NEW HANDGUN SELECTED FOR THE U.S ARMY

[cipherk98]

The information has been circulating a bit on the decision but haven't seen much trials data. I am slightly disappointed that it seems like until cartridges themselves go obsolete the actual mechanism of operation in pistols of this size/power class will continue to be a Browning style locked breach with a recoil spring and guide rod versus something like gas delayed blow back.

The results got me looking at P320s but I didn't get to see one of the manual safety P320s until today. It's a good gun but honestly not my favorite. The safety location and operation seems okay to me but the frame shape of the P320 bothers me a bit, mostly because I feel the back end and beaver tail are still very obviously styled for a hammer fire gun (the P250). The ones I've looked at had triggers that varied wildly in quality, so hopefully Sig isn't rushing out guns to meet the sudden burst in demand consumer side. I would guess the Army went with it based on the fact that it is one of the few truly modular guns on the market (the core requirement) and it seems that interchangeable frames or not, the grip shape(s) will easily fit a huge variety of people. Being able to easily adapt these guns to red dots in a few years will be huge as well, I really think red dot sighting on duty pistols will be the norm very shortly.

Honestly though the P320 is not the most interesting gun from that even though it was adopted. For me it was the Glock.

BREAKING: New Glock 19 MHS 9mm W Photos - The Firearm BlogThe Firearm Blog

I can't figure this thing out. The slides are from a size class smaller than the frame. A G19 slide on a G17 frame. Very strange, very awkward to look at it. But hey no finger grooves, which is my complaint with the Gen 4, that and the lack of a suppressor ready model. I'm also not a Glock person, though I've considered them at various points. At any rate, this actually spurred me to go look at just about everything in my search for a host for a suppressor I just bought (because just buying a threaded barrel isn't the most interesting option).

In terms of MHS participants I looked at the Beretta APX and FN509 too. The APX... not sure what to make of it to be honest. Strikes me as a good gun but the firing pin block that rises straight out of the slide on firing strikes me as strange, along with an external striker release on the frame. While in theory you can only hit it with a pin punch I am pretty sure if loaded the gun will fire if you do this. That and both features offer something else to damage or get dirt in the gun. The APX also kind of disappointed me by not launching with quite the number of options and parts as the P320 which if the gun is modular it should. The slide serrations though are absolutely not cosmetic, they really do work well and make it easy to cock for a traditional Browning style pistol.

I may be in the minority but I liked the FNS and really like the 509 that developed from it. Checkering is a bit too aggressive on the backstrap to me and I feel the grip is a bit too long but it points and aims exceptionally well. Trigger feel was merely adequate though in the world of very good strike fired triggers, probably not much of a military concern though. Looked at some other guns too that were not part of the trials, the VP9 and PPQ Navy though they weren't serious options as they were not modular (same for the 509) which is what I really wanted.

I wound up picking a CZ P10c, which I almost pre ordered when it launched but decided to wait. Not modular but fell in love with the gun when I got it in my hands. I think with very minor tweaks (break in on the trigger, a touch of fitting here and there on the frame for the trigger and mag release button) it's the best value for the dollar out there, if not one of the best striker fired pistol options period. Too bad it wasn't ready and CZ allegedly entered the P07 instead, a good gun but pretty heavily rooted in the old CZ75/P01 family technology wise, not surprising it didn't go real far. The P10c has replaced my CZ75 though as my main gun for matches, and my P01 as my larger carry gun. 1000 rounds through it in about 3 weeks and not a single malfunction. It's not arguably revolutionary like the Sig or Beretta but sure is a hell of a handgun.

Really wish there were options to fire the others, maybe I'll see them on the range at some point and I'll get a chance. On the plus side, the number of civilians upgrading to P320s already has lead to some pretty cool trade ins hitting local gun shops. Snagged a barely used West German P225 that got swapped for a P320 with a factory red dot last week because I couldn't stand the thought of it going to auction when the shop it was in closed after drooling over it since it had come in.