Posted on 06/30/2016 3:44:49 PM PDT by PROCON
The Federal Bureau of Investigation awarded Glock an $85 million contract to produce 9mm handguns for the better part of a decade, according to the notice published Wednesday.
The contract marks a milestone in the history of FBI weapons as the agency famously ditched 9mm in the mid-1980s for a larger .40-caliber handgun. The return comes after 30 years of ballistic improvements to 9mm ammunition.
The contract covers five items that include a compact pistol, a full-size pistol, an inert training pistol, a Simunition training pistol, and replacement parts, according to the solicitation.
Specifications in the solicitation suggest Glock will be supplying the FBI with a Glock 19 compact and a Glock 17 for the full-size pistol.
Initial requests included a compact pistol with a barrel length between 3.75-4.25 inches, a minimum 14-round capacity, and night sights. And the full-size with a barrel 4.26-5.2 inches, minimum mag capacity of 16 rounds and night sights.
The FBI estimates spending between $20 million to $85 million in the next 10 years under the contact.
While the price may seem excessive, the contract may also equip 10 federal law enforcement agencies — ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshals, etc — and the Office of Inspector General for all federal agencies.
The caliber change comes 30 years after the agency’s high-profile response (dramatic among handgun aficionados) to a shootout that ended with the deaths of two agents who were essentially outgunned. The agency formally switched from revolvers to semi-auto pistols.
According to the American Rifleman, initially, the change was to a Smith & Wesson Model 1076 chambered in 10mm, which is on par with .40 caliber. But the results were poor and the agency replaced it with Sig 226 as a temporary fix. In 1997, the FBI officially adopted Glock .40 S&W pistols as the service pistol for agents.
The results are going to outrage a bunch of .45 ACP devotees but, here, essentially, is what the FBI believes the evidence shows and the conclusions they came to:
1. There is no such thing as greater stopping power with regard to standard law enforcement handgun rounds. A 9mm has as much stopping power as a .45 - A bad guy can keep coming after being hit with either if you don't hit him in the head or spinal column. Many incidences of perps being hit in the heart and continuing to shoot until they bled out. A trained physician can not tell any difference between the wound channels created by 9mm, .40 or .45 cal.
2. The BEST marksmen in the force miss about 75% to 80% of their shots in an active shootout.
3. Therefore, the most important characteristic of a duty handgun is the ability to place quick, accurate follow-up shots.
4. Agents at the range were shown to be able to place quicker, more accurate, follow up shots with a 9mm, most likely due to recoil. This applied across the board from the baddest marksmen to the average joes at the range.
When I walk around the woods here in rural NW Florida I always stick a small but high quality .22 LR automatic in my pocket.
It does not hit hard but it hits hard enough for most things I might run across and in a pinch will do for feral dogs.
I probably should at least carry one of my Browning Hi-Powers but they require a holster and are much heavier.
good on you and her... tell the truth and shoot straight
OMG, why did you allow your daughter to even hold one of those black, scary looking, “fully automatic”, weapons of war, assault rifles?!
She is now the Mother of Two half grown kids and has lost her interest in guns. Now her husband and my grandson may be easier to train. The only trouble is they live in Oklahoma and I do not get to see them except maybe every couple of years and that is usually at the beach where they rent a condo.
And that's because you can't train with adrenaline, it only comes when true fear is coursing through you.
Interesting info, do you have a link?
I live in the Rockies, my concern is mountain lions and bears, both frequent my neighborhood. I’ve had neighbors yell out their window as I walked by to let me know there was a bear in the area as recently at the last week or two.
We actually have panthers (same as mountain lions) and bears plus alligators and wild hogs and feral dogs.
Still You do not see them as often around here. In a pinch I could get by with the little Walther PP Sport with a spare mag. That is 21 shots total.
That would be a nice conversion.
When I was doing my research on this recent conversion, someone on one of the gun forums was bragging about his 625 conversion. Piece of cake, and cheap; If I remember correctly all he had to do was rent a reamer and in a half hour, he was done.
I’ve had a 460 Rowland Carbine upper conversion for a couple of years, and it is a lot of fun, yet suitable for serious purposes too.. After my last campout in an area that is posted for bad bears, and I didn’t want to carry my six pound .454 around, I decided rather than spend a thousand bucks or more on a more compact .454 or .44 Mag or a Ruger .45LC capable of ++P pressures, I’d go ahead and spend the $300 on the Rowland conversion.
After a bit of frustration, I got it to where I trust it in any situation, short of an angry Grizzly or Kodiak....
These new hot 9mm rounds are DEADLY. They immediately expand to .50-.70 and punch right through at 1200fps.
I have a Beretta Model 96 (.40) Brigadier. Alloy frame, heavy slide and 5in barrel.
I have AT LEAST 2000 rds through it and it's never, ever misfired or failed to eject.
And it's darn pretty to look at with the "Border Marshall Special" emblazoned on the side in gold leaf. "Brigadier" on the other.
Of course it's too big and heavy for concealed carry, not powerful enough for a sidearm in the woods.
But it's damn perfect on the nightstand.
I've never cleaned it, I just wipe the dust from the parts you can see.
More people need to add Trace Laser grips to their hardware, and aim for the head,IMO. Do you ever think what an attacker is thinking when he sees the laser flash across his eyes. He’s got two choices fire a shot and maybe get shot in the head or run.
Interesting. Thanks.
If you hit them 2in either side of their dick they drop like a sack of potatoes and can't even roll over.
It allow plenty of time for follow-up shots.
Those worried about a perp shooting back on the street, and those who believe he who shoots first has a 80% chance of living, would do well to practice this shot from quick-draw waist level.
90% of shootouts are within 8ft. Shoot first and drop 'em. Follow up.
That's now being taught at the FBI shooting school.
What a bunch of “girlie-men” ! Carry & USE a Colt Anaconda or stay at home wit da women and chilrun !!
.45 Long Colt baby will git ‘er done !
Snoot ;o)
I've got a .40 Firestar. It's about the size of a Colt Mustang .380. Thank goodness it's all steel. Even with the extra weight, it's a beast to fire.
Mark
I have a Firestar too.
It is the heaviest gun for it’s size I have ever seen. It literally feels like a hunk of lead. It is small enough to fit your pocket but would make your pants droop to one side.
Never given any problem and pretty mild in recoil to me. I finally found two spare mags but they are really scarce and for some reason, expensive.
No, I didn't save the links. A quick google search should find it or just do a search on youtube for the videos on it - they were very good.
Something about That Ole 1911.
So... THAT’S what “Molon Labe” REALLY means!!! It means “HELLO KITTY”!!! in Greek!
Haha!!!
is that Anne Barnhardt?
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