American Sniper: The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in U. S. Military History

G
EARED 
U
P
P
eople are always asking me what sort of gear I carried in Iraq.
The answer is: it depended. I adjusted my gear slightly from

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deployment to deployment. Here’s how I usually went out:
Pistols
T
he standard SEAL-issued pistol was a SIG Sauer P226,
chambered for 9-mm ammo. While that is an excellent weapon, I
felt I needed more knockdown power than nine millimeters could
provide, and later started carrying my own personal weapon in
place of the P226. Let’s face it—if you’re using a pistol in combat,
the shit has already hit the fan. You may not have the time for
perfect shot placement. The bigger rounds may not kill your enemy,
but they’re more likely to put him down when you hit him.
In 2004, I brought over a Springfield TRP Operator, which used
a .45-caliber round. It had a 1911 body style, with custom grips
and a rail system that let me add a light and laser combo. Black, it
had a bull barrel and was an excellent gun—until it took a frag for
me in Fallujah.
I was actually able to get it repaired—those Springfields are
tough. Still, not wanting to press my luck, I replaced it with a SIG
P220. The P220 looked pretty much exactly like the P226, but was
chambered for .45 caliber.
Carrying My Pistol

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O
n my first two deployments, I had a drop-leg holster. (A drop-leg
sits against the upper thigh, within easy reach of the pistol hand.)
The problem with that type of holster is that it tends to move
around. During combat, or even if you’re simply bouncing around,
the rig slides over on your leg. So after the first two deployments, I
went to a hip holster. That way, my gun was always where I
expected it to be.