You've Been Selected To Choose Our Next Military Issue Handgun

[4v50 Gary]

I'm an old fogie I guess. 1911A1 with some modifications. Straight mainspring housing (better for smaller hands), better sights (high profile, night sights), ambidextrious safety (for the lefties out there) and Pachmayrs.

 

[10-Ring]

I voted USP 9.

 

[Mike Irwin]

Given the dubious utility of a handgun in military service, I'd say drop the gun entirely, and give everyone M4s.

 

[Boats]

Given the dubious utility of a handgun in military service, I'd say drop the gun entirely, and give everyone M4s.

Isn't that what the M1 Carbine was all about? Frankly, despite attempts to rid the battlefield of the pistol, it soldiers on. It is used offensively, defensively, for jobs where continually being out of reach of the rifle or having to constantly resling it is a problem, and sometimes it is just a security blanket.

Still, the pistol is a very serious combat arm. Whether house clearing, cave and tunnel clearing, or other CQB situations where space or tactical movement is a problem like in boarding ships (where, in my own experience, I preferred an M1911 to anything else in our small arms lockers quite frankly), silenced use offensively, and other employments, the pistol remains very viable.

If they were so lacking in utility, why haven't Delta, the SEALS, MEU/SOC, tankers, pilots, MPs, sailors, and others given up on them yet? The "battlefield" is not always the one where the M4/M16 would be the best choice. Heck, the shotgun still soldiers on for certain applications despite its limited range. So why do a lot of soldiers who would not normally be issued a pistol sometimes make extraordinary attempts to get one? Why are they the most common small arm in general use in the Navy? Why did Marines houseclearing in Iraq demand more pistols in front line units? Because you don't always get to choose where your enemy will be and no one weapon can cover every contingency.

Despite the advent of subguns, PDWs and the like, the pistol persists. The issue has probably been definitively settled. Portable lethality in a small package is hard, if not impossible, to replace. It is likely that since it hasn't been replaced by now, the handgun never will be by anything that fires through chemical reaction.

 

[Ala Dan]

Greeting's Ian11- And Other's

Thanks for the selection! My choice for the next military
sidearm goes to the 9m/m SIG-Sauer P226; as it
should have been chosen in the first place!

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

 

[Thumper]

Other/1911

 

[txgolfer45]

Ok, if DOD doesn't allow handguns without an external safety, then get the Glock 17 with the Cominelli safety. I voted Glock 17 due to nato 9mm compatibility. But a G21, G22, G23 or G19 would work too!

Scott

 

[Martini13]

How about a 1911 in 9MM, Meets everyones desires for the 1911, and is 9MM This is a joke...don't flame me.

 

[Mike Irwin]

Boats,

No, the M1 Carbine was not designed as a complete replacement for the handgun, nor was it originally intended to be used as a front-line weapon. It was to be issued to those who jobs required them to be armed, but who might find a full-sized firearm to be more of a hinderance than a help -- artillery, truckers, etc.

You'll note that I never said that the handgun was lacking in utility.

Nor is it useful to compare the requirements of highly specialized troops such as the SEALS, Delta Force, etc., with rank & file.

 

[MJRW]

I'm just picturing Glocks in the hands of some of the 4-years-and-out army, air force, marine, and navy folk I have met, known, and seen and then mulitiplying that by N soldiers. Then figuring that most of the ones I have come across at least had a mild interest in handguns whereas many other military folk do not (GI bill anyone?). I just smell catastrophe.

 

[Boats]

Be fair to me Mike, "dubious utility" is about as close to "no utility" as one can come. Also, I didn't just cite the needs and/or uses of Special Forces either. For some applications of force, especially CQB situations, no matter who is tapped to provide the force, the pistol is highly useful.

You did say you'd "give everybody M4s." Perhaps you were thinking for infantry only? The Navy and Coasties will certainly always have theirs, so will medics and corpsmen, as will pilots in all services. Even if the combat worthiness of the previous services and professions is deemed lacking to base pistol procurement upon, it is the truth that the front-line Marines in Iraq were demanding more pistols in future urbanized theaters for the point man through the doors based on their experiences going house-to-house in the PG War II.

