Sidearms for Naval Aviators

[banana380]

The gun you want is simply the gun you feel comfortable shooting and hitting something with. Doesn't matter if its a .22LR revolver, or a Desert Eagle .50AE... as long as YOU can hit something with it quickly, consistently, and accurately.

If you want a gun as a CCW that you can put on your person or in your car, you'll need something small and slender enough to WANT to carry conveneiently. If its not conveneient, you won't carry it, I promise you. A .380 in your pocket is worth a hell of a lot more than a .44 mag sitting at home.

Take those to factors into consideration, and then buy what YOU want; enjoy your shooting.

Agreeable info, but quite off topic isn't it?

 

[invertedflyer]

I'd highly recommend the SIG P226 if you want to go the Sig route. I have a P229 and love it but the longer frame makes the 226 actually more stable when firing --- less muzzle clime, better stability. If its good enough for the SEALs its good enough for me... except I prefer .40 cal

I used to work for a firearms dealer here in Socal ... sold tons of 226s (especially the scorpion and Navy seal special edition)

Outstanding weapon. Put over 2000 rounds through mine with only 1 stoppage. Pretty amazing

 

[rotorhead1871]

When I graduated high school I got a Beretta 92 pretty much for the same reasons. I got my ribbon and have put a couple thousand rounds through it. Theres alot of beretta haters here, but I like mine.

I don't agree with the comment that military weapons are cheap and the lowest bidder. The biggest endorsement a firearm can have is to be used by the US military and especially anything having to do with SOC. Civilians hand over rediculous amounts of cash to have anything used by the US military. Seems like a "grass is always greener" for the guys actually in the military to be bitching about the quality of their equipment.

desert eagle .50....nothing but the best

 

[Renegade One]

It's all about weight…think Glock.

 

[sevenhelmet]

M-11 is the standard issue sidearm for carrier-based squadrons. In 2011, we used the same weapons for qualifying during workups that we took on cruise. You'd check them out from the SDO, along with two magazines in a MAF bag (basically small ziplock bag maintenance uses for small parts) which we were instructed to put in our g-suit pocket (which some guys think would be ripped off in an ejection), and if we ever put a magazine in the gun, we were under orders to surrender it to the squadron Gunner or AOC when we got back, so they could clear it for us, since apparently someone who flies strike fighters for a living can't figure out M-11 manual-of-arms, despite having qualified with it.

Train like you fight.

To answer acwildcat's OP, I'd say get whatever floats your boat, pistol-wise. If you're experienced with pistols, you shouldn't have any trouble qualifying with the M11- the standards aren't exactly Olympian. If you have little or no experience with handguns, ask a friend/family member to take you shooting (offer to buy a box of ammo if you have to), or find a range where you can rent a variety of firearms to try. Only you can decide what works for you. Otherwise you're just going with what works for someone else.

 

[jtmedli]

M-11 is the standard issue sidearm for carrier-based squadrons. In 2011, we used the same weapons for qualifying during workups that we took on cruise. You'd check them out from the SDO, along with two magazines in a MAF bag (basically small ziplock bag maintenance uses for small parts) which we were instructed to put in our g-suit pocket (which some guys think would be ripped off in an ejection), and if we ever put a magazine in the gun, we were under orders to surrender it to the squadron Gunner or AOC when we got back, so they could clear it for us, since apparently someone who flies strike fighters for a living can't figure out M-11 manual-of-arms, despite having qualified with it.

Train like you fight.

And that, my friend, is why your US Navy is merely a handicapped, incompetent version of it's former self.

PS...we did the same shit on deployment. God forbid someone have to count rounds to make sure they're all there or actually know WTF they're doing with that clearing barrel in the ready room. Meanwhile, the Marines are leaving entire cans of .50 cal rounds sitting in the line area in Kuwait like an empty big gulp from 7/11 that they just polished off.

 

[RobLyman]

It's been a really odd and bad day if my secondary weapon comes into play.I have my M4 with No Pew, Pew, and Pew Pew Pew selector as well as as many rounds and magazines I want to carry out to the aircraft for Medevac duty turn over. The M9 is only good for going to the DFAC or mini PX, but still also required in the aircraft.

Qualify with M9 every year; M4 before each deployment.

NO personal weapons or ammo allowed!

 

[Treetop Flyer]

M-11 is the standard issue sidearm for carrier-based squadrons. In 2011, we used the same weapons for qualifying during workups that we took on cruise. You'd check them out from the SDO, along with two magazines in a MAF bag (basically small ziplock bag maintenance uses for small parts) which we were instructed to put in our g-suit pocket (which some guys think would be ripped off in an ejection), and if we ever put a magazine in the gun, we were under orders to surrender it to the squadron Gunner or AOC when we got back, so they could clear it for us, since apparently someone who flies strike fighters for a living can't figure out M-11 manual-of-arms, despite having qualified with it.

Train like you fight.

To answer acwildcat's OP, I'd say get whatever floats your boat, pistol-wise. If you're experienced with pistols, you shouldn't have any trouble qualifying with the M11- the standards aren't exactly Olympian. If you have little or no experience with handguns, ask a friend/family member to take you shooting (offer to buy a box of ammo if you have to), or find a range where you can rent a variety of firearms to try. Only you can decide what works for you. Otherwise you're just going with what works for someone else.

That's embarrassing

 

[sevenhelmet]

That's embarrassing

Even more so when you consider I am licensed to legally carry a loaded sidearm... in public...

ETA: What's more embarrassing is the high-profile negligent discharge incidents the community had before that rule was instituted. Including one CAG, if memory serves. It's a shining example of the "one of you took a shit, so you're all wearing diapers" leadership policy.

 

[Flash]

...Including one CAG, if memory serves. It's a shining example of the "one of you took a shit, so you're all wearing diapers" leadership policy.

I believe he killed a ready room chair.

 

[danpass]

Will the Glock 19 makes it way from NSW into the cockpit?

 

[nittany03]

That's embarrassing

And not a rare occurrence, apparently. My airwing one-upped it; if you broke the tape on the MAF bag without being on the ground in Afghanistan, we were told you would be sent home. Really effing insulting.

Will the Glock 19 makes it way from NSW into the cockpit?

Hell no. See the aforementioned retardedness regarding firearms in today's Navy Air. At least the M11 is DA/SA with a decocker. I'm pretty sure The Powers That Be would shit themselves if you added in a weapon with a 5.5 pound trigger whose only safety mechanism is IN the trigger, and whose trigger has to be (gasp!) PULLED to field-strip the weapon.

As far as I know, NSW went to Glock because the rest of SOCOM uses the Glock.

 

[brownshoe]

This is our buddy Ron (rondebmar) Marron packing heat. Sara, 65.

 

[squorch2]

USNR!

 

[ChuckMK23]

I think the juxtaposition of Army and AF guys who fly helos day bin and day out with M4's sitting on the glare shield, and Big Navy gets squeemisg about issueing combat aviators (helo and otherwise) effective small arms to defend themselves.