What features should a new Army pistol have?

2015-06-17T19:34:38-04:00

The Army is back at it again - looking for a new pistol. Personally, I liked the M1911 better than the M9. What features should the new handgun? Caliber? Accessories? PicPicatiny Rail?

http://www.armytimes.com/story/military/tech/2015/06/17/xm17-modular-handgun-system-beretta/28871119/

Army restarts road to replacing M9 pistol

The Army recently released a second draft solicitation on the requirements and testing schedule for its next pistol, a step toward a final request

Response by SSG Roger Ayscue made Jun 17 at 2015 7:37 PM

2015-06-17T19:37:09-04:00

I like the M1911A1 and feel that the new Marine Corps pistol the COLT M45A1 should be adopted Military Wide.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Jun 17 at 2015 7:41 PM

2015-06-17T19:41:32-04:00

Personally I think the Army and Navy should revert to the M1911A1.

However, didn't Colt just file for bankruptcy? If so, wouldn't that mean that the Army would have to procure its pistols from a different manufacturer?

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Jun 17 at 2015 8:17 PM

2015-06-17T20:17:03-04:00

It's been funny reading the articles on something to replace the Beretta 9mm. So if I understand it right:

Need more power (knockdown) but can't have the recoil that goes with it.

Need high capacity magazine but has to fit small hands.

Need more accuracy but deny anything that needs close tolerances.

I'm an old M1911 guy. I took one out with me on my last deployed thing. The young bucks were obviously respectful but were envious. Size still matters.

Response by PO2 Steven Erickson made Jun 17 at 2015 9:19 PM

2015-06-17T21:19:34-04:00

To answer the original post... The new handgun must:

1. Make big, nasty holes in bad guys.
2. Make big, nasty holes in LOTS of bad guys before having to reload (or, LOTS of big, nasty holes in A bad guy).
3. When performing tasks 1 & 2 above, NOT create quarter-sized blisters in your hand.
4. Be as easy to clean as a teflon-coated frying pan. (The good ones, not those cheap, knock-offs you see on TV at 0200.)
5. Cost no more than 20 bucks. (OK... price negotiable.)
6. Be sold to guys like me, too.

Kinda like the S&W M&P above...

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Jun 17 at 2015 9:28 PM

2015-06-17T21:28:15-04:00

Reliable. Easy to maintain. Easy to shoot. Fits most people's hands fairly well (or has the ability to modify grip size).

Response by 1LT William Clardy made Jun 18 at 2015 12:38 AM

2015-06-18T00:38:26-04:00

It goes "Bang" reliably when you pull the trigger, not leave parts on the desk after you clean it, and that it bother the person in front of it much more than the person pulling the trigger...

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Jun 18 at 2015 6:30 AM

2015-06-18T06:30:17-04:00

1) Bullet that starts with a .4 (pipe dream probably)
2) External safety (for those who don't use on a regular basis)
3) Smaller grip size (than M9) to accommodate a larger audience. The M9 grip was massive for those with small hands.
4) At least 12 rounds. Although I love my 1911, 7+1 is a limiting factor. More bullets is better when 30% rounds on target is the expected hit rate in a bad situation.
5) Hammer forward (if external hammer) in safe mode. This leans it to Double Actions/Single Action.

Response by SGT William Howell made Jun 18 at 2015 8:03 AM

2015-06-18T08:03:21-04:00

If they are looking they are not looking to fill for the next 5 years. I was just at Beretta and they just got a contract for another 100,000 pistols from DOD.

Response by SGT William Howell made Jun 18 at 2015 8:48 AM

2015-06-18T08:48:53-04:00

It has to be able to use the transfer of large amounts of kinetic energy for trauma while having the ability to make a hole big enough to bleed out quickly.

I would like to see a new .45 round that is shorter than the .45GAP for grip size. Since the 1911 was designed for lower pressures, due to unsupported cases, the .45ACP only uses half of the case for powder. You can get the same velocity in modern barrels from a much shorter round, while making it more reliable with a shorter stroke.

I would like to see a hydraulic buffer system for better recoil management and less parts field stripping.

It needs to have a striker firing pin system to seal out debris.

It should be a polymer lower with at least a 12 round capacity.

It needs to have a external safety, with a loaded chamber indicator that you can see with the pistol holstered. For the love of God, when you rack the slide the safety should not be inadvertently put on every time.

Last the slide should be fully enclosed so it is not a big dust magnet.

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 18 at 2015 9:20 AM

2015-06-18T09:20:08-04:00

What does the military actually look for in a specific firearm that is designed to fill more than one role?

I have my personal ideas but that is stovepiping it to say the least. I enjoy my FiveSeven with 30 round mags. That would fit my bill but the military would hate the caliber, 5.7x28mm, hate the composite materials, and it would cause an uproar that we have so much FNH in our holsters, aircraft, turrets and squads. (M240, M249, M2, some M16s)

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 18 at 2015 12:51 PM

2015-06-18T12:51:34-04:00

For starters, not have a 13-pound trigger pull...

Response by WO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 18 at 2015 6:34 PM

2015-06-18T18:34:18-04:00

Five Seven, lightweight and great stopping power, surely the cost would be the stumbling block, however.

Response by PVT William Bresch made Dec 29 at 2015 9:24 AM

2015-12-29T09:24:54-05:00

lol

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 10 at 2016 11:12 PM

2016-02-10T23:12:14-05:00

Sidearm: reliable, durable, low-maintenance, accurate, and light weight. I personally believe the Glock and Springfield XD platforms optimize these features.

Caliber: the outdated rule banning expanding ammunition needs to be nixed, and 9mm expanding rounds made standard. If we cannot escape those regs, either .40 S&W or .45 ACP would make excellent standard issue rounds.