Tennessee Ned
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Three votes for Sig in a row...
What is the best combat handgun in use today?
- Thread starter Richard
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chuckusaret
member
I have to laugh at some of the postings. My question: Have any of you guys ever beat the bush in "real combat"?
I would take any relieable handgun .40 or .45 caliber, but my preference would be a XD 40 or 45 any size frame. Most aircrews were armed with a S&W 38 when I was in the Army and it seved its designed purpose.
If any engagement ever gets down to the use of handguns it is time to retreat.
I would take any relieable handgun .40 or .45 caliber, but my preference would be a XD 40 or 45 any size frame. Most aircrews were armed with a S&W 38 when I was in the Army and it seved its designed purpose.
If any engagement ever gets down to the use of handguns it is time to retreat.
Philo_Beddoe
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Ruger p95, realiable accurate adn inexpensive to outfit an army with.
I never owned a Glock but I know with out a doubt they are world class weapons. They're just down right ugly and I can't bring myself to cozy up with one. I like my CZ97. It's big, it's accurate and it's pretty. I don't have one but I would have to say a Beretta 92 is on my short list.
Vern Humphrey
Member
Well . . . I saw a lot of those .38s deteriorate into a pile of junk.
Basically, a handgun issued to air crews is for survival, not for actual combat (a lone and possibly injured man doesn't want to shoot at a company of infantry with a .38.)
For survival use, flare and shot cartridges make a lot of sense -- and in .45 you get more utility in those areas.
["There is something that I don't quite understand here....
Multiple people are posting that the 9mm is THE combat round to have, and yet, the U.S. military in Iraq has found that this is an inadequate round for combat purposes, and is considering reviving the venerable .45ACP as its main sidearm.
Not to turn this into the classic 9mm versus .45ACP contoversy, but why promote something that has been shown to be less effective in actual combat situations?. Real-life experience does need to be taken into consideration. " ]
I believe that in the past 10 or 20 years, even underfunded military organizations have "armored-up" their soldiers. It's harder to kill a soldier than it once was. 9mm against good armor is likely to fall short. Even 40 or 45 caliber in the wrong cartridge type won't be of much value if it hits good armor. Handguns are and have been last resort options. I spoke with a Ranger buddy of mine at a recent class reunion and he said something about
'it's important to bring plenty personal concussion to most situations'. He also noted that rappelling out of a copter in a firefight can make you puke.
I think a smart soldier, armored-up or not, would duck before being hit by 9mm fire.
My vote: Glock 22.
Multiple people are posting that the 9mm is THE combat round to have, and yet, the U.S. military in Iraq has found that this is an inadequate round for combat purposes, and is considering reviving the venerable .45ACP as its main sidearm.
Not to turn this into the classic 9mm versus .45ACP contoversy, but why promote something that has been shown to be less effective in actual combat situations?. Real-life experience does need to be taken into consideration. " ]
I believe that in the past 10 or 20 years, even underfunded military organizations have "armored-up" their soldiers. It's harder to kill a soldier than it once was. 9mm against good armor is likely to fall short. Even 40 or 45 caliber in the wrong cartridge type won't be of much value if it hits good armor. Handguns are and have been last resort options. I spoke with a Ranger buddy of mine at a recent class reunion and he said something about
'it's important to bring plenty personal concussion to most situations'. He also noted that rappelling out of a copter in a firefight can make you puke.
I think a smart soldier, armored-up or not, would duck before being hit by 9mm fire.
My vote: Glock 22.
chuckusaret
member
I spent 24 years in the Army and never heard of one being a piece of junk or one turning into junk. I have never heard of an Army unit that allowed any weapon to turn into a piece of junk. In most Army units each company is assigned at least one 45B, a gunsmith. Weapons maintenance and organizational repair of all assigned weapons was his only duty. All unit arms rooms and CBR rooms are inspected at least quarterly. I cannot understand how you can state that ” I saw a lot of those .38s deteriorate into a pile of junk" when 99% of all the 38's used by aircrews were never fired and were maintained by the unit gunsmith. What kind of leaders did you have in your unit that would allow this to happen, and if you were assigned to the unit that allowed this happen you were derelict in your duty for not reporting it to higher authority?
