Poll: If you could choose your combat sidearm.
- Thread starter Old_Dog
- Start date
Super Sneaky Steve
New member
GP100 and a few HKS speed loaders.
Justice06RR
New member
For me, It'll be between HK USP45 or Beretta M9.
Punisher_1
New member
Depends on the enviorment. A Beretta in the desert is useless. Been there done that. Glock for round count or 1911 for .45. Both are reliable.
The 1911 seems to be pulling ahead. The late, great Jeff Cooper thought that the Glock was a suitable sidearm for the military and he was a 1911 lover and real fussy about his guns.
When I started the poll it got me thinking about it. I did carry a 1911 in Vietnam. We were not allowed to carry cocked and locked or even with one in the chamber but out in the field, away from the officers, we did what we had to do to stay alive. I started thinking about what I would choose today and decided on the Sig P226. I thought about it so much I ended up buying the Combat version in FDE with the internal parts covered in Phosphor to prevent rusting.
I had just bought a Micro Desert Eagle when a new Colt Mustang Pocketlite appeared online after waiting almost two years to find one at non auction prices. So I bought that also just a few weeks ago. However with the combination of my birthday and Father's day coming up my wife gave me the official OK to buy the Sig and I am looking at it right now.
I fully trust a long barreled 9mm gun with the right ammo. You get to a point in "stopping" power charts when it is like comparing which caliber makes you deader. It does not matter much after a certain point and in fact, only matters as far as penetration goes. I do not care what caliber you use, if it does not hit a vital area it is not going to be anymore effective than another caliber that misses. A 9 to the head will stop someone just as well as a .45. I keep reading and saying that with the proper modern ammo there is little real life difference among the major calibers we often discuss. Penetration and accuracy far outpace caliber choice.
The good things about the .45, as an example, is that even ball is effective. With 9mm you have to be more savvy about ammo and not just buy what is on sale or what you saw blow up a watermelon on YouTube. My friends and family in the NYCPD tell me that the Speer Gold Dot 9mm +P does a very good job when they hit what they are aiming for.
So, if I could pick my ammo I would rather have 15 rounds of 9mm than 8 of .45. Having faced charging hordes of enemy soldiers, more is better than less. Nobody I know ever was concerned about the caliber they were shot with. They all reacted the same no matter what hit them.
P.S. - I doubt that anyone who has seen combat would choose a revolver or gun designed for concealed carry. You really want high capacity due to the fact that unlike a civilian and even an LEO, you often will be defending against large numbers of people out to kill you. I love revolvers but not for any situation that pits me against more than 2-3 adversaries. However, I did know a few officers that carried revolvers in Nam but we were in the mobile artillery so we were always in a defensive role during combat as our guns were priority targets. We did not hump the boonies looking for trouble in small groups. We had our whole company with us and in that circumstance, a revolver would not be a bad choice as you are fighting on your home turf and weapons and ammo were readily available. Something not found out in the field.
When I started the poll it got me thinking about it. I did carry a 1911 in Vietnam. We were not allowed to carry cocked and locked or even with one in the chamber but out in the field, away from the officers, we did what we had to do to stay alive. I started thinking about what I would choose today and decided on the Sig P226. I thought about it so much I ended up buying the Combat version in FDE with the internal parts covered in Phosphor to prevent rusting.
I had just bought a Micro Desert Eagle when a new Colt Mustang Pocketlite appeared online after waiting almost two years to find one at non auction prices. So I bought that also just a few weeks ago. However with the combination of my birthday and Father's day coming up my wife gave me the official OK to buy the Sig and I am looking at it right now.
I fully trust a long barreled 9mm gun with the right ammo. You get to a point in "stopping" power charts when it is like comparing which caliber makes you deader. It does not matter much after a certain point and in fact, only matters as far as penetration goes. I do not care what caliber you use, if it does not hit a vital area it is not going to be anymore effective than another caliber that misses. A 9 to the head will stop someone just as well as a .45. I keep reading and saying that with the proper modern ammo there is little real life difference among the major calibers we often discuss. Penetration and accuracy far outpace caliber choice.
The good things about the .45, as an example, is that even ball is effective. With 9mm you have to be more savvy about ammo and not just buy what is on sale or what you saw blow up a watermelon on YouTube. My friends and family in the NYCPD tell me that the Speer Gold Dot 9mm +P does a very good job when they hit what they are aiming for.
So, if I could pick my ammo I would rather have 15 rounds of 9mm than 8 of .45. Having faced charging hordes of enemy soldiers, more is better than less. Nobody I know ever was concerned about the caliber they were shot with. They all reacted the same no matter what hit them.
P.S. - I doubt that anyone who has seen combat would choose a revolver or gun designed for concealed carry. You really want high capacity due to the fact that unlike a civilian and even an LEO, you often will be defending against large numbers of people out to kill you. I love revolvers but not for any situation that pits me against more than 2-3 adversaries. However, I did know a few officers that carried revolvers in Nam but we were in the mobile artillery so we were always in a defensive role during combat as our guns were priority targets. We did not hump the boonies looking for trouble in small groups. We had our whole company with us and in that circumstance, a revolver would not be a bad choice as you are fighting on your home turf and weapons and ammo were readily available. Something not found out in the field.
