The Beretta M9 in service

[C-grunt]

I know some of our tankers used the M9 in 2003 when Iraqi soldiers started climbing on the tanks during the big sandstorm. After the first couple times they just closed the hatches and cleared each other off with coax guns.

There is also the famous photo of the injured Marine who, if I remember correctly, used his M9 inside of a house in Fallujah when his rifle was either damaged or empty.

[eric0311]

Did anyone ever actually get in a gun fight in an actual war with an M9...like ever? Seriously, any combatants against US forces actually get put down specifically by that in circumstances where it actually mattered who had what gun? Every actual combat use I've read or listened to involved Sig 226's or G17s or 19s.

The only time I've read or heard of differences of pistols being notable was in the Philippines fighting against the Moros which demonstrated some weak .38 revolver caliber being insufficient thus creating the demand for the .45 and thus the 1911.

We had several combat shootings, with the M9, during the early deployments of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF 1 and 2). One incident, involving Navy Cross recipient Ret. Major Brian Chontosh used his M9 to destroy several enemy fighters in a fighting position, during an ambush in March, 2003 (3rd Battalion 5th Marines)

[ffhounddog]

Did anyone ever actually get in a gun fight in an actual war with an M9...like ever? Seriously, any combatants against US forces actually get put down specifically by that in circumstances where it actually mattered who had what gun? Every actual combat use I've read or listened to involved Sig 226's or G17s or 19s.

The only time I've read or heard of differences of pistols being notable was in the Philippines fighting against the Moros which demonstrated some weak .38 revolver caliber being insufficient thus creating the demand for the .45 and thus the 1911.

I used a M9 a few times in combat in an actual war. It worked. I just got a centurion M9A4. I like it so far. Actually increases the needs for others that I have let shoot it.

[Sam]

Google Sgt. Brad Kasal, USMC. He's retired now.

[C-grunt]

Google Sgt. Brad Kasal, USMC. He's retired now.

That's the photo I was talking about.

[Sooter76]

There is nothing wrong with the M9… It only real issue is it’s a brick. By the time it saw real service in a warzone (sorry, the 6 week glorified FTX in ‘91 doesn’t count) it had been in service for 25 years where it had been used and abused by Joe with piss poor maintenance, if maintained at all. After 25 years of abuse like that, you’d probably hear the same complaints about Glocks.

All I know is my issued M9 was a piece of shit with internal rust when I got it, that couldn’t get thru a single magazine without a stoppage. I cleaned it up and when we got orders to deploy I quietly replaced all the springs. Never had an issue with it after that and it worked flawlessly the one time I had to draw it in Afghanistan.

[Sooter76]

Did anyone ever actually get in a gun fight in an actual war with an M9...like ever? Seriously, any combatants against US forces actually get put down specifically by that in circumstances where it actually mattered who had what gun?

Yes… I had to transition to my M9 after a stoppage (ammo related) on my M4. The LT in one of my sister platoons had to use his as well, but I don’t remember the circumstances.

[Slater]

Did the USMC's M9A1's ever fire any shots in anger?