Are you saying a 1911 .45 cal is for taking on a company of infantry? The pistol is your weapon of last resort in a combat situation, for survival when all else has failed. If a pistol is the only weapon available against a armed hostile force the best tactic is to retreat. The pistol is also used, but rarely, for house to house fighting.
jleatherneck
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Combat Handguns
Some of you guys continue to talk about rifles. Yeah we get it! a pistol is for fighting your way to your rifle. That is not the topic. We are talking about combat pistols. What would you want if your only firearm was a handgun and you found yourself in a combat situation on the streets of the USA or some far off land. Combat anywhere...What is the all around best pistol for every clime and place. My experience says 45 cal period. I'll try to keep an open mind about the make and model, but it has to be a 45. Now that being said I just can't seem to make my Glock 21 blink and I find sport in torturing pistols to see what they are made of. So keep an open mind and give the Glock 21 and 21SF a look. You might be surprised. Stay Safe.
Some of you guys continue to talk about rifles. Yeah we get it! a pistol is for fighting your way to your rifle. That is not the topic. We are talking about combat pistols. What would you want if your only firearm was a handgun and you found yourself in a combat situation on the streets of the USA or some far off land. Combat anywhere...What is the all around best pistol for every clime and place. My experience says 45 cal period. I'll try to keep an open mind about the make and model, but it has to be a 45. Now that being said I just can't seem to make my Glock 21 blink and I find sport in torturing pistols to see what they are made of. So keep an open mind and give the Glock 21 and 21SF a look. You might be surprised. Stay Safe.
I own a Glock21SF. I like it. But if it were a secondary weapon, I might opt for a G17 for the lighter weight of the ammunition. You can only shoot what you can carry. But any way you slice it, I say Glock. Load it, holster it, and fahgettaboudit.
As a primary fighting weapon? How bout an Uzi?
As a primary fighting weapon? How bout an Uzi?
Team Grandma
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I have personally carried and used the Beretta M9 in and around combat, It is a plain jane weapon but is extremely accurate and reliable. Having already been in that situation with said pistol I would not hesitate to return with that pistol, however it has two draw backs, #1 it does get a little heavy depending on the circumstances and #2 ITS A FREAKIN 9MM those dont stop $*&T unless you hit them 5 or 10 times. obviously it works other wise the Govt wouldnt have just renewed thier contract with beretta. OH and one more thing if you plan on going to Iraq with an M9 or any other auto loading pistol for that matter DO NOT use CLP break-free or any other cleaner/lubricant containing teflon, it turns to glue in the heat.
razorback2003
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1911 and Browning Hi Power
These are two classics in popular calibers of 45 and 9mm. More modern pistols like Sigs, Glocks, HK's all are nice too.
These are two classics in popular calibers of 45 and 9mm. More modern pistols like Sigs, Glocks, HK's all are nice too.
benderx4
Member
Gotta give my vote to the venerable HK45. (Followed by the HK USP45)
TexasBill
Member
Like Chief35, I'm partial to my FNP-9. I like the fact it's ready to rock straight out of the holster (no manual or magazine safeties), good trigger pull in both DA and SA modes, external hammer (I'm old-fashioned that way) and a great price for a quality firearm. Plus, the folks at FN Herstal pack it with two additional magazines, giving you a total carry capacity of nearly a box of 9 mm. It feeds and fires everything I've fed it, including cheap Remington/UMC at $15.00/box.
One downside is lack of available ready-made holsters, though there are several IWB that will work, as will the nylon holsters from Blackhawk and Uncle Mike's, and Safariland has a nice duty rig, if that's what you need. Hopefully, as more people discover the FNP-9 and FNP-40 pistols, there will be greater choice.
One downside is lack of available ready-made holsters, though there are several IWB that will work, as will the nylon holsters from Blackhawk and Uncle Mike's, and Safariland has a nice duty rig, if that's what you need. Hopefully, as more people discover the FNP-9 and FNP-40 pistols, there will be greater choice.
no no no no
glocks, 1911's, sigs, yadayadayada. those are good guns.
but the most widely used Military sidearm ever out of all of the militaries in the world, is the CZ 75 B. it is used by almost all of the european armies, alot of south american and african armies as well.
holds 16 rounds, is super reliable, and will not jam. and it is really accurate.
it was built to be a military sidearm, and it rocks
they also make variations of the CZ in ambidextrious versions, in .45 acp versions, in 9mm versions as well.
so don't argue with caliber
glocks, 1911's, sigs, yadayadayada. those are good guns.
but the most widely used Military sidearm ever out of all of the militaries in the world, is the CZ 75 B. it is used by almost all of the european armies, alot of south american and african armies as well.
holds 16 rounds, is super reliable, and will not jam. and it is really accurate.
it was built to be a military sidearm, and it rocks
they also make variations of the CZ in ambidextrious versions, in .45 acp versions, in 9mm versions as well.
so don't argue with caliber
isthatajoke?
