The Wheelgun is Alive and Well

[LaVistaBill]

I was recently in Philadelphia for the IACP Annual Conference and the first Philly cop I ran into was a 25 year veteran who was wearing a S&W Model 64 .38 Special on his duty belt. He was more than happy with it and had no intention of swapping for an autoloader. I carried a revolver for many years as an LEO, but must now carry a half-polymer self-stuffer that I was issued. How many of you coppers out there still pack a revolver on duty?

 

[donniedee]

if I could id carry my 3.5in 27 in a heart beat.... backed uo by a 12ga with buckshot and a full house built m-4 223 id be ready to rock

 

[Ranger514]

In this day and age, a high capacity semi-auto offers advantages I'm not willing to give up while on duty. I'm not always in a position where I can easily grab an M4 or a shotgun, and I appreciate having extra firepower in a handgun. Off duty is a different matter, and my wheel guns serve me well for CC and HD.

 

[BobR1]

I am retired now, but for 15 years as an Active Reserve Deputy Sheriff, and another 2 years as Police Chief I carried a 4" Power Custom Combat S&W 610 No Dash most of the time on my duty belt. I carried in a Tex Shoemaker Semi Breakfront Security holster. In 1993 I felt this was the most secure holster built that you could do a reasonably fast presentation from.
I custom made a Black Basket Weave, Quad Moon Clip Belt Carrier for it. Two up and Two down.

I have been retired almost 4 years now, and my duty belt is still hanging in the closet ready to go.

If I were going to get back into Law Enforcement, Which I am not by the way. I would go back to carrying the 610.

I like revolvers, and I like the power of the Full House 10mm. My gun fights were all with Deer hit by vehicles. The 10mm did a very impressive job putting them out of their misery.

I only had a weapon pointed at someone one time during my 17+ years, and it was a Scatter Gun Tech TR870 Remington.

Anytime I was expecting a problem I got out the M4 or 870 to start with.

I have never felt under gunned with a revolver, since my first patrolman job in 1974/1975 carrying a Model 28 in a Bianchi Border Patrol Rig.

Bob

 

[Old cop]

While I carried a .38 for most of my career and was perfectly happy w/it, we transitioned to auto loaders in the mid 1980's to keep up w/the bad guys and it just made sense. I've been retired since '97 and am now too old and infirmed to go back into LE, but if I did the auto loader would still make tactical sense. In retirement the .38 fills whatever need exists in my relatively safe and tame daily routine.

Pls. don't misunderstand, I prefer revolvers and always have but the thugs now have better guns and I would not want to be caught short.

 

[S&W45Colt]

I am retired now, but for 15 years as an Active Reserve Deputy Sheriff, and another 2 years as Police Chief I carried a 4" Power Custom Combat S&W 610 No Dash most of the time on my duty belt. I carried in a Tex Shoemaker Semi Breakfront Security holster. In 1993 I felt this was the most secure holster built that you could do a reasonably fast presentation from.
I custom made a Black Basket Weave, Quad Moon Clip Belt Carrier for it. Two up and Two down.

I have been retired almost 4 years now, and my duty belt is still hanging in the closet ready to go.

If I were going to get back into Law Enforcement, Which I am not by the way. I would go back to carrying the 610.

I like revolvers, and I like the power of the Full House 10mm. My gun fights were all with Deer hit by vehicles. The 10mm did a very impressive job putting them out of their misery.

I only had a weapon pointed at someone one time during my 17+ years, and it was a Scatter Gun Tech TR870 Remington.

Anytime I was expecting a problem I got out the M4 or 870 to start with.

I have never felt under gunned with a revolver, since my first patrolman job in 1974/1975 carrying a Model 28 in a Bianchi Border Patrol Rig.

Bob

Small world. I've got one of Powers former apprentices doing a custom 45 Colt carry gun for me right now. I'll post photos when I get it the first of the year.

 

[GerSan69]

In my 35th year, I'm rotating between Models 64, 65, and 67. However, the bosses have outlawed revolvers as of 1/1/14, so I'm switching to a Shield 9. Yep, I know, not meant as a duty gun, but it meets all the criteria they set regarding brand, caliber, barrel length and capacity. Besides, I retire just a few short weeks into '14, so I'd rather have something I can use in my "next life."

 

[LaVistaBill]

While I carried a .38 for most of my career and was perfectly happy w/it, we transitioned to auto loaders in the mid 1980's to keep up w/the bad guys and it just made sense. I've been retired since '97 and am now too old and infirmed to go back into LE, but if I did the auto loader would still make tactical sense. In retirement the .38 fills whatever need exists in my relatively safe and tame daily routine.

Pls. don't misunderstand, I prefer revolvers and always have but the thugs now have better guns and I would not want to be caught short.

