Why the .45 Matters

Strategy Page ^ | Feb 1, 2006

[cgk]

Darn. Post #3 was directed to you. Just noticed, looking for something else I wrote. :-/

[FreedomPoster]

Dang, you're right. I guess everyone ignored the incorrect metric equivalent, and just read right past it.

[P8riot]

The only reason to use a handgun in combat is to fight your way to an available rifle.

[ExSoldier]

Cliches at times have no application.

[ExSoldier]

H&K is in a peck of financial trouble at the moment, I'll bet we can get a deal. The USP is (believe it or not) based on the 1911 design but offers many improvements for today's soldier (products of the public schools). It's difficult to teach trigger sensitivity and muzzle awareness in a high pressure situation like urban warfare where troops might be bunched up before entering rooms, etc. That's where the DA or DAO variations come in handy. Same with the "hammer drop" feature on the H&K. I'm a former Infantry Captain and an NRA Instructor, so I've seen my share of the wayward muzzle syndrome! Your idea of let anybody buy their own is a logistics and survival nightmare. Picture this scenario:

It's dark inside the Iraqi building. No power. The firefight is raging. Ammo is running low and the tight quarters often require use of a handgun. The squad is pinned down in one tiny corner, waiting for the back up to arrive and this little exchange takes place among the squad members:

Awww crap! I musta dropped my mags in the corridor! Anybody got a spare for an H&K USP?
Not me! I've got a ParaOrdnance.
Not me! I've got a 1911!
Not me! I've got a Beretta 8045
Not me! I've got a Sig P220.

Get the picture?

I very much doubt it would go like this: We told you not to get that damn Kraut gun! We've all got Colts and now you're stuck! Based on the overriding perception of the troops that if the army issues it you can do better in the private sector.

[MountainYankee]

It was the rebel yell !!

[Simo Hayha]

What did the tunnel rats use? Is that the right term? The guys who had brass balls and went into the tunnels...

[mad_as_he$$]

Usually a 45 and/or a pump shotgun. Mostly a Remington 870 or some version of it. There were many Ithica 12 ga pumps around also.

[Gaffer]

Boy! I'd like to see those jigglies jiggle when firing off that drum......

[R. Scott]

Yep.

[Eaker]

I have a .40 (glock) and it kicks like a mule.

My daughter has been shooting my Glock 27 since she was eleven.

She never complained about recoil.

[G Larry]

Love my Gold Cup!

[ElTianti]

I have a GLOCK 30 (great, great gun), but mine is the standard black. Where’d you get the brown part?

[R. Scott]

Addendum:

It fits my hand nicely too. I use Federal Hydrashock 230 grain +P HST.

[yarddog]

I noticed the error but wasn't sure exactly how close to 9mm a .357 diameter bullet was. Turns out it is 9.067mm. He may have meant to say 9.065mm and left out a zero.

[weldAllday]

Had a colt delta -elite in 10mm. at time it was supposed be hot new gun. what a piece of junk. I now love my SW #29 44mag,topped w/3x burris scope.

[Squantos]

The grips on that puppy are awesome 2.5 !~

Carbon fiber ?

[Leatherneck_MT]

Thank the good lord that they brought this old workhorse back. Now if they will just bring back the BAR or a good replacement for it, I would be even happier. Large caliber heavy hitting rounds make a hell of alot more sense than these "metrosexual bullets" we seem to issue our troops these days.

[Squantos]

Good catch.....Eaker should have caught that error while I was at work !.........:o)

[manglor]

I would assume that isn't a working silencer? Quite a bit of legal hoops to jump thru for a real one...

Nope it's a real one. It's a SWR HEMS .45 suppressor. www.swrmfg.com makes them. The paperwork and federal tax hooplah took about 6 months but it's been worth it.