Polymer sig pro:

SP2340 --- A Personal Review

SP2340 pictures

Courtesy of Dr Ken Lunde; lunde@adobe.com        

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Ken also wrote the Sig Pro Faq: http://www.praxagora.com/lunde/SigProFAQ/

What does a polymer pistol fan like me think of the polymer sig pro, also known as the SP 2340? Let’s find out.

The Conflict

It's fairly common for new models to get snubbed by consumers. After all, it took time for some of our most highly respected pistols to be accepted, such as the original Colt 1911, as well as the early Glocks and Classic SIG's, etc.

Apparently there are two SIG camps: the Traditional/Classic SIG Fans with their fancy decocking lever, and the new Polymer SIG Rebels. Some people actually think that durable polymer pistols are just plain crap. Well, let's set some things straight.

First of all, whether some people like it or not, there is a very strong mass appeal for well made polymer. Just look at Glock history for an example.

Second of all, unless the SIG traditionalist wants a beloved *antique* from a company that is no more, then he/she better start supporting SIG's decision to market both the classic and new polymer models. It's a vicious competition war out there.

Therefore, next time someone expresses an interest in polymer, despite all of your classic SIG logic to the contrary, then graciously point to the SIG polymer line! Get it! <G>

SIGARMS picked up a Federal contract with the DEA. Other agencies are also using the classic models and the new kid on the block, the sig pro. So the SIG future is looking promising. SIGARMS has a web site: http://www.SIGARMS.com which provides excellent support. An excellent SIG Talk Forum is also located at www.sigforum.com/

A Touch of Personal History

Since 1993, I've been a big polymer pistol fan. I've also dabbled with a number of other pistols such as the SIG P229, HK USP 40/45, Beretta Brigadier 96, various 1911 models, Ruger, AMT, early S&W 9mm autos, SW99, Steyr, CZ, XD, etc.

When the sig pro first came out, I wasn't impressed and ignored it. Even the SIG Talk Forum at the time was knocking the new polymer kid on a regular basis. However, I slowly started hearing a few people say some good things about the sig pro. At any rate, I decided to take another look.

My plastic loving mind thought, "Obviously, I like polymer based pistols, since they have proven themselves in the market place. And they can be lighter, as well as less expensive (I really like the last reason)." Polymer pistols may tend to feel slightly top heavy when compared to all-metal pistols. But that's very easy to get used to, especially when you find out how well they function.

The Examination

So I went into one of my favorite gun shops and fiddled with a sig pro. The sales person let me disassemble it; he looked pretty bored with me as a customer.

The sig pro felt good in my hands, and it really looked good.

I especially liked the modular grips for various sized hands. From what I’ve seen, the standard grip seems to be the most popular. The rubber grip is made for large hands and helps absorb recoil. Variations to these modular grips could be made if the marketplace ever demands it. Both grips felt very solid and unless you knew it, the grip looks and feels like a permanent part of the frame. I had to use a wide slotted screwdriver to pop the grip off; that grip is made to stay on once you install it.

When I disassembled the pistol, I was pleasantly surprised. Everything about the pistol is beefed up, like the pins and springs, and it has tight tolerances. The rails are down right awesome; one writer stated that you could hold up a bridge with 'em.

SIG SP2340 Specifications:

Overall length: 7.36"

Overall height: 5.67"

Overall width: 1.34"

Barrel length: 3.86"

Rifling Lead: 14.96/.40 S&W; 15.98"/357 SIG

No. of grooves: 6

Sight base: 5.90"

Weight including magazine: 30.2 oz.

Trigger DA pull: approx. 9.5 lbs.

Trigger SA pull: approx. 4.5 lbs.

Magazine capacity: 10 (12 for Law enforcement)

No Manual Safety on the sig pro

With the 1911 single action style pistol, a manual safety is a *requirement* to carry it safely. With newer types of pistols like Glocks and SIG's, the built in safeties render a manual safety unnecessary. If there were a law to require a manual safety on a SIG which already has a combination of passive and active safeties plus a long first trigger pull, it would be the height of political naiveté and actually quite shocking.

But a second reason for the manual safety has arisen. There have been times when a manual safety has saved someone's life from a perpetrator who pulled the trigger and nothing happened. Then again, there are known cases where a manual safety has gotten a person in trouble because he/she forgot to take the safety off.

