Posted on 10/20/2016 7:47:19 AM PDT by Elderberry
As you may know, the US Armed Forces is on the hunt for the next official Joint Combat Pistol for the entire US Military. Yes, it’s kind of a big deal…
In the 1980s, the Beretta M9A1 was chosen to replace the iconic M1911A1.
Many veterans and 1911 fans never forgave the Department of Defense for what they considered a huge blunder. Not to mention, they gave an Italian firearms company the most coveted sidearms contract on the planet…
Fast forward to 2016, where a fresh clash of the titans is underway to decide which semi-automatic pistol will follow the M9 in the history of US military firearms. The new contract competition, called the MHS (Modular Handgun System), calls for a few specifics in terms of accuracy and accessories, though there are plenty of popular models that fill these criteria.
Once again, the list of manufacturers competing for the contract isn’t exactly chock full of cornfed American companies.
Is your favorite pistol on the list? Take a tour through the 7 Finalists to find out…
GLOCK 19, 22 or 23?
It’s been said many times but bears repeating, the Austrian-made Glock revolutionized the handgun forever with its polymer design.
Early detractors made fun of it for looking like a “block” of plastic, but most have since been won over by the Glock’s simple, light-weight, and nearly indestructible design. And judging by how many look-alikes have flooded onto the market, many shooters have come around how the Glock’s appearance too.
Thus far, all reports regarding the Modular Handgun System contract report Glock being solidly in the running, but there’s wide disagreement on which particular model is being considered. Perhaps Glock’s strategy is to let the USAF dictate the caliber.
The Glock 19, is a compact model that is easy to carry, fun to shoot, and yet versatile enough to serve pretty much any pistol shooting application out there. The Glock 22 is available in a .40 caliber, which may suit those in the DoD who prefer a heavier round. Many federal organizations, such as the FBI, carry the mid-sized versions of this platform.
Expert after expert will tell you that, if you’re only going to own one pistol, this is the one to get.
Smith and Wesson M&P
Smith & Wesson is a legendary name in firearms history, and the M&P lineup does the name proud at a price point that most shooters can afford.
With a state of the art polymer frame, slim profile, and an empty weight of just 24oz., there’s a lot more to like about the M&P than just the price. In fact, lots of experienced shooters say this model belongs right along side Glock, and Sig Sauer when it comes to performance, reliability, and design.
Certainly, the 17-round magazine gives you plenty of firepower. The M&P is heavier than the Glock 17 by about 3 ounces, which is not significant enough to make a difference with most shooters.
This gun is possibly the best balance of value and performance you’ll find in a new, straight out of the box handgun. Plus, S&W handguns are still American made, which is somewhat of a rarity.
SPRINGFIELD XD
The Springfield XD series has quickly become a fan favorite among pistol enthusiasts, approaching even the Glock in popularity.
The XD is another polymer frame gun, much like the Glock, with ambidextrous magazine releases, a grip safety, and a trigger action safety. The sharp 3 dot sights are easy to get comfortable with and even the shorter models are highly accurate.
When you put the XD and a Glock side by side, the comparisons just can’t be avoided. The XD is a bit narrower than the Glock, and the controls and safety are slightly larger than those on the Glock. The .40 XD model comes equipped with two 13 round magazines, so you’ve got plenty of firepower for the range.
For any of you who might be rooting for team USA here, the truth is that the XD series is 100% a Croation import from stem to stern, manufactured by HS2000. It is never less a great weapon.
Beretta APX
If you haven’t noticed, basically every gun on this list is strikingly similar. The Beretta APX clearly follows suit. In fact, the APX has been designed from the ground up to win Beretta’s US-based manufacturing the coveted MHS contract.
After years of its status as stalwart, driving firearm trends, Beretta seems to be diving straight into a very hot (and crowded) me-too territory.
On the flip side, the APX is a very top notch polymer handgun, with engineering and reliability that sure to be best-in-class. Plus, you get the comfort and status of seeing the word Beretta on the side of it.
