Chapter 6: Presentation of the M9 Service Pistol

In combat, targets present themselves with little or no warning. The Marine must have the ability to react quickly and to effectively and efficiently present the pistol, whether the pistol is in the holster or at a carry. To successfully engage a combat target with the M9 service pistol, the Marine must master pistol presentation from the carries and transport, pistol presentation while assuming a firing position, and search and assess techniques.

_Note_: The procedures in this chapter are written for
right-handed Marines; left-handed Marines should reverse
directions as needed.

Sight Alignment/Sight Picture

Pistol presentation drills and dry fire help the Marine achieve a consistent grip and rapid presentation and aid in quickly acquiring sight alignment and sight picture. The Marine always executes the following steps:

Identify the target and quickly present the pistol to the
target while simultaneously sweeping the safety with the thumb
of the right hand. (Disengaging the safety with the right thumb
ensures the trigger is not pulled before taking the pistol off
safe.)

Shift the focus from the target to the front sight to obtain
sight alignment while presenting the pistol. As the front sight
breaks the plane of vision, acquire the front sight and begin
to apply trigger control as sight picture is acquired.

Apply trigger pressure until the shot is fired.

Presentation From the Carries and Holsters

Presentation From the Ready

To present the pistol from the Ready, the Marine performs the following steps in sequence. When a target appears—

Sweep the safety with the thumb of the right hand, place the
trigger finger on the trigger, and raise the arms to bring the
pistol to the target.

_Note_: If the Marine wishes to thumbcock the pistol
for a single action shot, the pistol is thumbcocked
with the left thumb after the safety is swept with
the right thumb. The grip of the left hand may have
to be broken to thumbcock the pistol; re-establish
the grip after thumbcocking.

Acquire sight alignment and sight picture within the aiming
area and apply trigger pressure until the shot is fired.

Presentation From the Alert

To present the pistol from the Alert, the Marine performs the following steps in sequence. When a target appears—

Sweep the safety with the thumb of the right hand, place the
trigger finger on the trigger, and bring the pistol to the
target:

If the arms are straight, raise the arms to a
45-degree angle with the deck.

If the arms are bent, straighten the arms out toward
the target.

_Note_: If the Marine wishes to thumbcock the pistol
for a single action shot, the pistol is thumbcocked
with the left thumb after the safety is swept with
the right thumb. The grip of the left hand may have
to be broken to thumbcock the pistol; re-establish
the grip after thumbcocking.

Acquire sight alignment and sight picture within the aiming
area and apply trigger pressure until the shot is fired.

Presentation From a Holster Transport

The pistol is presented from the holster in one continuous, fluid motion.

_M12 Holster_

To present the pistol from the M12 holster transport, perform the following steps in sequence once the target appears:

Place the heel of the left hand at the center of the torso
with the fingers extended toward the target. (The placement of
the left hand allows a two-handed grip to be established in a
minimum amount of movement.) At the same time, unfasten and
release the D-ring with the right hand.

Use the right hand to place the thumb on the forward edge
of the holster and the fingers around the back edge of the
holster, keeping the trigger finger straight.

Slide the hand up the holster until the fingers come in contact
with the pistol grip. At the same time, keep the thumb above
the pistol to guide the holster flap up.

Grasp the pistol grip with the fingers and draw the pistol
straight up. Continue withdrawing the pistol while moving the
thumb to a position on the safety.

_Note_: Hand placement should allow the firing grip
to be established once the thumb disengages the
safety. Any adjustments made to the firing grip after
the safety has been disengaged should be minor.

Once the muzzle clears the holster, rotate the muzzle forward
while sweeping the safety.

Establish a two-handed grip on the pistol by joining the left
hand with the right hand in front of the torso. At the same
time, start to straighten the pistol out toward the target. See
figure 6-1.

Continue moving the pistol toward the target and, at the same
time, place the trigger finger on the trigger, acquire sight
alignment and sight picture within the aiming area, and apply
trigger pressure until the shot is fired. See figure 6-2.

When time permits to thumbcock the pistol for a single action shot (e.g., a long-range engagement), the Marine presents the pistol from the holster by performing the following steps once the target appears:

Withdraw the pistol from the holster.

Sweep the safety with the thumb of the right hand.

Join the left and right hands and thumbcock the pistol with the
left thumb.

Establish a two-handed grip on the pistol.

Straighten the pistol out toward the target and, at the same
time, place the trigger finger on the trigger, acquire sight
alignment and sight picture within the aiming area, and apply
trigger pressure until the shot is fired.

