Retro
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Don't forget to carry a M1 garand to go with that 1911...
So you're a contractor in Iraq........
- Thread starter Newton
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Ala Dan
Member in memoriam
SIG P228 9m/m
BsChoy
Member
Glock 21 or hi cap para ord in 45 acp
Master Blaster
Member
You are right Longeyes the best operators know what works
Looks like a G19 in that picture of the Bhagdad hotty you posted.
I would pick my kimber TLEII 1911 and I would also carry my G26 as a backup.
Josh Aston
Member
That all depends on the company you work for. I know of at least one company that would let there people take there own weapons. It just had to be coordinated beforehand so the weapons could be added to your orders. That company did provide full auto M4 lowers though.
SAG0282
Member
GLOCK 34 w/ some +P Ranger, barring that a SIG P226
Contractors aren't given the same rules about ammo... FN Hi-power with a parkerized finish, three-dots and a handful of 13rd mags.
Basically a Novak FBI HRT version?
Oh and some hot 9mm hollowpoints.
I must face the fact that I shoot 9mm better.
Basically a Novak FBI HRT version?
Oh and some hot 9mm hollowpoints.
I must face the fact that I shoot 9mm better.
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crazed_ss
Member
Same here.
Out of curiosity just how often do contractors who aren't supposed to be involved with combat actually wind up needing to use a gun? Do they have rifles? Work with guards with rifles?
I'd take my walther P99, its what I'm the most practiced with. Include night sights, maybe a laser/light combo on the front and a few mags. I've never tried one but it seems like a thigh holster would be relatively convenient and out of the way when discretion wasn't an issue. Perferably a rifle would be not far off.
I'd take a glock 20, preferably a long slide if the P99 wasn't available.
I'd take my walther P99, its what I'm the most practiced with. Include night sights, maybe a laser/light combo on the front and a few mags. I've never tried one but it seems like a thigh holster would be relatively convenient and out of the way when discretion wasn't an issue. Perferably a rifle would be not far off.
I'd take a glock 20, preferably a long slide if the P99 wasn't available.
cbsbyte
Member
I don't have alot of experience with many brands of handguns. I would only take a pistol made by a manufacture which I had some experience with, such as Sig P220 or P226. Second choice would be a Glock 17 or 22. Third a Smith & Wesson third generation semi-auto. I would be very wary of taking a pistol, that I will more than likely will have to use, that is a new design, and has not proven itself in duty use somewhere in the world.
Josh Aston
Member
They have the second highest rate of deaths over there (behind the US Armed Forces) if that tells you anything. They usually have either AR variants or AKs. Although I have seen a few with FALs and MP5s. Also saw one guy with the neatest little machine pistol I've ever seen. Not sure what it was as the markings weren't in anything resembling English. It had a collapsing stock that you could barely tell was there when it was collapsed, had a full slide rather than a bolt, and the bottom of the barrel was longer than the top to create a sort of compensator effect I guess. The stock was fairly sturdy also. The whole thing wasn't much larger than an M9.
jashobeam
Member
Glock 17 w/ G26 as BUG
AFAIK, they do not go there to battle but to protect the assets and personnel of the corporations by whom they are "contracted". These aren't rent-a-cops or security guards but trained ex-military soldiers. Are they simply bodyguards or do they perform military-esque missions for the benefit of private industry?
GLOCK 17 w/ G26 as BUG
I used to wonder the same thing because I equated "contractors" with "building contractors". I was wrong. These contractors are most likely security contractors, as in Blackwater Security. When I hear "contractor" in association with Iraq, I now think "mercenary" or "gun for hire". So, no, they don't work with guards with rifles; they are the guards with rifles. If the media reported the death of a "contractor employed by Haliburton", I would conclude (until further details were given) the individual to be a security contractor working either directly for Haliburton or for a security company contracted by Haliburton. In the mind of an ignorant public, "contractor" sounds like an innocent, militarily-uninvolved business person, overseas to help rebuild Iraq and make it a better place; whereas, in all probable truth, the "contractors" who have been killed over there in the last couple of years were quite possibly hired guns who knowingly went there to do a dangerous job. I am not opposed to such work, only to the media's obfuscation of characters.
AFAIK, they do not go there to battle but to protect the assets and personnel of the corporations by whom they are "contracted". These aren't rent-a-cops or security guards but trained ex-military soldiers. Are they simply bodyguards or do they perform military-esque missions for the benefit of private industry?
GLOCK 17 w/ G26 as BUG
sheepdog_tx
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You made a smart choice though i might have went with the xd40.
IMHO all these 1911 fans are gun snob idiots.
A skinnie isn't going to oww and ahh over your shiny new Kimber, Charles D, or whatnot. That might be great for keeping the punks out of your buick but theres a reason we don't still use thompsons and BARs in combat. If the **** goes down, as it usually does over there, you're not going to want an outdated design backing you up. You want a weapon thats not going to stovepipe, with a railsystem for the gear you need, with the ammo cap to spend more time in the fight.
Leave the 1911s for the armchair commandos, use the right tool for the job. While Glocks are decent I'd be worried about those poly barrels in such a dusty enviroment (i.e blown chambers). But of course a pistol is only to cover you til you get to a rifle so don't buttheads with a AKM.
