Five things you should know about the Modular Handgun System competition:
- The Army held the contest after pressure to replace aging weapons and concerns about the weight and reliability of the M9.
- The competition started in 2011 and received criticism for taking almost a decade to pick a winner.
- In addition to the pistol, entrants were required to submit a regular and a special-purpose round, which suggests the Army is considering using more powerful rounds. This would address complaints about the 9mm NATO being ineffective in combat.
- The Army ordered the full-size and compact pistols chambered for 9mm NATO rounds and excluded the other part options Sig Sauer offers with the P320 model.
- Beretta submitted the M9A3, an updated version of the M9, before the MHS competition to try to maintain its contract, but it was rejected. Beretta submitted a new APX striker-fire pistol in the competition instead.
Contract Details:
- 10-year contract (through 1/19/2027)
- Estimated cost is $580,217,000
- Manufactured in New Hampshire
- Included in the contract: pistols, cleaning kits, magazines and training equipment
Why Modularity Matters:
- It’s easier to replace broken parts
- Smaller grips are important as more women enter the military
- The firearm can adapt to special assignments
This information first appeared on TacticalGear.com
Beretta M9 | Sig Sauer P320 | |
Firing Mechanism | Hammer-fired | Striker-fired |
Magazine capacity | 15 rounds | 17 or 21 rounds (optional extended magazine) |
Sights | Fixed Blade Sights | Removable Iron Sights. Red Dot compatible |
Frame | Steel. Not attachment compatible | Polymer. Integrated rail system |
Barrel | 4.9 in. Not suppressor compatible | 5.4 in. Threaded for suppressor attachment |
Price | $263/unit | $207/unit |
Overall Length | 8.5 in | 8.7 in |
Effective Firing Range | 50 m | 50 m |
Trigger Pull | Double / Single Action (12.3 lb / 5.5 lb) | Double Action Only (6.5 lb) |
Weight unloaded | 33.3 oz | 29.4 oz
|
COMMENTS
There are 3 Comments on this article.
You must become a subscriber or login to view or post comments on this article.