You've Been Selected To Choose Our Next Military Issue Handgun

[Andrew Wyatt]

there should be three service handguns, one, a compact or subcompact auto or revolver in 9mm that's designed for pocket carry that's issued to every combat arms person. the cecond is a 1911 with light rails and proper sights and all that that gets issued to the special forces guys, or anyone who can qualify to special forces standards.

the other, is a full size crunchenticker holster pistol that's used as a badge of office for officers.

 

[Mike Irwin]

Boats, be fair to me, and to everyone else...

Dubious means doubtful or questionable, which by its very nature, leaves the question open to discussion.

No means, well, no. There's no leeway.

They're not the same thing, nor are they necessarily close.

But you're right, some categories of users will always need a handgun, such as pilots, simply because there's no place to put the larger firearm if you have to eject.

 

[9x19]

Sam C,

I voted for other, like in 1911!

You voted in 1911?!

Wow!!!

 

[s&w 24]

I think that they would do the world a favor by going back to a revolver for genral issue and a auto for limited issue. If they had consern over ammo compatability issue a 45 acp revo and auto but I would stear them to 44 special and 40 S&W

revolver 1st pick: S&W 696
revolver 2nd pick: taurus tracker in 45 acp

auto 1st pick : glock 22
auto 2nd pick: the new glock 45 auto ( 37?)

we are talking FMJ bullets here so all the wound channel consists of is the crush cavity unless you have a tumbling bullet so your back to Elmer Kieth rules of bullet constuction.

 

[mephisto]

CZ-97!!!

 

[Akurat]

Nothing wrong with the Beretta.

Throw your [name brand pistol here] out the window on the freeway a couple times, then drop it in the ocean...come back and fish it out in about a week. Use it around the house for those small jobs...hammering nails...breaking open crab legs...knocking through drywall. Clean it(again and again and again......). Thats about what condition the M9's that I've handled (dozens) are in. But boy do we keep them CLEAN!

 

[New_comer]

What 10-Ring said...

 

[Johnny Guest]

Yeah, me, too - - -

1. Other: M1911A1

2. Other: Kahr P9. As stated above - -Light weight, low bulk, single stack 9mm. (Or maybe something like the Kel Tec P11??) It could be carried in an exposed belt holster and be a lot more effective than the "status symbol" Euro pocket pistols, OR in an approved concealable belt or pocket holster. TOO concealable, you say? The military controls the lives of soldiers at more basic levels than this. Make it a UCMJ criminal offense to carry/use the pistol in an unauthorized manner. And, I know that many 1911s and M9s have been carried concealed against orders. Why not make convenient, light weight carry, concecaled or exposed, part of the authorized TOE?

Best,
Johnny

 

[Sean Smith]

The ideal general-purpose service pistol hasn't been created yet. And I doubt anyone will bother. But here goes...

1. Given the considerable female proportion of the forces, and their (on average) smaller hands than men, the gun should be a single-stack 9x19mm gun with a polymer frame, metal magazines, and a short trigger reach. 10+1 is plenty of shots.

2. Given that handgun training will never be a priority, it needs to have a manual safety and a conspicuous loaded chamber indicator. Yes, those are crutches. But crutches can be handy if you can barely walk.

3. Give it a 4" barrel and enough grip for a full hand to hold it. Polymer frame with a grippy texture and good ergonomic shape, slide and small parts with some sort of Tennifer-esque hostile environment finish.

4. Trigger mechanism... I'd give it a DAO type of trigger mechanism, say a fairly heavy but smooth 8 pound pull, but not a long reach like most DA semi-autos or revolvers. Consistent trigger pull = easier to train to shoot with limited trigger time, and as much as I personally like a 4 pound single-action trigger, I don't think you want Private Joe Marginally Handgun Trained with one.

5. Give it good sights, easy-to-reach and positive controls, and you'd be in business. Obviously it would have to be designed for a very high degree of durability and reliability, but that goes without saying. Give special attention to coming up with an indestructible extractor design, huge ejection port, and maybe even flute the chamber like a Schuemann AET barrel.

OK, enough of my insanity, back to your regularly scheduled gun debate already in progress...

 

[Erik]

"And yes, we know most of you want to "write in" 1911 .45 ACP."

Yep, and for good reason.

 

[Ian11]

Yes Erik,

Tell us the reason. Educate us. We'd love to hear it again and again and again and again and again..................... No, one more time please.

 

[Dr.Rob]

BHP.

I'm sure we could get them cheap, they are battle proven, reliable, smaller than the Beretta 92 but can have the same capacity. Field strips faster than a 1911, capable of being made all over the world (Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Bulgaria, Israel, Hungary, japan, also made here)

The Glock's lack of an external safety has always bugged me. It's fine in a hard shell holster but unsafe loaded in some GI's pocket (which you can bet loaded pistols end up in pockets)

 

[.45Ruger]

I would go with the Ruger P95 simply because it is economical, user friendly, reliable, duarble and its American Made.

 

[Majic]

I voted other for the sheer fact that a larger caliber is needed. Be it .40 , .45, or a newly designed big bore cartridge. While some may point out the merits of the 9mm, in a FMJ format it lacks. The bigger the hole the quicker the results.

 

[RustyHammer]

Colt 1911

 

[Powderman]

Why not the best of both worlds?

