Army's Take on its new M17 Pistol

[adwjc]

He meticulously policed up all his brass and was squared away. And he got some great training to share with the riflemen....

He had to police it up, he has to return the exact number of empty cases to account for issued ammo. I heard they weigh it to double check.


Edited: My recent contact with a NG (NYARNG - CST) team that trains at our club was the source of this info, looking at my post, I realized it could be interpreted differently - My observation is that today's military has taken a different view of the utility of the handgun than was common years ago.

 

[Cardboard_killer]

One needs to distinguish two kinds of "importance" when talking about the role of the handgun in modern warfare. This actually applies to warfare going back to at least World War I.

. . .

However, on the battlefield level, the handgun is irrelevant.

I agree with the point for modern warfare, but in WW1, with rifles being too long and heavy, and with no machine pistols widely available, pistols (along with grenades) were often the weapon of choice during trench raids. Of couse, all those reasons became moot once cut down rifles and sMG became more common, and as trench warfare became less common.

 

[Cardboard_killer]

However, on the battlefield level, the handgun is irrelevant. If on Sept. 1, 1939, a magician had made every handgun in Europe and the US disappear, World War II would not have lasted a day longer or shorter.

Something similar could be said about rifles, too. The Soviets beat Nazi Germany with a rifle even more outdated than the 98k.

If every garand were replaced with a 1903, WW2 would have ended at exactly the same time.

 

[Racer X]

"The M17 is said by developers to bring much tighter dispersion, improved versatility and next-generation accuracy."

Sounds more like a Benelli or Mossberg shotgun than a sidearm.

 

[AJ]

Interesting that the Gunny could take an issue weapon on a field trip in the US?????????????? Listening to Ken Hackathorn I was under the impression that the trainers came to the unit or Dept. to train units not individuals.

Have seen active duty personnel go to Gunsite to be trained in the old days (1988-89).

Never had a properly maintained M1911A1 or M9 fail to operate. Bad mags or ammo yes.

 

[ameridaddy]

Least important weapon in the entire inventory. Yet everyone gets all emotional about it.

I imagine DoD needs to cover their butts because they probably spent about $3,000 a copy to evaluate and buy the new pistol, when they could have put night sights on the M-9 and rocked on. The article mentioned suppressor ready, which implies subsonic ammo. Does anybody wonder if the 147 gr hollow points will both penetrate and expand? They didn't say a word about the ballistics to go with the gun.

 

[BigMuddy]

My Son, currently deployed in Syria, has one of the M17's and he is very impressed with it. I've seen a video of him firing the pistol in training exercises, and yes it is getting used in his current assignment.

 

[rwsmith]

It ain't no....

As I noted above there have been many reports that some/many/most of the M-9 are worn out..... then there was the issues traced to the Checkmate magazines (low bidder). Why I only use factory or Mec-gar magazines.

Interesting that the Gunny could take an issue weapon on a field trip in the US?????????????? Listening to Ken Hackathorn I was under the impression that the trainers came to the unit or Dept. to train units not individuals.

Worn out? It ain't no 1911 is it?

30 years and they're gone. I don't suppose an armorer can bring these guns back. Or do they just not want to admit that they made a big mistake?

The only 'real' improvement is the night sights. I don't know how all of that will revolutionize warfare.

Interesting to note that they are loading it with a 147 grain bullet which may make some difference when shooting fmj bullets.

This reminds me of an ad spoof in Mad Magazine about a ball that was made from the same rubber used in B-52 Bomber tires. Throw it down, it bounces up. Throw it up, it bounces down. Amaze your friends!

 

[Donn]

When my younger son was in Iraq 2009-10, his primary weapon was a M240B mounted on a MRAP. He had a M4 as a carry weapon. At one point they issued him a M9. After a couple of weeks he turned it back in. Said it was useless extra weight. He'd rather carry extra rifle ammo.

^^^ Exactly ^^^ My son carried his M-9 in the FOB. When he left the wire, the pistol stayed behind. He carried extra M-4 mags instead. He listened to a few things the old man told him.

