Marines close to new .45 pistol
The Marine Corps Times reports that the Marines are about ready to name the winner of their $2.2 million contract for a new .45-caliber M45 Close Quarters Battle Pistol, for issue to Special Operations units;
The new pistol is modeled after earlier versions of the 1911 pistol used since the 1980s by force recon units. Those weapons were called the MEU (SOC) pistol, short for Marine expeditionary unit (special operations capable). The precision weapons section at Quantico’s Weapons Training Battalion has hand-assembled 1911s chambered for .45-caliber Automatic Colt Pistol ammo for years.
It’s not clear who the competitors are but the Times article says these guys are in contention;
Several companies submitted samples to the Corps in 2010 as part of the competition, but it is unclear who remains in contention. They included Colt Defense of Hartford, Conn., and Springfield Armory of Geneseo, Ill.
I’m so glad to see the military move away from the Euro-wienie calibers and thug guns. I was so disappointed when, during my service, the Army scrapped the time tested .45 for the Beretta 9mm.
Category: Guns, Marine Corps
I told my Old Man about this because he was one of those Force Recon guys that carried in in the 1980’s, and his response was that they ordered more pistols than there are folks in MARSOC, does that mean that some may leak out to the rest of the Corps?
When I joined we trained with brand spanking new beretta’s. When I got to my regular unit I got a .45 and never saw another beretta accept on air force people…..
R. Lee said awhile back that the reasons for the switch to 9mm never quite squared with him, and I tend to agree. Magazine capacity and ammunition weight for a sidearm shouldn’t factor quite as much as how big a hole you can punch before backup arrives.
The .45 packs a hell of a punch compared to the 9mm. For instance, a 45 230gr FMJ is a lot better than a 9mm 115gr FMJ. Bigger bullet and slower velocity = knockdown power.
Gotta love those .45’s!! 🙂
I carried a 1911A1 in Germany as an 11C. Carried one as a cop for years. If you get one that works, keep it. The M9 was more reliable (carried one in Bosnia & Iraq) but the 9mm NATO ball ammo is almost better than throwing rocks.
I liked the reliability of the M9.
When I retired, I bought the Beretta 96 which is the same pistol in .40 cal. Excellent pistol. Never had an issue with it.
In my unit we had one guy that didn’t tell you why he didn’t like the Baretta he showed you. He just had you hold your pistol and in less than half a second he would grab your barrel and hand it back to you. If you know how, and it doesn’t take much practice to do it, you can grab the barrel and push the detent to release it in one smooth motion. True that no one should ever get that close to you but should it come to that it would be nice to have a pistol that is less easy to disassemble.
I just don’t understand why they are going with a 1911 platform. I completely agree with the .45 ACP as the correct round (“don’t bring anything to a gunfight that does not begin with a 4”), but I think there are more reliable weapons out there than the 1911. Glock, Sig, HK, etc.
I hate the M9. I hate it I hate it I hate it!! It’s been my sidearm (reluctantly, I might add) for the past 12 years. Double action sucks, most of the ones issued aren’t worth shit and the sights are messed up. Granted I can qual expert with it consistently, there is nothing quite like firing a 1911 .45. My concealed carry is a Kimber Warrior with rosewood grips. It’s accurate, comfortable to carry concealed despite its size, and anyone you double tap with it is going to stop what they’re doing. Not to mention single action only is so much better.
I’m with bullnav. Hoping they are looking at Glock and Hk as well. The Hk 45 Compact with a LEM trigger is where it’s at, IMO. Of course, the military may stick with the SA/DA with safety. *shrug*
I’ll just add rabble rabble rabble…
I just love the old 1911. A military history teacher said one great advantage of the 1911 was that if it came down to it and you were out of ammo the pistol made a great bludgeoning weapon. It is a good design on an old pistol that has stood the test of time. Doesn’t need to shoot a long way, just needs to put people down quickly.
“I’m so glad to see the military move away from the Euro-wienie calibers and thug guns. I was so disappointed when, during my service, the Army scrapped the time tested .45 for the Beretta 9mm.”
This argument has been going back and forth going near thirty years now. What is your disposition? Stopping power or more ammunition? Newer lighter components may even be able to reduce weight further, which can advance either trait but unlikely both at the same time.
The whole reason for its adoption was because the colt revolver lacked said power battling Moros in the Phillipines. That seems the be the very reason for the adoption of it by the USMC a logic I have no problem with. They aren’t buying it for the snazzy factor or simple special opsy-ness(new word).
“Now with force recon and MARSOC both using the weapon, there is greater demand, and the Corps is seeking an off-the-shelf option to meet it. Like older 1911s, the new pistol would fill the requirement for a weapon with more stopping power than the 9mm M9 common across the conventional forces. Special operators have paired .45-caliber pistols with other weapons for years, including the MP5, a 9mm submachine gun. MARSOC already fields existing MEU (SOC) pistols, Marine officials said.” Fine.
P.S. I still have no idea what niche Marsoc fills but that is another conversation.
I am glad the Marine Corps is finally going to be upping the caliber of their pistols. Its about time our troops have better weapons with better stopping power and I don’t mean the drones.
I had to qualify (pistol) in the early 1970s and used a 1911 to do so. I’ll never forget that damned gun – it sounded like everything inside was loose when it was shaken but it still worked nicely with the 230 grain milspec hardball.
The 1911 is still my “go to” even though I have other weapons and happily even the wife prefers the 1911 over the other stuff I bought her while teaching her how to fire (hitting her target) and handle a weapon so as not to be another unsafe shooter.
She doesn’t care much for my Desert Eagle in .44 Mag, however – I wonder why?
@15- “She doesn’t care much for my Desert Eagle in .44 Mag, however – I wonder why?”
Because Dirty Harry shot a S&W 29, not some pansy-ass Desert Eagle. That’s my guess.
When I first moved here, I looked for a weapon for the home, and ended up with two–the Remington 870 Super Express 12-gauge (18 1/2 inch barrel) and the S&W 1911 .45. I never used anything but a .45 when I was on AD, and after seeing what it would do, never wanted anything else.
IOW, it’s not only put down, but STAY DOWN.
When I first got out of Boot, my NG unit was switching from the 1911A1 to the M9. As an armorer, I decided to test them both before I had to turn in the 1911A1s. Sure, the M9 had a larger magazine, but the 1911A1 only needed one shot for a kill.
I’d much rather take out seven assholes before reloading than maybe taking out one before reloading.
Started with the 1911 in 1962 and still carry one today, I for one am glad they are going back. Semper Fi