Hello all, here is today's article posted on TheArmoryLife.com. It is titled "History of U.S. Military Handgun Rounds" and can be found at https://www.thearmorylife.com/history-of-u-s-military-handgun-rounds/.
History of U.S. Military Handgun Rounds
- Thread starter Mike H.
- Start date
Annihilator
Emissary
Interesting article, thanks Mike
HansGruber
Ronin
Good article.
They did kinda gloss over the .38Spl, which was issued in the WW2 Victory Model S&W’s (a M&P in a cheaper Parkerized finish), the S&W Model 15 (Air Force Security Police through the 1990’s), and a few others (S&W Model 12–aka the M&P Airweight comes to mind—the first aluminum cylinder revolver, AFAIK).
They did kinda gloss over the .38Spl, which was issued in the WW2 Victory Model S&W’s (a M&P in a cheaper Parkerized finish), the S&W Model 15 (Air Force Security Police through the 1990’s), and a few others (S&W Model 12–aka the M&P Airweight comes to mind—the first aluminum cylinder revolver, AFAIK).
HayesGreener
Ronin
I was issued a Model 15 and later as an Air Force OSI agent, a Model 36, 3 inch heavy barrel. The Model 15 was a little harder to conceal but it was a shooter. The GI 38 Special rounds were ball, but pretty hot. Working protection details, we shot often. The Model 36's for investigators had a short service life as the full service load was hard on the frame and cylinder. The Model 36 was replaced by a chopped, Detonics-sized .45ACP, which was replaced by a Beretta 92, then the Sig M11.
I knew aircrews who carried 2-inch Model 15's and Airweights. During Vietnam combat operations, the life support equipment rooms for aircrews had metal drums that were cut in half and supplied with a metal stand, and filled with .38 Special ammo. Pilots would load their revolvers at a clearing barrel and then could take as much ammo as they thought prudent by the handful. Some of the pilots I knew had bootleg Browning Hi Powers and no one seemed to object.
HansGruber
Ronin
I’ve got a 3” 36-1 Heavy Barrel, Square Butt.
Or I should say, my name is on the 4473; my bride lays claim to it.
Runs 158grSWCHP+P like a dream.
HayesGreener
Ronin
It has always been interesting to me that those who fought in the Texas Revolution, the Indian Wars, the Mexican American War, the Philippine Insurrection, and other "small" conflicts through the 19th century favored big fat 45 bullets for their pistols. In addition to felling men, they also wanted to be able to kill their horses. I think the .38 Special was a bean counter innovation.Hello all, here is today's article posted on TheArmoryLife.com. It is titled "History of U.S. Military Handgun Rounds" and can be found at https://www.thearmorylife.com/history-of-u-s-military-handgun-rounds/.
HansGruber
Ronin
Maybe, but then again…of all cartridges used by LE/M, the .38spl is the most long-lived.
I think if it was truly ineffective, it wouldn’t have that kind of legs…
HayesGreener
Ronin
I won't claim the 38 is not effective, it put a lot of men into the ground. But the argument that a 45 is more effective by making a bigger hole is compelling. The logic of it is probably why so many of us old curmudgeons still favor it.
HansGruber
Ronin
Well, I’ve always subscribed to the idea that bullet manufacturers keep trying to make little bullets act like big bullets, so…can’t argue with you.
Tacklebury
Alpha
I'm still the .45 also. It starts bigger than many 9mm's expand to in my finding. I currently have a FS 1911 GI-Model and find it to be the ideal sidearm. Mine has the 8 round mag and if you need more than 9, you are probably doing something wrong. High capacity 9mm has reduced peoples anticipated need to train and accounts for more misses and higher lost shot count. I also have a Blackhawk in 45 Colt & 45 ACP and a Charter Arms Bulldog in .45 Colt. The only thing I carry smaller is my .380 pocket pistol LCP.
HansGruber
Ronin
I’m actually falling into the camp of caliber is pretty much irrelevant.
Looking at the Ellifritz study, for example, shows that with multiple hits, pretty much all calibers are equally effective.
Tacklebury
Alpha
Actually,. they are equal I believe in killing capability, not stopping or impact energy. If their statements were accurate, then the .25 ACP would be good enough and you can carry even more ammo!
HansGruber
Ronin
“Stopping energy” is a null term.
And if you read the study…pretty much all calibers .32 or better will stop an attacker with 2 hits…and not all larger calibers are more effective than smaller ones.
An Alternate Look at Handgun Stopping Power | Buckeye Firearms Association
by Greg Ellifritz I've been interested in firearm stopping power for a very long time. I remember reading Handguns magazine back in the late 1980s when Evan Marshall was writing articles about his stopping power studies. When Marshall's first book came out in 1992, I ordered it immediately...
Tacklebury
Alpha
And there's a few thousand that disagree. Here's just one: https://www.americanrifleman.org/content/handgun-stopping-power-sizing-up-your-options/. Feel free to carry what you want, but I've shot hundreds of deer with various loads and my basic .45 Colt is one of the finest short range deer killers even with solids that I've shot. I've put (3) .357 Maximum loads into a deer and had it go further than one .45 Colt.