A new use for a Beretta M9...

A US serviceman moves razor wire in Iraq - with the help of his sidearm...


http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?postid=647943


(Story here (http://www.nytimes.com/2003/12/07/international/middleeast/07TACT.html?ex=1071378000&en=b9c5e965e018edf1&ei=5062&partner=GOOGLE).)

I only skimmed the article. The link took me took an article about demolishing buildings, and I didn't see this picture there, so maybe the artcle changed or something.


What I don't get, is he has several large spikes that look like they're made out of aluminum or steel. My bet is they are for staking that barbed wired down. So....uh. I woulda used one of those instead of my handgun.


But at least his finger is off the trigger. :)

Hmmmmmm,
I wonder just how many of the rules he's breaking. :scrutiny:

Gun is no doubt loaded. :what:
It's pointing at his feet.
It's not pointed downrange or anywhere safe.
Can't see for sure where his trigger finger is.

And using a gun, even if he doesn't like it to move razor wire, well that falls into the same catagory as using a SAA to hammer nails.

I think he needs a different tool for that wire.


J

The soldier's finger isn't on the trigger, and the gun's pointed pointed at the ground ahead and to the left of his feet—but I'd still prefer to use a tool that doesn't go bang than a pistol, especially considering the pistol's finish could easily be marred by razor wire.

especially considering the pistol's finish could easily be marred by razor wire.
Somehow, I doubt finish is the #1 priority for military arms in a combat zone.

But still ... how hard can it be to find something else to use? An AK, maybe?

Gun is no doubt loaded.

Knowing the army the way i do, The firearm in question may not be loaded. Remember, the army has some pretty stupid rules.

You know, I don't find this pic so troublesome.

He's relying on the "hook" shape of the gun to move the wire while keeping it away from his hand. A straight rod would have problems in that area. With a DA action, it seems unlikely one of the wire spurs could get into the triggerguard and cause an AD. The gun won't be functionally hurt; cosmetically, a bit but...it's a war weapon.

We don't know what kind of a hurry this guy was in; this could have been a hurried attempt to re-build a stop-line after an attempted incursion with more on the way...or, whatever.

If it was routine stuff and he was doing this all the time, it'd be poor practice to scratch the gun that much. But he looks like he's in "full front-line gear" and maybe in a hurry.

If so, I won't judge him.

By the way, it's concerntina wire, not razor wire ... looks similar, but concerntina wire is a little different; it doesn't have anything razor sharp on it, it's just prickly more like a metallic thorn bush. Razor wire is quite similar, but actually has razors where the little metal barbs would be. I've seen both, though, so I know they both exist. In my opinion, razor wire looks quite a bit more nasty than conerntina wire, but there's probably a good reason to use the one over the other.

And yeah ... his finger's not on the trigger and the muzzle is harmlessly pointed at the sand. I wouldn't say it's the wisest choice of tool for the job in general, but it well may be for this particular situation. METT-T and all that.

If you are troubled by the picture perhaps you would like to go to Iraq and share your wisdom. I'm sure this GI would welcome your input.

If you are troubled by the picture perhaps you would like to go to Iraq and share your wisdom. I'm sure this GI would welcome your input

It doesn't take being there to notice something that shouldn't be done. Respect your weapon and treat it properly. It can and will save your life.

With a little thought he could have easily improvised. A flex cuff would have done nicely.

Ohh...and as for being there...many of us have "Been there, done that" already.

Good Shooting
Red

I apologize for my remark, it was flippant. I cannot believe that the GI in the picture is so oblivious to basic safety practices taught in the military as to us a loaded firearm in such a manner. I cannot tell that there is a magazine in that pistol. I doubt there is. While in the military I have seen weapons being used for purposese other than their design purposes such as pounding and prying and M-16's used with ponchos as a litter. None of those weapons were loaded at the time. When we worked with either razor wire or barbed wire we used gloves. This GI doesn't appear to be wearing any so maybe he was being "Field Expedient."

Knowing the army the way i do, The firearm in question may not be loaded. Remember, the army has some pretty stupid rules.
Wasn't there a remark made in another thread about soldiers not being given magazines till they went out in the field or something?:rolleyes:

That picture reminds of the part in "Die Hard" where the SWAT guys are sneaking up on the building and getting caught on the briars!

when preacherman said that there was a new use for the M-9, i was thinking that he would say it could be used as a boat anchor something. :neener:
let the flaming begin!

A new use for a Beretta M9...

A US serviceman moves razor wire in Iraq - with the help of his sidearm...

John Browning's venerable model 1911 could do that job so much better than the pipsqueak 9mm that replaced it...

well, a gun is just a tool after all....:neener:

Well, unless he's part of an engineer unit, it's entirely possible he was issued the concertina wire (that stuff really tears up your BDUs, let me tell you) but wasn't issued the wire gauntlets that are used for handling it.

Still, a claw hammer probably would've worked better, but he may not have had time to get one.

If he boogers up that M9, Beretta USA will be more than happy to sell another one to Uncle Sam. Me, I *hate* my issue M9 sidearm. But then again, my first issue aircrew sidearm was a M38 revolver, then a M1911. The M9 is one part of my military career I won't miss after retirement. :D

Looks like he's got flex-cuffs threaded through the straps on his flak. Flex cuffs and a strip of wire (probably also available) bent in a 'U' shape are the two things I've most often seen used as handles on concertina wire.

Sure, a pistol is a tool, but it's a tool for killing. I'd have kept my weapon and weapon hand free and hooked it with my boot--assuming the aforementioned flex-cuffs and piece of wire were unavailable. Having a CACO come to your door and inform you that your son died because his cammy sleeve caught on the wire he was dragging with his weapon hand when the enemy showed up isn't a duty I envy.

-Teuf

Sometimes, when you are hot, dirty, and exhausted, dumb ideas make sense at the time.:uhoh:

And he got the wire moved, didn't he?

When he whipped out his piece and started dragging wire, I'll bet he never suspected that he would be critiqued for days on firearms forums. Or probably cared, for that matter.

Wrong tool for the job.

Isn't that what the front sight on an M16 is for? :D

Sinful. :scrutiny: And service members wonder why they have ????y weapons.

Sinful. And service members wonder why they have ????y weapons.

:rolleyes:

"sinful"?

somehow i doubt that the inherent ????y-ness of his weapon is at all affected by a few cosmetic scratches....

Yea but if he uses it like this, whats next? A hammer? Entrenching tool? Couldn't he have gotten a stick?

Yea but if he uses it like this, whats next? A hammer? Entrenching tool? Couldn't he have gotten a stick?

Sticks might be hard to come by in a part of the world where there aren't any trees.

Besides, when an NCO yells "YOU! GET THAT CONCERTINA IN PLACE! MOVE LIKE YOU GOTTA PURPOSE, SOLDIER!", you really shouldn't stop to look around for something to use to pull the wire with. *shrug*

From what my brother tells me, that may well be the best use ever devised for the M9. He hates the little buggers.