Since Ernest Langdon’s historic 2004 IDPA Championship win with a SIG P220ST, SIG-Sauer has not really been a force in either IDPA or USPSA competition. In fact, at the national level, SIG has been almost non-existent with neither the shooters nor the products to compete against the games’ top stars.
That, apparently, is about to change. We’ve received word that SIG just hired US Army Marksmanship Unit star Max Michel, Jr. It will be interesting to see what pistol Max is shooting at his next match …
Train hard & stay safe! ToddG
Maybe now Sig will get serious about making decent pistols again.
maybe now Beretta will get off their ass and do the same.
very interesting about Max, I thought he’d have contractual obligations through the AMU?
I’ll believe it when I see it. I cannot see Max shooting a Sig competitively. Are you sure you didn’t mean Smith & Wesson? I can’t find anything out there to back this up. Would be interesting if true though.
-Mark
Mark — The info comes from a source inside SIG. That’s all I can say at this time.
Cool, thanks for the update. Any word on when its going public?
“We’ve received word that SIG just hired US Army Marksmanship Unit star Max Michel, Jr.”
Todd – I’m confused by this. If MM is still a member of the AMU, he’s already got a contract – with the Army. OTOH, if he’s decided to leave the Army, it makes sense. (It would probably cost ~$90k/year to match his pay, benefits and match support from the Army.) I guess there would be a grey area if they just decided to supply him with guns and support.
Mark — No idea. I’d imagine he’ll be in SIG’s booth at SHOT.
revchuck — According to our information, Max is no longer going to be in the Army (though he may remain a reservist, no idea).
It should be interesting to see this news play out. Max is obviously someone any factory would love to have on staff. He’s not only a World Class shooter, but also a World Class guy. SIG hasnt’ fielded a team of shooters in a while though and their guns aren’t broadly seen in the USPSA production ranks. I’m not as sure about IDPA because I don’t shoot that game as much.
We wish Max well in his new endeavors for sure.
Rodney May from Memphis TN shoots a SIG X5 in USPSA competitions, he is a Grand Master like Max, and finished 8th overall this year at the National Championships. He has always shot a SIG in Production Division.
Sam
interesting,….I have seen the vids with Max shooting an Sp01 in production,..it would be interesting seeing him shoot anything other than that.
+1 about Rodney May and the Sig. He shoots the hell out of his.
As a former member of the USAMU, AMU shooters have always been able to shoot their own guns or the Units. Shooting the Units guns limits you to what they have based on their purchasing, usually leaving you a little behind the power/technology. You are also able to have the USAMU gunsmiths work on your guns – however it used to be limited to normal repairs and adjustments, if you want upgrades, you have to buy your own parts. Parts were replaced by the unit if it is normal wear and tear caused by us by unit actions (matches) – like a re-barrel, etc.
Max would have no problems shooting for Sig, but his Match Schedule would still be dictated by the USAMU. Unless he is shooting as a private individual while on Leave, I am sure that he will not be wearing Sig Colors (shirt, Hat, etc). But I believe that the Army is cool with him wearing USAMU Colors in Ads. It is free Army Recruiting Advertisement. USAMU has a couple of Charters – one is to improve marksmanship in the Army, and another as a recruiting vehicle.
Just my thoughts.
I attended the AMU camp at Ft. Benning in October and had the pleasure of speaking with Max. He stated multiple times that he was getting out of the Army in 2009 and that he already had a deal set up. Sig must have been what he was talking about.
No doubt if he is shooting with SIG he’ll be using either the X series 220 or 226. The tolerances of the X production guns are so tight and smooth you see/feel where the added cost went.
I just spoke with Max at the “Shot Show” on Friday, I congradulated him on his tough dicision to move on board with Sig Sauer. I believe Sig and Max’s collaboration will bring a much needed boost to all pistol competition.
Sig Sauer is a major sponsor of the 30th Anniversary NRA Bianchi Cup in May, and Max will be back to shoot again this year, except on the Sig Sauer Team and not the AMU Team.
Howdy.
I live in NH not too far from Sig’s training facility and I’ve been there a few times for classes.
The buzz around here is that Sig will be hosting IDPA matches this year at their facility. I sure hope that is true; they have a nice facility for shooting.
Maybe those of you who speak with the good people at Sig can nudge them along the path to IDPA matches. Hint, hint.
Thanks,
Tony
Tony,
I think if you guys contact George Harris at the Sig Training Academy he will be able to answer your questions.