US Coast Guard to Use Airsoft SIG P229 Pistols for Training

SIG SAUER has announced that the US Coast Guard will be using airsoft SIG P229 pistols in their training of both their Cadets and Guardsman.

The pistols have been designed to approximate the look and feel of a “real steel” pistol by mimicking the look, balance, feel, and handling of the centerfire pistols. In addition to the obvious cost savings, the SIG AIR Pro Force pistols will also allow for realistic force on force training as well as the ability to train in environments not previously possible.

Because it is an airsoft gun, the pistols will only have a range of 50-80 feet and a muzzle velocity of less than 350 fps, which makes training in sensitive areas possible.

SIG says that the gas blowback pistols will ship with night sights as well as a single 25-round magazine.

Currently, the SIG AIR Pro Force P229 airsoft pistol is not available for consumers but is set to release commercially in 2019. Find more information about the entire SIG airgun line on the SIG Sauer website.

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SIG SAUER, Inc. is pleased to announce the United States Coast Guard will acquire the SIG AIR Pro Force P229 airsoft pistol to be used for training with their Cadets and Guardsmen. The SIG AIR Pro Force line of products from SIG SAUER includes high-end airsoft pistols designed to be an exact replica in look, weight, balance, and handling characteristics to their traditional firearm counterpart.

“The SIG AIR Pro Force P229 airsoft pistol is engineered and manufactured to meet the SIG standards for precision, quality, accuracy, and reliability,” began Joe Huston, Vice President and General Manager, SIG AIR. “The SIG AIR Pro Force P229 airsoft pistol gives the U.S. Coast Guard’s Cadets and Guardsmen the ability to practice gun handling, conduct target practice in various environments, and train in realistic force on force scenarios with a pistol that has the same look and feel of their issued P229 sidearm.”

The SIG AIR Pro Force P229 is a full-size, metal frame airsoft pistol with a one piece molded ergonomic polymer grip and night sights. The pistol uses a semi-automatic firing mode with a gas blowback to replicate traditional firearm shots with a functional slide lock, and has a muzzle velocity of 280-340 ft/second and a range of 50-80 feet. The SIG AIR Pro Force P229 comes equipped with a SIG rail and one 25-round magazine.

“It’s an honor to build SIG SAUER products for use with our nation’s defense professionals and know they meet the highest standards for both quality and performance,” said Ron Cohen, President and CEO of SIG SAUER, Inc. “The M17 pistol has been adopted by every service branch, our TANGO6 riflescopes are being integrated into the weapons systems of our special forces and the U.S. Army, and now we can add the U.S. Coast Guard’s SIG AIR Pro Force P229 airsoft pistol to the wide range of SIG SAUER products in use with the men and women serving our country.”

The U.S. Coast Guard’s acquisition of the SIG AIR Pro Force P229 airsoft pistols was made through a small business set-aside awarded to Tidewater Tactical in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

The SIG AIR Pro Force P229 airsoft pistol will be available commercially in 2019.