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Members of the Marine Corps Forces Special Operation Command (MARSOC) will now be carrying one pistol; the GLOCK 19 9x19mm. The decision was made public on September 30 and came after several years of trials and experimentation with other firearms.
During our SOTG Homeroom segment brought to you by Crossbreed Holsters, the Professor will consider the topic of firearm lube. How much should you use and where should you put it?
Also, don’t forget October 18th is rapidly approaching. Prepare yourself to celebrate National Hug Your AK Day on 10/18/16.
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Topics Covered During This Episode:
- USMC Raiders choose GLOCK 19 – Marines opt for the 9 mil over 45s for special operators
- Student of the Gun Homeroom brought to you by Crossbreed Holsters: How much lube is enough?
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From www.marinecorpstimes.com:
For Marine special operators, the never-ending debate over whether the 9mm or .45-caliber round is the more powerful bullet has been settled.
Previously, the classic .45-caliber Colt 1911 was one of three pistols that Raiders were allowed to carry, but now the 9mm Glock 19 is the only pistol that Marine special operators can take into battle, said Maj. Nick Mannweiler, a spokesman for Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command.
“We put our money behind the 9mm round fired by an extremely well-trained marksman carrying a Glock 19,” Mannweiler told Marine Corps Times.
Since last year, MARSOC has purchased and fielded 1,654 Glock 19s because Raiders needed a reliable secondary weapon “that could be used for both a concealed carry profile and a low-visibility profile,” and having one approved pistol for all special operators saves money, he said.
“Based on lessons learned in our operations, we also took into consideration how well a round could penetrate objects of varying densities and in different environmental conditions,” Mannweiler said. “We concluded that a 9mm round suited our needs.”
One of the most contentious issues that humanity has wrestled with is whether the .45-caliber round is superior to the 9mm cartridges. Bona fide experts as well as armchair generals have thrown their hat into the ring.
The arguments boil down to this: The .45-caliber round is the bigger bullet, so it has the “knock down power” to neutralize any adversary with one shot; while pistols that fire 9mm rounds are generally more accurate and can carry more bullets. Where a bullet hits the human body is also a major factor on whether it inflicts a mortal wound.
Even though the .45-caliber cartridge has more propellant, the 9mm round usually has more penetrating power because the smaller round faces less air resistance on its nose as it files through the air, said Neil Clapperton, a firearms and forensic expert with the Rhode Island State Crime Laboratory.
The .45-caliber round is also more expensive than its 9mm counterpart, Clapperton said. For all of these reasons, the FBI is moving from Smith & Wesson .40-caliber pistols back to 9mm handguns, he said.
The official trade association for the firearms industry has refused to take sides in the 9mm vs. .45-caliber debate.
“Millions of words have been spent comparing the advantages/disadvantages of 9 mm vs. .45 cal.,” said Mike Bazinet, a spokesman for the National Shooting Sports Foundation. “You can find these discussions aplenty on the web. Tests have various inputs and constraints. So, even ‘hard data’ is defined by test parameters.”
Another issue for the ages is whether troops should use weapons lubricant sparingly or generously in hot, sandy and dusty environments. Despite decades of troops’ experiences fighting in desert climes, fire arms experts remain unable to arrive at a consensus on lube.
Professor Paul Markel
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They wanted adopt them years ago, but too many former Force guys were on the selection comitee
Marines are always very focused on what type of small arms best meet their needs. As great as the venerable 1911 is, the Block is easier and faster to master,and needs little maintenance. It is stone cold reliable, in just about any climate. However, the hollowpoint is the only truly effective bullet to use. I often carry a Glock gen 4 m 19 with Winchester Ranger T hollowpoint 127g +P+.
They wanted adopt them years ago, but too many former Force guys were on the selection comitee
Marines are always very focused on what type of small arms best meet their needs. As great as the venerable 1911 is, the Block is easier and faster to master,and needs little maintenance. It is stone cold reliable, in just about any climate. However, the hollowpoint is the only truly effective bullet to use. I often carry a Glock gen 4 m 19 with Winchester Ranger T hollowpoint 127g +P+.