Duty Weapon Poll For LEOs

[Doug.38PR]

I'm not a LEO so I didn't vote (so your poll is not contaminated), but for what it's worth. I don't think revolvers are outdated and still serve the overall purpose of a handgun. Defense. Six for Sure and six is more than enough more most situations (and I can handle speedloaders pretty well). If you can't take care of things for one reason or another with 6 shots...1) you're probably going to die anyway and 2) you don't need ANY handgun, you need a rifle or a shotgun....or maybe even two guys with Tommy guns next to you (especially if you don't know how to shoot)

In a major one in a million years shootout that makes headlines like the North Hollywood shootout back in the 1990s, as they say, your handgun is to shoot your way to your long gun that you never should have put down in the first place.

I've been CCing for 7 years now. I've always felt more than adequately armed with a 4 inch .38 Spl. service revolver or even a snub nose Detective Special with 2-4 speedloaders. Policemen carried revolvers for 100 years and were adequately armed. Criminals have been using high capacity weapons since the 1920s and 30s with the BAR, Thompson, 1911 and Browning Hi-Power 9mm. (When needed, police brought shotguns and submachine guns for backup)

 

[AZretired]

Couldn't vote cause I'm using tapatalk but I carried a M19 then a 686 for most my career. Started out on the NMSP in the 70s. Switched to an auto in 92 cause the PD I was on made us would have carried my 686 til retirement if I could have.

Sent from my Ally

 

[Moonman]

The question may be Generational, but the 38 Special / 357 Mag sent many a bad guy to his reward. Lower round count stressed shooting not just spraying lead. The shotgun, high capacity auto and now it's accompanied by an AR is a sign of our times. In older times though some of the storied gangsters carried Autos, Revolvers, Shotguns, Machine Guns, BAR'S, you name it.

 

[truckemup97]

How can us non-LEO see the results without voting, thereby skewing the results???

Below the poll is the "Vote" button. Look to the far right of that.

 

[kraigwy]

I was issued and carried a 4" Model 28 for most of my 20 years in LE. (still got it, they gave it to me when I retired).

If for some weird reason I was to go back into LE, I would take my Model 28 without any hesitation.

 

[Lt JL]

I started with a 4' Model 10 pencil barrel. Retired with a Sig P226 .40. Much prefer the Sig.

 

[7shooter]

Interesting poll. I have asked the cops and retired cops I shoot with the same question with fairly similar results. I think the older cops who had experience with revolvers on the job are more positive about revolvers. If i were a cop i would likely carry a Glock 17 just because of how incredibly reliable my competition gun has been but I would be plenty happy with a S&W K frame like the Model 64.

 

[johnsonl]

Go with Customs. Local law enforcement is fun while you're young, but the Feds will pay you more, have better benefits, job mobility, promotional opprtunities, career resources and best of all, job security. Local agencies are cutting budgets and laying off/firing personnel nationwide. Feds do not. The worst we've endured is a 2 year pay freeze. That's the worst I've seen in 21 years as a fed.

 

[18DAI]

As of December 1st 2011 DA Investigators in NC may carry revolvers again. 1911's too! For the last two years both those choices were off limits.

I just purchased a LNIB 4" 66-4 for the occasion. I will be carrying it when the mood hits me. The model 66 was a revolver I carried for a long time. I am well armed with one. Regards 18DAI.

 

[thomasinaz]

Despite common belief, round count does not win gun fights in law enforcement. Shot placement and skill win.
I'm kind if bipolar when it comes to duty guns. Some days its a 1911, some a 627 Pro, then an M&P 45. It depends on my mood mostly, but I've never felt out gunned with a revolver. For the once in a carreer "active shooter" scenerio I've got one of my high cap long guns to call on.

 

[keith44spl]

=Moonman;136151279]

The question may be Generational, but the 38 Special / 357 Mag sent many a bad guy to his reward.

Ya know I been thinkin the same thing...Folks turn their nose up at the S&W .357 Magnum with a hot 125gr HP,
But clamor all over the 125gr .357 Sig cartridge.

Deject the .41 caliber, but fall head over heels for the .40 short & weak.

