Navy SEALS SIG P226 9mm
- Thread starter ump45
- Start date
I tell ya, when I was a kid growing up, all you heard about was the Green Berets. A SEAL, in my mind, was a cute little marine mammal that bounced a ball on its nose. Now, Special Forces have taken a back seat and everything is "SEALs this and SEALs that". "What kind of guns do they use?" "What brand of tactical toothpaste and hair gel do they use in field?" I can't figure this out. AFAIK, SF (and even Marine Corps Force Recon - they are a pretty elite fighting unit themselves) have somewhat similar missions, i.e., covert ops, intelligence gathering. I guess the SEALs are in vogue these days.
BTW, I could care less what the SEALs carry. I only care what I feel comfortable with and can shoot well.
BTW, I could care less what the SEALs carry. I only care what I feel comfortable with and can shoot well.
I'm not asking because I'm using that as a basis to decide what gun I think I should use, it's just a personal curiosity. And yea I'm not saying anything against the green berrets, parachute rescue squad, etc...I don't think the SEALS are any more/less elite than those units. I'm proud of all of them to tell you the truth!
Inspector Callahan
New member
I don't know about the Seals, but some of the local rent-a-cops at the mall have been sporting the blackened aluminum Maglites in these really salty looking belt holsters. The keep a mess of keys on a stainless D-ring too.
Bad boys, I tell ya.
Bad boys, I tell ya.
Destructo6
New member
AFAIK, SF's primary mission is to recruit and train indigenous forces. SEAL teams are pretty much direct action units. This might make the SEAL teams appear a bit more glamorous, but the mission isn't any more significant in the grand scheme of things. You know, the right tool the the right job and all.
However, it is interesting to know who uses what and why.
However, it is interesting to know who uses what and why.
I'll second the standard 226 vote. They use the same 226 you can buy in a store. Their known to be very dependable and tough pistols within the community.
I think the Seal mission is pretty cool; direct assault, interesting insertion methods. To a firearms inthusiast they're interesting because of the type of abuse their weapons must put up with.
There are other excellent Special Ops types, but it's much harder to ask what Delta or Rangers issue because it either changes yearly or it's standard US stuff. The Seals have a history of selecting fine open-purchase gear and sticking with it.
What a bunch of crabby people. If you don't like the question, go watch TV instead of answering.
I think the Seal mission is pretty cool; direct assault, interesting insertion methods. To a firearms inthusiast they're interesting because of the type of abuse their weapons must put up with.
There are other excellent Special Ops types, but it's much harder to ask what Delta or Rangers issue because it either changes yearly or it's standard US stuff. The Seals have a history of selecting fine open-purchase gear and sticking with it.
What a bunch of crabby people. If you don't like the question, go watch TV instead of answering.
SEALS have better public relations
Its obvious, the SEALS have a better public relations machine in place. For a secret organization they sure seem to go out of their way to assist book publishers and magazine writers with pictures and stories.
It then cracks me up when the author puts in the obligatory sentence that "SEALS are quite professionals who avoid publicity at all costs" or something like that. Then you look at all of the SEALS posing for pictures - give me a break!
I think that some of the SEAL officers actually kidnap writers and force them to write aritcles and publish books on them
The Green Berets used to have a good publicity machine during the Vietnam war but they seemed to have fired their PR staff. I guess with the ending of the cold war there are no more hearts and minds left to win.
I feel sorry for the Marine Force Recon. I don't think that they are allowed to have public relations. I don't think that the Marine generals like a Marine unit to be known as being more elite than the regular Marines. As a result, you never see anything on them.
You used to see more publicity about Delta, say ten years ago. Since then they seem to have abandoned all PR. All pictures and articles seem to be at least 10 years old or more.
The SEALS have since filled the publicity void.
Its obvious, the SEALS have a better public relations machine in place. For a secret organization they sure seem to go out of their way to assist book publishers and magazine writers with pictures and stories.
It then cracks me up when the author puts in the obligatory sentence that "SEALS are quite professionals who avoid publicity at all costs" or something like that. Then you look at all of the SEALS posing for pictures - give me a break!
I think that some of the SEAL officers actually kidnap writers and force them to write aritcles and publish books on them
The Green Berets used to have a good publicity machine during the Vietnam war but they seemed to have fired their PR staff. I guess with the ending of the cold war there are no more hearts and minds left to win.
I feel sorry for the Marine Force Recon. I don't think that they are allowed to have public relations. I don't think that the Marine generals like a Marine unit to be known as being more elite than the regular Marines. As a result, you never see anything on them.
You used to see more publicity about Delta, say ten years ago. Since then they seem to have abandoned all PR. All pictures and articles seem to be at least 10 years old or more.
The SEALS have since filled the publicity void.
You see a lot of "former" or "retired" Seals popping up all the time. You see them on TV giving commentary, or read newspaper stories quoting their opinions on the latest military controversy or, say, holding court at the local coffee shop, like in my area.
Met one of these "former" Seals thru a less suspicious LEO friend while drinking coffee, although the guy was only a semi-regular there. He was full of stories and had a lot of opinions on current events. Early 50s, short buzz cut, large gut. Every other word was F***. He couldn't say enough bad things about the 9mm, and flatly stated that Seals carry whatever weapons & ammo they want. Claimed to be "a 30-caliber man, myself." He felt the .223 was for sh*t, except for sweeping buildings. Apparently, a certified expert. I forgot to ask how many black belts he'd been awarded. I haven't seen him for quite a while now. Maybe he's on a special mission somewhere.
Sometimes you wonder if a guy like this is for real, or if he was just a wash-out from the local ROTC.
