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.
Not a finer handgun made, IMHO.
OK you Glock-o-phobes, have at it!
Love both the Glock 17 and 19 as they are awesome guns, easy to care for, durable and very accurate. However with today’s threats the FBI agents will be badly outgunned with 9-mm Lugar. I go with the Glock 31 (.357 Sig) or 20 (10-mm Auto) myself.
RE G19:
I agree. It’s my go-to companion, always.
It is the AK47 of the handgun world - it ALWAYS works.
I carry a variety of handguns.S&W model 19,HK USP,a vintage 1911A1,among others.
I keep coming back to the model 19 because of the round it chambers.
No finer handgun molded, perhaps.
I’ve got both a Gen 4 G19 and an older original G19.
The Gen 4 is a little more ergo with the grip, but the older girl is still my baby.
Also have a G17 and a G21 (.45 ACP) as well.
They work, always.
I don’t hate the G19, I have one. But if I were up against jihadists or drugged up crazies I would rather have a 10mm. Maybe the new transgender recruits can’t handle anything with more recoil than the 9mm.
How come they get hi-cap mags? Not everybody can legally own them.
I hear the same said of HiPoints.
USMC MARSOC went to GLOCK 19 about one year ago.
I recently purchased my first Glock, a 43, and will be buying a 19 not too long from now.
For those who question the durability of Glocks, a must see video is Iraqveteran8888’s torture test of the Glock on Youtube. I was a holdout on Glocks.......until I saw this video. Amazing guns.
My top three in no particular order are: Glock, Sig Sauer and FN.
Some of you are just not professional enough to carry a Glock-40. /sarc
That is indeed true.
Cheap, effective firepower for the working man.
To cater to diversity, are the new firearms also going to have sights mounted on the side so they can be fired ‘ghetto’?
The modern ballistics make differences between the 9mm and 10mm moot at best.
What, you don't have a concealed AR-15 holster like I do? :-)
Because they’re the PO-lice.
You are probably the only one in this room professional enough to carry a Glock-40!
(Is that Youtube vid still out there?)
I have a smaller hand so the Gen4 G-19 is perfect for me.
And here’s a sweet little “BUG” to fit in the small of your back... and keep your logistics trail short...
http://www.gunsholstersandgear.com/gun-reviews/taurus-905-review-9mm-revolver/
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