Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Your picks for the next US service pistol.

Mackay Sagebrush don't they load a special 160 grain bullet in the 9mm to make it sub sonic?

Not that suppressors really matter I guess for infantry but I have a feeling what ever pistol is next will have a threaded barrel and be chambered in 45.

Dink

147's sir.

That solicitation didn't last long before they pulled it because for the most part, what they were looking for wasn't really out there.

If you ask me, the 2006 solicitation was to plant the seed, let manufacturers get such models going, and the the military will give it a few years for the competition to weed itself out, leaving the strongest for the next round of solicitation.

I supspect the next one will be very similar to the last, but may have a few differences.

I'm not sure I'm reading it right but sounds to me like they are looking at the 45 now. That's the biggest thing I would like to see. Good list of guns. Lots on their I could live with, and a couple I have.

The Special Operation Command operators have their own purchasing authority.

For the average servicemen the M9/M9A1 and M11 are fine for them. What those pistols need is Federal Expanding FMJ 9mm ammo. That and monthly pistol practice instead of annual.

I don't think the HK .45 would make the cut- the grip is too big for shooters with small hands. I would lean more towards the Springfield XD series with the interchangeable backstraps. BTW, Glock did produce a design with an external design for the trials (insider info from a friend at Glock in Smyrna).

I don't know where it will be made or what caliber it will be, but I'm betting that it will be of an Austrian design.

I think they will come to their senses and go with a 1911 in 45. It worked well for them for about 75 years and despite the claims to the contrary it is one of if not the best made today

Dink,

147s are standard for 9mm subsonic. I honestly do not see a shift away from the M9 for a very, very long time. What I would SPECULATE is that individual units will more and more likely augment their armories with whatever tool they see fit to get a job done.

Much like now, where some mil units purchase glocks or motorbikes or 4 wheelers, units will be given more lattitude to equip as they see fit. A new pistol will likely be added as an option, rather than an all out replacement. At least that is my guess for the immediate future.

Quite frankly I really have no idea what will happen. My guess is just as likely to be wrong as the next guys.

JWP,

As much as I love the beautiful chunk of steel that is the 1911, there are logistical issues with fielding them. I would be quite surprised if we saw a mass re-issue of the 1911.

As someone pointed out, what is needed is emphasis on pistol skills, service wide. At least that is my conclusion from my observations.

I know I could use some more range time.

I have no idea what the next service handgun will be, but I will venture a guess that it will be striker fired and have a polymer frame.

I haven't read the 2006 specs, so a couple of questions:

Is NATO compatibility still an issue?

Is there any requirement for a round that will defeat body armor?

XD-45??

My guess is somthing from Baretta or from FN.
I don't see the military using anything without a manual safety.
This will eliminate lots of pistols.

I do not know the requiments, but I agree.
It will be a polymer frame, striker fired pistol.

It will be modular design.
And I think the 9mm will stay.

As said before the pistol is a side arm for non combant personel. Or a last ditch back up for rifle draggers.

It may be even capable of quick caliber converstion.
But I'm thinking a hyper sonic small caliber round.


Lawyers will make the final decision.
and it will be a compromise of the worst kind.
Just like our Commander in chief

No and no. The specs call for a .45 ACP pistol that will function with four Mil-Spec rounds; ball, match ball, +P truncated cone, and a high pressure test round.

I think it will be something along the lines of a Springfield XD-M with 5 inch barrel, in 9mm. Would prefer to see it in .40 or .45 but I don't see them giving up the 9.

Kevin,
Interesting question. Personally I do not see anything being done for Big Army for a long time.

Just came in from a day on our range with a platoon of Infantry attached to the team. Once again, it all comes down to the man and training much more than the weapon. These guys today were not very well trained on the M-9. After several hundred rounds they felt a lot better.

Personally the 1911 is the only way to go, but not all the guys on the team agree. Some like their Glocks or Sigs.

I have bad news for you. I have a friend in military small arms procurement (yeah, the guys who did the soliciation), and despite my ardent pleas, they are not even remotely willing to consider the 1911 again. With the exception of my friend, the entire group just feels you look forward, not back. I can appreciate that line of thinking, and I'll be happy to accept it just the minute somone creates a better pistol.

I agree that we wont see 1911's again, but not for logistical reasons; unless you're talking about inter-mixing them with M9's. The 1911 is generally easier to work on than the M9 and has a much longer service life; the logistics would be easier if you ask me.

Exactly......