Search for new US military pistol is still on
Published: January 24th, 2008
I was under the impression that the military had given up the idea of replacing the M9. Apparently not, according to Military.com:
The Air Force had asked for $90 million in the 2007 supplemental to buy new, more powerful pistols. Instead, congressional negotiators appropriated $5 million for a joint study on a new combat pistol, with the Army as the lead agent.
The US Army and Navy have recently purchased more M9 pistols.
More here.
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HA HA, the new pistol for US amry in future should be M2011 tactical, base on .45ACP/ M1911A1 , with tactical slide frame and mount / For conceptual design refer to follow:
Caspian Full Metal Dark Dragon Airsoft Gun
http://www.airsoftgi.com/pr...
Since the major user group of pistols in the military are 1)MP's, and 2) Company level Officers, I don't see any need to change calibers or move to a uber tactical SERT model. 9MM is good enough in modern loads, and the few who can justify a special team pistol have budgets to get them.
Industry production and design will likely bring about a nextgen pistol in polymer, but don't expect anything earthshaking in it's features. It'll be a Browning barrel design, double stack, and possibly a form of double action, and it will get a switch the user has to deliberately move before he can shoot it. It's all about whether the .Gov accepts it was a legal use, or out of the rules of land warfare. The safety puts the onus on the user.
ALL pistols are now made with hammerforged barrels, and some form of nitriding is standard. About all that could be "innovative" would be the use of clock springs in the mags, and the aftermarket Beretta mags do that already.