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Jeff22 · 11-20-2004, 06:36

I am a retired Security Policeman from the Air National Guard (also did 4 yrs in the local MP detachment) and currently a civilian police officer.

During my military career, I carried the S&W 15 .38 revolver, the M1911Al and the Beretta M9. In all cases I liked them so much I bought examples for my personal battery.

I keep pretty good track of how many rounds I expend in practice. I broke the locking block on my original 92FS at about 18,000 rounds and cracked the frame at slightly over 30,000 rounds. (Beretta replaced it for free)

During my civilian police career, I've carried a Colt Combat Commander, a Smith & Wesson 15 and a Sig 226. I've shot two Sigs to destruction -- takes about 35,000 rounds to break the frame rails (using standard velocity ammo). One was my issue gun that I got in December of 1989 and broke in September of 2001, and the other was a used gun in which I was the 4th or 5th owner. (both guns were replaced by Sig for free).(We just transitioned to the 226R-DAK in .40 cal a couple weeks ago.)

Everything breaks if you shoot it enough.

I personally always liked the M9 and shot it very well, but I believe the circumference of the grip is too big for a general issue gun. Personnel with smaller hands just couldn't deal with the length of pull from the backstrap to the trigger.
(I have big hands and long fingers, and I can make most guns work).

I always thought the M1911 style pistols fit just about any hand because they were so thin. But before I'd let GIs or cops carry "cocked & locked" (which I did as a civilian for about 6-1/2 years) I'd make sure they had a significant amount of initial training and frequent retraining. You have to know what you're doing with a single action auto pistol carried in condition one.

11-20-2004, 06:36	#43
Jeff22 Asset Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Madison, Wisconsin Posts: 6	I am a retired Security Policeman from the Air National Guard (also did 4 yrs in the local MP detachment) and currently a civilian police officer. During my military career, I carried the S&W 15 .38 revolver, the M1911Al and the Beretta M9. In all cases I liked them so much I bought examples for my personal battery. I keep pretty good track of how many rounds I expend in practice. I broke the locking block on my original 92FS at about 18,000 rounds and cracked the frame at slightly over 30,000 rounds. (Beretta replaced it for free) During my civilian police career, I've carried a Colt Combat Commander, a Smith & Wesson 15 and a Sig 226. I've shot two Sigs to destruction -- takes about 35,000 rounds to break the frame rails (using standard velocity ammo). One was my issue gun that I got in December of 1989 and broke in September of 2001, and the other was a used gun in which I was the 4th or 5th owner. (both guns were replaced by Sig for free).(We just transitioned to the 226R-DAK in .40 cal a couple weeks ago.) Everything breaks if you shoot it enough. I personally always liked the M9 and shot it very well, but I believe the circumference of the grip is too big for a general issue gun. Personnel with smaller hands just couldn't deal with the length of pull from the backstrap to the trigger. (I have big hands and long fingers, and I can make most guns work). I always thought the M1911 style pistols fit just about any hand because they were so thin. But before I'd let GIs or cops carry "cocked & locked" (which I did as a civilian for about 6-1/2 years) I'd make sure they had a significant amount of initial training and frequent retraining. You have to know what you're doing with a single action auto pistol carried in condition one.
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