Posted on 12/05/2014 7:48:00 AM PST by shove_it
For almost 30 years, the Beretta has been the sidearm of choice for the U.S. Army — but now the Pentagon wants a new pistol, and has put out the word to gun manufacturers: Let the bidding begin.
An Army spokesman said to CNNMoney that officials will be requesting a proposal for a new standard-issue sidearm in January. Smith & Wesson and General Dynamics have already put their names in the ring, and announced the entrance of the M&P to the competition.
Beretta is planning to fight for the contract, too, CNNMoney reported.
A U.S. Army contract is not only a financial windfall, but a boon to the maker’s reputation. Guns chosen by the military frequently hit cult status and are often portrayed in Hollywood action flicks, from James Bond dramas to more modern-day, fast-action thrillers.
The Beretta M9 has been used by the Army since 1985 — and was actually the “lethal weapon” in the 1987 hit, “Lethal Weapon.”
[...]
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
The thing about pistols is that some people try to make them primary combat weapons. The MP5 was designed to be a pistol round with high capacity. Now we want the same thing out of regular pistols.
Mr Rogers, you are absolutely correct! I hate the M9. If I had my way, I would have carried my Randall 45; only because its so cool and manly.
But this is about wasting valuable National Resources on a fix that does not exist. Every Marine I EVER met wants to carry a 45; who could blame them. Somebody has to be the guy to say “Sorry Boys” there is just no data that indicates that our current pistol does not meet the requirement.
I’ve Never see a singly guy outside the wire, without a PSD, who did not have a M4/M16A4. So why are we wasting this money??
“The DA/SA was and still is a bad idea.”
I shoot a DA/SA (Taurus 92) and the shooting sport I lamely attempt to pretend I am competing in lets me put it my holster hammer back, safety on and pretend it’s a single action. Of course, that’s what I do because that first DA trigger pull sucks SO BAD.
“Glock type action would be sensible as a military piece”
Lots and lots of Armies agree with you on that. Glock is a stupendously well proven military sidearm. The good thing about long drawn out Army test would be that is give S&W, HK or whoever a chance to prove that there “Glockish” handguns are as good.
“I would consider it if they can figure out how to build an M1911A1 out of lighter materials.”
Regular 1911’s are about 40oz. Aluminum 1911’s could be around 26oz, as the aluminum officer’s models are 25oz.
I'm pretty sure Mel Gibson's character was the "Lethal Weapon". He just happened to carry a Beretta 92.
And for all the rest of you guys advocating for the return of the 1911; I love it too, but there is no way a single action pistol is returning to general service in the U.S. military. Even the SOCOM HK Mk23 is SA/DA. Yes, MEU(SOC)and a few other special forces units use 1911 variants, but that is as good as it's going to get.
Has anyone made a Titanium 1911?
***Seems people want pistols with 16+ rounds.***
That’s because you have to shoot everyone twice with a 9.
The 45 ACP was designed to romp and stomp Juramentados.
> just how often is a combat infantryman called on the use a handgun?
When I was a tanker, the m1911 was our personal weapon. Had to lug that beast everywhere.
40 watts doesn’t sound like much for an energy weapon.
Smith&Wesson has their Scandium pistols. I have a 329. A 44 Magnum at 25oz. Extremely light weight. I bet a 1911 could be made at 20oz. However, felt recoil increases with lighter weights.
As a long-time 1911 shooter, I have a fantastic Ed Brown 1911 that I have won a lot of bowling pin matches with, once winning high overall for seven straight weeks, so to say I like the 1911 is an understatement. My everyday carry weapon is a Glock 30 subcompact in .45 ACP. It never has missed in thousands of rounds.
I certainly hope that is not what is taught in the military today.
I’d have preferred to carry a couple of Ruger SuperBlackhawks. I shoot better with them than an M9 and they would have looked way cooler. Made more noise, too!
The guys I talked to figured the M9 was there for style points, and so you could kill yourself seconds before being captured...none of the guys I knew wanted to try being a Taliban prisoner. But I was a Lt Col, 49 years old and doing staff garbage at the time, so I could count my trips off the FOB on the fingers of one hand.
My SIL was Marine Infantry. IIRC, he said he never fired an M9 in combat.
“I certainly hope that is not what is taught in the military today.”
Don’t know, but I had to take some pistol qualification training recently and it didn’t seem any different than from 30 years ago. I think the High-Speed-Low-Drag persona has contributed more to a resurgence in falsehoods than anything else. I am not kicking in doors with a pistol in one hand and a K-Bar in the other. lol.
Frankly, I think a mag change is always required at some point as pistols don’t have never ending magazine like in the movies. So, if a mag change happens every 8 round in a 1911 or 16 rounds in a 9mm, so what? It is going to happen.
Besides, I LOVE the 1911 trigger. 1911: The original Point-n-Click interface. It results in very accurate shooting.
“Those Hi-powers were great guns.”
Bought my first one (new) about 1993. Liked it and bought a second one, which has never been fired. But they were only about $400. back then.
Whatever sidearm they decide to procure owebama is going to insist that it fires safer bullets...
.460 Rowland?
A Glock variant will not ever likely be adopted by the DoD. When it comes to handguns, the brass are far more worried about negligent discharges than they are about anything else. A Glock is the brass’ worst nightmare when it comes to administrative handling. They will never go for a design where the trigger must be pulled for a field strip.
Round count. Seems people want pistols with 16+ rounds.
Same here. I carry a ParaOrdnance P-12 (basically a double-stack 1911) because of round count.
I agree. I can shoot a Hi-Power more accurately than I can shoot my 1911. However, I prefer the larger cartridge. I can shoot it well enough to do the job.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.