Member
1911 with hi-cap mags!!!
Vern Humphrey
Member
Let's look at that. I carry an M1911 (in this case a Kimber Classic, MKI) with an 8-round magazine, plus one up the spout for 9 rounds. I could easily carry two 10-round magazines on my belt. That would give me 29 rounds.
Or I could carry a ParaOrdnance P45-14, with a 14-round magazine plus one up the spout for 15 rounds. Add a second 14-round magazine on my belt and that would give me (wait for it) . . . 29 rounds!
OLD208X3A
Member
Probably oversimplified...
I think the best combat handgun is the Beretta M9. The gun would not have been in service for 20 years if it wasn't. I carried one as USAF Combat Air Crew and it was very reliable and the mag size is sufficient for duty use. If there were shortcomings, the GOVT would have replaced it by now. Say what you want about Government procurement, but when it comes to wartime they get the right equipment in the troops hands ASAP. If there were problems with the round and/or the platform the military wouldn't have, not only kept it in service so long, but wouldn't have just renewed the contract to buy an ass-load more M9s. An oversimplification is that any handgun should not be your primary combat weapon and serviceable is often good enough. If you find yourself in battle holding just a pistol, you screwed up somewhere along the way. Just my opinion and no offense to previous posters alive or dead.
I think the best combat handgun is the Beretta M9. The gun would not have been in service for 20 years if it wasn't. I carried one as USAF Combat Air Crew and it was very reliable and the mag size is sufficient for duty use. If there were shortcomings, the GOVT would have replaced it by now. Say what you want about Government procurement, but when it comes to wartime they get the right equipment in the troops hands ASAP. If there were problems with the round and/or the platform the military wouldn't have, not only kept it in service so long, but wouldn't have just renewed the contract to buy an ass-load more M9s. An oversimplification is that any handgun should not be your primary combat weapon and serviceable is often good enough. If you find yourself in battle holding just a pistol, you screwed up somewhere along the way. Just my opinion and no offense to previous posters alive or dead.
Pizzagunner
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Picking a warhorse, I want one that has "been there and done that."
Glocks are cop guns and HKs are lab queens.
Using FMJ, I'd rather have a 1911A1 than anything else going.
In 9mm, I'd take the M9 or the SIG P226, no preference, but both actually have track records in real combat.
Glocks are cop guns and HKs are lab queens.
Using FMJ, I'd rather have a 1911A1 than anything else going.
In 9mm, I'd take the M9 or the SIG P226, no preference, but both actually have track records in real combat.
trillium
Member
Glock 17 with Mepro sights and 17+2 mags, simple , durable and extremely reliable
MR_A
Member
I sure dont know what is the best, but it makes for an interesting debate'''''
DougDubya
Member
Whatever handgun fits YOUR specific hand best, has a bullet bigger than a .22 LR or .25 ACP, you can shoot fist-sized groups with at seven yards, and doesn't hurt when you touch off a round (pain = flinch = bad thing for combat).
??? The Glock 17 has been in service in military and police environs only eight years less than the Beretta 92 and two or so years less than the P226. I can understand not wanting to be the beta tester for a SIG P250 in combat (newest firearm I could think of), but the Glock 17 has a long record.
The USP is ten years younger, but it too has seen military duty too.
??? The Glock 17 has been in service in military and police environs only eight years less than the Beretta 92 and two or so years less than the P226. I can understand not wanting to be the beta tester for a SIG P250 in combat (newest firearm I could think of), but the Glock 17 has a long record.
The USP is ten years younger, but it too has seen military duty too.
danez71
Member
based on the above logic....
the BHP.
I dont believe any hand gun has been used in a military for the duration the BHP has. If there is.... I still like the BHP
the BHP.
I dont believe any hand gun has been used in a military for the duration the BHP has. If there is.... I still like the BHP
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