Old Cop, I agree with you to a certain extent, but a big magazine capacity will never make up for poor marksmanship. The late, great Jim Cirillo with the NYPD Stake-out Squad sent a few bad guys to the infernal regions with a .38 Special revolver and as I recall some of the fights involved multiple "perps." Now you hear of police shootings where 30-40 rounds are fired to hit the bad guy once or twice - spray and pray. I'll admit I do not practice revolver reloading like I used to when shooting PPC competition, so I will cede that now it is easier for me to reload my pistol with a fresh magazine than fumble with a speed-loader or quick-strips. Today you can get a .357 Magnum revolver from S&W that holds 7-8 cartridges, so this might even the odds a bit. I just looked at a M&P R8 which is an N-frame 8-shooter and it sure seems "battle-worthy." I also have a Model 686 Plus 7-shooter I wish they'd made back in the day when I was still packing a sixgun...

 

[snowman.45]

I've got 36 years on. Have to carry a 9mm Glock, right now. But when
I retire next summer, there will be more time with my J and K frames

 

[texmex]

On my duty rig right now is a 627 Pro series and 4 short mace cases. Each mace case has a 5 star speed loader on top of a moon clip. My backup is a Ruger LCR carried in my off side pants pocket. That gives me 64 rounds plus 8 in the 627 and 5 in the Ruger for a total of 77.

I think 8 rounds of 357 Magnum compares pretty well with the 9 rounds of 45 ACP that a 1911 holds. The revolver hits where I am looking. The grip fits my hand and doesn't feel like I'm holding onto a 2x4. In cold weather, the backup moves to my jacket pocket. I can walk up to someone with my revolver in my hand ready to fire and they will never know. I can fire multiple rounds without taking my gun out of the pocket and I don't have to worry about the slide catching on the material.

The most rounds I have fired in an engagement is 8 and that was with an AR-15. The most rounds I have ever fired out of a handgun in an engagement was 7 out of a Colt Commander. If I was required to carry an auto, the 1911 would be my first choice. It fits my hand better than most of the others. Of all the double stacks, the Browning Hi Power feels the best. One of those in 40 would probably be alright also.

The biggest drawback to carrying a revolver right now is finding duty gear. You can get anything you want for a Glock or a 1911 but there is less available for the revolver every year.

 

[Biggfoot44]

Still issued M15. Glacial preparations to think about starting to get ready to consider to transition to Sig P228s . ( The pistols already in storage ). I'd give no better than 50/50 odds of it happening before I eventually retire.

Further observation - in 1982 issued W-W 158LHP. In 2013 likewise. ( Different employers , and others inbetween - all issueing W-W158LHP , though some inbetween allow personal guns , and other cals also).

 

[Dream to Dream]

Now you hear of police shootings where 30-40 rounds are fired to hit the bad guy once or twice - spray and pray.

Seems some departments across the nation have used higher capacity as an excuse to drop performance standards. Shame, as some of the cops I know really know how to run a pistol, shotgun, or carbine.

 

[Vom Brunhaus K9]

GerSan, the S&W 5906 and Ruger SR9 are excellent choices. Wheeler is my S&W Model 19 2 and half in Nickel

 

[Old cop]

When we transitioned to auto loaders everyone expected range scores to go up, they remained about the same. Some of the smaller women had a very difficult time with the blocky grip of the Glocks, but in my agency it was one size fits all.

 

[hangnoose]

ALIVE AND WELL?

It's death was greatly exaggerated.

 

[Deformlux]

I used to work for a holster manufacturer and know of at least on Oklahoma City LEO that carries a 627 PC gun. I also know a another LEO from eastern Oklahoma that carried a Python until his retirement just a couple of years ago.

 

[8-Shot]

TEXMEX

That's an interesting idea on how your carry your speed loaders. I've been carrying a Pro Series S&W 627 for about 5 years now. I had a local company Looper Leather Goods build me a single retention duty holster. I had Tex Shoemaker Leather build me a double speed loader case that I carry 4 moon clips in. One is upside down and the other is right side up. I also carry a 12 round loop loader. I never feel out gunned carrying a revolver.

 

[ahpd1992]

A 627 pro has been on my duty belt for a few years. Im the last revolver shooter at the PD, it irks the SWAT guys to no end . 125gr 357mag means never having to say your sorry...


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[Arik]

I knew some of these Philly cops. They'd be just as happy armed with bad breath and colorful language because at the end of the day they have no intention of responding to anything more dangerous than a traffic accident. They'll get on scene when its secure.

Also did you find out what district he's in? Some districts are nice and cushy. Nothing bad ever happens while other districts I would feel safe only in a Bradley fighting vehicle

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[Realgunner]

Now that I'm retired, I've gone back to my beloved J frames.