The APX is a striker fired handgun, with a loaded chamber indicator. It has a built-in rail system for mounting lights and other accessories. There are also a number of handy safety mechanisms to prevent the gun from discharging when dropped, or during hasty cleanings where a shooter has neglected to empty the chamber.
CZ P-09
This is a fairly new offering from Czech arms maker CZ, and stands out on this as one of the only hammer fire gun thus far. Thus it can be fired single to double with the hammer cocked. It also has a smooth double action pull on the first shot.
The P-09 also has a de-cocking mechanism that allows you to toggle back to double action with a round in the chamber.
Perhaps the standout feature of this gun is the ammo capacity, an impressive 19+1 rounds. Sheesh, you’d better be able to hit you target with that many shots.
FN Five-SeveN
This gun is a real outlier, not only in the MHS contract bake-off, but for modern handguns in general.
If you haven’t noticed yet from the image above, it shoots some really funky looking handgun ammo. In fact, you might think it’s NOT handgun ammo at all… Wrong.
The 5.7x28mm round was designed by FN Herstal to replace the ubiquitous 9mm, to be used in a should fired weapon and a handheld. Thus this 20 caliber round was born. After testing, the results were clear: The 5.7 was a vastly more efficient cartridge.
Yet, due to a convergence of factors (controversy, bureaucracy, etc.) the round has been slow to overtake the 9mm. This innovative firearm is used by the US Secret Service, as well as 40 other nations around the world.
But what are the chances of it being adopted by the Department of Defense? It’s hard to say, but it certainly feels like a long shot.
Still, the FN Five-seveN (that’s how it is trademarked) is a very interesting gun, and battle-tested. The military and police versions fire ammo that can penetrate body armor including kevlar. Plus, the magazine capacity is 20 rounds.
Sig Sauer P320
For the Sig fans out there, there’s this sweet little number. Like all the other guns on this list except the CZ, and unlike most everything else in the Sig lineup, the P320 is striker fired.
Aside from this being a super accurate and well-made polymer semi-auto, the fact that it’s a striker fired Sig Sauer might just be P320 most noteworthy feature.
If you like other Sigs AND you like Glock-style handguns, you’ll probably love the P320.
This striker fired Sig has a very similar feel to the Glock. The traditional higher bore axis that Sig shooters are used to isn’t as much a factor with the P320. Still, the slide grip is a bit narrower than its competitors.
What the P320 brings to the table is Sig Sauer’s exceptional quality and reliability. It’s also a modular system, allowing you to move the trigger assembly from frame to frame, allowing you to test out the compact, full size, etc.
Which gun should the US Army choose?
Whatever you say.
I don’t own a 1911. I have spent years reading people discussing how they sand this, tweak that, and need to fire XXX (or XXXX) rounds before trusting it. I’ve watched folks at the range struggling to get one to shoot consistently even 20 rounds.
I prefer my revolvers. But my S&W Shield and Beretta Pico are shooting great without tweaking. My experience with the Pico is a bit out of the ordinary, but I’ve met a lot of folks with Shields and Glocks who are waiting for their first FTF or FTE...
I understand old school. I carry a 686 more often than the Shield, and I may sell the Shield as having no role to play. I also carry a J-frame frequently. But the new polymer guns ARE proving very reliable.
My son has a CZ75. I like it a lot! I want one for myself.
I’ve got several Glock 17’s. Love em. I liked so grip so much I purchased a couple of frames (very easy to buy, but requires ffl) and went with the Mechtech Glock 9mm upper and voila. A nice 9mm carbine that can use my 15 and 33 round Glock mags.
Does anyone know what the testing regimen is like?
I copied the following from a CZ release when they received a NATO Approval:
http://cz-usa.com/press-release/cz-p-01-gets-nato-approval-the-next-generation-of-perfect-pistols/
The pistol must be 100% reliable in extreme conditions, the following is a list of some of the minimum requirements.
Must be able to complete the following without failure:
4000 dry firings
3000 De-cockings
Operator level disassembly 1350 times with out ware or damage to components.