If you want to think of a manual safety as a security lock, fine. Just remember a manual safety is a simple toggle switch, which can be figured out pretty easily. Are you willing to gamble your life and possibly others, that someone who takes your gun will not be able to figure out the simple combination to your toggle switch, also known as a manual safety? The better technique is to develop excellent retention and storage skills.

1911 fans have to remember to thumb the manual safety, and SIG owners have to remember to decock the hammer before reholstering. On the other hand, Glock owners, as well as all pistol owners for that matter, must keep their finger off the trigger until they are actually going to shoot, otherwise there are bound to be unintentional discharges. In this regard, do not follow the examples seen on TV, please!

What does all this mean? Training!

When you get right down to it, none of these trigger systems is better than any other. There are still other trigger systems that I haven't mentioned here. One particular trigger system might seem better to someone simply because of personal preference. But the bottom line is that you have to train accordingly with the particular type of trigger system you choose.

You'll find pistol experts in each of the above mentioned trigger disciplines.

DA-Like Trigger Systems

Personally, I like Double Action and DA-like pistols because they are the easiest for me to use under stress. If you wish to hear me rave and rant about DA-like trigger systems, please read http://www.HandGunInfo.com/Archive/www.Pete-357.com/petej/xddasa.htm

Some of my favorite DA and DA-like pistols are: Springfield XD’s, Steyr M Series (currently unsupported in U.S.), sig pro SP2340, P229, and probably the P226 if I ever happen to try one, Glock 9’s, and Glock 357’s. I must say that I have not fired a 1911 based 357 Sig pistol, a USP Compact 357, or a Beretta Cougar 357 so I cannot comment on them. I suppose I prefer companies that provide a full line of support for the 357 SIG caliber, but that’s just me.

Well Supported SP2340 Chamber

Wow! The SP2340 barrel chamber is well supported. For a .40 shooter, this is fantastic news. I measured some fired sig pro brass (from my initial break-in session -- see below) and was pleasantly surprised that the brass expanded to around .427 to .428, which is fairly close to some of the match barrels I've used in other pistols. As a comparison, my HK USP40 expanded the brass to around .429 to .430 (a little sloppier, but not bad). But my Glock .40 expanded the brass to its maximum limits of .431 to .432; that’s twice as much as the sig pro, assuming new brass usually measures around .422.

A reloader like myself doesn't want to see maximum/over-expansion of the brass, since the brass won't last as long and can be downright dangerous to use, as in kB! (that's kaBoom! or Case Failure in glock-eese; a word coined by the Dr. of Gun World Intelligencia, Dean Speir, famous Gun Magazine Writer and the primary author of the famous Glock kB! Faq). Frankly, even a person that just shoots factory ammo should not want to take a chance with over expanding the brass in a sloppy unsupported chamber; Buyer Beware! -- http://communities.prodigy.net/sportsrec/glock/gz-glock-kb.html

Collage

The sig pro appears to have an excellent positive slide lock-up. You should not see off center primer strikes or have problems firing out of battery with this model. In fact, the disconnector prevents an out-of-battery discharge.

This pistol is really built solid. The sig pro has fewer parts, long lived and flexible polymer, removable one piece fire-control unit for easily switching between DAO or DA/SA, four point safety system, reversible magazine release, modular grips, integral accessory rails, non snag design, beefed up pins, beefed up springs, beefed up slide rails, etc. This pistol is built to be tough, long lasting, and have low maintenance.

The new Nitron impregnated stainless steel slide seems to be a lot better than my old P229 setup. The fact that the sig pro costs an average of $200 less than the P229 doesn’t hurt either :----)

Since SIG SAUER wanted to create a new generation polymer pistol, they couldn’t just clone their P229, using the same mags, etc. Compromised creations seldom excel! I believe SIG SAUR did the right thing to make the best of a new breed. In fact, when you look at the sig pro, it is not immediately evident that it is even a polymer pistol --- Yes, it really looks and feels that good.

Torture Testing

I heard from one gun writer that the sig pro held up very well with some European torture testing.

Mike Boyle mentioned that the DEA tested three SP2340 pistols and fired 10,000 rounds through each one. The SP2340 was subsequently approved for use by DEA agents.