I've worked with a feller that carries a large caliber (.45) sidearm and then a .22LR bug, go figger that one...

I'm gonna have to ponder this sum more...


Su Amigo,
Dave

 

[18DAI]

I pondered this thread last night too. With the new NC statute arming assistant district attorney's (Elected DA's and DAI's have always been authorized) the wording is so vague that you can carry anything you can qualify with. Hell, you could carry class III if you wanted to according to the statute! A few years ago the agency we qualify with stopped qualifying six shot revolvers as primary duty guns. Seems the FTO thought they were antiquated. 1911's were prohibited since 1998. Dunno why....

Being I don't kick in doors, or storm beaches, a revolver works for me. I need a precision handgun capable of delivering a shot in a crowded hallway or courtroom. Out on the street I'm not likely to face more than two opponents. I've yet to run across any of the crowds of methed up, well armed, aggresive gangs I read about on some internet gunboards.

I think everyone who carry's a gun for serious, LEO or not, should carry what they are proficient with. Comfort being secondary. I define proficient as in place two shots into 3 inches or less, at 10 feet, very FAST.

If you can do that with your handgun, repeatedly and on demand, you are well armed IMO.

I have worked well over 300 gunshot homicides in the past sixteen years. The vast majority of those folks were killed with small caliber rounds, 9mm or less in most of the cases. There was one constant though in every one of them - shot placement. To me it is the most important factor, more than handgun caliber or capacity. Even with good shot placement I can recall a couple of shootings where nobody died. Afterall, handguns are not the best manstoppers, regardless of caliber.....although 357's are really pretty good....

The one shooting where someone should have died - but didn't - that sticks out in my mind was done with a Glock 22 40 cal. The perp was shot in the neck - through and through - at around 7 feet from the shooter. The 40 JHP was laying on the floor looking pristine and ready for reloading. The perp was ambulatory and was walked out to the ambulance. He lived, and went to prison. Made alot of the officers who were carrying Glock 22's wonder.....

So, I think I will break out my 66-4 on December 1st and be as comfortable and well armed with it as I am with my S&W 45's. And my back won't hurt from carrying it either! Regards 18DAI

 

[8-Shot]

I VOTED YES FOR DUTY REVOLVERS. I'M 27 YEARS OLD AND HAVE BEEN IN LAW ENFORCEMENT SINCE I WAS 21. I STARTED OUT CARRYING A PERSONALLY OWNED GLOCK 35 (LONG SLIDE .40 CAL). I THEN WENT TO MY CURRENT DEPT. WHERE WE ARE ISSUED GLOCK 22 THEN LATER TURNED THEM IN FRON GLOCK 17 OR 21'S. I CARRIED MY GLOCK 22 UNTIL I PURCHASED A SPRINGFIELD XD 45. I CARRIED IT ABOUT A YEAR THEN I GOT ON THE DEPTS PISTOL TEAM WHERE WE SHOOT ALOT OF PPC. I FELL IN LOVE WITH REVOLVERS AND AFTER SOME BEGGING AND PLEADING I WAS ALLOWED TO CARRY A MODEL 627 8 SHOT .357MAG. I FINISHED OUT FIREARMS INSTRUCTOR SCHOOL IN JULY WHERE WE ARE MANDATED TO SHOOT SEMI AUTOS FOR THE 1ST 40 HOURS. I STILL CARRY MY 627 WITH A 12 ROUND LOOP LOADER AND 2 FULL MOON CLIPS. 36 ROUNDS OF 357MAG AND I CAN LOAD THE MOON CLIPS AS FAST AS A RELOAD WITH A MAGAZINE. IT JUST TAKES SOME PRACTICE. I WORK A VERY RUAL DISTRICT AND AM OFTEN THE ONLY OFFICER RESPONDING TO HOT CALLS AND I HAVE NEVER FELT OUT GUNNED.

 

[MaximumLawman]

Despite common belief, round count does not win gun fights in law enforcement. Shot placement and skill win.