Complete disassembly 150 times, this is all the way down, pins, springs etc.
100% interchangability, any number of pistols randomly selected, disassembled, parts mixed and reassembled with no failures of any kind including loss of accuracy.
Safety requirements:
Drop test
1.5 meter (4.9”) drop test, this is done 54 times with the pistol loaded (blank) and the hammer cocked. Dropping the pistol on the butt, the muzzle, back of the slide, sides of the gun, top of the slide, in essence, any angle that you could drop the gun from. This is done on concrete and 0 failures are allowed! A failure is the gun firing.
3meter drop (9.8”) 5 times with the pistol loaded (blank) and the hammer cocked, This is done on concrete and 0 failures are allowed! A failure is the gun firing.
After these tests are complete the gun must fire without service.
The factory contracted an independent lab to do additional testing on guns that previously passed the drop tests.
These pistol were dropped an additional 352 times without failure.
The pistol must also complete an environmental conditions test:
This means cold, heat, dust/sand and mud.
The pistol must fire after being frozen for 24 hours at –35C (-36F).
The pistol must fire after being heated for 24 hours at 70C (126F)
The pistol must fire after being submerged in mud, sand and combinations including being stripped of oil then completing the sand and mud tests again.
Dunno.
I think Ol’ John Moses Browning took things a step further with Browning Hi-Power. Too bad it was in 9mm.
I’ve heard that there are .45 cal versions of the Browning HP, but that they are rare and expensive.
I prefer a true revolver, never jams, dependable, and well trained, you don’t need 30 shots ...
“XD. I have 3 and love them all.”
Agreed. I have the XD40 and the XDM 5.25 with some trigger work. Both great guns. Just wish they were made here.
I have a Rock Island GI 1911 that is utterly dependable.
I know what you are saying about revolvers. I have run over 10,000 rounds of cast/3.2gr Bullseye loads thru one of my Model 36s. Never a hick-up. With even a sweet double action pull on a revolver, I prefer a single action squeeze whenever possible.
Marine Corps training taught me that the only purpose of a pistol is to fight your way to a shotgun. I initially shot and qualified with a 1911 and then later with the 92F.
I didn’t like the Beretta primarily because the double-stacked grip was something I was not used to. The maturation of 9mm ammunition over time has convinced the FBI to take a second pass at outfitting their agents with Glocks in 9 millimeter. Seeing how the 1911 will never come back and probably shouldn’t at this point, the criteria that the Austrian military placed upon Glock initially in the early eighties and (which can be found on the Wiki page for Glock) shows the reader the extensive criteria that was laid out for those companies competing for a contract. Glock won the contract meeting all criteria, the model 17 was adopted for the Austrian military and for other military and police departments wworldwide.
At this point in time I think probably a Glock 17 would fit the bill for the military and given the fact that the pistol is a fairly close range weapon,that is to say within ten yards, and is a weapon that doesn’t need to be anything other than what it is - an extension of the hand. The real Weaponry lies in the shoulder arms that are employed. I think a Glock 17 would fit the bill perfectly and meets a stringent quality control requirement from an Armament standpoint.
S&W has already been ruled out, for whatever reason.
Specifically designed to kill Juramentados.
But Beretta put their safety/decocking lever on the slide. A bad placement. Taurus fixed that, so like the 1911 the lever is on the frame ... and their copy is superior to the Beretta M9.
Agreed.
Love the M&P 9mm. Shot thousands of rounds through it and have never had any issues with its reliability or accuracy.
Certainly hope an American company wins the contract.
Might weight differences be a consideration for carrying the piece in full gear?
For sure, there is a big difference in weight between a steel gun and a plastic one.
And we now have to think of the transgendered.../s
I believe you meant to say "...fight your way back to your rifle, unless they changed that since the '70's.
Semper Fi!
You smoke Buddha I’m sure
Boy that thought brought back mid 70s memories
And Buddha was pricey
Loose leaf sealed bag NO2 injected Thai
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