While realizing that sidearms are rarely used in normal military combat, it seems to me that we could come up with a better handgun for military use. In this diatribe, I am primarily concerned with use by maneuver units, as opposed to MP, intelligence, security, or spec-ops forces, and I am completely ignoring the issue of the handgun as a "badge of office."
Given the minimal training applied towards the handgun by western militaries, the new gun would have to be easy to operate and shoot. Reliability in a dusty/muddy/rainy/icy environment is a must, as is easy field-stripping. Shootability should be improved over the typical autopistols, such that 1st shot hits beyond 25 yards are do-able for the average grunt. The gun should have adequate durability; lets say a design lifetime of 25,000 rounds. Of course, the gun should be reasonably safe. The cartridge should be effective with non-expanding bullets, yet have moderate recoil. Lastly, it would be nice if the "field gun" were of the same family as guns for MPs etc. and of the same cartridge as whatever subguns are in service.
Given the previous criteria, it seems like one design can't do it all. The shootability at longer ranges and simple manual-of-arms fairly scream "Revolver!" Whereas the reliability and field-stripping criteria scream "Autopistol!"
Well, here is one possibility. An autoloader with a long barrel & slide (6-7" bbl), about 35 oz empty weight, recoil operated, Sig-style lockup, single-action with ambi thumb safety, single-column. I'd prefer a striker-fired ignition system, rather than a hammer/firing-pin design. Maybe design the thing to have sacrificial frame rails that can be replaced. A wireframe shoulder stock, perhaps aluminum alloy or composite, could help in some situations. At some point, holosights might get reliable and cheap enough to be used as the primary sight. As for cartridge, we know 9x19 is not so good in FMJ, and .45 ACP is a bit much recoil-wise for some shooters. So, lets consider a .40 S&W like cartridge, but lets use a longer case to reduce pressures. Maybe design the feed ramp to handle semi-wadcutters rather than FMJ-RN to improve terminal ballistics somewhat, if semi-wadcutters are allowed by the Hague convention or whatever. Of course, MPs, spooks, and spec-ops can use hollowpoints to their hearts' content.
Now, that single-action trigger may seem to be a safety issue, but for our archetypical grunt, I'll assume the gun is carried full-mag/empty-chamber. Compact versions for MPs and whatnot can be DAO. That single-action trigger is essential to making long-range hits, I think (as is the long sight radius and stability of the "longslide" configuration).
Questions? Comments?
Given the minimal training applied towards the handgun by western militaries, the new gun would have to be easy to operate and shoot. Reliability in a dusty/muddy/rainy/icy environment is a must, as is easy field-stripping. Shootability should be improved over the typical autopistols, such that 1st shot hits beyond 25 yards are do-able for the average grunt. The gun should have adequate durability; lets say a design lifetime of 25,000 rounds. Of course, the gun should be reasonably safe. The cartridge should be effective with non-expanding bullets, yet have moderate recoil. Lastly, it would be nice if the "field gun" were of the same family as guns for MPs etc. and of the same cartridge as whatever subguns are in service.
Given the previous criteria, it seems like one design can't do it all. The shootability at longer ranges and simple manual-of-arms fairly scream "Revolver!" Whereas the reliability and field-stripping criteria scream "Autopistol!"
Well, here is one possibility. An autoloader with a long barrel & slide (6-7" bbl), about 35 oz empty weight, recoil operated, Sig-style lockup, single-action with ambi thumb safety, single-column. I'd prefer a striker-fired ignition system, rather than a hammer/firing-pin design. Maybe design the thing to have sacrificial frame rails that can be replaced. A wireframe shoulder stock, perhaps aluminum alloy or composite, could help in some situations. At some point, holosights might get reliable and cheap enough to be used as the primary sight. As for cartridge, we know 9x19 is not so good in FMJ, and .45 ACP is a bit much recoil-wise for some shooters. So, lets consider a .40 S&W like cartridge, but lets use a longer case to reduce pressures. Maybe design the feed ramp to handle semi-wadcutters rather than FMJ-RN to improve terminal ballistics somewhat, if semi-wadcutters are allowed by the Hague convention or whatever. Of course, MPs, spooks, and spec-ops can use hollowpoints to their hearts' content.
Now, that single-action trigger may seem to be a safety issue, but for our archetypical grunt, I'll assume the gun is carried full-mag/empty-chamber. Compact versions for MPs and whatnot can be DAO. That single-action trigger is essential to making long-range hits, I think (as is the long sight radius and stability of the "longslide" configuration).
Questions? Comments?