"The National Institute of Justice (NIJ), through its Office of Law Enforcement Standards (OLES), has developed voluntary minimum performance standards for revolvers, autoloading pistols, and shotguns for police use" --- Reports from the NIJ can be found at http://www.nlectc.org/testing/pistols.html  In the Jan. 2000 report the P229 was tested in 9mm and .40 calibers. The SP2340 was tested in 357 SIG caliber, which produces the highest pressures and demands the most from the pistol launching platform. Interestingly enough, the P229 passed the 9mm test and failed the .40 test due to trigger problems and failing one of the drop tests. The SP2340 passed the 357 SIG test with a perfect score.

Holsters

Since the sig pro was introduced in June 1998, there has been enough time for a number of holsters to be made available. I’ll mention the only ones I’m familiar with at the moment, but please feel free to contact your favorite holster company for inquiries. In Mike Boyle’s article, he mentioned using the Alessi CQC-S (Close Quarters Covert-Snap) belt holster and the Super Slide from FIST. I’m using the Blade-Tech belt holster as well as their new UCH IWB (Ultimate Concealment Inside-the-Waist-Band) holsters.

I have found the SP2340 to be quite easy to conceal with various holsters, whether it’s IWB, shoulder rig, or even a t-shirt holster. If you want something to fit in your pocket, then the SP2340 is not the pistol for you. But it is an excellent pistol for almost any kind of holster you can imagine.

At the Range

I took the sig pro to the range to shoot 250 break-in rounds. The gun functioned flawlessly with 0 failures. Just make sure the pistol is cleaned and properly lubed before firing it for the first time.

Accuracy

I frankly couldn't believe it. Even with its short sight radius, compared to my Long Slide Glock 35, it shot just as accurately, maybe even better. It was common to share the same ragged hole in the target within 21 feet. Both Ayoob and Walt Rauch have stated that the sig pro is very accurate, equal to or better than the P229.

SIG Bar/Dot Sights

I’ve been using 3-dot sights for years and the SIG bar-dot/dotted-I sights bothered me when I first got my new SP2340. After giving it a fair chance for a few weeks, I grew to like the doted-I style the best. In fact, I found that I had less of a problem shooting with both eyes open since the eyes don’t have to triangulate on three dots. I just ordered a Trijicon front night sight so I can shoot better in low light situations.

The Trigger

I like DA-like consistent trigger systems. But once again, I was pleasantly surprised with the sig pro. The first double-action trigger pull seemed light, smooth, and crisp, approx. 10 lbs. When the adrenaline hits the blood stream, I can't tell the difference between a 2-lb. trigger pull or a 20 lb. one. The single-action trigger seemed light and crisp, at around 5 lbs. At a USPSA practice session, I was shooting just as fast and accurately as many of the 1911 single action fans in my group.

The initial Glock trigger pull has a lot of slack until you get to the tension point; From there, it feels pretty much like a single action trigger. With its short trigger reset, you don't have to let the trigger out very far to squeeze off the next shot.

In contrast, the sig pro has a nice smooth double action 1^st trigger pull that is very easy to master. The single action mode feels fairly similar to a Glock, in the sense of having a fairly short trigger reset. In other words, SIG did a great job.

Trigger Lubrication

I noticed that my .40 SP2340 had a very crisp trigger while my 357 SIG SP2340 trigger felt a little gritty and stacked up at the end of the trigger pull. I took the grip off to see if it looked dirty. Nope. So I pulled out some Tetra Lube, which penetrates very nicely into the surface. I lubed up everything in the grip area as well as the long trigger bar. I put the pistol back together and the 357 SIG SP2340 now has a nice crisp, trigger pull.

Timed Double-Taps

Mike Boyle timed some double taps at an IPSC target set at seven yards. The goal was to shoot as fast as possible and still get the rounds into the coveted A-zone. Mike shot ten double-tap pairs and was able to fire from Weaver Ready in .85 of a second, with a .21-second split between shots on the average. Performance was equal or superior to other pistols chambered for high performance cartridges.

Thumb Placement

If you are used to riding your thumb high, you'll have to change your style when shooting the sig pro. The thumb should ride below the slide stop and decocking lever so you don't gouge yourself, or cause a jam.

