105 years ago
Posted on 10/20/2016 7:47:19 AM PDT by Elderberry
As you may know, the US Armed Forces is on the hunt for the next official Joint Combat Pistol for the entire US Military. Yes, it’s kind of a big deal…
In the 1980s, the Beretta M9A1 was chosen to replace the iconic M1911A1.
Many veterans and 1911 fans never forgave the Department of Defense for what they considered a huge blunder. Not to mention, they gave an Italian firearms company the most coveted sidearms contract on the planet…
Fast forward to 2016, where a fresh clash of the titans is underway to decide which semi-automatic pistol will follow the M9 in the history of US military firearms. The new contract competition, called the MHS (Modular Handgun System), calls for a few specifics in terms of accuracy and accessories, though there are plenty of popular models that fill these criteria.
Once again, the list of manufacturers competing for the contract isn’t exactly chock full of cornfed American companies.
Is your favorite pistol on the list? Take a tour through the 7 Finalists to find out…
GLOCK 19, 22 or 23?
It’s been said many times but bears repeating, the Austrian-made Glock revolutionized the handgun forever with its polymer design.
Early detractors made fun of it for looking like a “block” of plastic, but most have since been won over by the Glock’s simple, light-weight, and nearly indestructible design. And judging by how many look-alikes have flooded onto the market, many shooters have come around how the Glock’s appearance too.
Thus far, all reports regarding the Modular Handgun System contract report Glock being solidly in the running, but there’s wide disagreement on which particular model is being considered. Perhaps Glock’s strategy is to let the USAF dictate the caliber.
The Glock 19, is a compact model that is easy to carry, fun to shoot, and yet versatile enough to serve pretty much any pistol shooting application out there. The Glock 22 is available in a .40 caliber, which may suit those in the DoD who prefer a heavier round. Many federal organizations, such as the FBI, carry the mid-sized versions of this platform.
Expert after expert will tell you that, if you’re only going to own one pistol, this is the one to get.
Smith and Wesson M&P
Smith & Wesson is a legendary name in firearms history, and the M&P lineup does the name proud at a price point that most shooters can afford.
With a state of the art polymer frame, slim profile, and an empty weight of just 24oz., there’s a lot more to like about the M&P than just the price. In fact, lots of experienced shooters say this model belongs right along side Glock, and Sig Sauer when it comes to performance, reliability, and design.
Certainly, the 17-round magazine gives you plenty of firepower. The M&P is heavier than the Glock 17 by about 3 ounces, which is not significant enough to make a difference with most shooters.
This gun is possibly the best balance of value and performance you’ll find in a new, straight out of the box handgun. Plus, S&W handguns are still American made, which is somewhat of a rarity.
SPRINGFIELD XD
The Springfield XD series has quickly become a fan favorite among pistol enthusiasts, approaching even the Glock in popularity.
The XD is another polymer frame gun, much like the Glock, with ambidextrous magazine releases, a grip safety, and a trigger action safety. The sharp 3 dot sights are easy to get comfortable with and even the shorter models are highly accurate.
When you put the XD and a Glock side by side, the comparisons just can’t be avoided. The XD is a bit narrower than the Glock, and the controls and safety are slightly larger than those on the Glock. The .40 XD model comes equipped with two 13 round magazines, so you’ve got plenty of firepower for the range.
For any of you who might be rooting for team USA here, the truth is that the XD series is 100% a Croation import from stem to stern, manufactured by HS2000. It is never less a great weapon.
Beretta APX
If you haven’t noticed, basically every gun on this list is strikingly similar. The Beretta APX clearly follows suit. In fact, the APX has been designed from the ground up to win Beretta’s US-based manufacturing the coveted MHS contract.
After years of its status as stalwart, driving firearm trends, Beretta seems to be diving straight into a very hot (and crowded) me-too territory.
On the flip side, the APX is a very top notch polymer handgun, with engineering and reliability that sure to be best-in-class. Plus, you get the comfort and status of seeing the word Beretta on the side of it.
The APX is a striker fired handgun, with a loaded chamber indicator. It has a built-in rail system for mounting lights and other accessories. There are also a number of handy safety mechanisms to prevent the gun from discharging when dropped, or during hasty cleanings where a shooter has neglected to empty the chamber.
CZ P-09
This is a fairly new offering from Czech arms maker CZ, and stands out on this as one of the only hammer fire gun thus far. Thus it can be fired single to double with the hammer cocked. It also has a smooth double action pull on the first shot.
The P-09 also has a de-cocking mechanism that allows you to toggle back to double action with a round in the chamber.
