From Frogman, on the SEAL forum on Tactical Forums. 8/24/06
Frogman’s answer about a prediction he had made in 2003 that the SEAL’s would phase out their 9mm SIG 226:
Good question. You're right. Nothing has changed. My opinion is that the Teams might as well keep the SIG around. P226's are excellent pistols. I would prefer them in the P226R or P226R Tactical mode. I also think we should procure X200B lights for the as yet unissued "R" variants (until a better light comes out).
Those "experts" in NSW that waved a "new pistol is coming" banner have become rather quiet, lately. As an aside, everyone I know to have personally shot an enemy with a 9mm ended up killing them quite effectively. I personally, have not been in that situation, but have been close enought to confirm the results. Shot placement is still key (as in any handgun wound).
I don't necessarily think that there is a need for a new handgun for the Teams. As for the rest of SOF or the military in general, well, I'm sure they have their opinions. The Mk 23 and the P226 do the job pretty well where I work.
I've long felt that we should spend our energy getting widespread authorization to use some more lethal types of commercially available ammo for all of our weapon systems (plainly put, hollow points). I think the development of entirely new weapon systems based on entirely new cartridges is a waste of time at this stage in the war.
Frogman
It's about mindset, tactics, and training. Not caliber.
Okay, went through this in the late 80's, I guess we have to do it again today.
Here is THR take on the incident.
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=52070 and the ultimate conclusions are pretty well said.
I recommend two other Forums to visit. TacticalForums.com and 10-8Forums.com. Both of these forums are populated by military, LEO, and other professional operators within the shooting community. Not a lot of yahoo's either.
Much of what amateurs believe is myth, or misapplied stories. Are the guys at these forums perfect, nope, but they are evolving, every day. If you want to know what real life operators are doing, with what, how and why, read them.
In the tactical forums, Dr Gary Roberts, the leading authority on wound ballistics in the world has his own forum. Read more, speak less. Several other Doctors who are doing terminal ballistic work often visit and advise.
I don't always agree with them, but their science is useful, and I agree with them a lot more than I disagree.
Once again, it’s about software, not hardware. If you think caliber is the question, you don’t understand the problem.
As in 1986, the shootout is a classic example of what happens when poor mindset, lack of proper preparation, and bad tactics come together. It ain’t about one round of IIRC 78 fired by the good guys failing, it did exactly what it was expected to do. Fundamentally it is a classic tactics failure, don’t bring a pistol to a rifle fight. Both bad guys were trained and motivated.
Go figure.
Fred