The 1911, in a hi-cap configuration, with the b-tail safety, chambered for .45 ACP in a 185 grain FMJ configuration, with +P loads in a compansated pistol. Or, as another poster put it so well:

Ruger P 95 if you want Hi cap or the P 90 if you want an AMERICAN made gun with an AMERICAN caliber. Both are portable, durable, reliable and AMERICAN made by God.

Why go foreign made at all?

 

[Bobarino]

i voted H&K, because i would want the best. i think its pretty disgusting that so many people are voting "other" and "other" meaning 1911. with all the advancements in technology and firearms there are still closed minded people screaming 1911. would you really want to send your troops into battle with a single action, 7+1, 90 year old design? why would you do that to them? wouldn't you want them to have an ADVANTAGE over their enemies? meaning high capacity, simple to operate, more tolerant to adverse condidtions, and quicker into action. i know yo'll say that a cocked and locked 1911 is very fast but lets get real. the military will not likely allow cocked and locked carry. durring WWII, 1911's were carried on an empty chamber! even it was chambered, the hammer was down. are you going to ask your enemy to hold on for second while you chamber a round? or cock the hammer? i want a gun that works like a disposable camera. point and shoot. in all reality the full size Glock .45 would make a great military sidearm. i agree that the 9mm is anemic in FMJ configuration especially in combat. the 1911 is just a DUMB idea for the current military sidearm given all the available options today.

Bobby

 

[Sean Smith]

would you really want to send your troops into battle with a single action, 7+1, 90 year old design?

Apparently Delta and MEUSOC would say "yes." But what would they know? They only kill foreigners for a living.

i voted H&K, because i would want the best.

Awwww, that's so cute! What's next, "my dad can beat up your dad?"

 

[Bobarino]

Sean,

you seem to feel the need to insult my opinions. why is that? i like HK. i think they make the best firearms out there. are you so insecure that you must insult me becuase of that?

delta uses 1911's. SEAL's use HK. big deal. a 1911 or whatever pistol they want for that matter is just fine in the hands of a person highly trained with a handgun. but we're talking Private Joe Anyone here, at the ripe ol' age of 19 or 20 with just enough training that he won't shoot his foot off. that is the wrong place for a 1911. simple, safe, reliable, and effective are traits that a modern sidearm should have. 1911 just don't fit the bill.

Bobby

 

[Ian11]

Bobarino,

I'm gonna have to side with Sean on this one although NOT his attitude. The 1911 is a viable sidearm for modern combat and it will continue to be until something completely revolutionary in firearms technology comes along. Many modern handguns do have an advatange as far as capacity goes. But a cocked and locked 1911 or BHP in the hands of someone who is properly trained (Delta/MEU/SAS) is a highly effective sidearm. That is not to say a SEAL or an SAS operator with their DA/SA SIG P226's (ahem )couldn't be just as deadly. (Of course our Navy SEALs and the British SAS are known to be the best)

Conversely, us mortals are equally well served by our 1911's, Glocks, Berettas, H&K's, and SIGs as long as we modify our training specific to that pistol. Every handgun has its faults. That's why we practice to overcome them. Furthermore, the 1911 is known as one of the most reliable handguns under adverse conditions and has set the benchmark for all current military autos. 1911's are also known as one of the most durable handguns in the world as well.

A gun with an active safety "may" prevent a negligent discharge but someone that "negligent" or unfamiliar with their weapon probably will forget to decock or flick off the safety when they need to. We can't try to out-think stupidity.

I prefer Glocks and SIG autos. But I gotta give the grand ole 1911 its props.

 

[DWS1117]

would you really want to send your troops into battle with a single action, 7+1, 90 year old design?

Just because the design is old does not mean that it is obsolete. 90+ years old, when your USP reaches 90 well talk.

HK and any of the other choices would fine weapons in the hands of our soldiers when trained to use that weapon properly.

That said, my vote is 1911.

 

[Ian11]

Oh, by the way when I meant "Other" in the poll it had to be a gun in 9mm NATO chambering as stated in the beginning. If you meant 1911 chambered in 9mm that's fine. But if you meant 1911 in .45 ACP........well, the Gov't has fired you from your job because it was obvious you couldn't take simple directions. The Gov't has decided to issue our troops Lorcins and High Points instead.

Good going!!!!!

 

[venom600]

Something that no one's mentioned yet is that the DOD won't approve a sidearm without an external safety, which eliminates the Glock from the start.

And the P99......bummer. Two damn fine handguns.

--Ben

 

[Akurat]

I think its unfortunate that so many 1911 fanatics chose to vote when the poll was specifically aimed towards a 9mm pistol. He even went the extra mile and requested that this not be done...obviously many intentionally ignored that request.

C'mon..

The 1911 is a great platform. I enjoy shooting mine as do many. But its long gone as a general issue sidearm(rightfully)...get over it. Staying true to it is fine, but don't ruin an otherwise good poll to try and force your point.

 

[Caliburn]

Akurat's right

If it has to be 9mm you can take out my Other (1911) vote and put it in the Ruger box. They're solid, reliable, relatively inexpensive, and we'll keep that Pentagon money over here where it can do some good. Who owns S&W these days, still the Brits? The Springfield XDs would be good but let's give them a few more years to make sure they're up to years of hard wear and abuse.