Which handguns are used by US "Special Forces"?

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.455_Hunter

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Greetings,

What handguns are used by the elite military units in this country?

I know several brands of 1911 platforms are out "in the field", plus things like the H&K SOCOM, but what else is there?

Please reply if you know anything.

Thanks,

Hunter
 
sig P226 (P226 Navy), P228 (M11)

the only 1911 i know of in use is the MEU SOC M1911 (Marine Expeditionary Unit Special Operations Command)

but then again, what these guys use, who knows.
 
Does it really mean much? The ones that can get what they want get a lot of special purpose weapons for use in specific situations.
Which really just shows no one gun is good for everything.
What is standard issue for such individuals means very little as it may not be what they usualy use.

The rest deal with what they are issued, which can be dictated as much by politics or cost as what is most desired at the time by those in the field.


For such people a pistol is often one of the least important pieces of gear. Proficiency is very important if it is needed especialy in very tight spaces, but it is rarely a primary weapon. That means the selection process for a pistol is not of the highest priority.
Many are less likely to use thier leverage to get a pistol than to get a better primary tool for an objective.

Basing what is an ideal weapon on what a government agency uses is silly at best.
Instead do what those who have the freedom to pick and choose thier gear for each mission do. Pick something that is best suited to your own unique "mission" (whatever that might be), which has its own unique parameters, and therefore its own unique ideal weapon platform.
 
Hi Zoogster,

Please understand this request is NOT to help me or anybody else select a sidearm for their defensive/offensive use. The purpose is solely academic, kinda like asking what models of light tanks were used by the Allies in WWII.

Hunter
 
Along with the above mentioned pistols, the SF guys I saw in country were carrying what appeared to be plain jane M92 Berrettas.
 
I think alot of those guys can carry pretty much whatever they want. Seems like there is someone on this forum that is/was/claimed to be an armorer that said he had seen everything from USP45 tacticals to Glocks to Colts to Sigs.


Jason
 
Most of the Army SF guys I worked with and the Delta guys I saw (never worked with them in any way) had M9's.

I recently attended a one week shooting course with 20 other combat veterans. None had ever used a handgun in combat.
 
I don't see a big advantage of a 226 over an M9 other than cool factor.

Some naval aviators have 228s for compactness/ease of carry on the survival vest.

The story with the 226s is related to the old story about the seal's kabooming an early issue M9.... so the advantage over an M9 is purely "it's not the M9, because they had trust issues with the M9".
 
The story with the 226s is related to the old story about the seal's kabooming an early issue M9.... so the advantage over an M9 is purely "it's not the M9, because they had trust issues with the M9".

early M9's had issues with the locking block failing. so i understand
 
Later traced to some unit getting thier hands on a large supply of M905, Blue-Pill, 50,000 PSI, pressure-test ammo that should have never been issued to them.
Or used for training

So I understand.

rcmodel
 
I don't see a big advantage of a 226 over an M9 other than cool factor.
Smaller? Doesn't make the recoil of the 9mm feel like 22lr due to it being far heavier than it needs to be?
i know that some special units use the h&k usp mk23
Yes, and pretty much all of them hate it, because it's about the size and weight of a desert eagle.


From what I've heard, SF gets what SF wants, and that can vary.
 
From what I understand, certain units get an "allowance" to purchase their own sidearms. Alot of them go with 1911s. It seems to be more along the lines of personal preference.
 
Being a former red beret (hense the name) I can tell you for a fact the arms room issue for the Special Forces at Bragg is the Berreta 9mm...however, as one stated before the Special Forces guys do whatever they want and carry anything the want. They usually carried sigs and high end 1911's with the occasional issue 9's as far as combat wear goes. I never, not one time saw any of them carry a polymer of any sorts (dont know why). Though I did see a few glocks down range but they weren't carried (just to play with while wasting a few combat loads, playing at the range etc)
 
Back in my days at Ft. Bragg most of the Green Berets were carrying something like this:
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A lightly modified service 1911A1 .45acp National Match hardball gun

Now I think most of them are carrying this:
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A standard M9, though I bet they have access to Knights Armament barrels and sound suppressors for these pistols now.
 
