Your Issued Firearm (Military and LE)

[MTMilitiaman]

M16A4 w/RCO, Grip Pod, 3-battery Surefire white light, and PEQ-2
M249 SAW with spare short barrel, quad-rail forend, Grip Pod, PEQ-2, and this collapsible M4-style stock that brought the finished weapon weight to 19 pounds, unloaded.

I felt confident in my ability to hit with either, but actually would have preferred several other options. For anything where the M16 with the RCO would have been useful, I would have preferred my M1A with a low powered variable. The M4s were very popular with squad leaders (equipped with M203s) and turret gunners, but weren't general issue, and I would have preferred an AK, or really any number of other modern carbines. The M249 was decent, but too heavy for what it does. It may be belt fed, but it is still a poodle shooter, and there is no place in this world for any 20 pound poodle shooter. I would have rather carried the extra weight of any of the later, more advanced M60 or M240 variants and had 7.62mm firepower than carried a 19 pound 5.56mm--esp since the 200 round boxes were loud, awkward, and clumsy, and most often discarded in favor of 100-round "nut sacks." I would have also rather had one of the newer, upgraded short-barreled PKMs, again, because it provides belt-fed 7.62mm firepower in a package with comparable weight to the SAW, or the RPK/RPD, because they provided comparable firepower in a package with less weight.

M9s were reserved for NCOs and higher. Doc Brown had one too.

 

[rugerdude]

^ the collapsible SAW stocks are pretty useless when used in conjunction with the SDO that a lot of SAWs have now.

USMC Recon: Currently issued an M4A1 with an ACOG, Aimpoint micro T1 on a larue offset mount (we used to have M68 aimpoints but couldn't use them and the ACOG together) and a PEQ-16 light/laser.

Also issued an M9A1 (M9 with a rail)

I did get an M-14 Designated Marksman Rifle for a few months, which I loved. Accurate, light (compared to the other sniper rifles it's a featherweight), and powerful. Considering the engagement distances common here in Afghanistan it is a much more appropriate weapon.

I also borrowed a guy's suppressed M40A5 for a couple of patrols.

 

[jdh]

FBOP Retired

After 92ish
Ruger P89DAO
M16A1 Carbine (Selector switch blocked for SA only)
Remington 870

Pre 92ish
S&W 38 Spec revolver
M1 Carbine
Remington 870

 

[hcso617]

U.S. Marines 1978-85 M-16A1, 1911

LEO 1985-present S&W 686, Colt 1911, Glock 21, Colt 1911
Started with the 686, great revolver my dept. allowed us to carry our personal firearm, if it was a semi-auto we had to go to "Auto-Pistol School" in order to carry it. When Glock became the rage in the early 90's I bought a model 21, I carried if for 6 months, didn't like it. I sold it and went back to my Colt 1911 which I've been carrying ever since. I'm the last dinosaur, my dept issues the Glock 22, I'm the only on left with a 1911. It's older then half of my squad. As a matter of fact my flashlights are older then most of my squad.

We are issued the S&W M&P151, the old standby 870, and I have TAC-14 Semi-Automatic Pepperball gun.

 

[Dups]

In Afghanistan, i carried a M9... (Beretta 92, 9mm basically +p+)

i would have MUCH rather carried a glock or a 1911, in NON 9mm... but i just dont' like 9mm, nothing against it.

 

[Ala Dan]

Military = M14, NO sidearm

Law Enforcement = None Issued, Personal West German SIG-SAUER .45 caliber P220A

 

[napierm005]

Active Army
Personal weapons: M4 w/ M68 CCO, M9
Crew Serves: M249, M240B, M2
M4 is fine, but the cco's are garbage, the Acog sight is best for long shots, and the Eotech is the best for room clearing. The 240B is a workhorse, the 249 is fine for foot patrols, and I think the M2 should be retired for a 50 cal. built in this century. If I had the choice, I would rather carry a battle rifle (M14, Fal, Cetme etc.) and being a glock, sig, and cz owner, I could think up an infinite number of better pistols than the M9. But who could dare doubt the US Army in it's infinite wisdom?

 

[happygeek]

M4A1 with Elcan SpecterDR 1X/4X; never been issued a sidearm but got myself a 92FS for practice. I also discovered it's surprisingly comfortable for CC.

I would love to own an Elcan SpecterDR 1.5X/6X, but last I checked they were going for close to 2 grand, which is just a tad out of my price range.

 

[Erik]

1. G17, G22, HK USPc(40), Sig 229(40), Rem 870, Steyr AUG, Colt M4.
2. Yes.

 

[strambo]

Army 1992-Present: M16A2, CAR-15, M60, M4...M9. would rather have my Sig P226 as a pistol, mainly because I think the slide mounted safety is lame and can be a PITA.

As far as the carbines, at each point in time that I had them, they were the best in our arsenal. My M4's on each tour (1 ea. theater) had an optic (ACOG or Aimpoint) and surefire light and an IR laser (PEQ-4, followed by PEQ 15).

