Navy SEAL's pistols?

[Lightsped]

Do the U.S. Navy SEALS use the Sig 226 in 9mm or the H&K Mark 23 in 45 cal? Some people say they use the Sig, while others say they use the H&K....

 

[SRMohawk]

I think they use whatever they want !

 

[Sgt Stevo]

The teams have a lot of stuff in there toy box. They like, issue the 226. But have some older silenced HK pistols. They also have whatever SOCOM Has. So the Big HK is there if they want it.

I also agree that they have leway in what they carry.

They have M-4s, M-P-5s, M-14s, Big 50 thingys, a bitchen M-60 that is cut down for them. In there box is also some other stuff.

I have been around them in passing. As they tend to stay to themselves. But the only pistols I saw were the sigs.

 

[C-grunt]

When I was in high school, my JROTC took a trip to San Diego and got to take a tour of the SEAL's station. The SEAL that gave us a tour was showing us some of the weapons and said that they can carry basically anything they want as long as its compatable with the rest of the team. IE...if everyone else is carrying 5.56 and 7.62 weapons, you cant carry a 5.45x39 rifle.

 

[SAG0282]

Do the U.S. Navy SEALS use the Sig 226 in 9mm or the H&K Mark 23 in 45 cal? Some people say they use the Sig, while others say they use the H&K....

The primary general issue pistol is the SIG Sauer P226 (Mk24). The Mk23 is a specialized offensive pistol also in more limited use. They also use the Smith and Wesson 686 at times. Reportedly there is a movement under foot to replace the SIG with an HK USPc LEM .45.

 

[SRMohawk]

"They have M-4s, M-P-5s, M-14s, Big 50 thingys, a bitchen M-60 that is cut down for them. - Sgt. Stevo

Man, there are some pretty darn funny fellas hangin' out here (e.g. Harry Flashman, Biker, Sgt. Stevo). Worth the price of admission by itself!

 

[VacuumJockey]

"Hey Ripley, don't worry. Me and my squad of ultimate bad-asses will protect you. Check it out! Independently targeting particle beam phalanx...FWAP! Fry half a city with this puppy. We got tactical smart missiles, phase plasma pulse rifles, RPGs, we got sonic, electronic, BALL breakers! We got nukes, we got knives, sharp sticks..."

~ Colonial Marine Hudson

 

[KINGMAX]

Yes - The old 686 does make an appearance

My Dad is retired SF, (Special Forces A-24). He indicated the old 686 still has it's place even in the modern age. As a matter of fact he gave me his old 686-1. It still has the old style hammer w/ the firing pin, not a bar transfer system. I will not change it. It was given to him by a Deputy-Sheriff in my home town, (Fayetteville, NC), years ago. I still shoot and carry it on occasions.

 

[Brian Williams]

It still has the old style hammer w/ the firing pin, not a bar transfer system. I will not change it.

You could not change it any way, But it has a trigger /hammer bar system that was put in S&W revolvers in the late 40s and it actually works well. The change most S&W lovers do not like is the firing pin in the frame. Shoot it and enjoy.


Back to the Topic, Most of the elite types carry mission specific weapons. Along with what they desire as long as it is not over weight and fits the mission, it is theirs.

 

[doofus]

Check out the Navy SEALs forum over at tacticalforums.com. It's moderated by Frogman, who's an active SEAL.

Here's a list of quotes attributed to him:

I don't find the 9mm to really be lacking. While I often prefer a .45 the 9mm put into a badman "spot on" will work. When it comes to ball ammo, I really prefer the .45. During the times when we can select HP ammo, I don't think it matters as much. Since we usually use ball, I guess it makes sense to boot up to a .45.

You see the same thing when folks debate 5.56mm vs. 7.62mm. I have personal knowledge that 5.56mm works quite well on humans.

I'm not super excited about the USPc, but I'm not against it either. It will certainly not rust as much in salt water, and it will be nice to have a suppressor for it. But, I sure will miss the SIG trigger and ergonomics.

I have NEVER said I was issued one, nor has anyone else been issued one. The long term plan is, apparently, to replace the P226 with some other pistol. Team area scuttlebutt is that this will be some COTS version of the .45 USPc.

I think if this pistol comes the Mk 23 should leave. I also think we'd be better served with custom M1911's (in .45 ACP) as secondary weapons than any other handgun design out there.

I've seen any minor mention of this pistol taken way out of context or just plain misquoted all over the internet.

#1- Who cares what SEALs use?

#2- Weapons changes happen VERY SLOWLY in NSW. It's kind of sickening, really.

#3- The SIG P226 is a fine handgun by anyone's judgement. It has certainly served NSW very well for over a decade.

 

['Card]

In my somewhat limited experience with SEALs, I got the impression that most of them would carry whatever pistol they thought would look best with their shorts.

 

[Onmilo]

LOL, Kel-Tec P32

 

[KINGMAX]

S&W 686

QUOTE: You could not change it any way, But it has a trigger /hammer bar system that was put in S&W revolvers in the late 40s and it actually works well. The change most S&W lovers do not like is the firing pin in the frame. Shoot it and enjoy.

