WWII sidearm of choice

[NickW]

It’s 1944 and the Battle of the Bulge is raging the cold is numbing, I just ran out of ammo for my M1 the Hun are sneaking through the trees trying to flank me, I need something that will penetrate those German Great Coats I grab my trusty Tokarev TT33.

No wait, I’m in the pacific and my rifles jammed, The Japs are swarming I grab my trusty 1911 to knock ‘em flat.


Great thread.

 

[skydiver3346]

WWII sidearm?

Thats easy! Three answers and they all begin with 1911....

The .45acp rules in a combat situation (up close and personal) where you have to use a sidearm and dispatch the enemy quickly before they can do the same to you.

 

[Winchester_73]

It appears that the poll is a battle for 3rd place. I thought the 1911 45 would win but not dominate. It was a truly great gun. I voted for the hi power but I failed to realize that everyone would have ball ammo which means I'd have to take the 1911 or maybe just maybe the tokarev.

 

[Jim243]

I had a Browning High Power, it's a great gun. BUT, if I was shooting at trargets it would be the Browning, but if I was shooting at someone trying to kill me, no doubt at all it's the 1911. If I needed the extra 5 rounds in the 9mm, I am already dead.

 

[Skan21]

All for the 1911. A lot of people assume that because soldiers are issued weapons, they are brand new. Not true most of the time. Most of the guns issued are hand me downs. So was the case with my old (and I mean OLD) Beretta M9. That gun was absolute garbage. FTF, FTE, failure to do anything really, except be a projectile itself. It was heavy enough that if I winged it at someone, I would give a concussion at least. But a lot of people like them. Civilians anyway. Because they got them in new condition. Theirs hadn't seen hard use since before Somalia! I'm just saying, that's how a lot of military prejudice gets started. Not to mention that I'm not as big a fan of the 9mm as the .45.

 

[Crankylove]

Browning Hi Power. High capacity mags, mild recoil, decent power.

 

[Hagar the Republican]

I had to settle for the 1911 because Gen. Patton is too well guarded for me to steal his S&W .357.


By the way, when Hermann Goering was captured he was carrying a S&W .38. Does anyone know what model?

Winchester 73: Great post!

 

[Winchester_73]

By the way, when Hermann Goering was captured he was carrying a S&W .38. Does anyone know what model?

It was a 1905 4th series hand ejector in 38 special aka the pre M&P model 10. I have a picture of it on the S&W forum as my avatar picture where my name is actually "Gorings S&W". In the pic it appears to be a 4in standard model (non adjustable sights). The gun is in a museum and I read what the SN was which makes it a 4th series 1905. Its in a museum somewhere in Europe. It always amazed me that such a man would want a S&W 38 special, because afterall, he could have any gun in the world practically. It just goes to show that nothing beats a S&W

 

[VAHunter]

A nice big .45 caliber FMJ hole from a cocked and locked sidearm. Easy to dissemble and clean. Punches through heavy winter clothing. Maybe more damage with a slight miss...

 

[woad_yurt]

I like the more rifle-like ballistics of the Tok. I have one and it is one serious gun. It's easy to master and it penetrates more concealment than anything else. The Tok is a crude one but they do work and shoot very well. It's dead reliable and among the simplest, most user-friendly guns to maintain.

In second place, I'd go Browning. It has capacity advantages* and 9MM FMJ is a great penetrator; one doesn't have to worry about what or who is behind one's target as much when in combat.

* I'd prefer it if my position was being over-run by the enemy.

Note: Face to face, for civilian self defense, I'd go with .45 ACP, seeing as I probably won't need to shoot through vehicles, walls and fences at people who are shooting back at me. I think .45 ACP is the better way to thump someone who's plainly in yer space.

 

[DG45]

I've never owned a 1911 model 45. If I had, I might prefer it. Many people seem to. However, my 45 is a S&W Model 1917 (Brazilian Contract version)revolver. I really like it. For one thing, I generally prefer revolvers to autos. For another thing, I can use 45 Auto Rim ammunition in my 45 revolver. The ammo I choose to load for HD is factory Black Hills 45 Auto Rim with a 255 grain LSWC bullet that Black Hills says acheives 760fps, but who someone with a chronograph reported clocking at about 805 fps. I don't know if that 255 grain load is availiable or not in a factory load for 45 ACP. If it is, I haven't seen it. I've been looking for some 45 Auto Rim shotshells so I can carry my last chamber loaded with a shotshell and my first five 5 chambers loaded with 255 grain LSWC. For my purposes, that would make my 45 revolver just about the ideal handgun. (I know CCI makes 45 ACP shotshells, but I'd have to use them with 45 ACP ammo in a moon clip, and couldn't use my 255 grain LSWC's with them. Also CCI advises their 45ACP shotshells aren't meant for 45 revolvers. Don't know why.)

 

[p99guy]

DG, yeah that is a bit odd, as it was common to have issue shot cartridges in the military back when the M1917 and Victory model .38's were still current issue to aircrews...to make them more versitile for downed aircrew survival
(for hunting small game at close range in the jungle)

 

[BlueTrain]

My father liked the M1 ("loved" would be a stretch), didn't care for the carbine and never mentioned the .45 automatic. However, I have only two photos of him in the service in which he's armed. In one he as a shotgun (sometimes called a trench gun then) and in the other, a .45 revolver in a reverse draw holster.

I would hated to have to rely on a handgun in combat.

 

[tipoc]

First choice would be one not listed. But the 1911 in .38 Super was issued to the OSS during the war. The OSS requested the gun in that caliber. If I could I'd take that. 10 rounds of what at that time was the most powerful round you could shoot out a semi would work.

After that the BHP. Capacity does help some.

The Radom Vis after that, same capacity as the P38 but handier and sleeker.

Last, but by no means least, the 1911 in .45.

tipoc

 

[tipoc]

It was a 1905 4th series hand ejector in 38 special aka the pre M&P model 10. I have a picture of it on the S&W forum as my avatar picture where my name is actually "Gorings S&W". In the pic it appears to be a 4in standard model (non adjustable sights). The gun is in a museum and I read what the SN was which makes it a 4th series 1905. Its in a museum somewhere in Europe. It always amazed me that such a man would want a S&W 38 special, because afterall, he could have any gun in the world practically. It just goes to show that nothing beats a S&W

Fortunately the "Endorsed by Herman Goehring" ad campaign ran aground.

tipoc

 

[Hagar the Republican]

Fortunately the "Endorsed by Herman Goehring" ad campaign ran aground.

Love it!

 

[Larry D.]

The 1911 of course.


BTW, what's up with the whole Glock thing?
I'll assume it's an attempt at a joke.....

 

[Hagar the Republican]

BTW, what's up with the whole Glock thing?
I'll assume it's an attempt at a joke.....

The ire of the envious!

 

[Larry D.]

No.
Just pointing out that there were no Glocks in WWII.........

 

[Yellowfin]

Everyone in my family that's been involved in military service has carried a 1911 all the way back to their introduction, so I'd be quite proud to be the next.