 

[hinton03]

When I came in the Army in 1981 as an infantryman I was issued the 1911; later when I went to flight school I was issues a S&W Model 10 from the 1960's era I believe. Actually I really liked both firearms and now own 3 1911's and several smith 38's, including a 1968 Model 10.

I finished my time in the service with the M92; I have no issues with the M92 I just don't want to own one.

 

[RetDep310]

U.S. Army, 1972-1974 M-16A1

LEO, 1982-2008....started out, we had to provide our own weapon. First carried a S&W Mod 66, then a Mod 686. Later on issued Sig P226 in 9mm. We stayed with the Sigs from then out until my retirement. Would have preferred the P220 in .45.

Shotgun: Remington pumps, then a Mossberg 590. Really loved that one.

Patrol Rifles: Got issued one a couple of years before retiring. It was a
M-16 A1, fully auto !!! Sweet gun, but it was over 30 years
old. Probably the same one I had in the Army. Right before
I left, they issued Rock River M-4's.

 

[h20man]

LEO. Carry a Glock 23 in .40cal. I would prefer to carry a M&P40.

 

[Cmiller21b]

Afghanistan 2010 I carried an M16A2, then M-4 with an ACOG, and an M-9 that I took to small arms and had the trigger lightened, sights brightened, Crimson Trace handgrips and a new barrel and spring installed. I liked the M-4/M-9 combo. They can keep that M-16 junk. Too big to get in and out of MRAPs over there.

 

[Doru]

I was issued a Colt 1911 as my on duty handgun.....Luckily I have the option of carrying a G17 on duty.

All of our patrol cars hold a Colt Commando, 40 mil blue nose launcher, and 870P that's is set up for breaching.

SWAT is issued a Springfield 1911 Operator (soon to be switched out for a Colt 1911) and no, the Glock is not an option there. SWAT is also issued a select fire M4.

Drew

Have you signed up for Tactical Response's Fighting Pistol or Fighting Rifle in Los Angeles Feb 14-17? If not click here for more info: http://www.tacticalresponse.com/schedule.php

 

[357mag.]

Army 89-92 issued m-16.Had I ever been in combat I would have paid to be able to carry anything in 30 caliber.

 

[avs11054]

issued glock 22, remington 870, and colt 6920.

added surefire x300 to the glock, side saddle and mag tube extension to the 870, and magpul moe fore grip and surefire super tac to the AR

 

[SouthronBoy]

I was an Army infantry officer in the mid-80s. As a rifle platoon leader, I had an M16A1. I always said I would have taken one of our extra M203s if the SHTF. I carried a 1911 when I was assigned to be payroll officer or something like that. I never knew anyone who carried a rifle and a handgun. As a staff wienie and a 4.2 mortar platoon leader, I carried a 1911. I left the service right before they issued M16A2s and M9s.

What I always wanted to carry was an M3 grease gun, but they weren't authorized in line companies.

 

[LawScholar]

I am dazzled by all the military/LEO service on display in those last three pages.

With all my humility, thank you all for your service.

 

[BullfrogKen]

M16A2 rifle.

After infantry school I had responsibilities for crew-served guns at one time or another, and sometimes several at the same time. So that would be the:
M60E3;
M2 .50 cal;
Mk19;
M9 when I held the gunner billet

Other times I checked out one of the M249s out of the armory for patrols; an M203 once in a while.


I don't personally own an AR variant now, but I was satisfied with it then. I'd have preferred a 1911 over the M9. I'd have even settled for the Hi Power. Other than that, we made do with what we had and focused being proficient rather than pine over their weaknesses. Everything has a weakness of one sort or another. We just learned what they were and marched forward.

 

[owlhoot]

I was initially issued the Garand M1 during basic. Later the M2 carbine. I preferred the Garand for shooting but the carbine for carrying.

 

[killchain]

An M4 carbine with an Aimpoint, and then an EOTech.

 

[TheGewehrGuy]

I can speak for my dad and grandpa's on this...

Dad: Has had a Glock in .40 since he has been a cop. Never issued a rifle or shotgun, the police department doesn't think he needs one.

Grandpa 1: .38 special colt LE (not sure on model), then a Glock in .40 sw.

Grandpa 2: S&W .357 (Not sure on model), and just before he retired from the State Patrol, they issued him a Berreta 92, which he never liked because he's a 'big' caliber, 1911 .45 or revolver guy.

 

[kmcintosh78]

LEO. Glock 22 40sw. Bushy AR15. Remington Shotgun, can't remember the model.
Would have liked to carry something smaller as a second, but the Department limited it to Glock 40sw models.
Mil. Bushy M16.

 

[FLAvalanche]

1. I was issued an M16A2 and later as a section leader a Beretta M9 pistol. Our vehicles also had coax mounted M2 .50 cal and MK19 grenade launchers.

2. The A2 was just too long to be employed by the crewchief in the turret or the driver if it was ever necessary. If the crew chief was a section leader he had a pistol but if you were in range of the pistol you were already screwed and it was time to run the bad guys over. I wish we were issued something between a rifle and pistol, maybe a submachine gun of some sort. But the fact remains that we travelled in groups of at least3 and each vehicle carried at least a dozen infantry so our personal weapons were never needed.