Comment: A lot of safety and training information from the Army and Navy and Marines.
Bottom Line: This is a complicated firearm quite different from the previous one. See highlighted text below where operation of the safety is reversed from the previous gun.
The second Army link shows a problem loading the magazine into the firearm after reassembly that has to be solved by training the troops on how this is done.
https://www.ascrad.army.mil/PS-Mag-Archive/Fleets/Pistols/
Army Sustainment Command - Redstone Arsenal Detachment
https://www.ascrad.army.mil/Portals/74/Resources/Small%20Arms/Loading%20the%20M17.pdf
_________________________________
https://www.army.mil/article/226128/army_overhauls_small_arms_training_with_tougher_standards_combat_like_rigor
Army overhauls small arms training with tougher standards, combat-like rigor
_________________________________________________________________
https://navalsafetycommand.navy.mil/Portals/100/Documents/SA%2023-25%20M18%20Service%20Pistol%20Mishaps.pdf
Naval Safety Command
Safety Awareness Dispatch
M18 Service Pistol Mishaps
Quote:
Up is Down and Down is Up. While conducting weapons cleaning, a Marine negligently discharged his M18, causing injury to his hand. The Marine, deciding his firearm was dirty, attempted to clear the condition one weapon (round in the chamber) to clean the firearm safely. He started by thumbing the manual safety down, intending to ensure the weapon was on safe. Of note: The M18’s manual safety is reversed from the legacy M9 pistol. Specifically, the M9 is on safe when the safety lever is in the “down” position, whereas the “down” position for the M18 manual safety is on fire. In reality, the service member actually changed the weapon to fire (what happens next is probably fairly obvious). While continuing to clear the weapon, he inadvertently pulled the trigger, resulting in a negligent discharge through his hand. ―This mishap is a classic example of the above negative habit transfer. With the safety being reversed between the M9 and the M18, Marines must rebuild their muscle memory for this change and must deliberately check (not assume) if the weapon is on safe or fire.
