http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htweap/articles/20060127.aspx U.S. Brings Back the .45 January 27, 2006: After two decades of use, the U.S. Department of Defense is getting rid of its Beretta M9 9mm pistol, and going back to the 11.4mm (.45 caliber) weapon. There have been constant complaints about the lesser (compared to the .45) hitting power of the 9mm. And in the last few years, SOCOM (Special Operations Command) and the marines have officially adopted .45 caliber pistols as “official alternatives” to the M9 Beretta. But now SOCOM has been given the task of finding a design that will be suitable as the JCP (Joint Combat Pistol). Various designs are being evaluated, but all must be .45 caliber and have a eight round magazine (at least), and high capacity mags holding up to 15. The new .45 will also have a rail for attachments, and be able to take a silencer. Length must be no more than 9.65 inches, and width no more than 1.53 inches. The M1911 .45 caliber pistol that the 9mm Beretta replaced in 1985, was, as its nomenclature implied, an old design. There are several modern designs out there for .45 caliber pistols that are lighter, carry more ammo and are easier to maintain than the pre-World War I M1911 (which is actually about a century old, as a design). The Department of Defense plans to buy 645,000 JCPs. The competition could get intense with an order this size, and there are already some good .45 caliber designs out there, including a SOCOM version of the Heckler and Koch USP. The U.S. Marine Corps uses an upgraded version of the M1911, and were also looking at new .45 caliber designs. SOCOM will, with input from other branches, handle the evaluation and final selection. This will take place this year, and if the military moves with unaccustomed alacrity, troops could start getting their JCPs next year. But don’t hold your breath.
Seems to make sense but I wouldnt really see the need to get away from the 1911 style, just add the rail and seems to pretty well fit the bill even now.
I think they want more capacity instead of actually teaching people to shoot. Last I heard people were qualifying with video game like arms.
I hope the Springfield XD-45 gets entered, guys around the net are raving about it. I have one being held till my income tax gets back and I am chomping at the bit! The grip isn't that much larger than the grip on the XD-9!!! http://www.springfield-armory.com/prod-xdpstl-45acp.shtml
I held one of the 9's today. They are nice, the grip is similar to my custom Glock with the grip reduction. Give me Ol' Slab Sides anyday though.
Actually, the video game arms are real weapons with a air powered recoil system. It is pretty accurate to the real weapon. Matter of fact, the M-16 version is made by Bushmaster. I've qualified on the system and it is really interesting. It will show not only where the shot went, but what your hold pattern looks like up to and just after the shot so you can see how you are flinching. Pretty cool.
You would have to take your TV room out and put this in. It is definitely surround sound! We did drills where we had to engage vehicles at a checkpoint that didn't comply. Made your heart beat and sweat pour!
It sounds like a lot of fun. I shot quite a bit of live ammo at an indoor similator, I really enjoyed that. But double tapping each and every perp got expensive as they were coming out of the woodwork like zombies at a live meat buffet.