Perceived Recoil

I was amazed again. The felt recoil was less than my long slide Glock 35, even though they weigh roughly the same. The Glock felt like it had a bit more vibration and twist during the firing sequence. On the other hand, the sig pro felt very solid and had a bit more muzzle rise, although it returned to position instantly. So in this case, I'd say that the higher bore axis of the sig pro is a moot point.

sig pro in 357 SIG Caliber

From another perspective, Mike felt that the 357 SIG, which averages 38,000 psi, is no more abusive than the .40 S&W. He qualifies the report as sharp, somewhat similar to a 38 Super, but not quite as distracting as a .357 Magnum revolver. Mike also felt the SP2340 will prove to be one of the better bullet launchers for this round.

If you’re not a dedicated pistolero, or don’t want to put up with the extra 357 SIG magnum power, you might just want to look at the new sig pro SP2009 in 9mm Luger format. Or, and I think very importantly, you can also use lightly loaded 357 SIG rounds, which I often do at the range, to emulate the mellow 9mm Luger round, for the purpose of saving my hand from getting sore from shooting a few hundred rounds.

Yeah Baby! The extremely efficient, bottlenecked 357 SIG is so "flexible" that it can be downloaded to feel like a typical 9mm round or it can be juiced up to a 357 Magnum equivalent, according to exterior ballistics, using bullet weights from 90 grains to 150 grains! In this regard, I suppose I’m the Ghost of 357 SIG Future, since I describe how flexible the 357 SIG really is (reload testing), even though currently, ammo companies tend to mostly produce full power 125 grain rounds.

Some typical Full Power velocities using one of my favorite 357 SIG powders, Alliant Blue Dot, from a 4" barrel (barrel measurement includes chamber):

(Obviously, a longer 5" barrel or more, can increase velocities substantially. Maximum SAAMI psi for the 357 SIG is rated at 40,000. Since the case is more beefed up than the .40 S&W case, the maximum pressure is not an issue. With the proper powder and components, you can get excellent performance with pressures between 32,000 psi to 38,000 psi.)

If you would rather compare pistols, then Mike said the SP2340 can produce slightly tighter groups with less perceived recoil than the P239, and is just as accurate as his P220 in 38 Super.

Mike sums it up nicely: "Even when firing the high energy .357 SIG, felt recoil was negligible. You know you’re shooting something with a little more pizzazz than a 9mm, but when one considers that external ballistics are on par with a .357 Magnum, felt recoil transmitted to the shooting hand is mild indeed. In fact, push is definitely less than our P239 .357 SIG we used for comparison. There is a more pronounced muzzle flip than a 9mm for example, but this is easily managed. With a proper grip and stance, this should not prove to be much of a handicap to a seasoned shooter."

The SP2340 Magazine

The first generation SP2340 magazine had a tendency for the base plate to come off. SIG fixed this problem. The second generation magazine holds together nicely and that’s the current version as I write this review.

The magazine is labeled for both .40S&W and 357 SIG. An empty magazine drops free very cleanly. But, if you load up the magazine and rack the slide, the magazine is no longer drop-free in the strict sense of the word. Reason: the next round on top of the magazine "can" slip forward slightly. It doesn’t matter if you bang your loaded magazine to seat the rounds first. I called SIGARMS and they bluntly told me this is an engineered feature. It does not adversely affect the cycling of the sig pro.

For an IPSC shooter, not using a drop free magazine is anathema. The sig pro is not a true IPSC pistol with a 2-3 lb. single action trigger pull housed in a lightning fast trick holster. While IPSC isn’t great for learning life saving tactical skills, it is good for practicing speed and accuracy, as well as having lots of fun.

My drop-free Glock magazines are more like drop-slow magazines. So I usually reach up and rip the Glock magazine out when I press the magazine release. Because of the SIG magazine feature mentioned above, you have to rip the sig pro magazine out as well.

For IDPA tactical shooting, you usually shoot until the slide locks back or you do a tactical reload. In this kind of defensive practical/tactical shooting, a drop free magazine is not necessary. In fact in an emergency, a drop-free magazine could be a handicap since you might easily lose it when you might need it again.

Maintenance Take-Down

After breaking in the sig pro at the range and breaking it down for cleaning a few times, it becomes a lot easier to work with. The pistol is kind of tight when you first get it. I have to admit that I sure miss the traditional takedown lever of the classic SIG's. Apparently, because of the mechanics of how the barrel cam works, SIG engineers opted to use the more common slide catch lever takedown method used by many other auto pistols.