 

[BE Mike]

Thanks for the information, but to me that may not be a positive - can't imagine the armorers taking grip modules out in the field to swap them around. Am guessing they will set all of them up to "full size" (except for those can carry a "compact" for duty) and call it good...

It boils down to leadership or lack thereof.

 

[BE Mike]

Sorry for a bit of thread drift. Just wondering if the existing Berettas might become available through the DCM? This could happen as the current administration is pro-2nd Amendment.

If it follows past history, they'll be available for sale in a little over 30 years!

 

[BE Mike]

My Son, currently deployed in Syria, has one of the M17's and he is very impressed with it. I've seen a video of him firing the pistol in training exercises, and yes it is getting used in his current assignment.

Nice to get some input from actual users in combat instead of speculation from some old fuds (me included) or chairborne rangers. Please pass along my gratitude for serving our country under difficult circumstances.

 

[stansdds]

My Son, currently deployed in Syria, has one of the M17's and he is very impressed with it. I've seen a video of him firing the pistol in training exercises, and yes it is getting used in his current assignment.

That is good to know, hopefully it will prove to be a good sidearm in combat.

Sorry for a bit of thread drift. Just wondering if the existing Berettas might become available through the DCM? This could happen as the current administration is pro-2nd Amendment.

If it follows past history, they'll be available for sale in a little over 30 years!

And would you really want one? The M9 has an aluminum alloy receiver. I expect those that have been used in dusty, gritty environments will have a lot of wear on that receiver. The 1911 was durable because it was all steel.

 

[Telecaster]

II learned a new tactikool word:

Enabler - noun a gizmo attached to a pistol rail.

 

[LPD256]

I'll weigh in on this again. My youngest kid is enlisting in the Army National Guard in an MP company so sooner or later I'll guess he'll be shooting an M17. I got an email from my range saying they had one so I went in to take a look. Next thing I knew. I owned it. I came home and told my wife I bought it to teach Josh how to shoot it and clean it (bs). We have both shot it a bunch. I decided to put a red dot on it and soon found out Sig's own Romeo 1 didn't fit. Because the Military selected the Deltapoint Pro. So I bought one. I have large hands. I can probably shoot any of the grip frames. The gun came with medium. But if I were a 5' 100lb female with small hands (yes, they enlist also) I may need a small frame gun. If I was also left handed I might enjoy the ambidextrous safety. And being an old geezer, I can attest that Deltapoint makes it easy to shoot. It weighs 9 ounces or so less than the Beretta and is made in the US. The government paid about 1/3 of what I paid for mine according to reports I've read. Just some personal observations.

 

[3rdgeargrndrr]

Are these reporters playing too many video games?

I picked up a 320 in 9 and a 40 conversion kit. the moment I got home I thought to myself WHY? and sold it a month later. the grip had the most cheap hollow sound Ive ever observed in any handgun.
On the rare occasion I shoot plastic, I go springfield xd line.

 

[Cardboard_killer]

And would you really want one? The M9 has an aluminum alloy receiver. I expect those that have been used in dusty, gritty environments will have a lot of wear on that receiver. The 1911 was durable because it was all steel.

I wouldn't want a 30 year old retired 1911, either. Those things are loose as a fleet week participant,

 

[elm_creek_smith]

Before the Army foolishly took our M1911A1s away from us tankers, I suggested that they just issue us MP5K-PDWs to replace our .45s and M3A1 grease guns.

My last agency issued Glock 22s while I carried a 4 inch S&W 686 (grandfathered). The plasticool Glocksketeers never outshot me during qualifications.

Nobody listens to the users.

Sent from my XT1710-02 using Tapatalk

 

[ladder13]

$580 million is a rounding error.

 

[Kanewpadle]

I wouldn't want a 30 year old retired 1911, either. Those things are loose as a fleet week participant,

In the early 80's I shot those old WWII vintage 1911's in the military. Yep they rattled quite a bit. But it's not the rattle that counts but the barrel and bushing fit. The rattle didn't make them unreliable or inaccurate.