, the only legal remedy is a lawsuit. New Hampshire just made that remedy harder to access.
What Idaho owners should know: If you carry a P320, a few things are worth doing now.
- Check your manufacture date. If your pistol predates August 8, 2017, contact Sig about the Voluntary Upgrade Program if you haven't already.
- Review holster fit. Some of the uncommanded discharge complaints involved holsters that allowed debris or pressure to contact the trigger. A quality holster with full trigger guard coverage matters.
- Document your firearm—serial number, purchase date, any upgrades received. If you're ever in a situation involving your carry gun, that paper trail is important.
The bottom line: Whether or not the P320 discharged unintentionally in Minneapolis is still being investigated by DHS. What's not in dispute is that the platform has a documented history of discharge complaints, a voluntary (not mandatory) upgrade program, and now a state law in New Hampshire making it harder to sue the manufacturer. If you carry one, know your gun's history and act accordingly.
Go deeper:
- Phils Custom Handloads(Swartz Creek, MI)
- Gls Guns(Sumner, IA)
- J & L Gunsmithing(Chesapeake, VA)
- Oliver Firearms(Spartanburg, SC)
Loading comments...