Queue round 7,252,993 of the caliber wars, because the FBI seems to be switching from .40 S&W to 9mm.
According to this solicitation on the Federal Business Opportunities site, the FBI is looking for “various commercial ‘OFF THE SHELF’ semi-automatic pistols chambered to fire a 9mm Luger cartridge.”
Additionally, the FBI is interested in multiple classes of pistol, as well as Simunitions.
The following types of pistols, chambered to fire a 9mm Luger cartridge, may be requested for testing and evaluation purposes under a future solicitation:
Class One Pistol: barrel length between 3.75″ and 4.25″; with a minimum magazine capacity of 13 rounds.
Class Two Pistol: barrel length between 4.5″ and 5.5″; with a minimum magazine capacity of 15 rounds.
Class One Training Pistol (Red Handle): deactivated with full articulation, red receiver and slide, night sights.
Class One “Man Marking” (a.k.a., “Simunitions”) pistol: blue slide or slide with blue inserts.
Smart money is on them choosing Glock.
Love my Shield 9 and wouldn’t worry about stopping power with good training!
Don’t count out Sig.
Think it will be Glock as well. At the task force I was assigned to several years back, I witnessed senior agents gnash teeth at having to surrender their SIG P226 and be issued Glocks.
Wasn’t the FBI the ones oh wanted the .40 after the shootout in FL?
Yes. But it appears many agencies are going back to 9MM because of excess wear on pistols designed for 9 and upgraded to 40. That and the fact that ammo advances have made the 9 alnmost the equal of the 40 in performance.
The requirements are tailored to the Glock. It’s gonna be G19’s for field agents, 17″s or 34’s for SWAT. Who knows what HRT does.
They clearly designated glock in their specifications.. be interesting to see the possible competition.
CZ P07 and P09’s! I know, I know.
It would be cool to see Springfield submit their XD(M) 3.8 (Class one) and XD(M) 4.5 (Class two). Competition is a good thing, and I would like to see XD(M)’s challenge Glock.
I suspect cost would be the most difficult challenge for Springfield (competing against Glock), but it might be worth it to Springfield to do whatever it takes to come in at the same or lower pricepoint.
Don’t forget Glocks are actively being produced in Georgia, thus making warranty or R&R a snap.
HRT will stay with their current 45acp 1911.