26 Nov 03

On personal weapon effectiveness from a friend in Iraq:

"Colt M4, 55gr FMJ 5.56, no problems point blank to 200 meters (our unit has gotten rid of the 62gr 'penetrator'). Most of our engagements invol ve multiple shots against each adversary. I'm not sure multiple shots are alwa ys needed, but it is so easy to just stay on target and keep shooting until he is out of the fight. Upper thoracic hits will get people down and out of the fight the fastest. Nothing new here. 5.56 55gr FMJ renders good penetration thro ugh vehicle windows, but my only experience is at under ten meters, and all shot s were straight-on.

I bent the trigger guard on one of our favorite gunsmith's Lightweight Commanders. The trigger housing was bent and the underside of the frame was also slightly deformed. I shot this guy several times (45ACP Hardball, all we ca n get here), but he still would not let go of one of my people. I then grabbe d him around his neck and beat him with the pistol. He finally succumbed to h is wounds. I didn't notice the damage to my pistol until I cleaned it that evening. With a little 'home gunsmithing (vice, hammer, rebar),' it still works, and I'm still carrying it.

In another incident, one of my guys got hit (luckily, in the plate of the vest he was wearing) with a 9X19 pistol round at close range. He immediatel y returned fire with his M9 (issue 9X19 hardball) and hit the guy five times c lose to the body midline. All hits were above the waist: one in neck. The bad g uy was still able to close the distance, grab my guy, and try to choke him. MP came up and pumped two 12ga rounds (00Bk) into the bad guy him at pointblank range. That finally ended the fight.

John, this is a wild place. Just as it was with you in Vietnam, we have contact every day. Every night the mortar rounds and small arms fire never stops. I saw a rifle round come through the tent and go through my sleeping bag an d cot. I was sitting on a chair watching a DVD at the time. I saw another round come through our chow hall trailer, hit the salad bar, and then spin a round on the floor. A trooper came up, grabbed the round, and said 'Lucky this thing didn't land in the salad; somebody could have broken a tooth!' Wartim e humor, it seems, never changes."

Comment: 55gr hardball still works, at least at close range, and so long as you don't have to penetrate anything substantial. 9X19 hardball out of a pistol doesn't work well at any range.

All this we have known for years, but we still can't seem to get effective calibers and weapons into the hands of our soldiers. As I have noted, many have grown weary of waiting and have started to equip themselves.

/John