To: Brian Williams - Thanks for the information on my old 686-1. I really cherish this one piece above all my others because of it's family history, no other reason.

My Dad took it on more than one project, and carried it for years as his choice for a carry weapon in the USA. He wanted a small pistol to carry - 'CCW'. I bought him a nice Taurus 5-shot 38 Special. He wanted only one pistol in his house to keep up with, so that is when he gave it to me. I swap it around w/ my GLOCK 21 as my carry in my truck, just depending where I am headed and how long I will be gone. I feel the need to have a pistol in hand when I re-enter my house, especially after dark. You never know who may be visiting while you are away.

 

[RustyShackelford]

US Navy SEAL issue handguns; books

I've read several non-fiction books about the SEAL units and US Navy SPECWAR ops(Rogue Warrior, First SEAL, One Perfect Op, Red Cell, Combat Swimmer, etc). Most active US Navy SEALs use the SIGarms P-226 9mm. I have heard some SWCC(spec warfare combat crewmen) and SEALs also use the HK Mk23 .45acp depending on the conditions and/or missions.

SOF(Soldier of Fortune) had an item that stated that some SEALs used the Kimber .45acp as a duty sidearm.

The S&W model 66/686 .357magnums were used a lot 20/30 yrs ago but I doubt they are as popular now. Pistols are more durable and can be used with better results that a 6 shot .357 revolver.

I would say most spec ops units carry whatever weapons they want with little or no regulations. If an "operator" wants a 1911a1 .45 or a Beretta 92F or a HK Mk23 I'm sure they would use it.

 

[Quinch]

Non-fiction?

 

[mljdeckard]

I was a candidate with the 19th Special Forces group. There are a few pecularities within the community, which I hope have changed a bit since my time. One is budget. Our weapons were old and beat up, and not too exotic. The understanding was, it is our JOB to keep them working, and if you're going to beat it up, (Which is what we did with our training weapons,) why use the new ones? A2s, WWII vintage 1911s, Vietnam era M-60s, etc. We had some MP-5s, but they were treated like mother's fine china. I haven't asked, but I HOPE that in the current political climate, they are being provided current gear, and the budget for enough ammo to train with it. (Of course, the point of such a unit is to accomplish the mission no matter what gear you have. The men in these units are not known for making excuses like, "We would have caught Bin Laden in Tora Bora if we had USPs instead of 1911s.")

The prevailing understanding was that when we went to war, (My unit did do a LOT in Afgahanistan, I was not tabbed,) is that your life is on the line, and the war referees aren't going where we are going. Take it and use it.

People get a lot of ideas in their head, they read manufacturer placards that say, "Official issue of _____", and in magazines like the U.S. Cav Store catalog, with "Official Issue" tags next to everything, and they think they that it's all true. I had a RUDE awakening in the army, about what they actually issue you when you get in, and how much of it sucks, so you embellish with aftermarket stuff.

 

[Sgt Stevo]

MJDECkered, were did you guys drill out of? The Amoury in Redwood city is full of M-4s, and other good stuff.

Not to mention, the 19th is ng, not Navy. When were you in the stans? I might know you.

I know a lot of 19th guys. Saw one today. He is also a local cop.
Did you say the 19th deployed with old m-2s? I never saw that.

 

[mljdeckard]

I was not tabbed, I was with the linguists in Bagram. We drilled out of Camp Williams. We didn't deploy with A2s, we TRAINED with A2s.

 

[Coronach]

Odd. I work with a guy who is a reservist and did support operations with the SEALs (not sure how you would describe his assignment, but he was very up front about NOT being a SEAL), and he HATED his Sig pistol. Said it jammed constantly, even if kept clean. He eventually tossed it and picked up some locally-used pistol (started with a T?) and said that worked just fine.

His M4, on the other hand, ran like a top. His opinion seemed to be that if you were having difficulties with your M16/M4, you probably should have paid more attention when they were teaching cleaning/maintenance procedures. That, or you should consider a career in the Air Force.

Hey, his words, not mine.

Mike

 

[mljdeckard]

If I handled a clean sig that malfunctioned, I would turn it in. It's not my first choice to carry, but they are nothing if not reliable. I must assume there is something wrong with the one he handled.

And yes, M-4s will keep going. Keep the dust cover shut, wipe it out when you can.

 

[30 cal slob]

i was told by a retired udt vet that water drains out of a 686 revolver faster than a pistol, which is why it is still in use.

 

[jc2]

The 686 handles silty, sediment filled water better than an autoloader. You get into water with a real heavy silt load, and it plays havoc with autoloaders and their magazines.

 

[Demiurge]

My best friend is an active SEAL. They have access to a lot of different weapons as has been noted already. Nothing is exactly a standard for them.

 

[BrokenArrow]

I was in the USAF, but I have worked w SEALs who had SIG P226s and Army SFs who had M9s.