SVaaka wrote:But in frontline I would most certainly trust the old allmighty FN Mle 1935 - no matter if we would live year 1940 or 2008. Reasons are simple. In my opinion dobleaction is not simply needed with militarysidearms. Incase one thinks one is in need to use ones pistol, one certainly has time to cockthe gun. Militarysidearmrs are usually carried in closed holsters so thoughts about fast draws one can forget. The first shot shot like pulling the trigger only - like in doubleaction automatics is always not so likely to hit accurately - so I would prefere to cock my gun first and shoot a nice first shot to kill not to miss.
Hi.
If we are talking seriously about the possible uses of handgun in "combat" (forgetting the more typical uses of handguns in military, like sport - formal target shooting or various informal ways, rank insignia, execution, suicide, etc...)
You want to do nice, accurate target shooting with your pistol in combat ?
Huh....
The most propable use for handgun in real infantry combat is nothing like that (lets for once forget special forces blah blah and talk about real combat units needs in real war).
It is when you are in situation where time/space available prevents you to use your primary long arm effectively = enemy is already inside the "bayonet reach" (you may already be wrestling with him).
You want to kill him before he kills you. You are not speed drawing, but your other hand is with high propability UNAVAILABLE, preventing your adversary doing some nasty things to your vital organs, so you must kill him with the one free hand you may have available for some time, if you are lucky.
NO LIMBS AVAILABLE to rack the slide, and carrying cocked and locked brings enough accidental discharges to nullify any possible advantages of issue sidearms. Accuracy is nonissue. Pretty much everything else than ergonomics and safety to carry are nonissues (to be able to grab the pistol and discharge easily without second thought, and ability to carry it safely day after day in field).
For previously mentioned, MUCH more common uses of handguns in military, single action is just fine.
Regards, Mark V