kenpofan
US Veteran
3 inch Model 65.
What is you favorite "Service" type sidearm?
- Thread starter walnutred
- Start date
My favorites from my days in "The mud the blood and the beer" have not changed too much. They are ,in no particular order, a 4in. Model 19,a snub Model 40, a Swenson tuned Model 1911, a Remington 18in. 870 12 Bore and a{then M2 Carbine} now M1 Carbine. Forty years later, the Model 686 7-shot mt. gun is replacing the Model 19 as my favorite revolver as a service gun and I must confess to having both a Colt M4 AR and a stubby barrel M1A close at hand.
Mule88
Member
In a revolver my 624 and my M&P .40 in an auto.
Straightshooter2
US Veteran
Stainless Colt Combat Commander Series 80, tuned and reworked by a retired Florida HP officer who was a wizard with any 1911 style auto. When it came out of the box it had a horrible trigger pull....now breaks at 3.5 pounds and is a dream to shoot.
CW
CW
JamesArthur60
US Veteran
In my day the service sidearm was the M10, 38 special. Then when the switch to auto's happened, it was the 5906, 9mm. So, my choice for a service sidearm today would be a big 45 caliber, high capacity auto. 
Pete 45
US Veteran
Deffinetly .45
I was in SAC from 1962/66, 8th AF Headquarters just outside of Springfield. Massachusets. We were issued the 1911A1 in .45ACP. Sometime about 1963/64 we were issued Smith & Wesson Model 15, Combat Masterpieces, adjustable sights and a nice blue finish, but in .38 Special. Never in all my days have I come accross a logical reason why we went to the lessor caliber and a revolver at that.
Regardless, like you JamesArthur60, my choice would be that in 45 caliber, most likely the 1911A1, very possibly the S&W MP45.
Pete
In my day the service sidearm was the M10, 38 special. Then when the switch to auto's happened, it was the 5906, 9mm. So, my choice for a service sidearm today would be a big 45 caliber, high capacity auto.
I was in SAC from 1962/66, 8th AF Headquarters just outside of Springfield. Massachusets. We were issued the 1911A1 in .45ACP. Sometime about 1963/64 we were issued Smith & Wesson Model 15, Combat Masterpieces, adjustable sights and a nice blue finish, but in .38 Special. Never in all my days have I come accross a logical reason why we went to the lessor caliber and a revolver at that.
Regardless, like you JamesArthur60, my choice would be that in 45 caliber, most likely the 1911A1, very possibly the S&W MP45.
Pete
+1 I would bet my life on it and did
Mostly, over the 25 years that I carried a badge and gun here in the States, I carried a 5" 1911 that I built on an aluminum frame. Match barrel and bushing, long trigger, flat mainspring housing, and fixed higher profile sights. Otherwise, it was an assortment of .44 Special, .45 ACP, and .45 Colt revolvers. I finished with my last year and a half with a 3" M625 .45 ACP.
During five years overseas, in Kosovo and Afghanistan, I was issued a Beretta M9. I shot good scores with it, but never could warm up to it. Now, I'm working security and the issue gun is a Glock M17.
If I had my druthers, I'd be toting my M625 Mountain Gun in .45 ACP. To me, it's the perfect fighting revolver.
During five years overseas, in Kosovo and Afghanistan, I was issued a Beretta M9. I shot good scores with it, but never could warm up to it. Now, I'm working security and the issue gun is a Glock M17.
If I had my druthers, I'd be toting my M625 Mountain Gun in .45 ACP. To me, it's the perfect fighting revolver.
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MaximumLawman
Member
We had a lot of guys who carried 25-2's in .45 ACP, but the half moon clips wouldn't work for qualification so they had to qualify with auto rim brass, which even back then almost 30 years ago was kind of hard to get locally.
sheriffoconee
Member
My two favorite are my Model 10 (s) and my Model 58.....I like the simplicity of a service handgun with fixed sights....
BearBio
Member
Auto: Colt Commander in 45 acp.
Revolver: 4" Python or a 4" M-28.
Of course, my SAA isn't a "service pistol".
Revolver: 4" Python or a 4" M-28.
Of course, my SAA isn't a "service pistol".
.45 Commander. (All-steel 1911s are heavy!) There are so many good second choices it is ridiculous to try to list them all, but one of them might be another Commander, this one in .38 Super. P220 .45s get an honorable mention. 
Actually it is. Used by the U.S. Army from 1873 through the Philippine Insurrection. Funny true story about that. It seems in the trials leading up to its adoption, one of the requirements was that it had to pass the sand/dust test, cleaned only by equipment possessed by the common soldier.
That problem was solved by dousing it with urine - it certainly did the job, and all agreed that was equipment possessed by every soldier.
John
David Sinko
Member
I have a preference for the .45 ACP revolver with moonclips. My 625 with 3" full lug barrel is the one handgun I would choose for every occasion.
Dave Sinko
Dave Sinko
Evil Dog
US Veteran
Going to have to revise my previous choice and go along with David on this one. I've always liked the 3" round butt Model 13 but it's being pushed aside by a 2-1/2" Model 625-3. Will be replacing those grips with a set of Ahrends.
Ranger514
Member
4" 686 back in the day...Sig P229 in .40 S&W nowadays.
MaximumLawman
Member
I like the Smith 25-5, 4" in blue. Also like the P-08 9mm Luger for the unique factor.
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