While it may be true that the AVERAGE law enforcement shooting doesn't require that the officer have more than a 5 or 6 shot revolver, I prefer to be prepared for a WORSE than average situation like a Hollywood bank shoot out or an FBI/Miami-type situation when it's no more inconvenient to do so than carrying a hi cap auto with two mags and a carbine and a shotgun in the trunk.

Why prepare for the average when you can be a lot more prepared with little or no extra effort? Hi cap guns absolutely have a place in law enforcement, especially when the bad guys have had that capability for a long time. You want to be prepared to take on the average bad guy or the one who trains more than you do?

 

[JayBird686]

Go with Customs. Local law enforcement is fun while you're young, but the Feds will pay you more, have better benefits, job mobility, promotional opprtunities, career resources and best of all, job security. Local agencies are cutting budgets and laying off/firing personnel nationwide. Feds do not. The worst we've endured is a 2 year pay freeze. That's the worst I've seen in 21 years as a fed.

Customs would be my number one choice, but getting hired is going to be a looooong process.

 

[Win75]

I carried an S&W 659. Very accurate and reliable.

 

[Snowbandit]

I spent over 30 years in law enforcement and only carried an auto when required. A model 28 in a break-front holster with a J-frame for back up is my preferred set up.

 

[thomasinaz]

While it may be true that the AVERAGE law enforcement shooting doesn't require that the officer have more than a 5 or 6 shot revolver, I prefer to be prepared for a WORSE than average situation like a Hollywood bank shoot out or an FBI/Miami-type situation when it's no more inconvenient to do so than carrying a hi cap auto with two mags and a carbine and a shotgun in the trunk.

Why prepare for the average when you can be a lot more prepared with little or no extra effort? Hi cap guns absolutely have a place in law enforcement, especially when the bad guys have had that capability for a long time. You want to be prepared to take on the average bad guy or the one who trains more than you do?

I'd never say high cap guns don't have a plcae in law enforcement, and I'd agree revolvers shouldn't be carried by every cop out there. If an Officer really needs a 15 or more round pistol then have at it. Those extra rounds won't make up for a lack of training though.

Don't confuse carrying a revolver as a sign of a lack of training or proficiency. Not all revolver carrying cops are non-proficient shooters, just as not all high cap auto shooters are highly trained or proficient. For some of us the revolver works very well. I want to be prepared to stop the guy who is pointing the gun at me right now, with the first shot, from the gun I shoot best.....

 

[Varangi]

On November 13, 1994 @1805 hrs., The San Francisco Police Department lost one of the finest, hardest working young officers I have ever known. A lone gunman engaged him with a high cap rifle from 20yards away as Officer James Guelff exited the driver's side of his marked unit. Officer Guelff was hit in the left shoulder but engaged the gunman with his S&W M28-4". firing 6 rounds at the suspect. Officer Guelff wounded, sought cover while he reloaded. The suspect came out from his position of cover, ran over to where Officer Guelff was secreted under a vehicle and mortally wounded him with shots to the head. Officer Guelff's back=up arrived 1 minute later. That Officer used 17 of his 18 rounds, also from a M28 to keep the suspect from charging him. At least 7 of these rounds struck the suspect in the exchange but were neutralized by body armor. It took 30 cops and hundreds of rounds to stop this threat.
Question: If Officer Guelff had possessed a high cap semi-auto, could he have held the gunman in place for 1 more minute and lived to raise his children?

Mike E
Retired S.F.P.D.

 

[MaximumLawman]

If an Officer really needs a 15 or more round pistol then have at it.

You won't know if you "need" one until you're trying to reload under fire from loops or speed loaders....or your pocket....Or worse yet, have nothing to reload. Or are trying to shoot your way back to your car to get your shotgun and run out before you get there...Most of the guys I hear talking about how "If six shots aren't enough, you weren't trained well enough" have never been involved in ANY shootings, let alone one against an adversary or adversaries with hi capacity weapons. Many of these types are living vicariously through Wyatt Earp or Elmer Keith or something....(Wyatt Earp wouldn't have been carrying a single action six-shooter if a Glock high capacity 9 or .40 had been available at the time...)

A uniformed cop who carries a revolver these days when the size of the frame isn't an issue likely does so for the sake of nostalgia or the "cool" factor.....