Army wants a new pistol … or do they?
Fool me once, shame on me, fool me twice … well, you are not going to fool me a third time. The US Army has announced that they want to replace the Beretta M9. No, you are not experiencing Déjà vu. First there was the Future Handgun System (FHS), then there was the Joint Combat Pistol (JCP) and now we have the Modular Handgun System (MHS). At the end of this month the US Army will brief the industry on their requirements for the Modular Handgun System. Fox News reports …
As the lead agent for small arms, the Army will hold an industry day July 29 to talk to gun makers about the joint, Modular Handgun System or MHS.
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The Army began working with the small arms industry on MHS in early 2013, but the effort has been in the works for more than five years. If successful, it would result in the Defense Department buying more than 400,000 new pistols during a period of significant defense-spending reductions.
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The MHS will be an open-caliber competition that will evaluate larger rounds such as .357 Sig, .40 S&W and .45 ACP.
Just two years ago the army placed ordered 100,000 additional M9 pistols from Beretta. I cannot see them adopting a new pistol in the near future.
I founded TFB in 2007 and over 10 years worked tirelessly, with the help of my team, to build it up into the largest gun blog online. I retired as Editor in Chief in 2017. During my decade at TFB I was fortunate to work with the most amazing talented writers and genuinely good people!
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I doubt that the US will adopt another .45acp. Or they will have to get nato to switch calibres or retire the 1911 once and for all. The M9 could be replaced by another 9mm but a .357 sig isn't the best idea with it's bottle necked rounds. .40S&W just doesn't seem to be what the US army would use.
Modular is the key here. Instead of a whole new pistol, companies ( who actually participate) should only focus on ideas that also have a civilian marketability factor. For example a new lower that can handle different calibers with a change of slide/barrel & using common mags. Detonics MTX comes to mind w/ their modular 1911. With grip size being crucial to a double stack. Why do you think so many new buyers are wanting single stack 9's? How it feels in the hand directly relates to confidence in shooting what your aiming at! But customization allows for a commercial benefit if their pistol isn't picked in this so-called competition. Beretta has a new "lower" that has a rail that can upgrade an existing 92/M9. If it narrowed the grip I would want one(Yes I have sm. hands). An existing platform allows companies to simply introduce accessories to consumers who already own their product. The fact that caliber is open, should be a clue that this is just an exercise for the Army.