US Army looking for new pistol?

[Slater]

http://www4.army.mil/news/article.php?story=6791

I keep hearing that the handwriting is on the wall for the M9. I guess we'll see.

 

[homeka45]

Didn't last quite as long the 1911 I see.

 

[Lone Star]

I don' t like that they're looking at a DA-only feature. I hope the new gun won't have a lock, either!

LS

 

[Warren]

I'm not a military guy but if I was in charge rifles would fire .308 and pistols .45 ACP.

Then we could find out which platform was the best rather thasn screwing around with caliber changes.


Then again I am not an expert in this stuff.

 

[R.H. Lee]

I guess the M9 makes sense, it is a NATO round, and is hi cap (normal cap, I live in California ) and does have a decocker, DA first shot, reasonably 'foolproof'.

 

[Waitone]

“The decision to switch was strictly logistical,†he said. “The United States was trying to move toward NATO joint operability, and we were fighting the Cold War. Target effect wasn’t a factor in that decision. Now it is.â€

Huh? Someone tell me it ain't so.

 

[Onmilo]

Military has always R&Ded for new weapons.
Been that way since the Military began.

 

[gulogulo1970]

With NATO becoming less and less important in the world. Maybe the US will go it alone and go back to the 45ACP.

Hey the whole world uses the metric system we barely use it here. Would it really matter, anymore, if we are the only NATO country using a 45ACP instead 9mm?

 

[Warren]

me idiot

I meant 30-06.

 

[Dienekes]

"Target effect" was not of concern? In that case the rubber band guns my kids used to knock over little tin chickens in the living room on rainy days would have sufficed, and at much less cost to the taxpayer.

And now we will proceed to reinvent the $#@*& wheel.

What fools these mortals be.

 

[Standing Wolf]

...now we will proceed to reinvent the $#@*& wheel.

Fortunately, the military has acres and acres of money trees growing in its back yard.

 

[SunBear]

Army may adopt new pistol and caliber

The link below contains the entire article.

FORT BENNING, Ga. (TRADOC News Service, Jan. 27, 2005) – The Directorate of Combat Developments and Soldier Battle Lab began an experiment Jan. 24 analyzing the current-issue M-9 handgun and possible alternative weapons.

“I want to make it clear, this is not a selection of a new pistol,†said Charley Pavlick, project officer with DCD’s Small Arms Division. “We are responding to concerns we have from (Soldiers deployed for Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom) that report a lack of confidence in the M-9 for several reasons. This is an analysis of different features and characteristics that are available with other weapons platforms.â€

Some of the concerns with the M-9 include many stoppages, uncomfortable function control and the low lethality of the 9mm ball round, Pavlick said.

"The Army hasn’t made an official decision to make a move from the M-9 to a new sidearm, Pavlick said. DCD will rewrite the draft requirements documents after the experiment is complete, and then officials will make a decision."

"The performance of better sights, larger calibers and double-action-only firing mechanisms are what DCD analysts will be taking a look at."

http://www.tradoc.army.mil/pao/TNSarchives/January05/013505.htm

 

[MrMurphy]

I.e in 1985 they were more concerned with tank battalions and cruise missiles than pistols as an anti-Soviet war would be WW3...... heavy mechanized and air war.

We're now in the generation of the little wars.... heavy on infantry action, less so on mechanized and air forces. Pistols now matter again.


I bet they go with something along the line of the HK P2000 in .40, multiple backstrap configuration to fit anyone, .40 cal is a decent hitter in a small package even for little people, and it has an LEM DAO-type trigger (much like a Glock).

 

[Sam]

Commonality of ammo wasn't the criteria in choosing the M9.
Availability of GLCM storage/launch sites in Sicily were were the criteria.
Pistols now matter more than ever.
We went down to the 356 Rimless short, how about we go up to 50 on this change!

Sam

 

[GaryP]

Does this mean the Bureaucrats are finally going to take a second look at the 9mm vs larger caliber issue as it applies to a military scenario (Hardball )? We figured that out back in the early 1900's!

 

[ZeroX]

Why is DAO a big issue?

Otherwise, yay.

 

[SnWnMe]

If they go back to 1911s that would be great. Colt might even come back from the dead. But that's not likely given that your average recruit isn't as gun savvy as the soldiers of yore. Most of them will not put in the effort to learn the SA auto either. Not totally their fault. They need to learn much, much more than just their MOS these days.

 

[Bruce H]

Get ready for another big glock contract.

 

[10-Ring]

I'll bet just like the last trials, the winner will surprise everyone, satisfy few & be owned by many anyway

 

[GaryP]

Yep, I agree with your thinking on this Bruce and the new .45 Gap may just get the break it needs!

 

[armoredman]

I don't know, maybe a CZ75 SP01 DAO in 40SW might fit the bill completely. Just a random thought....no one here would agree, I am sure.

 

[HighVelocity]

FN Five Sevens should fit the bill nicely.

 

[George S.]

Why would it be Glock and the .45GAP?? The military already has 1911's in limited use and the .45ACP is a proven battle-ready cartridge. The.45GAP is not as popular as the .45ACP and while it has similar ballistics, it could require a tremendous amount of money and time to get equipment together to provide the required amount of ammo that the military would need.

There a number of pistols available that are chambered for .45ACP. The military would certainly do performance testing of a number of pistols and the chances are that they will generate a set of specifications for a new sidearm. Whether or not a Glock or any other brand will win is up to how it performs, what the price will be, and given how the military is now asking for input from the troops on weapons improvement, the decision to go with a certain brand/model will have more to do with what works rather than a brand.

 

[Bruce H]

Never use military procurement and common sense in the same sentance. Look for a single stack 9mm to 045 of some variety. Smaller gripframe.

 

[Aguila Blanca]

Until I read the entire post I was thinking it might be a precursor for bringing back the 1911. However, if they're looking for DAO (for whatever misguided reason), the only 1911-style pistol to offer that (to the best of my knowledge) is the Para Ordnance LDA lineup.