600,000 - that's a bunch of M9s

[JLawson]

Offered without comment...

http://www.thetacticalwire.com/story/269586

September 20 : 2012 
US Army Awards New Beretta M9 Pistol Contract
 
 
Accokeek, MD - The US Army announced today that Beretta USA has been awarded a contract for up to 100,000 M9, 9mm caliber, pistols. An initial order for over 4,600 pistols has already been released to the company. All of the pistols will be manufactured at the Beretta USA facility in Maryland, where an American work force of nearly 300 employees has been making M9 pistols since 1987. To date, over 600,000 Beretta 9mm pistols have been delivered to the U.S. military.

"This order reconfirms the US Armed Forces' interest and support of the M9 pistol. The Beretta M9 remains the standard sidearm of the US Army", commented Cav. Ugo Gussalli Beretta, President of Beretta Holding, "These pistols will support American troops in the field for years to come."

"We are very proud to continue supplying the M9 pistols to the U.S. Army" said Gabriele de Plano, Beretta U.S.A.'s Vice President of Military Marketing & Sales, "and we look forward to the opportunity of working with the Army to improve the current M9 design with many of the existing solutions available to us in the new Model 92A1 and 96A1 pistol families".

Together with Benelli, Sako and Steiner, Beretta is part of Beretta Defense Technologies (BDT), an alliance of four leading companies unified to provide advanced products, services, in-house R&D and manufacturing in support of military personnel around the world. For additional information, visit www.berettadefensetechnologies.com.

Beretta, established in 1526, is the oldest industrial dynasty in the world tracing its roots through 15 generations of continuous family ownership. Firearms bearing the Beretta name have been sold for almost 500 years. Beretta USA Corp., a Beretta Holding company, was founded in 1977 and supplies the standard sidearm to the U.S. Armed Forces. Today Beretta manufactures, distributes and markets a complete line of firearms, accessories and apparel. Beretta also owns and operates six retail Beretta Gallery stores worldwide.

[BAC]

But they screwed up by not hiring me when they had the chance.

[Solus]

In Sept. of 2011 there were 1.4 million active duty personnel in the 4 major branches of the US military.

Not all of them will carry a sidearm, but 600,000 doesn't see like it would be very much over with spares.

But still, it's to many M9s....not enough 1911s 

[Swamp Yankee]

Its still a piece of crap and has frame rail separation issues, but I guess that it does not matter and as our current Seinor enlisted leader would say. " It's good enough "
Mike Mc

[santahog]

I still think they'd be better served by a .40, 10mm or .45 than a 9mm.. FN or Glock are better weapons for the environment, too.. IMO..

[Sponsor]

[tombogan03884]

The M-9 is a political POS.
I'm not saying the pistol is bad, I've never shot one, but the fact remains that for it's intended purpose it is a POS.
The Army first abandoned the .45 cal in the 1890's for the super duper .38, it was a fail, it would not stop a 120 pound Muslim  in the Philippines, so the Army went back to the 45 in the 1911.
The purpose of the service pistol is to stop people reliably with ball ammo, .350 -.380 diameter bullet never has and probably never will there fore it's a POS and needs to be replaced with either the 45 or 50 GI cartridge.

[Ulmus]

I wish they went with the S&W M&P instead.  I'd prefer it in .40 or.45 as well.

[fightingquaker13]

I think we're still treaty bound with NATO to use 9mm as the general handgun ammo (and 5.56 and 7.62 for rifles). If that's the case we're stuck. If not, idiots are in charge. There is no excuse for not using .45 or at least .40 if we have the choice.
FQ13

[ellis4538]

Colt just got a contract for .45's so we must not be bound to the 9mm thing in all branches.

Richard

[fightingquaker13]

Colt just got a contract for .45's so we must not be bound to the 9mm thing in all branches.

Richard

This is me flashing back to an IL class I took 20 years ago taught by a JAG lawyer. The treaty talks about regular units. Spec-ops can carry what they want. My understanding is that the .45s are going to Recon, SF, SEALS and CSARS and Delta. So it jibes. But don't quote me here. The gist was that the main logistics train would be interchangeable.
FQ13