non-9mm military duty pistols

[simonrichter]

apart from the Chinese, are there any other armed forces which use another caliber than 9mm in their standard duty sidearm? (I'm not talking about SF who can - at least in many cases - anyway pick any gun of their choice... Regular army / air force / navy units that employ non-9mm sidearms...

 

[Webleymkv]

North Korea still uses 7.62x25 in a copy of the Tokarev IIRC. Russia and several other former Warsaw Pact countries still use 9x18 Makarov.

 

[simonrichter]

I see, but actually all Western militaries have adopted the 9mm, it seems...

 

[mr bolo]

the Philippines army still use USA and RIA mfg M1911A1 / Glock 21 in 45 acp

 

[gbclarkson]

I thought that some South American militaries and police agencies may still use Bersa Thunders as their primary sidearm, so I wikipediad it:

"A number of military and law enforcement forces have included Bersa 380s in their inventory, including the Ecuadorian Air Force."

 

[Forte S+W]

The United States Coast Guard carries the SIG P229R chambered in .40 S&W.

 

[jmr40]

Probably some 38 revolvers out there somewhere. But I don't know of any specific examples.

 

[simonrichter]

interesting, thanks!

 

[rock185]

I was in a in a SIG class with a Coast Guard armorer several years ago, and was surprised to learn the CG was issuing SIGs in .40 S&W. I don't know if that is still the case.

 

[Fishbed77]

Supposedly, the Coast Guard will be adopting the SIG Sauer M18 in 9x19mm:

https://sofrep.com/gear/us-coast-guard-picks-m-18-sigs-modular-handgun-wins-again/

 

[Forte S+W]

That's a pity. Please tell me that they'll at least be sold on the used market and won't be destroyed.

 

[Austin HiPowers]

In Belgium the military is issued the FN 5.7 as a handgun.

 

[peacefulgary]

I don't know if it's still done, but back in Desert Storm our dust-off pilots (medivac crew) carried issued .38 revolvers.

 

[scoobysnacker]

North Korea still uses 7.62x25 in a copy of the Tokarev IIRC. Russia and several other former Warsaw Pact countries still use 9x18 Makarov.

I understand North Korea is still sticking with the Tok, but regarding Russia etc-

I thought they transistioned over to the Grach, in 9x19 (with a different load than Western 9mm). The Makarovs are getting phased out, same with the former Warsaw Pact countries, everyone is MOVING to 9mm.

 

[COSteve]

Some of our special operations forces use .45acp.

 

[agtman]

10mm Gen4 Glock 20.

Issued duty sidearm of Demark's Sledge Patrol Sirius units who patrol the arctic regions of Greenland.

It's carried in case of a surprise Polar bear attack when their issued rifle, the .30-06 1917, isn't within reach.