Army Wants a Harder-Hitting Pistol

["DoubleAction"]

The U.S. Army is moving forward to replace the Cold War-era M9 9mm pistol with a more powerful handgun that also meets the needs of the other services.
As the lead agent for small arms, the Army will hold an industry day July 29 to talk to gun makers about the joint, Modular Handgun System or MHS.

The MHS will be an open-caliber competition that will evaluate larger rounds such as .357 Sig, .40 S&W and .45 ACP.

www.military.com/daily-news/2014/07/03/army-wants-a-harder-hitting-pistol.html?comp=7000023435630&rank=1

[MLB]

Wouldn't it be funny if they ended up with a 1911 again? ;-)

[blueglass]

I have a feeling you may be very correct in that assumption on the new 45. The Canadian army is buying all mew from the new factory in Kitchener Ont Canada. Getting rid of the old Browning 9mm that were made during the sec war. Its a new Colt design I believe. 3st order I believe is for around 40,000 I heard.

["DoubleAction"]

....If The Army was to adopt the 1911 has the standard again, I would hope that they would provided for more detail training on the pistol. The 1911 is a pistol that is best learned from the inside internal functions. There are a few things about the 1911 that isn't normally taught.....which makes this pistol much different than other pistols, and we have discussed these things before.
....The Military Combat versions of the 1911 will have looser tolerances with the frame to slide, and possibly with the fitting of the barrel. Looser tolerances is what accounts for the AK47 being reliable, in adverse combat battlefield conditions.
....The 1911 is beyond being battle proven, the only thing standing in it's way was the lack of the supply of it's .45acp in foreign countries. Many soldiers had to carry enemy pistols to acquire pistol ammo,and the 9mm was round. It was the same way in WWII and Vietnam, plenty captured 9mm ammo but little supply of .45acp in the field. I always had the opinion that NATO or The UN, or both, had much to do with adopted the 9mm, and retiring our 1911 A1.

["DoubleAction"]

......I keep a back track of history on this forum, with this said :


....The Beretta M9, officially the Pistol, Semiautomatic, 9mm, M9, is a 9×19mm Parabellum pistol adopted by the United States Armed Forces in 1985.


.....1986 FBI Miami Shootout : This was the incident, which would later, lead to the standard issue .40 S&W cartridge, for many Law Enforcement agencies today. "In the aftermath of the 1986 FBI Miami shootout, the FBI started the process of testing 9mm and .45 ACP ammunition". I don't access to my history books at this moment, but, these testing trials was performed by The U.S. Army over a 100 years ago....This was the reason why the .45acp became the standard calber for our semi-auto combat pistols.

....Read More : handgunforum.proboards.com/thread/2968/1986-fbi-miami-shootout?page=1&scrollTo=16297

[blueglass]

The 1911 has come a long way in the last 100 years with many new and improved versions of it in the market place. I am sure it could be built as tough as the M9 and to modern specs. I believe the 40 would be too light for the stopping power they are looking for in a side-arm. Myself I would go with the newer 1911's anyday.

[TMan]

I would bet that they go with something in 40S&W. Although I've spent more money on 1911's than any other firearm that I own, I don't think it would be a good choice. Something that could be mass produced and not require hand-fitting, like a Sig or H&K.

It would be interesting if they went with the FN 5.7, but I think they want something with stopping power not necessarily penetrating power.

["DoubleAction"]

....I'm just foreseeing into a new pistol (sidearm) cartridge; I'm looking at a newer NATO Standard Issued Round, that will comply with our NATO Forces. Remember; Our .45acp was an American cartridge, and it had the draw back with shortages on overseas battle combat zones. Our Military Forces engaged with battles in overseas countries, and had to depend our own ammo supply.....Not anymore, this is past history. We also have combined Military Units from The U.N.Forces; Remember the Baby Blue Uniforms of The U.N. Forces, and American Soldiers being assigned to these Units and ordered to wear these Uniforms ? ....The .40 S&W seems to be the new American Defensive Cartridge for Law Enforcement and many civilians in The United States, however....would the other Nations agree to accept to the .40 S&W ?

[blueglass]

I have never fired a 41 cal pistol but have heard they are very hard hitting which is what they want. It is somewhat rare to find but possibly may be the answer to this question of knock down power. Of course all the Major Armies would have to accept it. I am sure one of the major Gun makers could build a tough enough handgun to fulfill the task.