If access to the U.S. Army’s newest sidearm, the M17 (and its compact brother the M18) is a problem for some fire enthusiast due to firearms restrictions in their countries or they are not allowed to own one, they can settle for the third best thing, an air pistol version (the second best is an airsoft version).

In a press release early this month, SIG Sauer unveiled the SIG Air M17 ASP Air Pistol (ASP stands for “Advanced Sport Pellet). This is a .177 air pistol replica of the M17, which is based on the SIG P320, and is field strippable like the service sidearm.

SIG Sauer says that it feels and looks like the M17 and it is also mainly made of Polymer with a metal slide that produces a blowback action. The magazine is a proprietary 20-round rapid pellet drop magazine that also houses the 12g CO2 cartridge which has a patented cam lever loading port that us designed for quick and easy replacement of the cartridge.

At a weight of 2.15lbs it is actually heavier than the Army-spec’d M17 which weighs 1.843lbs. Since it looks like the M17, the M17 ASP also sports the M1913 rail allowing owners to mount weapons accessories to it such as aiming devices or lighting. It can be used for training purposes since it mimics the real deal pistol.

“It handles exceptionally well, is fun and accurate to shoot, and a very effective training tool, especially with the drop magazine for quick reloading,” said said Joseph Huston, Vice President and General Manager of SIG AIR. “Current M17 owners will also appreciate that it field strips like the U.S. Army M17 pistol.”
Muzzle velocity with the .177 pellets is 430fps. The sights are fixed with the front sight having a white dot and available in Coyote Tan. Pricing in the U.S. is

US$119.99, which makes it cheaper than an KJ Works made SIG P229 Gas Blowback Airsoft Pistol which usually retails at around US$139.00 if it is still being sold by airsoft vendors.

Now, when do we get the airsoft version of the M17?