Say it ain't so: Marine Raiders Throw .45 Overboard

The story in its self is not new but recent. The Glock G19 is the choice in other SOC units. Maintaining the 1911 series pistols are problematic in regards to level of maintenance required with deployed units. Basically the Glock pistols are the equivalent of plug and play thus easier to maintain during deployment.

Hangingrock said:

The story in its self is not new but recent. The Glock G19 is the choice in other SOC units. Maintaining the 1911 series pistols are problematic in regards to level of maintenance required with deployed units. Basically the Glock pistols are the equivalent of plug and play thus easier to maintain during deployment.

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Took the words right out of my mouth. I'm a die-hard 1911 fanboy but I have to agree that Glocks are the better choice in this role. The SEALs are replacing their aging SIG P226s and P239s with the Glock 19 as well, if anyone wants some good reading on the subject google "NSW goes Glock" for the thread on m4carbine.net where member Rana who is an active duty SEAL discusses the replacement of SIGs with Glocks on the SEAL teams and the role that the handgun plays in special operations.

Didn't they just adopt the Colt rail gun a two years ago? Those didn't last long.

Then there is this version..

https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/ar...over-45-caliber-pistols-for-special-operators

Previously, the classic .45-caliber Colt 1911 was one of three pistols that Raiders were allowed to carry, but now the 9mm Glock 19 is the only pistol that Marine special operators can take into battle, said Maj. Nick Mannweiler, a spokesman for Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command.

“We put our money behind the 9mm round fired by an extremely well-trained marksman carrying a Glock 19,” Mannweiler told Marine Corps Times.

Since last year, MARSOC has purchased and fielded 1,654 Glock 19s because Raiders needed a reliable secondary weapon “that could be used for both a concealed carry profile and a low-visibility profile,” and having one approved pistol for all special operators saves money, he said.

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Good thing I own 1911's and Glock's so I can still oper8....

Well, it's pretty apparent all the Glock guys are happy and feel as though their chosen platform is finally validated -- ooh, the Army SF, Navy SEALs and Marine MEUSOC dudes are all adopting the G19. Although, one must keep in mind that many of these "special operators" will likely be able to keep taking the pistol of their choice out with them on their missions ...

Us 1911 aficionados shall take one long, last look at the beautiful photo in Post #6, sigh, and acknowledge that the pistol pictured is far more beautiful and much more classy than any Glock ...

Old Dog out.

I've recently dipped my toe back into the 1911 water after some time away.

I had almost forgotten how well the beefy gun points, balances, and shoots. Even my bargain brand Armscor is a tack driver at combat ranges.

The recoil is nearly nonexistent compared to lighter weight guns, and the classic lines simply ooze a storied history heated trench battles to storming island shores to being a comforting yet potent totem in the hands of a young soldier as the world around him turns into a muddy nightmare around him.

That said, a Glock just makes more sense in a modern combat role. They are durable, lightweight, accurate, refurbishable in the field, hold twice the ammo, and the bean-counters like the price per unit without sacrificing performance.

I love all my guns, but if you made me grab one and go in an emergency, my Glock 19 would be what I took with me. Is it a family heirloom that I want fondle regularly? Not at all, but it is a soulless hunk of plastic I feel I can stake my life on.

The 1911 is a much cooler gun, by far, though.

Some things are just the way they are. The 1911 will always be THE combat handgun platform to compare other want to be children to. Hard to argue with such a long string of success.

Thank goodness. I thought they had literally thrown a 1911 overboard.

Not that surprising. I wonder if Colt was able to deliver or not and if not, how much did that influence the decision.

HK45 would be a good substitute for a 1911. Similar operations, good reliability, easy handling. Oh well. Glocks are proven designs.

Your tax dollars at work.

$22,500,000 divided by 12,000 = $1,875.00.

A commercially made 1911 with the same features can be purchased for less than half the price. Then figure in volume discount for 12,000 guns. Oh it says Colt is going to supply spare parts and logistical support although it is not clear if this is part of the purchase contract or a added on cost.