Perhaps the standout feature of this gun is the ammo capacity, an impressive 19+1 rounds. Sheesh, you’d better be able to hit you target with that many shots.
FN Five-SeveN
This gun is a real outlier, not only in the MHS contract bake-off, but for modern handguns in general.
If you haven’t noticed yet from the image above, it shoots some really funky looking handgun ammo. In fact, you might think it’s NOT handgun ammo at all… Wrong.
The 5.7x28mm round was designed by FN Herstal to replace the ubiquitous 9mm, to be used in a should fired weapon and a handheld. Thus this 20 caliber round was born. After testing, the results were clear: The 5.7 was a vastly more efficient cartridge.
Yet, due to a convergence of factors (controversy, bureaucracy, etc.) the round has been slow to overtake the 9mm. This innovative firearm is used by the US Secret Service, as well as 40 other nations around the world.
But what are the chances of it being adopted by the Department of Defense? It’s hard to say, but it certainly feels like a long shot.
Still, the FN Five-seveN (that’s how it is trademarked) is a very interesting gun, and battle-tested. The military and police versions fire ammo that can penetrate body armor including kevlar. Plus, the magazine capacity is 20 rounds.
Sig Sauer P320
For the Sig fans out there, there’s this sweet little number. Like all the other guns on this list except the CZ, and unlike most everything else in the Sig lineup, the P320 is striker fired.
Aside from this being a super accurate and well-made polymer semi-auto, the fact that it’s a striker fired Sig Sauer might just be P320 most noteworthy feature.
If you like other Sigs AND you like Glock-style handguns, you’ll probably love the P320.
This striker fired Sig has a very similar feel to the Glock. The traditional higher bore axis that Sig shooters are used to isn’t as much a factor with the P320. Still, the slide grip is a bit narrower than its competitors.
What the P320 brings to the table is Sig Sauer’s exceptional quality and reliability. It’s also a modular system, allowing you to move the trigger assembly from frame to frame, allowing you to test out the compact, full size, etc.
Which gun should the US Army choose?
105 years ago
Interesting. The 1911 and the M9 both have safety levers. If they go with one without it, it will be the first time in modern history.
Forget about the Glock 22 & 23. They’re .40 cal and IMHO the U.S. will stick with 9mm NATO standard.
Personally like the Sig P320, but hear they still need to do some fine tuning for reliability. (A local sheriff department went with Glock 17 over Sig P320 due to reliability.) FWIW.
The CZ has a safety lever. I don’t know about any of the others.
"Expert after expert will tell you that, if you’re only going to own one pistol, this is the one to get."
First time I ever heard that.
Perhaps someone at least vaguely competent (and the author here isn’t ) could write an article on the topic that was infomative,
Just a thought.
Who owns just one pistol?
Maybe if its your first one purchased.(Not for long, guns are like Lays Potato Chips)
If they won’t accept the screw-up and go back to Ol’ Slabside (1911A1), theni vote Sig!
“Much more reliable”!
What hell have you been smoking?
The P320
Heard the Smith and Wesson M&P is out of contention (shame)
Glock 17/19 looks like a likely choice, the FBI just went to them.
The SIG 320 probably has an inside track (unless reliability comes into question during testing) for the same reason the Glocks might. The grip size can be adjusted for smaller/larger hands, improving accuracy and training.
M&P is good! with two spare mags, the round count is 51! Great if multiple threats are present.
KYPD
Made in America by an American company, please.
Beyond that, it really doesn’t matter so long as it isn’t a piece of junk.
XD. I have 3 and love them all.
L
USMC MARSOC went with Glock 19.
I’m in for the Glock 19 (or 17) or the Sig P320 if reliability issues are not a problem.
The 1911 design is certainly not outdated and has been copied and extrapolated into many variants.
The design is also reliable - the reason that it is not a contender here is cost. It takes a heck of a lot of machining to make a 1911
Marine Corps Special Forces has already chosen the Glock 19.
Personally, I agree that a 1911 can’t be beat, but they are going to go with a plastic gun. Lighter and easier for the ladies and men who want to be ladies to handle.
The CZ P-07 and P-09 are very comparable to the Glock 17 and 19. The major difference to me is the double action first shot. To me, this makes the CZ a safer carry gun. However, I would recommend that anyone making a CZ their primary weapon send it to the CZ Custom Shop or Cajun Gun Works. A friend who shoots competitively and introduced me to CZ had his gun fine tuned by Cajun Gun Works and it works quite well.
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