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armoredman
New member
Limited to the poll, I chose SiG. I did carry a 1911A1 in the service, but the poor things rattle like castanets..worked every single time, but had seen FAR better days.
Run with what you brung...I'd "brung" my CZ-75 SP-01 Phantom...I can at least use NATO 9mm ammo.
Edit to add, a big thank you to our 'Nam vets - when we sailed by Vietnam in 1988 we manned the rails and gave 'em the finger for ya...best we could do.
Run with what you brung...I'd "brung" my CZ-75 SP-01 Phantom...I can at least use NATO 9mm ammo.
Edit to add, a big thank you to our 'Nam vets - when we sailed by Vietnam in 1988 we manned the rails and gave 'em the finger for ya...best we could do.
handguns for war
As a Sheriff Deputy I would have to say my Glock 21. Hard to beat: double stack magazine, I carry 12 rounds not 13 with two spare magazines. However, I had a Ruger P90 which was stolen and I loved the gun. I could drive nails with it. Now my favorite handgun was one I had years ago an old SW Outdoorsman 38/44 in 38 caliber which I had rechambered for 357 mag. I am not sure my choice for a war handgun would not be a good revolver. If they are close enough for a handgun you are in deep trouble. Once when we were doing defences against knife attack in Judo an old friend who retired from army special forces with a lot of combat asked me why I was practicing knife defences: "First you call in airstrikes at 20 miles, then closer in you unleash 155mm arty on him. If he survives then mortar him. Closer yet you get him with the claymore mines you set. Surviving that 50 cal ma deuces are the thing. After that? well you still have your rifle." Well after that a good hand gun but I'm not sure I would stick around for the bayonet charge.
As a Sheriff Deputy I would have to say my Glock 21. Hard to beat: double stack magazine, I carry 12 rounds not 13 with two spare magazines. However, I had a Ruger P90 which was stolen and I loved the gun. I could drive nails with it. Now my favorite handgun was one I had years ago an old SW Outdoorsman 38/44 in 38 caliber which I had rechambered for 357 mag. I am not sure my choice for a war handgun would not be a good revolver. If they are close enough for a handgun you are in deep trouble. Once when we were doing defences against knife attack in Judo an old friend who retired from army special forces with a lot of combat asked me why I was practicing knife defences: "First you call in airstrikes at 20 miles, then closer in you unleash 155mm arty on him. If he survives then mortar him. Closer yet you get him with the claymore mines you set. Surviving that 50 cal ma deuces are the thing. After that? well you still have your rifle." Well after that a good hand gun but I'm not sure I would stick around for the bayonet charge.
I would carry what the person protecting my back was carrying. Shared ammo, magazines and parts.
As a solder which I am not (X Navy) and have no idea what going into harm’s way is like? I would want it to be the best weapon that money can buy. Supplied with the best ammunition money can buy and given all the ammo I can shoot to become better than any opponent. And I would want the people paying for it all to appreciate where their money is going.
Other than that, I really wouldn’t care what it was.
As a solder which I am not (X Navy) and have no idea what going into harm’s way is like? I would want it to be the best weapon that money can buy. Supplied with the best ammunition money can buy and given all the ammo I can shoot to become better than any opponent. And I would want the people paying for it all to appreciate where their money is going.
Other than that, I really wouldn’t care what it was.
Bronxbomber252
New member
Im a big 9mm fan when using JHP's, but in combat US military is restricted to FMJ, with FMJ .45 is a superior round IMHO. So, from the list, the HK45, otherwise I would be tempted to go Glock 21 or M&P 45. I like the ergo's of the HK, and I EDC a walther PPQ and love that style mag release, but on the other hand, the glock is a more simple, easier to maintain, and cheaper weapon with the same combat capabilities, the M&P may be the best of both worlds but is a newer design that hasn't really proved it's self.
Deaf Smith
New member
Glock 17 with NY-1 trigger. Extreme reliability, accurate, rugged, corrosion resistant, and ugly as sin.
Once I got it I'd then spend far more of my time with my rifle and practice till I can't practice any more!
And then try my best to stay out of combat.
And a warning guys... lately we have been fighting 3ed rate armies that can't shoot. I fear we have grown accustom to this.
But one day we will fight another country that CAN FIGHT. I suspect the Russians or Chinese (over oil.) And it won't be pretty.
And when that happens, yes a pistol will be a comforting thing to have, but something far more powerful will be desired. More like a bucket full of AT-4s.
Deaf
Once I got it I'd then spend far more of my time with my rifle and practice till I can't practice any more!
And then try my best to stay out of combat.
And a warning guys... lately we have been fighting 3ed rate armies that can't shoot. I fear we have grown accustom to this.
But one day we will fight another country that CAN FIGHT. I suspect the Russians or Chinese (over oil.) And it won't be pretty.
And when that happens, yes a pistol will be a comforting thing to have, but something far more powerful will be desired. More like a bucket full of AT-4s.
Deaf