Which Handgun Caliber(s) SHOULD our Military be using?

[Mark IV Series 80]

Which handgun cartridge(s) should our Military be using?

 

[Schuey2002]

40 caliber..
.45 ACP for the cartridge..

 

[Zundfolge]

9x19 is the best choice for our military.

Not because its the best man-stopping cartridge, but because its the best choice from a logistical standpoint.

Wars are generally not won with handguns ... they are a relatively minor part of our nations arsenal, and as such it would be better to have a round that we would have in common with all our allies.

 

[faustulus]

45-70 government

 

[PATH]

.45 ACP.....What can I say I am enamored with it!

Flamethrowers on!

 

[10-Ring]

Might not be a popular vote, but I voted 9 mm.

 

[Teufelhunden]

I'd have to agree with Zundfolge; whatever is most likely to be lying around when my two mags run dry is what I want my weapon chambered in. I might go 14 for 14 with a 1911, but if I can't resupply, that's where the tally stops...

I don't love the 9mm, but rounds going downrange beat wishing for a .45...

-Teuf

 

[Tacblack]

What no 9*25 or 40 super I would have to say for all around use the 9mm

 

[4thHorseman]

"Wars are generally not won with handguns ... they are a relatively minor part of our nations arsenal, and as such it would be better to have a round that we would have in common with all our allies."

That may be so, but all wars are non conventional in a realitve sense. Tunnel rats in Viet Nam, ask one of them what caliber they would want to use. I don't know of many that would of chose a 9mm.
I do not believe when the caliber was chosen for the army in 1911, going into tunnels for VC was even imagined. Here is one example of thousands. Again, you can not predict how a hand gun will be used in a war. No one can.
Another thing to keep in mind, the military does not use hollow points, they use hard ball. Big difference between the stopping power of a 45 hardball and a 9mm hard ball.

 

[Kahr carrier]

45ACP and 40Cal.

 

[sonoranjack]

I think the military should carry the 1911 Government model. Which happens to be cambered in .45.

 

[WonderNine]

.22lr of course...

 

[chaim]

I think 9mm is fine if it would use frangible bullets (JHPs or expanding FMJ, Glasers, etc). Using FMJ only I'm less sure.

I also think it should use .45acp for some applications, as it does.

I think .22lr pistols should be had for certain applications. Applications for which the noise characteristics of .22lr would be useful, especially in conjunction with a silencer (assassination type attacks on enemy personnel, silenceing enemy dogs, etc).

Being a big revolver fan I think .357mag should be optional. Actually, in some situations it may be quite useful where a high level of penatration is called for either as a backup for a rifle or should a rifle not be convenient. I know of several Viet Nam vets who brought their own .357s over and felt that it was a good round for that environment.

 

[sixgun_symphony]

.45acp for pistols and SMG's

Bring back the Colt 1911A1 or issue the Glock-21

 

[ruger357]

.45 acp.

 

[JeepDriver]

9 mm

The gun and caliber they are using is fine. It's the ammo that sucks.

Give them all mags loaded with Gold Dots or Hydra Shoks. We are still using the NATO standard round that way. As far as only using the FMJ ammo, to he11 with that. There are only a couple countries that play by those rules. If out enemy isn't one of those countries then all bets are off.

HP's for all US Military personal

 

[sebago]

The handgun may indeed be a minor weapon in actual military use but I believe that when it's needed, it's needed badly just as in civilian life. I personally have a lot more faith in .45 ACP hardball than in 9mm.

 

[Zak Smith]

Concur with JeepDriver. FMJ pistol ammo is terrible for self-defense. (FBI expansion/penetration data.)

Figure out whatever administrative/legal contortions must be done for to use the leading-edge JHP bullets, and then pick a loading propels it effectively.

For standard-issue sidearms, stay with 9x19 in a hot loading. For example, Speer Gold Dot 124gr + P is smokin' at around 1300fps from a 4.7" barrel, with great terminal ballistics. For people who are already carrying too much junk, a 17+1 round 9x19 pistol is pretty much self-contained. In addition, a high capacity 9mm will still have a pretty small grip, and will therefor be physically compatible with more body shapes/sizes.

When you need sound supression, use .45ACP, also in a contemporary JHP.

If you need to penetrate (some types of) body armor, then design a round that expands like a JHP, but has a penetrator that keeps going.


-z

 

[joeoim]

Can't speak for others, but when things git that close I'd prefer a 45.

 

[Chris Rhines]

Nine is fine. What they really need is a smaller, simpler launch platform.

- Chris

 

[Ala Dan]

Greeting's All,

I voted for the 9m/m Parabellum, and the .45 ACP. Both are
good quality caliber's; with plenty of surplus ammunition
available to general citizen's. I see no need to change!

Best wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

 

[Dave Markowitz]

I voted for 9x19mm for a few reasons:

1. IMO, the difference between .45 ACP Ball and 9x19 Ball is overblown.

2. It's smaller, lighter, and has less recoil. The vat majority of people issued handguns don't get sufficient training. While reports of the .45's recoil are often exagerrated, the 9x19's is less, and will let G.I. Joe shoot it better.

3. You can get better penetration against body armor with 9x19, especially with hot loads and/or steel core bullets.

I would like to see a better launch platform, however. The SIG M-11 is fine, but the M-9 should be replaced with the M-11 or even a BHP. The M-9 is ridiculously large for a 9mm and the Walther-style lockup isn't as durable over the long term as a Browning or Petter lockup.

 

[ZekeLuvs1911]

Absolutely the .45ACP. Why do you think it was in our military for almost 100 yrs? It was ONLY because we wanted to standarize with the NATO countries that even got us started down the 9mm road.

 

[Hand_Rifle_Guy]

.45 ACP.

Good platform, (1911, of course.) very good defensive round in FMJ, works fine in subguns.

Worked great for a LOOONG time. Better track record than 9mm.

"...Your job is to make the OTHER bastard die for HIS country."--Patton.

.45 ACP does that better than 9mm when in military configuration.

Agree with the sentiments for giving the military hollowpoints. Better to stop the guy NOW.

 

[Joe Demko]

For actual handgun use, as opposed to smg use, this matters about as much as "Should our military be using curved or straight sabers?"