Eating some crow. (Beretta 92)

[James K]

I have never seen a reason why a 9mm P pistol needs to be the size of an M9, but part of that problem is due to the US Army's split views on a handgun. Put simply, is a pistol a personal defense weapon, a last ditch arm to kill an enemy who is at arms length, or a combat tool to contribute to a fire fight? Many years ago, the Army decided to split those roles and came up with the M1 carbine; the wisdom of that move is still debated. Meantime, the service rifle has become smaller, shorter, and lighter, in line with the M1 carbine, but much more powerful.

I wonder if it is not time to rethink the whole military handgun approach. Maybe a compact pistol (A-80?) for a symbolic handgun for officers and a compact SMG for troops who don't have to carry a rifle, but who need an effective and usable combat weapon. (No, M1911 lovers, not a ".45"; it is still a pistol and more a nuisance to carry than a combat weapon.)

Jim

 

[Brownstone322]

I have never seen a reason why a 9mm P pistol needs to be the size of an M9, but part of that problem is due to the US Army's split views on a handgun. Put simply, is a pistol a personal defense weapon, a last ditch arm to kill an enemy who is at arms length, or a combat tool to contribute to a fire fight? Many years ago, the Army decided to split those roles and came up with the M1 carbine; the wisdom of that move is still debated. Meantime, the service rifle has become smaller, shorter, and lighter, in line with the M1 carbine, but much more powerful.

I wonder if it is not time to rethink the whole military handgun approach. Maybe a compact pistol (A-80?) for a symbolic handgun for officers and a compact SMG for troops who don't have to carry a rifle, but who need an effective and usable combat weapon. (No, M1911 lovers, not a ".45"; it is still a pistol and more a nuisance to carry than a combat weapon.)

Jim

I've always wondered about the military's insistence on full-sized pistols too. Especially for pilots: Would you want an M9 hanging off your flight suit? I think I'd want something like a Glock 19.

Anyway, I would think the Army's acquisition of the M17 and M18 should address the issue. Even the M17 (full-sized barrel and slide on a Carry frame) is a significant reduction in size and weight from an M9 or an M1911A1.