Chuck Ames
New member
Ummm,
Just 300,000 in the entire US Military? I'm not sure what all the pilots are carrying, but a lot of Military Law Enforcement personnel carry them. Officers, medics, some aviation guys, and a few others carry them routinely. Not that they shoot them very much. US Army Military Police not only carry an M-16, M-249 SAW, MK-19, or a combination, everyone also carries the Beretta in combat. Most of the Army SF guys carry one as a backup, too. The only people who shoot them a lot though, are the MP's and the SF, plus the Rangers that are issued them.
As far as reliability goes, I've never had a problem with mine, but when we went to Yakima on a 3 week Field Training Exercise once, I did find mine kind of dusty and in an inoperable condition, and it hadn't left the holster. Admittedly, I had taken the suicide flap off and replaced it with a thumb-break, and never bothered to check it since 1) I didn't realize it could get so dirty in the holster (that's how young soldiers learn) and 2)everyone said they would function full of sand. Now I know that's a myth and not one to be taken lightly. I didn't have to fire it, but I did have a hard time locking the slide back. So they do need just a little bit of TLC, like every weapon does.
And as everyone has so graciously pointed out, I have also seen some atrocious gunhandling in the military, even among the Infantry. You would think everyone knew to keep the finger out of the trigger guard, but so few do...
Anyways, with almost 6 years experience with the Beretta, I own a USP, but I'd take the Beretta into combat anyday.
Chuck
Just 300,000 in the entire US Military? I'm not sure what all the pilots are carrying, but a lot of Military Law Enforcement personnel carry them. Officers, medics, some aviation guys, and a few others carry them routinely. Not that they shoot them very much. US Army Military Police not only carry an M-16, M-249 SAW, MK-19, or a combination, everyone also carries the Beretta in combat. Most of the Army SF guys carry one as a backup, too. The only people who shoot them a lot though, are the MP's and the SF, plus the Rangers that are issued them.
As far as reliability goes, I've never had a problem with mine, but when we went to Yakima on a 3 week Field Training Exercise once, I did find mine kind of dusty and in an inoperable condition, and it hadn't left the holster. Admittedly, I had taken the suicide flap off and replaced it with a thumb-break, and never bothered to check it since 1) I didn't realize it could get so dirty in the holster (that's how young soldiers learn) and 2)everyone said they would function full of sand. Now I know that's a myth and not one to be taken lightly. I didn't have to fire it, but I did have a hard time locking the slide back. So they do need just a little bit of TLC, like every weapon does.
And as everyone has so graciously pointed out, I have also seen some atrocious gunhandling in the military, even among the Infantry. You would think everyone knew to keep the finger out of the trigger guard, but so few do...
Anyways, with almost 6 years experience with the Beretta, I own a USP, but I'd take the Beretta into combat anyday.
Chuck