[marron]

This makes me think these guys are serious. Issuing 45's means no more fooling.

[conservativecorner]

Awesome move to improve our soldiers killing power on those who would kill our troops. Lock and load BUMP!!

[RadioAstronomer]

I like my Glock 10mm. :-)

[shield]

About time...one shot of a 45 is all it takes. The 9mm just doesn't do the job...one shot many times doesn't slow 'em down.

[prophetic]

I've always thought the 9mm move was to give certain defence contractors a piece of the money without thoughts of real military applications.

Similarly the move to convert the nuclear boomers to carry US Seals to "Combat Terrorism" is the biggest P.O.S. in recent military history.

[R. Scott]

Good to hear.

[phrogphlyer]

Did a little quick research and found this.

"3.7.6. Weapon Shot Counter. The JCP should have a weapon shot counter to record shots fired (O). The shot counter, if provided, shall have a data collection device that connects the shot counter to a computer. The shot counter, if provided, shall have a Microsoft compatible software program that works in conjunction with the shot counter and the data collection device to allow the weapon data to be downloaded and stored on a computer. The shot counter, if provided, shall not interfere with any operations of the JCP."

Going back to .45 is a great idea, but why the hell would they need this?

[foldspace]

My Sig .40 is a CADILLAC- and I've shot a bunch! Can round-trip this baby blindfolded and is smooth as silk in the hand... if you're not going to collect and want to purchase ONE FINE MACHINE... get a CADILLAC. Unlike the 9mm, it won't bounce off car windows sideways...

GRAND PRIZE WINNER

[SVTCobra03]

One word: Kimber

[fallujah-nuker]

45ACP ping!

[ghostcat]

The article really lost me with this statement:"There are several modern designs out there for .45 caliber pistols that ......are easier to maintain than the pre-World War I M1911".
30+ years of gunsmithing tells me that whoever wrote this surely has never worked on the 1911 and all of the newer designs. The newer designs tend to have more parts and more complicated double action trigger designs. Most of the .45 designs out there are nothing more than variations of the Browning short recoil design that was used in the 1911. The real difference in the newer designs usually lie in the trigger mechanism (double action as opposed to single action) and the magazine capacity (double stacked as opposed to single stacked). The only other differences are the material that the frame is constructed of (steel, alloy, polymer).

[StoneColdTaxHater]

Ruger's new p345 is a honey of a gun!

[Donald Rumsfeld Fan]

...1911 Browning 45 semi-automatic..used WWI thru Korean war and beyond.

..John Moses Browning ..inventor..1855 - 1926

[szweig]

I recall hearing that part of the reason they switched away from .45 to 9mm was PC. The female recruits had trouble racking the slide and some trouble with the recoil. So what to do? Make 'em practive more or dumb down the whole affair with 9mm? The rest is history. Whether this is true or not I can't say fo' sho'...SSZ

[MonroeDNA]

There are studies that compare stopping power of various rounds out on the internet. Hard to argue with them.

Two of them are the Evans and Marshals compilation of one-shot-stops, and the Strausberg (SP?) goat tests.

I believe that the .40 scored highest in these, and the .357 was close. The .45 was good, but down the list somewhat. And the nine was down.

Objective data. We all have our favorite calibers, but these are real tests, actual killings.

My personal thing is recommending the .357 SIG to the military, because they want penetration, impact, and have to use FMJ.

The .357 SIG will penetrate a lot further than the .45 in FMJ. And hits like a mule kick.

[Henchster]

From the article: "Various designs are being evaluated, but all must be .45 caliber and have a eight round magazine (at least), and high capacity mags holding up to 15. The new .45 will also have a rail up top for attachments, and be able to take a silencer. Length must be no more than 9.65 inches, and width no more than 1.53 inches."

Hmmm. Just coincidentally, the highlighted dimensions are PRECISELY those of the H&K MK23 - which just happens to have all of the above detailed features:

H&K MK23

[hiredhand]

Ping!

[xzins]

Continual reports that nothing less than the .45 will surely stop an enemy soldier.

We already knew this, but I guess it's good to have it reaffirmed.

[Chode]

.45 ping...

[yarddog]

Usually, the gun threads on FR are pretty good. Lots of useful info and the odd misinformation gets corrected courteously and accuratetly.

This one tho, is about as bad as it gets.

First of all, the old 1911 is a little difficult to field strip but is probably the easiest gun ever made to detail strip. I can't imagine it being considered difficult to maintain.

Whoever said a 9mm hollowpoint is basically as good, is correct. All this bashing of the 9mm eventually gets to me. Of course for whatever reason, the miltary will not use hollowpoints so the .45 is the logical choice.

Anyone who thinks the .45 is inaccurate is simply wrong. I don't think it is the inherent accuracy of the round but the amount of work done in developing super accurate target models. Still even the run of the mill military models are prettty good.

Anyone who thinks the Berretta in unreliable is off about as bad as is possible. It is maybe the most reliable pistol made with the possible exception of the Sig P226.

I don't care for the Beretta because of it's fat grip and don't care for the Rugers because of the awkward trigger reach, but they are both fine guns for someone whose hand fits them.

They could do a lot worse than simply going back to the original M1911 with whatever advancements they need to add to it.