That being said, I'm gonna talk about the last new general issue handgun the military had. I say general issuee because a buncha buncha SOF dudes carry Glocks, M-11A1s, and a few holdout still rocking an updated version of J.M. Browning's Government Model of 1911. The Colt M-45A1 probably being my favorite pistol on the above list; followed by the M-11A1.
But, in 1985, which much scorn and fan fare, the U.S.military formally adopted the M-9 Beretta. Sorta. Lots of guys still carried M-1911A1s. And a lot of dudes in the USAF still carried S&W K-frame .38s, like my Dad who thinks DA/SA is stupid.
The Beretta has served admirably for three decades. Including several conflicts and military operations other than war. Originally, I had planned to post this last week, as a fitting Military Monday before 9/11, but then we had evacuees.
However, for me, where as I like the -1911 and Glocks, the M-9 will always be the first hand gun I was issued.
I sometimes wonder with the adoption of a polymer DAO stryker fired hand gun as the new approved service weapon, how many guys twenty years from now will be sitting at the VFW saying
"You know, when I was fighting the GWOT wars, we carried a real pistol, made of steel with a hammer."
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| A now old gun with old ammo |
Hey Mack
ReplyDeleteYeah, we were issued Beretta's when we deployed, although I owned a .45 springfield, the one that got stolen later in Griffin. The price for the Beretta's were outlandish back then, like $600+ in 1990 dollars, a lot of money for an E-4 like myself. My dad later had the Taurus knockoff and it shot good, but he traded it later for a glock. I did like the ergonomics and of course Bruce willis using one in "Die Hard" as did Mel Gibson in "Lethal weapon."
Here's a trivia item for you. Bruce and Mel used the exact same gun!
DeleteMy first issue pistol was an M1911A1.
ReplyDeleteWe got M9's as I was leaving.
I've got more nostalgia for the JMB than the Beretta, but own both today.
I remember HATING the M9 when I was first issued it. Now I've warmed to it a bit.