What police departments issued the M-28 Highway Patrolman in 6 INCH barrel?

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Doug.38PR

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Above said question. Did any departments issue in 6 inch?
The gun was available in 4 and 6 inch. I've heard of individual cops who personally bought and carried the 6 inch version. But what police departments issued it? Were they for biker patrolmen? (that would kind of make sense since the long barrel can hang down on a bike and not get pushed up by a car seat in a patrol car)
 
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Washington State Patrol, until they switched to the Beretta 92F in 1989-90.
 
I don't know the answer to your question but you have to remember that police cars have not always been crammed full of "stuff" like they are today. There was a time when cars had either bench seats, or buckets with no consol. Back then even cops might not wear seatbelts. Swivel holsters of one type or another were all the rage.. There was no "bat belt" with a radio, handcuffs, spare magazines, mace, stun gun, and so on, on the belt.

A long heavy revolver might not have been seen as such a liability in those days.
 
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I believe the California Highway Patrol also issued it along with others.
 
I am uncertain of the date but the Columbia, Missouri Police Department issued 6" 28s in the early 1970s. Previously they had 4" M15s and maybe M10s. I have one of the retired M15s.

It seems the new Chief back then wanted a more intimidating visual presence by patrol officers. He instituted three changes as I recall: smaller patrol cars (economy), more SWAT-looking uniforms, and "big" 6" M28s. The first two continue to this day but the 6" revolvers didn't last long.

I heard of more than one left-handed officer who ruined the wooden grips of their issue M28 by slamming them in the driver side door of the smaller cars.
 
I recall a segment of Tactical Impact (choose your weapon) on the Sportsman Channel where they were discussing the SLA shootout in Los Angeles back in 1974. They said the weapons available to police were 1) the M-1 Carbine, 2) the Remington 870 Police magnum, 3) S&W M-28 .357 Magnum with a 6 inch barrel.

Having said that, it kind of confused me because 1) I thought that invovled the LAPD and at the time they were ussed the S&W M15 .38 Special with a 4 inch barrel and 2) they were issued the Ithica Police Special 12 Gauge slug gun/shot gun, 3) they were using M-16s or AR-15s and AR-18s
SLA/LAPD SHOOTOUT IN LOS ANGELES (MAY 17, 1974) - YouTube
 
I carried a 4 inch K-frame model 19 in the day(still have it)....but would have prefurred a 6 inch model 28....The office wouldn't let me carry the 6 inch....to much gun to show the public...Sheriff was afraid of bad press with big guns....45acp was also not allowed.
 
WyoStillhunter said:
I am uncertain of the date but the Columbia, Missouri Police Department issued 6" 28s in the early 1970s. Previously they had 4" M15s and maybe M10s. I have one of the retired M15s.

It seems the new Chief back then wanted a more intimidating visual presence by patrol officers. He instituted three changes as I recall: smaller patrol cars (economy), more SWAT-looking uniforms, and "big" 6" M28s. The first two continue to this day but the 6" revolvers didn't last long.

I heard of more than one left-handed officer who ruined the wooden grips of their issue M28 by slamming them in the driver side door of the smaller cars.
Click to expand...

I was there when we bought them. I was in charge of training and firearms training and some selection. We purchased them with target stocks, and used the Safariland basketweave leather, swivel holsters, and the rubber speedloaders. We used Speer Lawman 158 grain ammo, don't know who decided that. That stuff was hot. One of the range officers dubbed it, killed on one end and maimed on the other. After about 7 years, old chief got fired, new chief went to the range and couldn't stand the recoil. They went back to .38 Specials, I think. I had moved on by that time. :)
 
.357 Mag Speer Lawman?

What kind of velocity did that produce? How hot was that compared to say modern available factory cartridgs or even Buffalo Bore.

A 6 inch barrel N. Frame with target grips is about as easy going on recoil as you can get with a .357 magnum. I love shooting magnums through mine
 
I can't help on specifically the M28's , but I can speak of 6inch generally.

For many decades 4in and Fin were used concurently ,and more or less equal porportions. Remember , that in those days that swivel holsters very common , and with those , a 6in was little if any different to carry than a 4in . Remember in No Second Place Winner , Bill jordan felt the need to explain why he designed / used such a HIGH Riding holster.

It was in the 1960s that 4in became more common than 6in . But 6in were still used ( by at least some ) of my local County PD well into the '70s . Heck some of my co-workers in the '80s carried personally owned G inchers ( M686s and Securuty Sixes ) , and yes they were enthusiasts who shot them very well. At one point I did some comparisons , and figured out that the bottom of Bianchi #5 with 6in rode at same level as 4in in Don Hume BP , and briefly carried 6in DW thusly. Until the chrono showed that my 4in M65 was particularily "fast", and my DW was particularily "slow" , and the M65 actually gave slightly higher vels w/ Fed 125jhp .

But meanwhile , what really killed off 6in Duty Guns was the dearth of Level III holsters for 6in Guns.
 
I think Kansas wildlife and parks carried them but that's not confirmed.
 
Doug.38PR said:
I recall a segment of Tactical Impact (choose your weapon) on the Sportsman Channel where they were discussing the SLA shootout in Los Angeles back in 1974. They said the weapons available to police were 1) the M-1 Carbine, 2) the Remington 870 Police magnum, 3) S&W M-28 .357 Magnum with a 6 inch barrel.

Having said that, it kind of confused me because 1) I thought that invovled the LAPD and at the time they were ussed the S&W M15 .38 Special with a 4 inch barrel and 2) they were issued the Ithica Police Special 12 Gauge slug gun/shot gun, 3) they were using M-16s or AR-15s and AR-18s
SLA/LAPD SHOOTOUT IN LOS ANGELES (MAY 17, 1974) - YouTube
Click to expand...

I remember that unfortunate TV episode.
 
Ohio State Patrol carried 6 inch models. I am not sure how long they carried them, but I have a pre-28 that is stamped with the number 75 for Trumbull county. It dates to the mid-50s. I think it was stamped at the armory, but it is possible the factory did the job. Pretty neat wheel gun!
 
I knew CHP and Long Beach CA PD motor cops that carried them. Can't say for certain that they were issued. But they were definitely 6 inch 28s. More than just a couple.


Sgt Lumpy
 
Always figured that a 6" N frame could only help contribute to the commonality of chronic back problems experienced from life in a patrol car.
I speak from experience, and only ever carried 4" Colt Trooper, 4" M66 and a few steel framed autos later on.
 
Mod 28 HP

I was issued a mod 28 while with the MO-SHP in the early 1970's. We then went to the Mod 19 combat masterpiece. I still have both.
Only damage to the petrol car was to the steering wheel of the big Grand Marquis we drove. The hammer spur dug the h*** out of the wheel when getting out of the car. Bot the 28 and 19 are outstanding shooters.
 
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