 

[Ian11]

During the extensive coverage of "Operation Iraqi Freedom" (TV/Print) I saw a lot of our soldiers with their M9's drawn. Whether they were on the streets or clearing a building the handgun seemed to be used more often than I ever thought it would be. Those pictures convinced me that the handgun has gained more prominence in the age of today's modern urban warfare.

.....And its pretty obvious many of our fellow forumites are quite stubborn and some quite vitriolic about their 1911's being passed up, despite the parameters given in this poll. Basically, the poll was asking if the XM9 trials were held today and you had final say which would you pick? It was my fault I did not make it clear enough (I guess).

.....Personally, I'd rather see our troops armed with something other than a 9mm because only FMJ loads are allowed. Or allow our troops to load their Berettas with hollowpoints. But thats neither here nor there. I think this is the political reality of our times so I doubt we'll see our troops being armed with anything else than a 9mm pistol loaded with NATO ball ammo. (For many of the same reasons the U.S. isn't going to abandon the 5.56mm NATO round anytime soon.) I will admit I am a fan of both rounds. But I believe I am simply expressing the reality of the situation and not about whats right or wrong for our troops or trying to express any particular bias. Simply, if our military were to choose a new handgun I believe these are the ones they'd choose from.

 

[12-34hom]

Glock , nobody does it better.... = yawn

You're kidding; right??

12-34hom.

 

[firestar]

They have it right now! The Beretta 92fs. There really is no gun on the list that out preforms it to any noticable degree. I am assuming that we are going to have a hi-cap double stack mag with a DA trigger sidearm. The Sig would be a good choice also but I'm not sure if Glocks are the right gun for people that are not that used to having guns.

Most service men and women are not gun nuts like us. They might shoot themselves or others with that Glock trigger. Also there is no second strike capability and I think that is important when shooting military ammo. I have had some hard primers that required more than one pull of the trigger useing military ammo.

No one is ever happy with what they have but the Beretta is a good gun. Is it better than a 1911? Who knows? They are so different that it is hard to compare. Would you rather have an empty 1911 in .45acp or a Beretta M9 with 7-8 shots left in the mag?

 

[cool45auto]

Oh yeah, I'll second that Beretta vote!

 

[Boats]

No one is ever happy with what they have but the Beretta is a good gun. Is it better than a 1911? Who knows? They are so different that it is hard to compare. Would you rather have an empty 1911 in .45acp or a Beretta M9 with 7-8 shots left in the mag?

With that Berreta, or any Wondernine in this list, you'd best have 7-8 shots left in the mag 'cuz you're gonna have to shoot everyone you hit at least one more time each before they get to you.

 

[556A2]

Even though it wouldn't have the "safety" requirements, I'd go with the Glock. Less parts, durable, and simple.

 

[varoadking]

I never really felt that bureaucrats and brass had any right to choose

So whom would you have select these weapons - Gomer and Duke?

 

[Arkady]

If you're dropping the Beretta (it isn't my favorite, but few people will argue that it isn't functional), and wish to keep a 9mm, then i vote for the SIG P226/P228.

 

[Lancel]

With the parameters listed, just keep the M9 as is.

Although I'm a fan of both 10 mm and Glocks there's such a wide variety of military (doctors, dentists, lawyers, etc.) who are assigned a pistol that decocking levers and smaller grips are good ideas.

But then like Mike Irwin said, "... give everyone M4s.":

The M4 works great with an assault sling. Slung muzzle down across the back when working with your hands it's out of the way yet quick to draw.

Larry

 

[only1asterisk]

Somewhere outside of Bossier City, LA


B-52 Pilot to Crew Chief: " What the **** is that?"

Chief "It's your new gun rack Major, holds half a dozen M-4's with room for a spare.

Pilot: Does it come with a Confederate battle flag, or horn that plays Dixie?

Chief: "No sir, but we scored you an old CB and some kick *** mudflaps!"


Handguns (both issue, and unoffical) will be with the military for a long time.

My pick, the USP.



David

 

[faustulus]

Which one would be the cheapest?

 

[WT]

Other - Colt 1911A1 .45ACP

 

[Lancel]

re: M4

only1asterisk:

B-52 Pilot to Crew Chief: " What the **** is that?

LOL


Or there could be an individual rack like other vehicle operators, accessible for egress or as needed. But handguns are certainly easier to wear.

Larry

 

[Sam C]

I voted for other, like in 1911!
Sam