From the very beginning, U.S. military and law enforcement agencies have changed one choice of sidearms to another, as dictated by changes in tactical requirements, technology, and lessons learned in the field. This article brings an update on what handguns are currently being fielded with various branches of the U.S. government and state police agencies, along with some of the ‘why’ behind the selections.
Historically, state police agencies have led the way in adopting new firearms. In the mid-20th century, the standard-issue revolver was generally supplied by Colt and Smith & Wesson. New Hampshire troopers packed the S&W Model 27 .357 Magnum while Florida’s state police chose a nickel-plated Colt Trooper of the same caliber. In 1967, the Illinois State Police made a radical move to the 9mm Smith & Wesson Model 39 and became the first major U.S. law enforcement agency that issue a semi-automatic pistol.
By the turn of the 21st century, every state police agency had moved to semi-automatic pistols. The current landscape, as cataloged by Mike Wood, encompasses everything from a personalized and eclectic mix of handguns in use today. For instance, Alabama and Alaska both issue the Glock 22/23 in .40 S&W. Connecticut prefers the Sig P220 in .45 ACP. The trend toward semi-automatics is very clear, with Glock and Sig Sauer dominating the scene.
The 1986 Miami shootout was a watershed event that seriously turned around the course of the FBI’s movement to semiautomatic pistols, as it showed quite vividly that there were some serious deficiencies in revolvers against a well-armed opponent. This led to the adoption of the Smith & Wesson 1076 in 10mm Auto, in 1990, which was phased out by Glocks in 1997. The bureau currently issues Glock 17 and Glock 19 in 9mm, arguing that advances in ammunition technology make 9mm feasible at higher magazine capacity with reduced recoil.
While the CIA is not limited to a general-issue sidearm, quite frequently it easily works hand-in-hand with special operations’ choices. The Glock 19 and SIG Sauer P226 are normally used for their purposes as the agency wanted pistols with great reliability and versatility.
The Department of Homeland Security has also standardized its sidearms with agencies like Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement. CBP uses the Glock 19, 26, and the specially designed Glock 47; ICE has moved from the SIG P229 DAK to the SIG P320C.
The Beretta M9 was adopted by the U.S. Army in 1985, a radical departure from the .45-caliber M1911A1. Continuous complaints then ensued, leading to the XM17 Modular Handgun System competition where selection was made for the SIG Sauer P320-M17 in 2017. Inherent modularity, higher magazine capacity, and the ability to attach accessories make up for the deficiencies of the M9 in both the M17 and its compact variant, the M18.
However, the U.S. Navy is also going to switch over to the SIG Sauer M18, which will not only replace the Beretta M9 but also the SIG Sauer M11. U.S. Navy SEALs, however, have opted instead for a Glock 19 because it outperformed their older SIG pistols.
The M18 has been adopted by the U.S. Air Force and Marine Corps as well. On its part, the Marine Corps will not only replace the Beretta M9 but also the Colt M45A1 and the just-purchased Glock 19M.
The evolution of handguns in the U.S. military and law enforcement speaks to continuous actions toward tactical effectiveness, reliability, and adaptability. From the mid-20th-century revolvers to today’s modular semi-automatics, the choices for these agencies are reflective of the importance needed in staying on top in an ever-changing landscape of threats and technological development.