In the 1970’s, 45 years ago, all the units of our American military machine were using the M1911A2 .45 caliber pistol, except the fly boys, who were using the .38 revolver. Most folks are familiar with this history, and I’ve covered a bit of it in other posts regarding the .40 S&W and the FBI. In the early 1980’s the DoD decided to consolidate and pick a sidearm for everyone to replace the aging 1911 inventory. They selected the 9mm NATO round, and in 1980, Beretta beat out the likes of Colt, S&W, Walther, FN and H&K. The Army cried foul, so they started all over in 1984. Entries came in from S&W, Beretta, SIG Sauer, H&K, Walther, Steyr, and FN. This time the contest came down to the the Beretta 92SF and the SIG Sauer P226. Some say that Beretta won on price, but I’ve heard that the big deal back then was suitcase nukes in Europe, and Beretta won the gig in 1985 for Italian intelligence on that topic. Sounds plausible. The M9 was updated to the M9A1 in 2006.
Anyway, the big dance is about to kick off yet again. Seems a good deal of our troops are unhappy with the Beretta M9A1 and the stopping power of the 9mm NATO FMJ round. So it’s back to the drawing board with the Modular Handgun System, designated the XM17. This time, the winner of the trials must provide a handgun that is more accurate, lethal, and reliable, meeting the specs of the 350 page request for bids/proposals.
To compete the pistol needs modifiable grips, varied magazine options, ambidextrous controls, and rails for accessories. The Army said the handgun should be able to hit a 4-inch target at 55 yards at least 90 percent of the time, FDE color and have a threaded barrel. Sounds like my SIG Sauer P226 MK25 (the one the Navy SEALS use) but it’s not modular.
The winning company will be required to provided 300,000 of the new pistols, ammo and holsters to the U.S. Army. That’s different than the last bid from the mid-80’s. Sell guns, but no ammo or accessories were required. This time, the winner must supply the ammo as well.
How many of you noticed that SIG Sauer started manufacturing their own ammo last year? 🙂 SIG’s Elite Performance ammo (V-Crown and FMJ) fills the training and combat round requirement. 
I bet those guys would love to get this 30-year gig, given the outcome of the last one. Their SIG P320 is modular and fits the bill quite nicely.
Smith & Wesson made ammo from 1973 to 1981 and they have a great relationship with Winchester, who has their Winchester W Train and Defend ammo. Smith & Wesson teamed up with General Dynamics this summer to make a bid with the M&P line.
Ruger started making ammo this year too! But Mike Fifer, CEO of Sturm, Ruger & Co., told investors back in July that bids for the government are a nightmare and Ruger is not participating. Hmmm. OK.
Springfield Armory could be a player, with the XD as easily as the Smith & Wesson M&P, but neither are modular.
STI, the guys that make those cool 1911 race guns for IDPA, have joined with Detonics Defense to bid their STI-Detonics STX handgun. This one’s curious because it’s not a polymer pistol.
Kriss USA, a Swiss company I’ve never heard of, is jumping into the game with the Sphinx SDP. The design is based on the venerable CZ-75, but I think it looks a bit clumsy.
Beretta offered an upgrade program from the current M9A2 to the M9A3, which they claim has everything the Army asked for in the MHS, but with a much, much lower cost. I’ve seen the M9A3 and it sounds like a very nice handgun, but looks odd. I don’t know what it is… You tell me.
Anyway, the Army said, “No.” So Beretta is bidding with their new APX pistol.
GLOCK, H&K and Walther are all entering their ponies in the race, but since their pistols are not modular. The G17, VP9 and PPQ are all great pistols, but they probably don’t have a chance. 🙁
Some die-hard Colt 1911 guys tell me that the Army will just go back to the tried and true 1911, but that’s the stuff dreams are made of. It’s not modular and the mil spec variety is not nearly as accurate as most good polymer guns on the market today.
Will the DoD get the funding to change ALL the M9 handguns?? Perhaps not. At which point Beretta’s M9A3 may get a shot.
January 2016 starts the competition. Stay tuned.