Apparently the Canadian military wants a new handgun

[TCinVA]

The requirements are apparently laid out in this document:

http://forums.army.ca/forums/index.p...0;attach=37457

Interesting features of the desired pistol:

- Consistent trigger pull. The document states DAO, but in the justification it lists consistent trigger for easier training, which must mean that they really don't care about a true DAO function and just want a consistent trigger.

- Must already be in service with NATO for at least 2 years. Rules out the P250 and similar guns...probably a good move by the Canucks.

- The grip size must be adjustable to permit the 5th percentile Canadian female to the 95th percentile Canadian male easily
perform all operations and easily hold and fire the GSP

- The weight of the trigger pull must be no greater than 8 pounds and no less than four pounds no matter the "state" of the weapon.

- Trigger travel can be no more than 30mm.

- Trigger pull to disassemble not allowed.

- Ambi mag release.

- No external safety.

Not too many pistols on the market that could meet all the requirements right now...I think the P30 could depending on exactly what they mean by the trigger pull being no more than 8 pounds in "any state"...and I'm not sure what the P30's trigger travel is since I don't speak metric.

[ToddG]

- Trigger pull to disassemble not allowed.

Dear Glock,

Told you so.

Love,
Todd

[fuse]

Wow, no external safety.

Good for them.

[orionz06]

- Trigger pull to disassemble not allowed.

How many M&P owners exercise this function?

[TCinVA]

Oh, forgot to mention one other important detail:

Apparently the Canadians are requiring that Colt Canada manufactures the weapon...the "winner" will have to deliver a TDP that Colt in Candada can use to manufacture the weapon. I know H&K has licensed weapons for manufacture in other countries before, but I'm not sure if they've ever done it with pistols or if they are keen to do it with a weapon like the P30. IIRC Walther has licensed a copy of their P99 to some lower-rent manufacturer and the Desert Eagle people are importing it. Walther has a long tradition of licensing manufacture so I'd imagine they wouldn't have much problem with it.

How many M&P owners exercise this function?

After I broke a striker trying to disassemble my first M&P I started using the little lever.

[ToddG]

Apparently the Canadians are requiring that Colt Canada manufactures the weapon...the "winner" will have to deliver a TDP that Colt in Candada can use to manufacture the weapon.

For 10,000 pistols? I'll be amazed if that doesn't get ripped out.

[orionz06]

After I broke a striker trying to disassemble my first M&P I started using the little lever.

Old striker or something I am missing with the design of the gun?

[jslaker]

I'm kind of curious what does qualify.

It almost read like a Glock feature list, until you get to the no trigger pull for disassembly requirement.

The weight requirement rules out them just moving from P225s to P226s.

The NATO use requirement would rule out something like the S&W M&P.

Germany issues the USP as the P8, but it doesn't meet the requirement of adjustable grip profiles (and I don't think the P30 has been officially fielded by any NATO militaries?)

What's that leave?

ETA:

Depending on how they define it, the ambidextrous magazine release requirement could rule quite a few designs out, as well.

[TCinVA]

Old striker or something I am missing with the design of the gun?

Old striker. I bought an M&P not too long after they came out and apparently I had one of the early models with a striker that was super-hard that didn't like dryfire.

[Tamara]

This reads like one of those "write the reqs to fit the gun we want" RFPs, but I'm scratcing my head as to which it could be...

Poland's a NATO country and has been fielding the P99 for more than two years.