M9 9mm vs. 1911 .45

[DMeix]

Here in California, where the wild boars have access to acorns, the meat is absolutely delicious. How are they to eat in Texas?

There are no acorns in west Texas. The boars are more of a pest than anything. All they do is tear up the land and scare off the deer. You couldn't make me eat one of those things if it was the last living creature on earth. I caught it's stench long before I saw it on the trail.

 

[USNA69]

For closer-in work, however, nothing beats the M4 (nothing I can think of, at any rate).

Gotcha. We agree.

Handguns have their place. They are great for last-ditch defense and provide that utility in a small and easily-carried package. Hard to beat, if you accept the inherent restrictions.

You've hit the nail on the head. Defense. For SEALs and Special Ops, it is one thing, but for the average grunt who may get shot at once every 20 or so patrols, it is entirely something different. I want to remove the temptation to reach down for a handgun in lieu of popping another magazine in the M-4 because it is quicker. I am going to resist carrying a handgun as long as I can. When and if I do, it will be whatever the armorer issues. My acceptance would be based on dependability, weight, and firepower, in that order.

Another sweet little alternative is a good 12-gauge shotgun. My preferences are the Remington 870 and the Benelli M2 Tactical. If I could carry the primary weapon, a handgun, and a shotgun, I would.

Again, like I mentioned above, shotguns are sweet. All pumps are relatively reliable. I would insist on 7+ rounds and the downside would be reloading. One could drop down in the mud in the jungle and hide. Are there any reloading hiding places inside a Iraqi building? I kind of doubt it.

What would be your preference for a backup?

The grenade launcher on my M-4/M-16.
I am a simple guy. Always prescribed to the philosophy of dancing with the date that I brung. By passing out backups to my troops, what is the message that I am sending? Am I subscribing to the BS that the M-4/M-16 is an unreliable weapon? Am I tacitly modifying my tactics and telling them that in close quarters they can play John Wayne? Am I telling them that they are dead meat, that they should have the handgun at the ready just adjacent to the kabar?
Who the crap knows, Zap, I am a sailor. My other philosophy is that I am going to win, throw all the defensive crap in the river. And we both agree that a handgun is a last ditch defensive weapon.
I would be nice to hear what the Woops are learning now from their BTDT Company Officers but they probably already have this thread posted somewhere laughing at a bunch of squids trying to describe Army squad tactics.

 

[Zaphod]

A few jobs back I had a coworker whose brother was a SEAL. He didn't bother with a handgun, either. Instead, he packed more mags for his M4.

It also depends where you are and plan to be standing during all this. If I expect heavy contact, I'd prefer mags for the M4 over a handgun and it's mags. Also, if I had a choice, I'd also have the M203 slung under the barrel. Always nice to have some portable artillery along for the ride.

 

[USNA69]

Damn Zap, that is exactly what I said 12 or so hours ago. We agree. Now, if I had any energy left, I would try to convince demeix that wild hog is about as tasty as it gets. Grind up a venison shoulder and a hog shoulder, go across the border down there and get some of the good Mexican herbs and spices, stuff it in sausage casings, smoke it over mesquite, and sit back and enjoy.

 

[Zaphod]

Well, I'm not sure if I'd call the M203 a backup, but it sure must be handy to have along.