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Most of the VN era real deal SEALs I knew in the 80s agreed with you. Most thought that pistols were pretty useless in combat except for "the final bullet" to avoid capture (that's a joke, no seals surrendered or were captured in VN) or with suppressors to kill dogs (hush puppies).

As I recall, most said "I'd take two more thirty round magazines of 5.56 over a pistol any day. If you're down to a pistol against people with rifles, you are SCREWED.

Everything weighs somethinng, and a pistol is big chunk of iron to haul into battle, compared to the 60 rounds of M-16 ammo it kicks off your web belt. That's just what I was always told, I was never in combat.

The rule of thumb was more ammunition rather than a handgun at all times. However, there were exceptions when one would have to carry a handgun because one expected one's hands to be otherwise occupied or as a back up when carrying M79 and a radio etc or when going after someone who was POW bait usually aircrew and one was probably going to be on the stretcher detail.

There also were those occaisions when one was sleeping in a supposedly secure area that the pistol was essential for the sapper inside the wire. Also there were occaisions when one would have to go exploring in a tunnel and then a handgun was all that one could take.

However, the big problem is that a long gun is just not socially acceptable to take arround with one in public in most cities these days.

Everything weighs somethinng, and a pistol is big chunk of iron to haul into battle, compared to the 60 rounds of M-16 ammo it kicks off your web belt.

True,but the pistol represents a spare weapon in case yours breaks or takes a hit that makes it inoperatable. Everybody has their own idea about what's best,but I carried a 4 inch model 10 S&W loaded with tracers in my left shirt pocket,over my heart. The butt was all that stuck out,and I had a lanyard cord tied to that that went around my neck. I even had cause to use it once to suppress fire as I hauled butt away from a ambush site with what I thought was a malfunctioning M-16. I discovered later that the only thing wrong with the M-16 was that I must have tried to load a mag in it backwards or upside down. All I knew at that time was that the click I heard when I dropped the hammer on a empty chamber was the loudest noise I had ever heard in my life,and I needed to get the hell out of Dodge right NOW. I was the only one left on the ambush site where we ambushed a couple of companies of NVA,and I had been providing covering fire so everybody else could retreat once the NVA started to get their stuff together and return fire. NOT the right time to set down and field strip your weapon,or even look to see if the magazine you jammed up there at about 3,000 mph was actually still in the rifle. Nope,it was clearly time to panic.

Your comments are correct, in my opinion.

If you're going to a fist fight or knife fight -- the pistol is an ideal weapon..
(Remember rule 1- NEVER give the enemy an even break.. Do NOT "fight fair", fight to win)

If you're anticipating a real fire fight with armed men, a Cobra Chopper or Puff the Magic Dragon was the preferred weapon.......

If YOU have to carry everything yourself --- leave the pistol behind and carry more food for your rifle and pack grenades... If you're the type to commit suicide - your knife or your last grenade works nicely....or simply stand up!

If you're walking with 'yards ----- give them the bulky/heavy shit and pack your side arm (if it makes you sleep better)--- along with your weapon....

For some unclear reason --- prisoners always seemed to be more intimidated by a pistol in the ear during questioning.
Other than that - they didn't seem worth the carry.

Note -- Our M60 was manned by a kid that couldn't have weighed more than 135/145lbs... and about 5'7''.
Yet - he somehow managed to carry his weapon, lots of onboard ammo, his knife, a few grenades and a side arm..
He was 20' tall in a fire fight ---- but we nearly lost him every wet crossing..... he sank like a stone!
He constantly bitched about his feet or legs hurting....I wonder why?

Semper Fi