What is your Go to War Sidearm?

[CALREB]

I LOVE MY SWs, but in all my time in the armory. The gun that took the most abuse amd still provided great service was the 92 F/FS. I have the newer barrel block and springs installed in all mine. Plenty accurate even beyond 100 yards, 9mm ammo and not picky., Use any lubricant if necessary. 4 or 5 mags. Enough back up fire power and there ought to be spare parts laying around if I ever did need some..

Of course I could dress it up a bit. This one on the right shoots very accurately.

And for you 1911 guys, my Dad's from WWII, would serve honorably I'm sure.

 

[lrrifleman]

I remember going over the role of the militia when I was in ROTC, and the emphasis on the need to possess a firearm of military design and caliber. With that in mind, I would employ both a 1911 in 45 ACP and 9mm, and then either my Sig P320 or my G17. I would anticipate 9mm being more militarily abundant than 45 ACP. However, I would also remember to pickup the weapons and ammunition of fallen invaders should I find myself behind enemy lines.

 

[kamloops67]

Whatever I grab when I’ve been pushed to that point ,
May god have mercy on us both

 

[Mule Packer]

All three of my boys and my daughter like Glocks. The ol' man here, however, believes in the adage, "You go home with the one who brought you to the dance." As a result, I'm gonna go with the Model 1911 in .45 ACP along with my M4 carbine and a Randall Model 1 "ultimate fighting knife." Why? Simple. I'm going with the one I'm familiar with. Old habits die hard.

But like Irrifleman and Grayfox mentioned, if need be, I could go with my 9mm...also in 1911.

 

[giants1]

By "going to war," do you (plural) literally mean formally joining the US military or metaphorically for SHTF? Would those two situations affect your choice of sidearm?

Do you aim for the head or center of mass, and why?

I'm following the Russia-Ukraine War closely, but haven't seen any side arms (99.99% AK-type rifles [AK-47 > AK-74 > AK-12 and AK-103], a few M4-style rifles, and one Mosin-Nagant with a scope).

And if enlisting (if that's the correct word to use, pardon my lack of military service), would you/we actually have a choice in sidearm to carry? I have an advance degree and work in health care, so I'd probably end up in the medical core, but I sure will be out at the range in my spare time.

My choice is my Glock 17 with Hornady Critical Duty +P 124 grain JHPs because I'm familiar with the manual of arms, shoot it well (better than my Browning Buck Mark, which irritates me), have spare mags, spare parts, and a spare, fully functional Glock 17, the recoil for follow-up shots is tolerable, and 9 mm is much more abundant where I'm at (Northern California) and cheaper than .45 ACP. When I bought my first Glock 17 last August, I was going to buy the Glock 21/.45 ACP, but I couldn't find any .45 ACP.

lrrifleman beat me to the punch about battlefield pick-ups, which I'm keeping in mind in terms of ammo and also learning manual of arms of guns I don't own. I presume that civilian bad guys would be carrying Glocks and cheap guns, because that's what they use nowadays, non-special ops military using standard issue sidearms. The ability to have enough time and carry battlefield pick ups will probably be limited, so what guidelines should I have for selecting?

I'm evaluating buying a Rock Island Armory (RIA) or Springfield 5" M1911 in .45 ACP, because, until I read this post, as a collector's item and to get physically familiar with the manual of arms (I have a cognitive understanding of it based upon Mas Ayoob and other YouTube videos). Any suggestions on which one (or both, LOL)?

I don't know about the Springfield, but the RIA has a bad rep for misfeeding hollow points. What brand/model of magazines would you recommend for reliable feeding of hollow points?

Would you be shooting hollow points, FMJs, or both?

Along those lines, I'm seeing a lot more of your selecting .45 ACP, especially the M1911 as your sidearm of choice. Being a relative newbie, would you help me understand the advantages of the M1911 over, say my Glock 17 or the Glock 21 in .45 ACP?

 

[jem102]

My .45 acp H&K USP compact.

 

[LCC]

Lot more likely to be caught up in a sudden event rather than a 'war', which is why regardless of my EDC, the ConsoleVault in my Suburban contains a 9mm with 5 loaded magazines.

 

[65Whelen]

I’d have to go with my EAA 10mm. I’d never carry it normally, but in a SHTF scenario, 14+1 and a few extra mags would be prudent.

I agree, the EEA 10mm has a mega load of fire power and a fantastic platform. It's my carry gun.

 

[riverrat38]

I am too old by twice to serve again, but I could help clear mine fields. For personal defense, it would be the same M442 that I have carried for 12 years. About my weight limit for carry these days.

73,
Rick

 

[Beemerguy53]

If this was good enough for Alvin York and Basil Plumley, it'll be good enough for me...

 

[SVT28]

It would be a tough call for me. The toss up is between my Glock 40 10mm or my Walther Q5 Match. Both guns are reliable, accurate and versatile.

The Glock 40 can be carried in my Kenai chest holster, it has a C&H Precision plate and Vortex red dot, and its 10mm…a fantastic all purpose round for penetration through glass/vehicle/indoor/outdoor use. I have a chassis for it too, which converts it into something I can hit steel plates with out to 100-200 yds if I do my part. Whether it rides in the chest holster or folded up in a backpack, it’s ready. Hell you can even run 40 S&W through it through the stock barrel and mags! Versatility

The Walther is dynamite. Soft shooting, easy to carry in my T Rex AIWB holster. It’s outfitted with an RMR with C&H Precision plate that cowitnesses the front sight and TLR 1 HL. The trigger is excellent and 9mm is a great round and available in dire circumstances all across the globe. I can shoot steel plates off hand 50+ yards with it and it’s provided me thousands of trouble free rounds. Really it would be a tough call between these two.

Cheers
SVT28


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Well Armed]

Beretta APX Full-size and Compact.

OR

HK P30SK and P30L....


FYI: Anyone going to fight a war with a 5-8 shot revolver has a death wise.

 

[Llance]

The same one I carried in Nam, this one:

 

[wood714]

 

[Rustyt1953]

Kevin, you win the internet.

 

[John Patrick]

I’m not a Glock guy but I’d select my only Glock, which is a Model 45.

The Model 45 is a 9mm with a Model 19 length slide and a 17 length frame. So 17 round magazines.

Why? 9mm is the most common handgun ammo, and Glock 17s are very common so pick up magazines will be available. Parts are common too, though less common for Gen 5s than earlier generations.

Plan B would be my Sig P365x just because it’s lighter and smaller and so less of a burden when carrying a 5.56 AR.

 

[Breakaway500]

Glock 17. Because a shotgun won't fit in my holster.

 

[petepeterson]

SIG P320C, or possibly a Glock 19 to save a few ounces.

 

[Patrick L]

As the OP said, my "go to war" piece would be either my M1 Garand or maybe even my M1 carbine. Yeah, the carbine because it's so light, even with a 30 round magazine I can fire it 1 handed over my shoulder, laying down a spray of lead which will serve as covering fire as I run away...

 

[OLDSTER]

This Korean War vintage Model 54 Chi-Com Tokarev. Battle proven, ultra reliable, accurate, and lethal.