[glockenturm]

Look what the Marines are up to.

http://www.guns.com/the-marines-to-d...r-service.html

[tnhawk]

My M9 has been a good range pistol, but I'd prefer a 1911 45 acp when my life depends on it.

[RUT]

Hey, I like 1911's, but it wouldn't be my first choice.

[craig19]

Very interesting.

[okie]

Very kool indeed

[Rumbler_G20]

Originally Posted by glockenturm

Look what the Marines are up to.

http://www.guns.com/the-marines-to-d...r-service.html

'bout time a little common sense found its way back into the Military.

[SC Tiger]

The Lippard looks like an interesting weapon, but sights marked to 375 yards? I hope that was a typo. It will be interesting to see if they get the contract and how they work out if the Marines go that way. The SA and Colt look like copies of each other.

Glock is still my first choice for SD but I would take a good 1911 (especially with hardball) over a Beretta.

My only other question would be how tight are these made - can they eat dirt like the old 1911 could?

[faawrenchbndr]

Nothing really new there,.........many Marine units have stuck
with the 1911 over the years.

[Nakanokalronin]

Good article and good for them. If my life depended on it, I'd go with a 1911.....oh wait, I carry one everyday.

ETA: Just saw the price of the Lippard. At almost $5k a pop that uses special made parts, I just don't see that one happening.

What I don't understand is, if they want a railed 1911, why don't they consider this highly recommended work of art right here?



or the toned down version for night ops

[MajorD]

the 1911 thing for the marines is a specail ops only thing so the rank and file still get the m9- which in my experience (2 combat tours Iraq and Afghanistan) is a perfectly fine 9mm- size and weight don't matter that much with open carry

[11Bravo25thID]

I thought they chose Kimber a while ago?

[Agent6-3/8]

Very interesting! I've often wondered, however, why the Corps is so married to the 1911 platform.

[20South]

but don't they know the 1911 isn't suitable for "the modern battlefield?"

[dakrat]

Rumor mill.

I am a die hard 1911 fan but there are better pistols suited for military applications. 99.9% of the time, this sidearm will be on the hip/thigh lugging weight on top of the already heavy body armors. give me a Glock anyday in the sand box

[Teej]

I'd be interested in knowing, from all of you currently combat active.... how many or which combat soldiers actually are issued and carry side arms??????????

[MajorD]

TEEJ- at least in the Army (I retired a couple years ago) the MTOE (modified table of organization and equipment) was a list of what each unit was authorized to have on hand and what small arms were assigned to each duty position. When we went to Iraq (2004-2005) we had weapons initially assigned by MTOE. I was issued an m9. long story short right before leaving to go overseas they suddenly found extra rifles to give us. That was an infantry unit.
when I went to Afghanistan in 20008, I was in a light cavalry unit and every soldier was mtoed both an m4 and a pistol.
Like in past conflicts mtoe starts to fall by the wayside. most of our efforts in Afghanistan right now are training teams I know for a fact every member of these teams is issued a pistol.
While some may justly debate the value of a pistol in the big scheme of things having a plan b is always reassuring. Also when onm american bases you are always required to carry a weapon and it is much easier to get around base just carrying the pistol.

[random southpaw]

Originally Posted by 20South

but don't they know the 1911 isn't suitable for "the modern battlefield?"

With my tongue firmly in cheek: Yeah, how dare our Marines adopt the most combat effective pistol?

[samuse]

When I first started reading about this a couple of years ago, I thought it was basically a ploy to ditch the 1911. Ie:

They'd have the trials and conclude that there was no suitable COTS replacement.

Get approval to test other pistols.

Find a [different] pistol that passed and then get approval to fund a complete change of pistol.

But it looks like they're really gonna stick with the 1911. Maybe not the easiest thing to understand, but hell, if I had the taxpayers funding my gun habit, I'd be rockin' a 1911 too!

[glockenturm]

I think it's more of an Esprit de corps thing. Let the spec ops guys stand out from the crowd. Let them have some input.

If it makes them feel good and gives them confidence then good for them.

[brisk21]

I wouldn't hesistate to carry one, I just wouldn't like the weight after awhile. That would be my only real complaint.

[.45 Combat]

The 1911, is great, but what about HK .45? The compact model is going to hold 8 rounds of .45acp! It's the same round count as our 1911. Or, go with the full size. If we settle for a 1911 with the same 8 rounds, why not the HK .45 compact?

[travDMH]

Originally Posted by .45 Combat

The 1911, is great, but what about HK .45? The compact model is going to hold 8 rounds of .45acp! It's the same round count as our 1911. Or, go with the full size. If we settle for a 1911 with the same 8 rounds, why not the HK .45 compact?

Apparently United States Naval Special Warfare Command are now issuing HK45c's. I agree the 1911 is a great platform but for an operator its weight and maintenance are issues that other options don't have. I carried a 1911 and now carry an HK45c its perfect imo

[mrsurfboard]

Originally Posted by travDMH

Apparently United States Naval Special Warfare Command are now issuing HK45c's. I agree the 1911 is a great platform but for an operator its weight and maintenance are issues that other options don't have. I carried a 1911 and now carry an HK45c its perfect imo

I have 2 1911s and a 45c. I think I would lean toward the 45c myself, but wouldn't be too upset with the 1911 either.