In order to take down the pistol for maintenance, you have to take the magazine out and lock the slide back. This pretty much forces even the most dense owner to look into the chamber to make sure it's empty --- I like this safety feature a lot.

Decocking Lever

Another complaint from the Traditional SIG owners is that the decocking lever on the sig pro isn't as nice as the one on the classic models. Well, "I know you are, but what am I?" Classic or not, the sig pro decocking lever works fine, especially after it is broken in. In fact, the sig pro may be a little more snag free because of its recessed decocker and slide catch lever.

Chronograph Data

I quoted from sig pro SP2340 articles written by Walt Rauch and Mike Boyle. In Walt’s article, his last paragraph states: "Both calibers [357 SIG and 40 S&W] performed at a high accuracy level as shown in the accompanying tables and were very pleasant to shoot. In fact, I found the .40S&W version to be the most accurate polymer-frame handgun in .40 caliber that I've shot to date." 

(Charts Note: 5 shot groups at 25 yards)

Competition Shooting

I have to shoot the 357 SIG in the USPSA Minor Power category for the Limited Class. You need to use a minimum size bullet of .40/10mm to shoot in Major Power. Well, this silly rule certainly is not conducive to making the 357 SIG caliber popular in USPSA shooting. But I can make Major in the Open Class, so I'm still good to go.

On the other hand, USPSA now has the Production Class to cater towards the IDPA crowd with a standard 125 power factor (Minor Power). Of course the 357 SIG is literally idling when it gets down to the 135 – 145 power factor range. I still get irked about this IPSC tradition when we know that the 357 SIG performs at least as well as a .45 (Ask the Texas DPS). On the other hand, we have to remember the history of how IPSC/USPSA started. All hail the mighty .45. J

SP2340 Issues

SIG has continued making improvements to the sig pro line and this is a good sign that they are serious about their new polymer line. All new pistols have a break-in period and you should not get one if you are not willing to make the upgrades. I do not see any show stoppers with the sig pro line. In fact, I must add that most sig pro owners I read about are very happy with their pistols and are not having problems. The newer manufactured sig pros are better due to natural evolution. Still, it's nice to have a list of potential issues in case you need to do some debugging. An excellent “plus” for SIGARMS is that their web site actually announces recalls, unlike another well known firearms company which I choose not to mention.

Lest the classic owners get too cocky, all you have to do is go to another talk forum to hear complaints about even the excellent classic SIG P series pistols. In fact, you will find someone to complain about any given gun ever made if you look around a little. J

Here are some comments from the SIG Talk Forum:

1. Broken plastic tab at top of magazine well - no problem, the factory is now taking them out of the design and removing them from older models.

2. Firing malfunctions:

a.      Continuous malfunctions even though you clean and lube the weapon were caused 90% due to low tolerances on the extractor. Not enough space for the extractor to hook the empty casing. You can clean and lube it until tomorrow... it will not solve your problem. Change the extractor.

b.     Slide not locking back on last round caused by operator placing thumb on slide catch release. Also, by loose spring designed to hold the slide release pin in place. The pin would slide out of location and would not allow the slide catch lever to engage the slide. Replace spring.

c.      Slide locks back during firing with rounds still in magazine. (see above answer)

d.     Slide not fully moving into battery leaving 1/4 inch hang on the rear of the weapon even after 500 rounds - caused by barrel and slide too tight fit, extractor problem, low tolerances on slide and rail points. Solved by extractor replacement, or slide polish.

3. Magazine release lever does not "spring" the magazine out when depressed caused due to bad spring in mag or follower getting caught prior to reaching top of mag. Replace mag.

4. Magazine base shifts forward and locks upon impact with ground caused by rear lip of base and flat plate above the base. Solution could be to shave the lip on the rear of the base. SIG is working on replacement plates with a bent lip to reduce movement. This problem is esthetic and does not render the magazine useless.

5. When the mag is fully loaded there is enough spring pressure in the mag to prevent the top round from walking forward but from my experience when there are 7 or less rounds in the mag it will not drop free, sometimes it will do it with 8 rounds. As most situations you reload from slide lock it is not critical but if you are trained to reload when possible to keep as much ammo in the gun as possible it is something to be aware of. It is kinda nice because you are not always dropping your mags and if you accidentally hit your mag release it is a simple slap'n'rack immediate action.

