30 Sidearms That Are So Good The Military Refuses to Let Them Go

"In the military, retirement dates don't always reflect reality. Sidearms are frequently replaced on paper years before they vanish from service, and many never truly go away at all. Troops continued carrying older pistols because they shot better, felt right under stress, or had already proven themselves in real-world conditions. Here, 24/7 Wall St. is taking a closer look at some of the most reliable military sidearms."

"Military sidearms occupy a unique place in a soldier's kit because they are carried constantly and relied on in the most personal, close-quarters situations. When a pistol earns trust, that trust can outweigh doctrine, procurement cycles, and official retirement dates. By looking at the pistols that refused to disappear from holsters, this list highlights how battlefield experience often matters more than modernization on paper-and why some weapons earn loyalty that lasts far beyond their intended service life."

"Why Sidearms Inspire Loyalty Sidearms tend to inspire a different kind of loyalty than most military equipment because they're personal weapons carried constantly, not just issued and forgotten. Troops build familiarity through repetition, and under stress that familiarity becomes confidence. A pistol that feels natural, draws cleanly, and performs predictably can earn trust that outlasts procurement decisions. For many servicemembers, the sidearm they trained with and carried for years becomes the one they prefer-even when a replacement is officially adopted."

Military pistols frequently remain in use long after official retirement because troops prefer weapons that shoot better, feel right under stress, or have proven themselves in real operations. Historical and military sources provide information about country of origin, introduction year, firing action, cartridge, and reasons for continued use. Sidearms are carried continuously and used in close-quarters situations, so familiarity through repetition builds confidence. Trust earned through reliability and handling can outweigh doctrine, procurement cycles, and modernization on paper. Official replacements often occur years earlier than actual withdrawal, and many personally favored pistols persist in holsters despite formal adoption of newer models.

Read at 24/7 Wall St.