Met one of these "former" Seals thru a less suspicious LEO friend while drinking coffee, although the guy was only a semi-regular there. He was full of stories and had a lot of opinions on current events. Early 50s, short buzz cut, large gut. Every other word was F***. He couldn't say enough bad things about the 9mm, and flatly stated that Seals carry whatever weapons & ammo they want. Claimed to be "a 30-caliber man, myself." He felt the .223 was for sh*t, except for sweeping buildings. Apparently, a certified expert. I forgot to ask how many black belts he'd been awarded. I haven't seen him for quite a while now. Maybe he's on a special mission somewhere.
Sometimes you wonder if a guy like this is for real, or if he was just a wash-out from the local ROTC.
As far as "official" handguns, basic P226 in 9mm is issued, S&W 686 4inch for dive ops, H&K SOCOM for close quarters and silent usage, and occasional M11 Sig 228 and M9 Barreta 92FS. Otherwise there isen't much else that they use. Theres plenty of guys have chirped about, "I carry 45 ACP!" or "USP Tactical" or "Glocks only, because they're relieable". What's issued and whats used are two different stories. As I understand it, if you use something different than whats issued, you gotta provide the parts, maintanence and ammo, not to mention carrying the thing. Training and bullet placement are paramount, not what handgun is used. Besides, a handgun is a secondary weapon NOT a primary. Most SpecOp units have commanders that give a lot of lee-way to their people because they trust them and the knowledge they have is a lot more than the average grunt. Self determination, motivation and initiative is what separates those guys from others.
SEAL's have had a large amount published in the last 10 years. If some publisher went up to you and offered a chunk of change to publish your memoirs or take a quote, what would you do? Also the amount of SEAL groupies and hanger-ons has also increased (see Kevin Dockery). It's a cycle, pretty soon we'll start seeing more books on PJ's, than Rangers, than .....
SEAL's have had a large amount published in the last 10 years. If some publisher went up to you and offered a chunk of change to publish your memoirs or take a quote, what would you do? Also the amount of SEAL groupies and hanger-ons has also increased (see Kevin Dockery). It's a cycle, pretty soon we'll start seeing more books on PJ's, than Rangers, than .....
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Growing up, I was always under the impression that the SEALS were as good as it got. I figured they were the cream of the crop. I also thought the army Rangers were right up there by the SEALS.
Then I read Blackhawk Down by Mark Bowden.
After reading that book my opinion on who is the "best" has changed. The Delta Force operators in that book pretty much rocked. I think of any publication out there Bowden got a pretty accurate picture of whoa and what Delta Force is since he had access to a lot of the operators involved and they seemed to be eager to tell their side of the story.
One comment I do remember reading regarding Delta Force is that the weapons manufacturers cater to them like Nike does to proffesional atheletes.
If anyone hasn't read this book, I HIGHLY, HIGHLY, HIGHLY RECOMMEND READING IT. Also visit www.blackhawkdown.com.
Shake
Then I read Blackhawk Down by Mark Bowden.
After reading that book my opinion on who is the "best" has changed. The Delta Force operators in that book pretty much rocked. I think of any publication out there Bowden got a pretty accurate picture of whoa and what Delta Force is since he had access to a lot of the operators involved and they seemed to be eager to tell their side of the story.
One comment I do remember reading regarding Delta Force is that the weapons manufacturers cater to them like Nike does to proffesional atheletes.
If anyone hasn't read this book, I HIGHLY, HIGHLY, HIGHLY RECOMMEND READING IT. Also visit www.blackhawkdown.com.
Shake
hedgehognh3
Inactive
I've read a little about the adventures of one of the moderators on CQC, Harry Humphries, a former SEAL. If I remember correctly they used HK's.
MeekAndMild
New member
Jes' curious. I thought that SEALs swam through salt water to do their dirty work. How the (censoered) do they keep their weapons from rusting? I figure 8-10 hours in water and wet air would give everything a nice coat of rust.
Excuse me if it seemed I was criticizing ump45. That was not my intent. I was just commenting on what I perceive as an inordinate amount of attention paid to one of many special ops and elite fighting forces in our military.
BTW, with all the current emphasis on special units these days after Sept. 11, do you think the SEALs will start increasing their numbers? I heard on the news the other night that there only about 2200 that are active. If we plan to fight a war with heavy emphasis placed on covert ops, it seems only prudent to have sufficient force.
BTW, with all the current emphasis on special units these days after Sept. 11, do you think the SEALs will start increasing their numbers? I heard on the news the other night that there only about 2200 that are active. If we plan to fight a war with heavy emphasis placed on covert ops, it seems only prudent to have sufficient force.
AFAIK they tailor the gun to the mission. The 226 is one of three routinely carried.
The 226 is known as the M11, the only difference in it from the civilian version is that many are fitted with a threaded barrel.
They also carry a H&K SOCOM 45. Again many are fitted with threaded barrels.
The third is a pistol I was never able to recognize. And now being out of the Military circle, I probably never will.
I was never a SEAL, just stationed with them at 3 differnt times in my carrer. Blew up MANY things while giving them medical support on training missions. I WOULD NEVER WANT TO GO ON A REAL MISSION WITH THEM.
The 226 is known as the M11, the only difference in it from the civilian version is that many are fitted with a threaded barrel.
They also carry a H&K SOCOM 45. Again many are fitted with threaded barrels.
The third is a pistol I was never able to recognize. And now being out of the Military circle, I probably never will.
I was never a SEAL, just stationed with them at 3 differnt times in my carrer. Blew up MANY things while giving them medical support on training missions. I WOULD NEVER WANT TO GO ON A REAL MISSION WITH THEM.
.hksigwalther
New member
Hmm. Isn't the M11 the SIG P228?