God bless, best of luck, and be safe. /salute
IMHO all these 1911 fans are gun snob idiots.
A skinnie isn't going to oww and ahh over your shiny new Kimber, Charles D, or whatnot. That might be great for keeping the punks out of your buick but theres a reason we don't still use thompsons and BARs in combat. If the **** goes down, as it usually does over there, you're not going to want an outdated design backing you up. You want a weapon thats not going to stovepipe, with a railsystem for the gear you need, with the ammo cap to spend more time in the fight. Leave the 1911s for the armchair commandos, use the right tool for the job. While Glocks are decent I'd be worried about those poly barrels in such a dusty enviroment (i.e blown chambers). But of course a pistol is only to cover you til you get to a rifle so don't buttheads with a AKM.
God bless, best of luck, and be safe. /salute
Josh Aston
Member
There job is to perform security, whether it be personnel, convoys, or facilities. They are supposed to be purely defensive. What really goes on though, I don't know for sure. I'm not one of them, I was just around a lot of them while I was over there.
Also, while I'm not absolutely sure of it, I believe they also do some work for the military as I have heard that some of the generals use them as bodyguards.
Master Blaster
Member
The FBI SWAT, HRT, Marine MEU SOCOM, and the Israeli Tunnel rats in Gaza are apparently not as enlightened as you. They all seem to think a 1911 is best when going into harms way. But they are all armchair commandos using that old 1911, not a real operator like you sir.
What unit is it you are serving in again????
sheepdog_tx
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Look Master Blaster lots of units use weapons that aren't best for the situation. Israelis used shotguns for sniper rifles until recently so whats your point?
Its outdated and overpriced, thats why the bulk of our forces have replaced it. Thats my opinion and at least for now this is a free country. It's not 1911 anymore, we don't crank our cars or our phones anymore grandpa.
And for your info my MOS was 19Kilo but I served my time already. I qualified with the 1911 and M9 but I doubt you've been in any uniform that didn't include a pointy white hood or a red & black armband. Grow the hell up.
SUPERMAN .45
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A friend of mine is in Iraq he works as a security contractor,his service firearm is an old Colt 1911, he told me that they're issued FA were glock 17 or 19 and beretta 92F. He was lucky to have a 1911, for me I choose 1911.
the pistolero
Member
And the name of this forum is what, again??? I guess I missed the posts where other members said they'd be wanting to take a sidearm everyone else would be jealous of.
As for the 1911, I keep thinking of what Tamara said...
Say what you will, but as for me, I won't argue with that. 1911A1, cocked and locked. As they say, good enough for Grandpa, good enough for me.
"Out of curiosity just how often do contractors who aren't supposed to be involved with combat actually wind up needing to use a gun? Do they have rifles? Work with guards with rifles? "
A buddy of mine is on his 3rd 12 month contract over there with Cochise. He carries a M-249 and a Glock 17. They mostly do convoy escorts but have gone out hunting with the military when their contracted assets are involved. His SAW gets used about once a week during ambushes and repell small unit assaults. They've taken a number of casaulties with their company. He said what has saved them a lot of times was the attackers have poor weapons discipline, poor tactics, poor weapons maintenance, and they can't shoot worth a dime. Given that, tho, even a blind squirrel will occasionally get lucky and find an acorn. IEDs are their biggest hit.
He was with the 75th Ranger Reg for 6 yrs when he was active duty and he did a tour in Afghanistan and Iraq when he was in my Guard unit. The guy is a definite Type A personality. He's making very good money but I suspect with his personality he'd be doing it for a lot less just to be in the thick of it.
A buddy of mine is on his 3rd 12 month contract over there with Cochise. He carries a M-249 and a Glock 17. They mostly do convoy escorts but have gone out hunting with the military when their contracted assets are involved. His SAW gets used about once a week during ambushes and repell small unit assaults. They've taken a number of casaulties with their company. He said what has saved them a lot of times was the attackers have poor weapons discipline, poor tactics, poor weapons maintenance, and they can't shoot worth a dime. Given that, tho, even a blind squirrel will occasionally get lucky and find an acorn. IEDs are their biggest hit.
He was with the 75th Ranger Reg for 6 yrs when he was active duty and he did a tour in Afghanistan and Iraq when he was in my Guard unit. The guy is a definite Type A personality. He's making very good money but I suspect with his personality he'd be doing it for a lot less just to be in the thick of it.
sheepdog_tx
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Sure it was great for grandpa when people fought in trenchs and did bayonet charges. And 1911 is fine for CCW if you don't mind paying for the glory of it. But in rapid street fighting these days I wouldn't trade it for a XD, USP, or sig. Its just not thre right tool for the job and more so considering a comparable quality 1911 is twice the cost of the above mentioned firearms. A 1911 is a style choice, and in combat sir function comes before style. To each his own, sorry but I don't kneel to the golden calf of Browning.
Master Blaster
Member
How very high road of you. I'm 45 so I probably am old enough to be your grandfather.
As far as what units are using most go with the lowest price lowest common denominator weapons. I dont neeed to do that myself if I'm picking the best weapon for ME.
The Hebrew writing in my signature could be a clue as to how appropriate your pointy hood nazi comment is, The other information you presented in your well thought out reply, especially the part about the Israelis using shotguns as sniper weapons is equally indicative of your in depth knowlege of the subject.
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