Sir, oftentimes the US Military will succumb to the will of the “Crowd”. Newer, better, faster, sleeker,ext, develops a need where no REQUIREMENT exists!
I’ve often said that a 38 Caliber Model 10 S&W could provide the capability we need since most studies conclude that the pistol never leaves the holster.
Everybody wants the best, most expensive pistol made until he is tasked to leave the Forward Operating Base; then he magically requires a M16 or M4. The ONLY person outside a FOB equipped with only a pistol is a General who has a PSD and a very few technicians. The only exceptions would be Machinegunner, Mortarman, Pilot and Assault Rocketmen. Of course these guys are carrying very high caliber merchandise!
Bottom Line: There is no evidence that the M9 has EVER failed anyone in training and combat. Although I would have kept the M1911A1: the M9 is bought and paid for! Why are we wasting money funding a fix for a problem that does not exist.
Sadly, I have seen this same scenario unfold countless times in my 34 years of service!
Never served in Armor, have you?
Indeed. Although the Navy had several slide failures during the early days of the adoption of the M9, that primarily involved special operators, and in some cases, ammunition other than M882 ball ammo and guns with slides that had been fired in excess of 6500 rounds.
Once the SEAL teams switched to the Sig226 as their primary handgun and relegated the M9 to use for familiarization work, most of those problems ceased.
The answer is simple: once the Army acquires their 300,000 new XM17/M17 MHS handguns, transfer their old Beretta M9s to the USMC. The Marines can have their old CMI magazines too.