_M7 Shoulder Holster_

The M9 service pistol fits very snugly in the M7 shoulder holster because the holster was originally designed for the M1911A1 .45-caliber pistol, which has a more slim, round design, particularly around the trigger guard. A firm grip is required when holstering and withdrawing the M9 service pistol from the M7 shoulder holster. To present the pistol from the M7 shoulder holster, perform the following steps:

Unsnap the thumb snap closure with the left hand.

Wrap the fingers of the right hand around the pistol grip and
rest the thumb on top of the inside of the holster. See figure
6-3.

Grasp the pistol grip firmly and draw the pistol up and away
from the holster while rotating the thumb in a position to
operate the safety.

Continue withdrawing the pistol until the muzzle clears the
holster and rotate the muzzle toward the target. See figure 6-4.

Sweep the safety with the thumb of the right hand while
starting to punch the pistol out toward the target.

Establish a two-handed grip on the pistol by joining the right
hand with the left hand in the center of the torso. See figure
6-5.

Continue punching the pistol out and, at the same time, place
the trigger finger on the trigger, establish sight alignment
and sight picture within the aiming area, and continue trigger
pressure until the shot is fired.

_Assault Holster_

To present the pistol from the assault holster, perform the following in one, continuous motion:

Bring the heel of the hand down on the hammer of the pistol so
that it disengages the thumb break. See figure 6-6.

Sweep the hand forward in a small circular motion, slide the
hand up the holster, and bring the fingers up under the pistol
grip.

_Note_: Depending on the type of retention strap,
this circular motion releases the retention strap or
pushes the retention strap forward and out of the way.

Grasp the pistol grip and draw the pistol straight up and out
of the holster while establishing a firing grip and positioning
the thumb on the safety to operate it. See figure 6-7.

_Concealed Pistol Holster_

Depending on the clothing worn by the Marine, there are two methods for accessing the concealed pistol holster so that the clothing does not become an obstruction while presenting the pistol. To present the pistol from the concealed pistol holster, the following steps are performed in one, continuous motion when the target appears:

If the Marine is wearing a short jacket/sweater (waist-level)
that is buttoned or zipped—

Move the left hand across the body and grasp the
jacket or sweater just above the holster, at the same
time place the right hand on the holster below the
jacket or sweater. See figure 6-8 on page 6-6.

Pull up on the jacket or sweater with the left hand.
At the same time, slide the right hand up the holster
until the fingers come in contact with the pistol
grip. Keep the thumb above the pistol to ensure the
jacket or sweater clears the pistol. See figure 6-9
on page 6-6.

_Note_: Leaning slightly forward at the
waist may assist in clearing the jacket or
sweater from the pistol and in removing the
pistol from the holster.

If the Marine is wearing a long jacket (below waist-level), or
a short jacket or sweater that is unfastened—

Place the heel of the left hand at the center of the
torso to hold the left side of the jacket down with
the fingers extended. At the same time, place the
right hand on the right side of the jacket, with the
thumb underneath the right side of the jacket below
the left hand. See figure 6-10 on page 6-7.

Keep thumb of the right hand against the body and
throw the jacket back and away from the holster. See
figure 6-11 on page 6-7.

_Note_: Keeping a weighted object (e.g.,
keys, extra magazine) in the right-hand
pocket of the jacket assists in throwing
the jacket back and away from the holster.

Place the right hand on the holster and slide the
hand up the holster until the fingers come in contact
with the pistol grip.

Grasp the pistol grip with the fingers and draw the pistol
straight up. Continue withdrawing the pistol while moving the
thumb to a position on the safety.

_Note_: Hand placement should allow the firing grip
to be established once the thumb disengages the
safety. Any adjustments made to the firing grip after
the safety is disengaged should be minor.

Rotate the muzzle forward, once it clears the holster, while
sweeping the safety.

Establish a two-handed grip on the pistol by joining the left
hand with the right hand in front of the torso. At the same
time, start to punch the pistol out toward the target.

Continue punching the pistol out and, at the same time, place
the trigger finger on the trigger, acquire sight alignment
and sight picture within the aiming area, and apply trigger
pressure until the shot is fired.

Presentation While Assuming the Kneeling Position

In combat, the Marine must be able to quickly assume the kneeling position while presenting the pistol to the target. This usually takes advantage of cover and provides a more stable base for shooting. The following procedures are based on the Isosceles and Weaver variations of the standing to the kneeling shooting positions.

From the Ready

The Marine drops to the kneeling position while raising the arms to bring the pistol up to the target.

_Note_: The Weaver variation maintains the body’s position in a
40 to 60 degree oblique to the target.

