USAF lays out specs for its new handgun

[CV32]

From http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2007/04/airforce_handgun_request_070419w/

Air Force lays out specs for its next handgun
By Seamus O’Connor - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Apr 20, 2007 10:00:40 EDT

The Air Force is asking gun makers for their input on the design of the next handgun for airmen.

The service issued a memo Monday laying out its demands. The service wants a weapon with a baseline caliber of .45, though gun is required to be reconfigurable for multiple bullet sizes. The ideal weapon would have a service life exceeding 25,000 rounds and has a grip that can be tailored for any user, according to the memo.

In addition, the memo set out specifications for an accompanying silencer. The device must be able to reduce discharge noise to 140 decibels at least, weigh no more than 10 ounces and have a service life of 3,000 to 10,000 rounds.

The required monthly production rate is 7,500 handguns, starting six months after the forthcoming contract is awarded, the document said.

The information brought in by the memo will be used to create a request for proposals at a yet unannounced time.

Gen. T. Michael Moseley, Air Force chief of staff, first introduced the idea of new Air Force handguns at a House Appropriations Committee hearing in February. An unspecified portion of the $7 billion Air Force supplemental budget request is set aside for handgun acquisition.

 

[maurice]

Hk45.

 

[Colin]

Hk45.

with gold plating and funky blue digtal cammo.....It's the USAF after all

 

[Rudy H]

weigh no more than 10 ounces

This can't be right.

Or is that for the silencer?

 

[Juster]

Silencer. Cool if the holser had a silencer pouch .

 

[Dave L.]

I bet they're going to pick the Heckler & Koch USP Socom Mark 23!

- Dave.

 

[bushwhacker]

What happened to the "one pistol for all services"? Somebody in Congress is sleeping at the switch if this was approved. Multilple pistols, multiple cartridges, mutiple supply problems. Where did the .45 specification come from? What about NATO compatability? I understand that certain special forces have different pistols, but they should have enough experience by now to settle on one pistol for 95% of the applications.

 

[Sinasta]

I bet they're going to pick the Heckler & Koch USP Socom Mark 23!

- Dave.

They will pick the MK23 if it was the last pistol left in the world.

 

[Slavex]

PX4 in .45 already made for the JSP attempt.

 

[USP]

I bet they're going to pick the Heckler & Koch USP Socom Mark 23!

- Dave.

no chance...

 

[TheCanuck]

I bet they're going to pick the Heckler & Koch USP Socom Mark 23!

- Dave.

When hell freezes over.

HK45
FNP45
M&P45

I'd wager those are the likely contestants and that the winner is one of those.

 

[RobSmith]

When hell freezes over.

HK45
FNP45
M&P45

I'd wager those are the likely contestants and that the winner is one of those.

As long as they figure out a way so that changing the barrel and recoil spring is enough to change the caliber easily ... IIRC I remember having a conversation with "Johnone" on this board no less that had it figured out in a pistol currently in production in a certain European country. Hopefully he will chime in with the details ...

 

[robstar]

The HK45 looks very nice... how long do you think it'll take before it hits Canada?

 

[Suputin]

140 dB (dry) for a .45 cal pistol silencer is difficult. The KAC silencer is much heavier than the required 10 oz AFAIK.

 

[peckerwood]

Is there much of a difference between sound reduction in using either a Neilson device or an LID...and exactly how would that affect the overall weight and thusly the performence of the silencer?

From what I heard the LID is louder, but cleaner than the Neilson Device.

Any input from those in the know?

 

[Suputin]

It all depends on the design but generally a recoil booster helps with sound reduction because it adds a bit of volume to the primary expansion chamber. It also obvioulsy soaks up some of the potential energy from the expanding gases and can be used as a grease reservoir for modified atmosphere operation.

AFAIK a LID (Linear Inertial Decoupler) is a Neilson Device. LID is really just a marketing name for a recoil booster. The term "Neilson Device" originated with Qual-a-Tec in the 80's.

 

[Winz]

with gold plating and funky blue digtal cammo.....It's the USAF after all

Heheeh took the words right out of my mouth

 

[peckerwood]

It all depends on the design but generally a recoil booster helps with sound reduction because it adds a bit of volume to the primary expansion chamber. It also obvioulsy soaks up some of the potential energy from the expanding gases and can be used as a grease reservoir for modified atmosphere operation.

AFAIK a LID (Linear Inertial Decoupler) is a Neilson Device. LID is really just a marketing name for a recoil booster. The term "Neilson Device" originated with Qual-a-Tec in the 80's.

I have only seen a few diagrams of the different designs...and from what I have seen the Neilson Device is a piston...gas operated...whereas the LID is simply a spring loaded block that attaches to the barrel and allows the suppressor to move independantly of the gun.

Do you have any diagrams or know of anyone who does...I am still curious as to the difference.

 

[cybershooters]

Another contract that will probably get cancelled shortly.

 

[Suputin]

I have only seen a few diagrams of the different designs...and from what I have seen the Neilson Device is a piston...gas operated...whereas the LID is simply a spring loaded block that attaches to the barrel and allows the suppressor to move independantly of the gun.

Any recoil boosting device is "gas operated" in the sense that the high pressure gas shoves the silencer forward, unlocking it from the barrel to allow the gun to cycle.

How the various parts are shaped or work together is kind of immaterial cause the end result will be the same and the operating principle is essentially the same.

This picture shows the B&T recoil booster partially disassembled on the left side.

Another B&T pic