[ripley16]

This poor gun is so often maligned for it's size... it weighs the same as a 1911A1 and is only 1 inch longer and that's almost all barrel. Put a threaded barrel on a 1911 and they'd be about the same. The same that is except one is reliable, accurate, robust, can handle salt water and holds more ammo.

 

[ripley16]

This is the first time I've heard people argue that the Mk23 isn't big and bulky. I've owned a USP Tactical, and it seemed considerably blockier and bigger than my 1911, couldn't imagine how much larger the Mk23 is.

Nobody is saying it isn't big, but it gets undue invective thrown at it IMHO. People seem surprised that a combat sidearm with a 6" barrel, in .45acp with a 12 round capacity and created to be more robust than any previous pistol would be large. Gosh...who'd have thought? What would a 1911 look like that had the same capabilities I wonder? The MK23 feels little different in the hand than your USP.