More M9 replacement rumblings...

[Slater]

If Army Times is to be believed, the Army is (or is about to) writing the specs for yet another replacement attempt for the Beretta M9. Don't know if a caliber has been specified, or if they'll leave that up to the offerors.

Is a .40 caliber weapon a realistic option, or would the logistics of a caliber changeover be too expensive?

[Traveshamockery]

Unless we're getting out of NATO, I'd anticipate another 9mm.

[mkmckinley]

Did the 6.8 ever catch on? Any proposed replacement will be 9mm, not that it will actually be procured.

[Littlelebowski]

Is a .40 caliber weapon a realistic option

Nope.

[KhanRad]

Is a .40 caliber weapon a realistic option, or would the logistics of a caliber changeover be too expensive?

Nope. No reason to consider it in that the primary service load will be FMJ, and that the sidearm has such a limited role in the Army. Given those limitations, the .45acp would be a better option. More than likely though, the 9mm will continue to be the primary service caliber for the military until the metalic cartridge is no more. If there were a change, it would likely be for some sort of PDW armor piercing caliber.

I still say that Larry Vickers and Ken Hackathorn were right on the money when they both agreed on service caliber selection. Nothing but 9mm if you have the option to use what ever ammunition that you want, and if you are restricted to using military ball(FMJ) go with .45acp.

[markm]

They should go with the BREN TEN!!!

[Iraqgunz]

If the military in general wasn't so Jerrys' Kids about pistols they could simply select the G17 or G19.

Easy to maintain and reliable. If other militaries and police which in some cases have lesser amounts of firearms training can use it, why the hell can't we? Get over the phobia of no safety and train the personnel to use the weapon.

Other weapons still have safeties and there are still negligent discharges.

[Pistol Shooter]

Didn't the military recently order 500,000 M9's?

[crusader377]

I think it is just a waste of money. Bottom line this that the military relatively recently placed a contract for 1/2 million or so M9s and really doesn't need additional pistols. I foresee this program is going to be similiar to the XM8 and other M4 carbine replacement programs. They will probably spend tens of millions of dollars and at the end of the day decide to keep the M9.

Also, since we are facing upcoming defense cuts I would not want to spend very limited procurement dollars buying a new pistol when pistols quite simply make no difference on the modern battlefield.

[556A2]

M9 replacement time frame?

Probably 2084