The US military is going back to the .45 ACP.

[Hawkeye6]

If the request is coming from SOCOM, then I stand by this being some sort of special issue sidearm. Note the comment about the suppressor kits -- that is clearly not a generall issue item.

As to the number, yes, its quite a few. But I have no context to put it in for spec ops. Perhaps they want to have a ready supply to issue for training and then new ones to issue for actual operations? Are they all to be supplied at once or over a long period of itme?

My understanding is that special operations units have been getting their hands on old 1911s from whatever source and using those over in Iraq and Afghanistan. I wouldn't be surprised at them going for newly built pistols instead of 30 or 40 year old ones.

As to everyone going to a .45 cal. sidearm, its always possible, but I'd think we'd be hearing about a lot of tests and commissions to review that like went on teh the 70s and 80s over the switch to the 9mm Berretta.