What handgun should replace the Army's M9?

I personally despise the M9. Have owned a couple civ versions that just didn't work for me. Glock is probably out. I like the M&P, a lot. I own many copies. I just don't know about their longevity in service given their highly publicized whippings at Tx DPS and other agencies.
I really like the CZ SP-01 which could give an external safety option and 20 round mags. I think that the FN or new Sig P320 are solid choices as well. Don't count HK with the VP-9 either.
Logistics. Our armed forces absolutely run on them. A change in pistols is minor in comparison to many other pertinent which result in major money spent and policy changes with very minute impacts on the battlefield.

I'd keep the M9 also, and this is coming from a 1911 fan.

Colt .45 ACP...And the women can just deal with it...

A handgun chambered in 9x23 Winchester

I would test the Sig M11 against the HK USP and go with the winner.

Sig P220 in .45 with 8 round mags. Grip is thin enough for women and men with smaller hands. Recoil to weight balance is excellent.

Horse meet stick.

Maybe some people really hate horses?

The Special Operation units will use what ever they deem best. Everyone else it matters not what handgun they end up with.

I want to say a Colt 1911 in .45 ACP. However, the politicians in control won't waiver from 9MM which is OK, as I like that round also. I would like to see them carrying a CZ of some flavor. If not the 75B, a P-09 would work.

G19

lol at whoever picked the 1911.
No infantryman wants to carry that when you've already got 60lb on your back.
Not like standard enlisted infantry get handguns anyway, unless they're 240 gunners.

SR9 or a 9e

Combat Engineer First of all, it will be a 'Made In America' combat handgun. Time to put Americans to work.

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Glock, SIG, Beretta, FN and many other foreign companies already manufacture firearms in the US.

Combat Engineer Then why does mine say "Made in Italy" ?

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Commercial market Beretta 92's are made in both Italy and the US.
All military issue Beretta M9/M9a1's are manufactured in the USA.

herrwalther Horse meet stick.

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Yup.

I think they should do what the Marines recently did: go back to the M1911A1 service pistol.

There is no questioning the stopping power of .45 hardball, tremendously more effective than 9mm ball. The grip is easy for many, including woman, to handle. Accuracy is superb. Reliability is excellent, especially with today's modern lubricants and gun finishes. They can be easily upgraded, and more. I'd love to see a version of the M45 Marine gun but offered in standard flat black for all branches, with a half section of rail, night sights, a threaded muzzle and various other features. They could Melonite them for corrosion proofing.

We should follow the Corps, if anyone knows what is a good combat handgun, it's them.

I always thought at the time that it made the most sense to get a pistol, with the same manual of arms as the 1911 - just chambered in 9mm and holding more rounds. If they were converting from the 1911 today the Springfield Armory XD with grip safety and thumb safety would probably be closest but I don't think they make that model in 9mm. But they've had the Beretta for so long now it really doesn't matter if the new gun is similar to the old 45 or not.

What's the difference? Other than spec ops who have their own supply chain anyway, how many times is a handgun used by regular line units? Back in the day, other than my M16, off and on I carried an M79 or an M60, with a 1911 as a personal side arm. Never fired the M79 and fired the M60 more than I care to remember. At no time did I ever even chamber a round in the 1911. It stayed in a flap holster, hammer down, chamber empty. The only time I ever fired the 1911 was the 7 rounds in basic. Why everyone gets in a stew about a non-issue eludes me.

"Glock, SIG, Beretta, FN and many other foreign companies already manufacture firearms in the US." [Dogtown tom]

Does that mean that these foreign manufacturers earn nothing from their U.S. ventures? So the foreign companies get no share of the profits, despite their R&D, Marketing, Management, etc. overhead? If that's the case, its a good deal, otoh if profits are leaving the USA...

Just askin'. Do not have an MBA. Please forgive my ignorance.

XDs are made in Croatia. Most SA 1911 frames come from Brazil. Some of their 1911s are made entirely in Brazil. A lot of their pistols come from the Czech Republic and Italy.

Pistols play almost no role in modern warfare so why bother with the expense of adopting s new one?

Pistols play almost no role in modern warfare so why bother with the expense of adopting s new one?

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The M9's are nearing the end of their lifespan and when the Army ordered 250,000 new ones they discovered that given advances in design and manufacturing that it is actually cheaper to buy a new pistol then continue with the M9.

Heck just just look at the price of a civilian M92FS vs a Glock or M&P in your local gunshop.

Heck just just look at the price of a civilian M92FS vs a Glock or M&P in your local gunshop.

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About $50 - $100. Glock & M&P are in the $500 - $550 range. Beretta 92FS is around $600. There is a lot to be said for the light weight and simplicity of the Glock and M&P though.

Don't go thinking about changing everybody over to the the M11, then. The M11/SIG P228/229 is a $900 - $1,000 gun.

I don't care as long as it's made in the USA by an american company. My vote would be for a Colt, perhaps a CZ clone of some sort but an all american Colt by God.

On the assumption that they just HAVE to have a new weapon (they really don't need to change IMO) I'd say go for something polymer. If the DA/SA + Safety are required, maybe a CZ or FN, of not I'd say Glock 19 or 17 (or 21 if .45 ACP would be an option).

Myself, should I need to grab a single pistol for a life and death situation, I'm grabbing my G21, despite my love for my 1911's.

Then why does mine say "Made in Italy" ?

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Either your issued M9 doesn't say this or Beretta is in deep doodoo with DoD for breach of contract. If the latter, contact your congressman with a copy of your hand receipt and a pic of the pistols SN and "made in" stamp. The press might also be interested, or the OMB.

rskent summed it up, the requirements are kind of out of left field.

The foreign companies have factories here in the U.S. employing Americans, does it need to be said again?

The 9mm Vs .45 will never end, the horse meet stick comment is exactly right when bringing up these issues. There are a few pistols made now that can meet their requirements, SIG's P320 can do all. You can change the frame size, grip size and swap calibers. No brainer right there and back in the day, SIG beat the M9 in testing. Beretta lowered their price by something like 13% and bingo, the M9 was in.

Funny how a lot of the spec ops teams went with SIG's or something else. The M9 is an ok pistol but it's only given to certain crews. Not all soldiers are given them so it's still kind of a moot point on who gets the contract and what caliber they choose.