Pentagon Seeks New Sidearm

I would really like a Glock or M&P with a frame mounted safety. The M9 is way too big in the hands, and I have big hands.
I have a M&P .45, fit my hands better then the Glock. Grips on a Glock just don't work for me.
I think the M9 with adjustable back straps will take care of most fit issues, some people are just too big, or just too small.
M&P has fixed the trigger issue, so I think it would make a nice pistol.
Does Glock have a US Factory? Berry compliance could take them out of the game.
In the end it won't matter. beretta has the contract, they can buy A3's under that contract and probably will.
Beretta parts will fit either model in stock, and that will drive the procurement decision.
 
I have a M&P .45, fit my hands better then the Glock. Grips on a Glock just don't work for me.
I think the M9 with adjustable back straps will take care of most fit issues, some people are just too big, or just too small.
M&P has fixed the trigger issue, so I think it would make a nice pistol.
Does Glock have a US Factory? Berry compliance could take them out of the game.
In the end it won't matter. beretta has the contract, they can buy A3's under that contract and probably will.
Beretta parts will fit either model in stock, and that will drive the procurement decision.

Smyrna, GA.

I'm not exactly a connoisseur, but one of the best 45 ACP pistols I've yet handled was an M&P 45 with an Apex trigger. That was a sweet shooting gun... :thumbsup:
 
I don't know how anyone could shoot an M&P without Apex triger parts or doing some welding to limit the travel range.
I have an Apex on my M&P, RumInt say Smith and Wesson's trigger fix was to drop Apex Triggers (or something VERY close) into the pistol eliminating those issues.
 
When I was an armed guard. Not while active duty, we only had M9's at that point and while I carried one in Iraq, I still disliked the entirety of function. Slide mounted safeties are arguably the stupidest and out of easy manipulation position that you could possibly put them. It also adds more complexity for the slide than necessary, when the safety can be more easily incorporated into the frame. The only things a slide really need are a firing pin and firing pin block as far as "part of what makes it go bang system".
Went back and loked at the USP Tactical, looks like a good pistol, need to fire one in the future.
I agree with the comments on the decocker/safety. All my other pistols have a safety on the frame, which makes manipulation very easy. If we stay with Beretta, then I'd like to see the low-profile safety's from Wilson Combat added, but it won't happen because some 1% person will complain they can not use it.
 
The USP Tac is a poor man's Expert with arguably more benefits. Uses any USP fullsize holster, adjustable sights to clear a can, same fire control and match trigger as the expert, slightly lighter than the expert. Oh, and it's illegal in california.
 
No matter what they end up purchasing, problem #1 is fixing the lack of training within the force.
 
It's not even that, it's the fact that over 2/3 of the pistols in the army are secondary weapon systems for those individuals, and they don't honestly get what I would consider adequate training with those due to time, lack of ammo allotments, etc.... to be able to also train on their secondary system to any level of proficiency.

What good is contracting with an outside instructor when they'd have no rounds to shoot at the class with?
 
[cross-thread comment] In response to the other MARSOC pistol thread: This pistol is only authorized for MARSOC because the Marine Corps would have to pay for it if it was fielded to the general purpose force as well. SOCOM only pays for SOF specific equipment.
 
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I am a little surprised to see it limited to the 19. I personally prefer the 17 if I don't have to carry concealed.
 

So if I'm reading this correctly, they didn't get what they wanted from round one, and are redefining the requirements and going at it again?

I also found this odd.

"The XM17 will provide Warfighters with greater accuracy, target acquisition [and] ergonomic design," Col. Scott Armstrong, program manager for Solder Weapons, said in the release. "The new handgun will also be more reliable, durable and easier to maintain."

While I don't doubt that they can find something that can outperform the M9 in those areas, it's an interesting statement to make when you don't even know what handgun will replace it and your last run at the handgun market failed to produce the desired results.
 
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