US Army to replace the M-9

[dragoon500ly]

Well, the ole Green Machine has decided that after 25 years that the Beretta M-9 9mm is on the way out of the door.

The Army has not yet released the new selection process, but what is known is that they are going to go with an off-the-shelf commercial product. Here is the list of known contenders:

Beretta 92A1 in 9mm
Beretta 96A1 in .40cal
Beretta Px4 in .45cal
Glock 17 in 9mm
Glock 22 in .40cal
Glock 37 in .45cal
H&K P2000 in either 9mm or .40cal
S&W M&P in 9mm
S&W M&P in .40cal
S&W M&P in .45cal
SIG-Saur P226 in 9mm
SIG-Sauer P229 in 9mm

Sadly, the only entry available from Colt is a single-action design and the Army is wanting double-action only.

[Panther Al]

Heh, Fancy that: the SiG226 is in the running. *again* That is where I would place my money, the S&W might be a good bet as well as it is a US company, but since SiG's are made in the US as well....

I don't see Beretta winning again, not because of design issues but more because of the bad name it has with the guys on the ground. Couple that with the 226 being found in .40, and in the 220, .45, well... as I said, thats where I would place my money.

[waiting4something]

Originally Posted by Panther Al

Heh, Fancy that: the SiG226 is in the running. *again* That is where I would place my money, the S&W might be a good bet as well as it is a US company, but since SiG's are made in the US as well....

I don't see Beretta winning again, not because of design issues but more because of the bad name it has with the guys on the ground. Couple that with the 226 being found in .40, and in the 220, .45, well... as I said, thats where I would place my money.

Yeah, I could see one of those two winning. I think the M&P has a better chance with it costing less and it having a clean start. The M&P also is becoming the new king with law enforcement and is building a solid image. The 226 went against and lost to the Beretta once before, that wouldn't look good for the military to adopt something that they passed on in the 1980's. I liked the Beretta, but the majority doesn't. I'm surprised it has lasted this long.

[ArmySGT.]

The Sig P226 was already adopted in the compact form as the M11 years ago. For CID Agents and others in plain clothes.

Since it exists in inventory and the manuals are already made. Plus the spare parts are in the system with NSN numbers.

I am putting my money down on the Sig for the win.

Just wish they would go back to .45 ACP

When your down to a sidearm, you need things dead right now.

[Panther Al]

Originally Posted by waiting4something

Yeah, I could see one of those two winning. I think the M&P has a better chance with it costing less and it having a clean start. The M&P also is becoming the new king with law enforcement and is building a solid image. The 226 went against and lost to the Beretta once before, that wouldn't look good for the military to adopt something that they passed on in the 1980's. I liked the Beretta, but the majority doesn't. I'm surprised it has lasted this long.

Actually the SiG won the pistol part of the bidding with gusto: the reason the Beretta won out in the end was that Beretta was willing to eat a lot of the support and parts cost. The process of competing for the contract made the 226: everyone saw that it was the better pistol and before SiG knew it they couldn't build them fast enough. It also helps that SiG has been aggressive in updating the design: the 226 of today isn't the one of the late 80's.

[HorseSoldier]

They already pissed away millions in taxpayer money when they decided to piggyback SOCOM's new pistol program less than a decade ago and then opted to just kill it instead. Will be under-amazed at how they fuck this one up too.

And how is Colt disqualified as SAO when Glock and the M&P are options?

[HorseSoldier]

And as a final rant -- double action requirements are fueled by cowards who run the big picture and piss themselves that Joe might have an accident when they fail to train him. This is 2011 -- fighting pistols, be they Glocks or 1911s or whatever else have one trigger pull weight. Paperweights for fobbits to look cool with in antique leather shoulder holsters can do whatever -- hell, make then black powder single shots so Maj "Got an easier degree at a state school than most of my enlisted troops" can only AD once. But for guys at the sharp end -- one set trigger weight, no external safety, and train them to use it.

[LAW0306]

I see people are reading the army and Marine times. I was just back east at a meeting for people of my ilk and the Marine Corps has no intrest in this due to us having no money to spend. We have taken the pistol away at many levels here in the Marines and dont plan to return it.We are looking to improve are rifle and see that as a way to get more bang for the buck.We wasted alot of money in the early 2000's and are trying not to do it now. The pistol is at my view a very specialist weapon and is not at this point need for mass issue. Now the army is the senior agency for small arms and could force it on us but i dont think they will after our buy in on the M27. Our Marsoc and Recon guys are currently getting a new weapon to replace the Meusoc 1911.We just cant make enough so they are looking for an open purchace .45.

[dragoon500ly]

From an ex-tanker viewpoint, I always regarded a pistol as pretty useless in just about any combat situation. Still did my qualifications and I enjoy shooting a pistol, but when facing infantry, I much prefer a M-240G, a M-16A2, a M-4 carbine or even one of the PDWs that are now available. The only advantage that the old M-3 Grease Gun had was being able to dump (slowly!) 30 rounds of .45 in the general direction of the opfor....and while they were laughing themselves silly, I would have time to attack in a different direction!

Unless they are crawling up the front slope, then my fav would be a Remi 1100 loaded with buckshot.