The USMC's $22.5 Million Dollar Mistake

[Amsdorf]

Frankly, and I hate to put it this way, but I think this mistake is going to cost Marines their lives somewhere.

Here's my take on the USMC's recent pistol decision:

 

[DarrellM5]

I agree completely and I LOVE 1911's. They are my favorite pistols to enjoy at the range. But in a SHTF scenario they are staying in the safe while I grab my FNX-45 Tactical or XDm-40 or Glock 20 (10mm). I would want the higher capacities along with less maintenance. It's too bad they don't solicit input from the front line troops when they make these political decisions.

 

[Amsdorf]

Also should have mentioned on the video that we, the taxpayers, are paying over $5,000 *apiece* for these 1911s!

 

[DarrellM5]

I would expect that the contract includes armorer equipment, spare parts and accessories. Hopefully they didn't spend that much per gun.

 

[foxytwo]

I think they should have went with the Sig P226, already battle proven by the seals.

 

[phrogmedic]

The Marines should have never changed from the original Colt 1911 to the 9mm in the first place. Just saying ! The cost is outrageous even if includes parts and tools. More "Medals of Honor" have been awarded while using a 1911 than any 9mm

 

[father-of-three]

He makes reasonable points, even if they are not agreed upon by all listening to them. The 1911s do seem a bit on the expensive side.

 

[dond]

The govmt consistantly pays outrageous cost for nearly everything, i.e. $400.00 coffee makers or hammers. Did they make better coffee, did they drive a nail with more proficiency? All it amounts to is padding the pockets of the senator(s) that represent the state/district of the manufacturer. You know, you gotta spend money to make money! Colt paid for the contract, the tax payers got the bill.

 

[r1derbike]

I have to agree 100 percent with the video on the round count point, and that point alone. I also like 1911s. I also like many foods that are bad for me, and they will eventually kill me.

My carry sidearm only holds 5+1, but is chambered in .45acp, and I carry several spare mags. It's all about personal choice. I could have picked many other better sidearms, but who knows if they will survive the current Feinstein magazine capacity wars?

I'd love to have that FNH, but had to limit my powder-burner budget to one long gun and one concealed sidearm. The arguments for which platform for carry has been debated for years, so get what you want for CC.

I haven't seen many videos from this guy (my fault), but his logic is spot-on, in this one.

 

[Amsdorf]

Couple clarifications/corrections:

First the pistol does NOT, as I thought, cost over $5,000, I've been corrected on that point by people who have shown me the evidence. The pistol is coming in around $1,500 or so and they are making more than $4,000.

Second, these pistols are replacing the existing inventory of 1911s that Marine Force Recon and other Spec Op elements of the US Marines have always used. The Marines never stopped using the 1911. These are replacing 1911s that, in some cases, have been on "active duty" since WWII!

Third, I was told that Marine Force Recon elements and others were involved in the decision and requested the 1911.

So, just to be fair, I wanted to put that out there.

I still believe the choice is the wrong one, but

 

[gunnerbob]

I think they should have went with the Sig P226, already battle proven by the seals.

The M9 beat out the Sig on price alone... or so goes the story. However, I really like the M9 and own two 92FSs.

 

[Sir Diealotz]

I carry a 92FS Inox and have a M9 in my collection. Fine sidearms IMO

 

[fudo]

We adopted the Beretta because we wanted to grease the skids for our bases in Italy.

 

[gunnerbob]

We adopted the Beretta because we wanted to grease the skids for our bases in Italy.

Hell, we had already given those b@stards thousands of Garands... greedy damn Italian people.

 

[Nightmare45]

I own both, my carry is 1911 with extra magazines.

 

[mappow]

Errrr, 1911 has more confirmed kills then any other combat pistol. Errr, been used since 1911...hello..... Some things just don't need changing. This was oneof them and someones brother in law got extremely rich hedging bets on 9mm. Any of you Yahoos' have ANY IDEA the mass amount of 45ACP ammo that we had in bunkers throughout the world? Just to switch to 9mm and sell/give away to other countries as foreign aid.
Ya got a platform that has proven history, ya stick with it. The 1911 was, is and will always be my choice. If ya gotta throw lead, throw the biggest chunks ya can.

Hell, I'd carry a 5" 54 like we had in the Navy but just can't get it in a holster :>)!

 

[Amsdorf]

Errrr ... somebody is shooting his mouth off without even bothering to watch the video.

Errrr....45ACP is great. Errrr....That's why I said the USMC should have adopted a high capacity .45ACP semi-auto.

Errr.....

 

[jcreek]

As a Marine, I'd tend to agree with you, I'll take ease of maintenance and higher capacity any day. And while I don't know for sure, I don't believe it is only the SF element that are getting these. It's been passed down through my chain that eventually these will replace all M9's. However, anybody who has served, especially in the Corps knows how prevalent errant information is, so I could be wrong. With all the said, I'll take just about anything over an M9 right now. I hate those things. We had 3 locking blocks break in 4 hours last time I qualified.


Oh and if you want to talk about expensive mistakes, you should mention the $6 BILLION the Army spent from R&D through implementation of their BDUs that they used for about 7 years before realizing the only placed it effectively camouflaged anybody was in a rock quarry..lol.

 

[B2Tall]

The number of pistols and the ultimate cost of the contract is completely fluid. The contract can be for up to 12,000 pistols and up to $22.5 million if the max number of pistols is ordered. It also includes spare parts and maintinence contracts. That puts the cost/pistol at $1,875. Again, that figure includes unspecified spare parts and service.

 

[Kramer1113]

Couple clarifications/corrections:

First tThese are replacing 1911s that, in some cases, have been on "active duty" since WWII!

I server in the United States Army as a Military Police Officer in the early 1980's. My Side arm was a Beat to crap Colt 1911 that rattled when I ran but shot pretty well.
I have recently purchased the Ruger SR1911 and Love it.
Sometimes its just how you feel about your weapon.