6. To reduce the "drag" the slide puts on that second round in the magazine: Some armorers were told by the factory to polish the slide part in the middle rear area with 180g sand paper and keep it well lubed. Older Pro models also had a little notch (looks like a pin hole) on this part of the slide. We were told to polish it out... You can clearly see a discoloration on this slide piece from where it drags on the round as it sits in the mag.

Summary

Why consider a sig pro:

1.     Highest quality polymer frame, producing excellent damping characteristics.

2.     Excellent recoil control with both the 357 SIG and 40 S&W calibers.

3.     Efficient, snag free, recessed decocker and slide catch lever design.

4.     Lower cost; the retail price of the SP is $200 less than the P229.

5.     Simplified internal design.

6.     Built tough to last.

7.     Low maintenance.

8.     Hammer-forged steel barrel for strength and accuracy.

9.     Well supported barrel chamber (especially critical for 40 S&W pistols).

10. Option of buying an extended Bar-Sto barrel for greater velocity potential.

11. Disconnector prevents out-of-battery discharge.

12. Interchangeable grips to fit various hand sizes.

13. Excellent grip angle for quick sight acquisition.

14. New corrosion-resistant Nitron impregnated stainless steel slide.

15. Steel to steel lockup of slide and frame.

16. Enclosed slide and grip design to keep out dirt & grime.

17. Integral fire control unit to easily switch from DA/SA to DAO.

18. Wide array of sights to choose from: standard Bar-dot/Dotted-I, 3-Dot, night sights, etc.

19. Integral accessory rails for attachments, such as the perfectly integrated Laser Sighting System (developed exclusively for sig pro models. Quickly slides on or off without changing point-of-impact or requiring special holstering. Waterproof to 10 meters. Day or night use).

20. Reversible magazine release.

21. Non-snag design.

22. Slotted front and rear sights.

23. 4-point safety system.

24. Slide must be fully open for dismantling – decreases chance for human error.

25. Full functional safety for first shot potential.

26. Very smooth and easy to master trigger pull for speed and accuracy.

27. Follow-up shots, in either DAO mode, or SA mode -- your choice.

28. Excellent short reset in SA mode.

29. Easy to cock hammer to fire first shot in SA mode.

30. Loaded round indicator.

31. Excellent accuracy.

32. Excellent SIG precision, reliability and Quality.

33. Excellent customer service and support.

The sig pro/SIG SP2340 is the smallest, big pistol that you can pleasantly shoot full powered 357 SIG and .40 S&W ammo through, without being concerned about recoil, as well as providing excellent accuracy and durability. I take my hat off to SIG Engineering. No one supports the 357 SIG caliber better than its founder, SIG.

A new generation polymer pistol is here, and it's a sig pro. SIGARMS summed it up well when they said the following about the new polymer sig pro: "It’s the only polymer-frame pistol good enough to be a SIG".

Addendum (SP2340 Versus P229)

1.     More efficient, snag free, recessed decocker and slide catch lever design.

2.     Beveled, narrower slide.

3.     Less blocky, more pleasant streamlined slide and frame shape.

4.     Optional grips for various sized hands --- great feature.

5.     At least as accurate as my P229's, maybe more so.

6.     Less parts.

7.     Less maintenance.

8.     Less expensive.

9.     More durable.

10. Better recoil damping due to polymer frame.

11. 1 piece fire control unit to easily switch between DA/SA and DAO.

12. Integral accessory rails for light attachments, etc.

13. Awesome, tough slide rails --- built to last longer than the Classic SIG models.

14. Excellent over-all pistol balance, as with the P229.

Yes, I still love the classic, flexible P229 with its amazing take-down and decocking levers. May the classic SIG's and sig pro polymer line live in peace :----)

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References:

Guns & Weapons for Law Enforcement: "New SIGARMS sig pro .357SIG" by Mike Boyle; 1999 Law Enforcement Equipment Guide.

1999 Annual Handguns: "A Radical New SIG" by Rich Savage; magazine displayed until April, 1999.

American Guardian: "sig pro SP2340" by Walt Rauch, April, 1999.

SIGARMS Product Portfolio, 1999.