Originally posted by: AndrewR
One of the key facts missing from this discussion is the fact that if you're relying on a pistol in a combat situation, you are already in a world of trouble. The difference between a .45 ACP and a 9mm round doesn't amount to a hill of beans in light of that.
In any case, this argument typically tracks the argument favoring the M14 over the M16. There are two general philosophies with military small arms. The first is that you train your people to be marksmen and give them a big caliber weapon with little ammunition with which they can kill an enemy in one shot. The second is that you train your people adequately and give them a smaller weapon with more ammunition so they can fire many shots, hopefully connecting with a few.
The U.S. military has decidely gone into the second philosophy because money and time do not favor giving rigorous marksmanship training to all those who might need to fire their weapons in combat. It is far easier, and cheaper, to give a soldier an M-16 and train him to a reasonable level of proficiency, then load him up with several hundred rounds. It takes more time and more money to arm him with a 7.62mm weapon because it's simply harder to learn to shoot a heavier weapon for most people (recoil, or fear of it, makes accuracy more difficult). If you doubt this, take someone who has never shot a rifle before then hand them a .22LR gun and a 8mm Mauser. See which one they can shoot better first.
Sure, special forces often arm themselves with larger weapons like the M-14, but they have the time and money to rigorously train themselves to peak proficiency. The non-special forces in the military simply don't have that luxury. I don't have current information, but I would be very surprised if the Marines around here trained every week on the rifle range with their weapons. Of course, special ops units don't need large weapons if they are precise marksmen either, reference the SEALs comment above. I imagine the choice is dictacted by the mission as you don't really need 7.62mm in a CQB situation.
All of the above can be applied to the .45/9mm discussion as well.
A real soldier leaves the pistol at home and takes a couple extra magazines for his rifle.....
From my above post...
A study was done after WWII involving what factor most determined how much damage was inflicted to the enemy. The study not only found that marksmanship was not the number one factor but neither was the caliber. What one stat came to light as THE way to inflict casualties on the enemy was simple....put more bullets in the air!
Also in the vast majority of soldier on soldier confrontations the range was less than 150 yards and rarely did a soldier engage another at ranges over 300 yards. The SEALS and other Special Ops group's main mission is to gather intelligence. If they are involved in combat they always run! Hit and run or you are dead....
Combine that with the problems with supplying ammo to front line troops and the defects in the M1 Garand causing soldiers on the front line to completely emty the clip used in the Garand because it could not be 'topped-off' with ammo and needed to be 'shot dry' before it was reloaded, and ammo was used up at a nearly unsuppliable rate! Most soldiers shot until the rifle expeled the clip, 8 rounds, even though they only needed 2 or 3 rounds.
Let's not discuss the M14 as it was NEVER used in combat for any length of time. It's stock warped...it's heavy....
The Garand shot the .30-06 round. The M16 shoots a 5.56 round that weighs less than half as much therefore a soldier can carry twice as many rounds without 'gaining weight!' Part of the logistical problems are solved.
The 5.56 is easily effective to 350 yards or more in a steady hand...and the object is to wound and not kill. Every wounded soldier requires two to be pulled from other tasks to tend to the wounded soldier....Even with the 30-06 the rule in the Pacific was "Shoot'm in the big part and shoot'm agin!"
But back to the ammo/pistol discussion...
A pistol usually is carried in a combat situation by non coms or above. They are normally involved in tasks that are administrative. Looking at maps. Using the radio. Inspecting the troops. He needs both hands free....a pistol is carried on the hip leaving both hands free and is not drawn except when there is an immediate threat to life. It is imperative that when a pistol is drawn, not only should it function, but it's round should be the best available!
The .45ACP has a battle proven record unequaled by the 9MM and the 9 is an older round! When my life depends on it, I'll always pick what works.