I found this article about the marines are planning on replacing their custom built 1911's with new manufactured 1911's http://kitup.military.com/2011/09/is-the-marscoc-45-the-right-gun.html This actually surprised me a bit, mainly because I did not know that the marines were still using 1911's in the first place. While I realize these are there special operation guys so they get a little more lee way in their weapons of choice, I would expect them to be using a more modern design, and not one that’s 100 years old. Now personally I love 1911's and if the Air force were to issue me one I would quite happy with it, but I also understand that the design has some draw backs. The author of the article makes the decision sound like it’s a horrible idea, as the 1911 takes more maintenances to keep it operating properly than other modern pistols, and tier 1 forces have stopped using them which means they are worse than other pistols. What’s your opinion on the Maries choosing a new 1911 over a different design?

 

Also the original article http://www.military.com/news/article/2011/marsoc-wants-new-pistol-with-old-design.html

I really don't understand the big deal with the choice of a sidearm. If the gun works, and the operator likes it and shots it well, that's all that matters. The 1911, Glock, Beretta, Sigs are all excellent firearms with a proven track record, as well as the 45acp cartridge.

Blah. 1911s are a great design... but better designs have come since they were made. I personally love my Glock 21SF. Fits me like a glove, and shoots great.

The fact that MANY teir 1 unts that have selection lattitude choose the 1911 should tell you something. I do not see it as any more maintenance than any other semiauto pistol. In fact I think the opposite can be argued because the service life expectancy of a 1911 is many times greater than other modern pistols.

Having carried a 1911 and a Berreta 92 I prefer the 1911. Only others I would consider would be a CZ or a Sig. You can keep the rest and I will not carry plastic.

I had a choice to check out the armory what I wanted. I always checked out the 1911... you cant go wrong. Proven round on a proven platform. The 1911 is the Ma Deuce of the pistol world, it will never disappear in the modern battlefield. 100 years old and still going strong.

The fact that MANY teir 1 unts that have selection lattitude choose the 1911 should tell you something. I do not see it as any more maintenance than any other semiauto pistol. In fact I think the opposite can be argued because the service life expectancy of a 1911 is many times greater than other modern pistols.

 

This is true. And easy to do with .gov funding and access to armorers. A recent thread on AR-15.com went into the use of the 1911 in the Tier 1 world, and it basically came down to the fact that most operators of 2-3, if not 3-4 1911s assigned to them. The number of rounds they put down range means that 1 gun is in the shop getting worked on, 1 is being used, and 1 is a backup.

 

The 1911 is an excellent platform, but it costs a lot in time and money to keep it going at certain operational tempos. Kinda like a high-end sports car.

 

The biggest reason it's still used is it's trigger. Nothing beats it, and that's part of why it's an inherently accurate platform.

The reason they were using the 1911 platform is because they still had them in stock. They never got rid of their existing inventory when the Beretta came in. The "custom build" consists of the Quantico armorers taking the issued pistol, some of which might have been manufactured in the 70's, and reworking them with more modern components (sights, trigger, possibly barrel).

 

I guess they've finally run out of existing stock.

From Marine Corps Times: http://www.marinecor...-pistol-022112/

 

The Marine Corps is closer to knowing who will manufacture its new .45-caliber M45 Close Quarters Battle Pistol, and could make a decision about the program’s future by spring, Marine officials said.

 

The semiautomatic weapon will be fielded to elite Marines in force reconnaissance and Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command. The service could buy between 400 and 12,000 of them as part of a contract worth up to $22.5 million, officials have said. The current requirement is for about 4,000 pistols.

 

Officials with Marine Corps Systems Command, out of Quantico, Va., declined to characterize testing or identify which companies are competing for the contract. However, the Corps is in the final round of source selection, said Charles Clark III, head of weapons requirements at Marine Corps Combat Development Command, MARCORSYSCOM’s parent command. He declined further comment.

 

The new pistol is modeled after earlier versions of the 1911 pistol used since the 1980s by force recon units. Those weapons were called the MEU (SOC) pistol, short for Marine expeditionary unit (special operations capable). The precision weapons section at Quantico’s Weapons Training Battalion has hand-assembled 1911s chambered for .45-caliber Automatic Colt Pistol ammo for years.

 

MARSOC’s expansion complicated that process, however. The Corps’ special operations command has been growing steadily since it was activated in 2006, and force recon was brought back in 2008 after a two-year hiatus designed to help solidify MARSOC.

 

Now with force recon and MARSOC both using the weapon, there is greater demand, and the Corps is seeking an off-the-shelf option to meet it. Like older 1911s, the new pistol would fill the requirement for a weapon with more stopping power than the 9mm M9 common across the conventional forces. Special operators have paired .45-caliber pistols with other weapons for years, including the MP5, a 9mm submachine gun. MARSOC already fields existing MEU (SOC) pistols, Marine officials said.

 

Several companies submitted samples to the Corps in 2010 as part of the competition, but it is unclear who remains in contention. They included Colt Defense of Hartford, Conn., and Springfield Armory of Geneseo, Ill.

 

Colt tweaked its 01070RG rail gun pistol and sent 10 prototypes to Quantico in 2010, Colt officials said. Colt’s prototypes for the Corps have a desert-color Cercoat finish, eliminating glare on the weapon and making it less identifiable at distance. They’re equipped with a popular night sight made by Novak of Parkersburg, W.Va., mounted on a Picatinny rail.

 

Springfield Armory sent the Corps at least six copies of its PX9105ML pistol for evaluation, company officials said. The company calls it the Full-Sized MC Operator. It has a black slide with a green chassis. The Corps has bought Springfield Armory 1911 slides in the past to use on pistols assembled at Quantico.

Maybe this?

 

http://www.kimberamerica.com/1911/custom-ii/desertwarrior

Maybe this?

 

http://www.kimberame...i/desertwarrior

 

Ooooo.

I thought I wanted a Raptor II. Now... You're just evil blksheep.

Kimbers are beautiful.