Why did the military switch from the 1911 to berretta?

[a1fabweld]

Was it a reliability issue? Was it a capacity issue (more 9mm rounds per mag)? Or was it just time to change? Thanks for the info!

[Vin496]

I'm going to guess pressure from NATO to have a standard caliber(9mm) weapon.

[Suvorov]

I'm going to guess pressure from NATO to have a standard caliber(9mm) weapon.

That plain and simple, the US needed/wanted to standardize with NATO. Most of the 1911s were also getting pretty old and in need of replacement with something.

[sigsauer887]

Yup, because NATO adapted the 9mm para round.

[Sam1]

I'd have to say beretta bribed some politician for the military contract.

[Beelzy]

All of the above, plus the biggest bonus; Ammo is cheaper.

That means alot to that big machine known as the Military.

[Vacaville]

I'd have to say beretta bribed some politician for the military contract.

Of course they did!

[.40Cal]

How would you say Beretta is "better" than a Sig, or HK, etc? In what terms would it be better, if any? Reliability, Accuracy, longer lasting, etc... ??

[Casual Observer]

How would you say Beretta is "better" than a Sig, or HK, etc? In what terms would it be better, if any? Reliability, Accuracy, longer lasting, etc... ??

Cost of replacement parts.

The Sig P226 was far and away the better of the two contenders. The reason the military chose the Beretta was 1. it has a safety and 2. Beretta gave them a better deal on replacement parts.

As for why....NATO standardization and, at the time, when facing the threat of Russian troops wearing body armor, the much higher muzzle velocity of the 9mm would have generally better performance.

[zinfull]

Cheaper. After all this is a side arm and only needed for back-up.

jerry

[a1fabweld]

So, it has nothing to do with the berretta being a better gun than the 1911 from the US military point of view? Am I correct to say that the main reason was to standardize with NATO?

[gn3hz3ku1*]

$$$ most not all gov contracts are won based on $$$... thats why specops gets to purchase some specialized stuff that big army doesnt get...

[devildog999]

So, it has nothing to do with the berretta being a better gun than the 1911 from the US military point of view? Am I correct to say that the main reason was to standardize with NATO?

Exactly. The military buys from the lowest bidder. For example, when I was in SOI and they were teaching us how to use a grenade, they always taught us not to milk it (milking it meaning holding it for a couple seconds before throwing insuring the enemy doesn't have time to throw back) because what is a 5 second fuse might only be a 3 second fuse due to them buying from the lowest bidder.

[gunsmithcats]

ode to the grenade range.

Most shocking experience of my life watching one from the plexiglass tower.

[bigthaiboy]

The 1911 was replaced after a number of trials conducted by Joint Service Small Arms Program to find a handgun in 9mm to standardise with NATO. In the final trials, it came down to the Beretta 92FS and the Sig Sauer P226, but the Beretta was chosen was the winner. A primary consideration for the Beretta over the Sig Sauer was down to cost.

In it's early years of US military service, the Beretta M9 were plagued with problems of cracked frames and slides, as the M882 9mm ammo issued by the US military produced pressures 30% higher than NATO spec. The powder charge in the M882 round was later changed.