Navy SEALs currently carry three handguns, each chosen for a different kind of mission: the SIG Sauer P226 MK25, the Glock 19 (designated Mk27 Mod 2), and the Heckler & Koch HK45 Compact (designated Mk24 Mod 0) for suppressed work. The first two are 9mm; the third is a .45 ACP built around subsonic, suppressed shooting. All three are engineered to keep working after saltwater, sand, and hard field use.
SIG Sauer P226 MK25
The P226 MK25 has been the iconic SEAL sidearm for more than three decades. After the U.S. military adopted the Beretta M9 in 1985, some pistols in Navy and Army service developed cracked frames and broken slides. U.S. Special Operations Command lost confidence in the M9 and bought SIG Sauer P226s instead, giving them the military designation MK25 Mod 0.1Marine Corps Association. Last Line of Defense: A History of the Beretta M9
It’s a full-size, double-action/single-action 9mm with a 15-round magazine. What separates it from a commercial P226 is the maritime engineering: phosphate-coated internals and a nitron-finished stainless steel slide that resist saltwater corrosion, plus an anchor engraved on the left side of the slide marking it as the official SEAL sidearm.2SIG Sauer. U.S. Navy SEAL Pistol P226 MK25 The all-metal frame makes the MK25 heavier than polymer alternatives, but that weight absorbs recoil and helps with the accuracy SEALs want in a sidearm.
Glock 19 Mk27
The Glock 19, designated Mk27 Mod 2 by SOCOM, has increasingly become the everyday carry pistol on the teams. It’s a compact, polymer-framed 9mm with a 4-inch barrel and a 15-round double-stack magazine. Compared to the MK25 it’s noticeably lighter and easier to conceal, which matters for low-visibility work.
The Mk27 Mod 2 uses Glock’s MOS (Modular Optic System) slide, letting a miniature red dot mount directly without aftermarket milling. SEAL-issued Mk27s pair with a Trijicon RMR, which gives faster target acquisition than iron sights, especially in transitional lighting. The threaded barrel takes a suppressor when the mission calls for it. Fewer parts, a predictable trigger, and a reputation for functioning after being caked in sand or dunked in water make the platform hard to argue with. The transition from the P226 started around 2015-2016, and many teams now run the Mk27 as their primary sidearm.
HK45 Compact Mk24
Not every mission calls for 9mm. In early 2011, Naval Special Warfare selected the Heckler & Koch HK45 Compact Tactical as the Mk24 Mod 0 Combat Assault Pistol, replacing the older MK23 that SEALs had carried since the 1990s. The Mk24 fires .45 ACP, a slower but heavier round that pairs well with a suppressor because subsonic .45 loads don’t produce a sonic crack.
The Mk24 is issued with an AAC suppressor and a Crimson Trace waterproof infrared laser that mounts on the frame’s accessory rail. The IR laser is invisible to the naked eye but shows up clearly through night vision, letting operators aim precisely in complete darkness without giving away their position with visible light. Its decocker-only configuration mirrors the manual of arms SEALs already know from the P226, which cuts training friction when switching between sidearms. Magazine capacity is 10 rounds, lower than the 9mm options, and that tradeoff is accepted for missions where suppressed lethality matters most.
What Makes a Pistol Survive SEAL Use
The three sidearms in current service share a set of requirements that quietly disqualify most handguns on the market.
Corrosion Resistance
SEALs spend more time in and around saltwater than any other special operations unit. A pistol that rusts after a beach insertion or seizes when packed with sand is worthless. The MK25’s phosphate-coated internals were engineered specifically for that environment.2SIG Sauer. U.S. Navy SEAL Pistol P226 MK25 The Glock 19’s polymer frame doesn’t corrode at all, and its Tenifer-treated slide resists salt and moisture. Every SEAL sidearm has to function after submersion, temperature extremes, and long carry without maintenance.
Suppressor Compatibility
A threaded barrel isn’t optional. Both the Mk27 and the Mk24 ship with one. The Mk24 exists specifically because some missions require a suppressed .45, since subsonic .45 loads eliminate the sonic crack that a supersonic 9mm produces even through a suppressor. This is one of the few areas where SEALs keep two calibers in the pistol inventory rather than standardizing on 9mm.
Optics and Accessories
Modern SEAL handguns are platforms. The Mk27’s optics-ready slide accepts red dot sights that improve hit probability under stress and in low light. The Mk24’s rail carries IR lasers for night-vision work. Accessory rails on all three sidearms take weapon-mounted lights. That modularity lets armorers configure the same base pistol for different mission profiles without maintaining a separate inventory of specialized guns.
Weight and Concealability
The shift from the all-metal P226 to the polymer Glock 19 wasn’t accidental. When an operator is already carrying 60-plus pounds of kit, every ounce in the holster matters. The Mk27’s compact frame also conceals more easily under civilian clothing for low-profile missions. The P226 remains available for operators who prefer it, but the size and weight advantage of the Mk27 has driven much of the transition.
Ammunition
The gun is only half the equation. SEALs have access to the M1153, a 9mm jacketed hollow point designated as “Special Purpose” ammunition. It uses a 147-grain bullet traveling at roughly 960 feet per second. The hollow point expands on impact, increasing lethality against personnel while reducing the risk of overpenetration in environments where a pass-through could hit a hostage or teammate.3Project Manager Maneuver Ammunition Systems. Miscellaneous Small Caliber Ammunition For the Mk24, .45 ACP hollow point loads serve a similar role, with the added advantage that standard 230-grain .45 is already subsonic and inherently quieter through a suppressor than a 9mm load that breaks the sound barrier.
Hollow point availability to special operations is worth flagging because conventional U.S. military units have historically been restricted to full metal jacket rounds under interpretations of the Hague Convention. SOCOM operates under different rules of engagement that permit expanding ammunition when the tactical situation calls for it.
Can Civilians Buy the Same Pistols
Mostly, yes. SIG Sauer sells a commercial MK25 that the company says is identical to the pistol it delivers under contract to the Naval Surface Warfare Center, complete with the anchor engraving and corrosion-resistant internals. The Glock 19 Gen5 MOS is commercially available and shares the Mk27’s optics-ready slide, though it won’t carry the military designation markings. The HK45 Compact Tactical is also sold commercially with a threaded barrel.
Suppressors, which are integral to how SEALs employ the Mk24, are legal for civilians to own in most states but require registration under the National Firearms Act. As of January 1, 2026, the federal tax stamp fee for NFA items including suppressors dropped from $200 to $0, though the application still requires submitting an eForm 4, providing fingerprints and photographs, and passing a background check. State laws vary on both suppressor legality and magazine capacity, so verify local regulations before buying.