Would you want a sidearm all times in combat?

[stinkypinky]

ben,not for a while ,off to the gulf next week,the cyprus next summer ,probably the year after back to batus,

[voodoo sprout]

Del, I just wrote that as while I have an opinion on the matter and am very interested in this sort of question, as I have no experience in any military situation my opinion wouldn't actually have much of a grounding and as such wouldn't add to the thread - hence while I have got possible input it woudn't do anyone any good so I'll keep me mouth shut .

[DelD]

Ok,

[Big Boys Rules]

I'm not a fan of the "ooh ooh it's shiny can I have one brigade" and the idea of a general issue side arm...
Lots of americans seem to have them, but then they do run out of ammunition so very quickly so maybe two guns with different calibres is a way of slowing down their rates of fire?
I'd say on the whole right tool, right job, pistols are handy for vehicles and easier to bring on target/less likely to stop/jam/fall to bits than our glorious SA-80s, so maybe not a bad idea, certainly was handy for me to have something I could stick in my pocket when I was working.
It'll never happen though, the Government wont subscribe, guns cost money remember, you've already been issued a shovel!!!

[Big Boys Rules]

Oh and before I forget, you reminded me with the quote about officers getting pistols...

One of the reasons not to issue everyone one is the ease with which people seem to have accidents... I wonder if they are still using the picture of the officer who ND'd through his wee fella with the picture that looks like a 'flat sausage'.

A friend's just come back from a tour with this priceless story.
He's sat in his office using a hammer on some of his work when he strikes down and the noise is out of proportion to the effort he puts in. He goes into the hall and sees a commotion from next office, Officer has left his pistol in office for a briefing, his driver has just unloaded his pistol through his thigh. Said officer then charges in to administer aid, he pulls out his morphine, stabs the casualty and injects morphine into his own hand. Now I don’t know if he left the weapon loaded or if the lad was fiddling with it, all I can say is that the officer feels OK now. Priceless.