Consider the commercial price of the Glock, the low cost of parts and ease of replacing parts. I am no way a Glock fanboy but the dollars greatly favor the Glock especially if you figure $400.00 a gun or less with volume discount.

Just the view of an old grunt. The Glock is reliable and also lighter when loaded than an empty 1911. Lighter is better when you are humping your crap and allows for more ammo. When the **** hits the fan, there is never too much ammo.l

Time to CMP those 1911s!!!!! Yeah, I know...

I sure hope GAO gives these guys the hairy eyeball; it's transparently obvious there was some kick-backery and a whole lot of waste going on when you switch to a completely new gun not two years after switching to the last one. I guess Colt didn't have enough sacks with dollar signs on them for the generals, this time.

TCB

barnbwt

Or else they had some appropriations money to spend before it went away. Use it or lose it.

Love mine, ... especially the fact that it's sooo not a G19 minimeter.

Colt M45A1: strong Jihadi medicine.

I have half a dozen 1911's for the range, but when it comes to self-defense it's my Glock. It is what it is. It was a great gun for its time but it's the 21st Century.

The waste of taxpayers dollars was in the proliferation of a new generation of 1911's into the supply chain.
A transition to Glock was inevitable and in a hundred years some will be lamenting the passing of the Glock.

jski said:

Read more: http://dailycaller.com/2016/10/05/marine-raiders-throw-45-overboard/

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If you actually read the article you will see that it is only some of the special ops units that are switching, not the entire Marine Corps.

If you think about the mission of those units DOD wide they are often performing duties out of uniform. Carrying a 1911 is like a big red flag saying "Oh, look, an operator over here!"

Glocks are ubiquitous world wide and much less politically significant. They fit with the mission profile, and they also work, too.

The only people actually disturbed by it are those who have to prop up their ego by what brand gun they adopt as their Tribal logo. Handguns are not a primary weapon in combat.

Old Dog said:

Well, it's pretty apparent all the Glock guys are happy and feel as though their chosen platform is finally validated -- ooh, the Army SF, Navy SEALs and Marine MEUSOC dudes are all adopting the G19. Although, one must keep in mind that many of these "special operators" will likely be able to keep taking the pistol of their choice out with them on their missions ...

Us 1911 aficionados shall take one long, last look at the beautiful photo in Post #6, sigh, and acknowledge that the pistol pictured is far more beautiful and much more classy than any Glock ...

Old Dog out.

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Yeah, but being pretty and classy is pretty irrelevant on the battlefield. It is a tool choice. Nobody cares if the entrenching tool is pretty, LOL.

I love my 1911s and do NOT like the grip angle on the Glocks, but a Glock is a fine LCD gun which makes it a very good fit for the military.

I love the 1911, but it would not be my first choice as a combat sidearm. Neither would the G19, though.

Tirod said:

The only people actually disturbed by it are those who have to prop up their ego by what brand gun they adopt as their Tribal logo. Handguns are not a primary weapon in combat.

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Tirod casually rolls a grenade into the room, smiles, and waves.

I agree. Folks tie up a lot of ego in their chosen equipment. I think a lot of folks like military and police choices to justify their own choices, when their choices need no further justification other than "It works for me."

Tirod said:

If you think about the mission of those units DOD wide they are often performing duties out of uniform. Carrying a 1911 is like a big red flag saying "Oh, look, an operator over here!"

Glocks are ubiquitous world wide and much less politically significant. They fit with the mission profile, and they also work, too.

The only people actually disturbed by it are those who have to prop up their ego by what brand gun they adopt as their Tribal logo. Handguns are not a primary weapon in combat.

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I remember the posts here when the 1911 was selected. That cuts both ways, there was quite a bit of ego validating going on at the time.

Double Naught Spy said:

Yeah, but being pretty and classy is pretty irrelevant on the battlefield. It is a tool choice. Nobody cares if the entrenching tool is pretty, LOL.

I love my 1911s and do NOT like the grip angle on the Glocks, but a Glock is a fine LCD gun which makes it a very good fit for the military.

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I hate to think how many times I painted my entrenching tool so it would look pretty for some sergeant during an inspection.