Those that I know of carry M9 Berrettas and some carry Glock 17's. For sidearms anyway. Whatever they want for longguns and subs/Machine guns, The biggest problem we have with the M9's are that the military contracts to buy cheap mags like Checkmate feeding issues are common
 
Onmilo has it right.

Army SF "issued" weapons are M9s (Beretta 92FS) and M11s (SIG 228) along with some in-house upgraded GI 1911A1s for certain Groups. The M9s and M11s are MTOE, and the 1911A1s are MTOE issued "in lieu of" when M9's run short.

Additional carry weapons (encountered in noticeable numbers downrange) are Glock 17s/19s/22s and a sprinkling of BHPs/Makarovs. Depends upon who else you are working with and where you are at.

I've yet to actually see anyone haul around the HK MK23 on a mission (other than NAVSOF). We don't have any in our arms rooms except for a few training examples.

POWs are extremely verboten...despite popular internet legend.
 
Additional carry weapons (encountered in noticeable numbers downrange) are Glock 17s/19s/22s and a sprinkling of BHPs/Makarovs. Depends upon who else you are working with and where you are at.

I'm curious, is there any reason they'd carry Makarovs other than being able to scavenge parts and ammo in areas dominated by Eastern Bloc weaponry? I love my Mak but never would've guessed any special forces guys would choose one over other options.
 
SOF weapons

From my time in the 1st Battalion 75th Ranger Regiment I can tell you this.

Rangers use these weapons in all infantry platoons. M4A1, MK46 5.56mm machine gun, MK48 7.62mm machinegun. The only issued sidearm is the M9. Ofcourse other weapons are used like the good ol' .50 cal. The MK19 has been replaced by the newer MK47. I suggest checking it out online. Very cool weapons system. The M240B still sees a little bit of action mounted on top of vehicles.

Regular SF guys use just about the same thing as we did. SFOD-D guys, from what I have seen working with them primarily use the HK 416 rifle. I have only seen a few carry sidearms. They had a Glock .40 Not sure what model because I dont know anything about Glocks.

The Airforce PJ's used M4's and occasionally an M-9 was seen. Usually no sidearms were used because they are not a fighting force. They are like Firefighter Rescue Men.

Seal Team 6 uses the 416 as well. No sidearms were seen. Ever. I have never worked with any other Seal teams. While I'm on the subject of Seals I would just like to share my dislike for them. They are not that great of a unit. Everytime we worked with them overseas they royally screwed things up. They are very diva-like with no reason to be. Just remember that the battle of Takr Ghar was caused by a dumb Navy Seal who decided he wasn't gonna snap into the bird and then got thrown from it. Got a lotta people hurt and Sgt. Bradley Crose, Cpl. Matthew Commons, and Spc. Mark Anderson died because of it.

Sorry...done ranting. Short story. Sidearms are rarely used in the Special Operations and Special Forces Community. :)

RGRWATSON
Sua Sponte
 
Halo: "I'm curious, is there any reason they'd carry Makarovs other than being able to scavenge parts and ammo in areas dominated by Eastern Bloc weaponry? I love my Mak but never would've guessed any special forces guys would choose one over other options."

They are prevalent and concealable. Not normally chosen over anything else, just useful for certain circumstances or as a BUG. Nice tribal leather available in the 'Stan. When in Rome...

rgrwatson: "Sidearms are rarely used in the Special Operations and Special Forces Community."

I can see nothing has changed at 1st Batt... still not allowed to play with pistols? :). Sua Sponte Brother.
 
i have seen some of the cool guys carrying glock 19's. and was told by some of them that they also have caspian 1911's but they do not ring them to the sandbox.
 
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