At the same time, the Marine sweeps the safety with the thumb of the right hand, places the trigger finger on the trigger, acquires sight alignment and sight picture within the aiming area, and applies trigger pressure until the shot is fired.

From the Alert (Arms Straight)

The Marine drops to the kneeling position while raising the arms to bring the pistol up to the target.

_Note_: The Weaver variation maintains the body’s position in a
40 to 60 degree oblique to the target.

At the same time, the Marine sweeps the safety with the thumb of the right hand, places the trigger finger on the trigger, acquires sight alignment and sight picture within the aiming area, and applies trigger pressure until the shot is fired.

From the Alert (Close Quarters, Elbows Bent)

The Marine drops to the kneeling position while pushing the arms out toward the target.

_Note_: The Weaver variation maintains the body’s position in a
40 to 60 degree oblique to the target.

At the same time, the Marine sweeps the safety with the thumb of the right hand, places the trigger finger on the trigger, acquires sight alignment and sight picture within the aiming area, and applies trigger pressure until the shot is fired.

From the Holster Transport

The Marine withdraws the pistol from the holster while dropping to the kneeling position. The pistol should be rotated to the target by the time the knee hits the deck. The Marine sweeps the safety with the thumb of the right hand, establishes a two-handed firing grip and—

In the Weaver variation, raises the arms to bring the pistol up
toward the target.

In the Isosceles variation, pushes the pistol out toward the
target.

At the same time, the Marine places the trigger finger on the trigger, acquires sight alignment and sight picture within the aiming area, and applies trigger pressure until the shot is fired.

Presentation While Assuming the Prone Position

The prone position is generally assumed to take advantage of cover or to provide additional stability for shooting. The following procedures are executed from the standing holster transports.

Isosceles Prone

The Marine withdraws the pistol from holster. At the same time, the Marine eliminates body contact with the deck by either the squat method or the drop method. The pistol is rotated to the target as the left hand is placed on the deck. The Marine sweeps the safety off.

_Note_: If the Marine wishes to thumbcock the pistol for a
single action shot, it is done once the Marine is on the deck.

The Marine establishes a two-handed firing grip while spreading the legs a comfortable distance apart for stability. He places the trigger finger on the trigger, acquires sight alignment and sight picture within the aiming area, and applies trigger pressure until the shot is fired.

Weaver Prone

The Marine withdraws the pistol from the holster. At the same time, the Marine eliminates body contact with the deck by either the squat method or the drop method. The Marine maintains the 40 to 60 degree oblique to the target. The pistol should be rotated to the target as the left hand is placed on the deck. The Marine sweeps the safety off.

_Note_: If the Marine wishes to thumbcock the pistol for a
single action shot, it is done once the Marine is on the deck.

The Marine brings the left knee up, establishes a two-handed firing grip, and places the left elbow on the deck for stability. He places the trigger finger on the trigger, acquires sight alignment and sight picture within the aiming area, and applies trigger pressure until the shot is fired.

Search and Assess

To be successful in combat, the Marine must have the ability to assess the situation and take appropriate action following engagement. Once the Marine fires one or two rounds to engage a target, he must quickly assess the situation and the effectiveness of his engagement. This split-second assessment allows the Marine to determine the best course of action and prevents him from expending a number of rounds without assessing the results and his ability to accurately engage the target.

To search and assess, perform the following steps in sequence:

Place the trigger finger straight along the receiver
immediately after a target is engaged. Do not place the pistol
on safe.

Lower the arms just enough to look over the pistol sights and
provide a clear field of view. Do not rotate the wrists in
order to angle the pistol downward, this breaks the firing
grip and changes the tension in the arms. Lowering the arms
maintains the firing grip, keeps the sights level, and allows
sight alignment and sight picture to be quickly re-established
should follow-on shots need to be fired.

Search the area by moving the head, eyes, and pistol left and
right (approximately 45 degrees from center). Wherever the head
moves, the muzzle moves (eyes, muzzle, target). Keeping both
eyes open increases the field of view.

If the target has not been eliminated, the Marine must determine whether to re-engage the target:

If the Marine decides to re-engage the target, the target’s
size, time and distance to the target, and Marine’s
capabilities dictate the technique used. Re-engagement
techniques include re-engaging the target with a well-aimed
precision shot, two shots, or offset aiming.

If the target’s distance exceeds the Marine’s engagement
capabilities or if the target is partially exposed and too
small for the Marine to accurately engage, the Marine should
not attempt to re-engage the target. The Marine may seek cover,
seek out a better opportunity for engagement, or use support to
better stabilize the pistol.

When it is determined that the area is clear of all enemy threat, place the pistol on safe without breaking the grip and assume a pistol carry or pistol transport.