Here in Illinois our HR-218 qualification gives you the choice of qualifying with a revolver, a semiauto or both. Most shoot both afterwhich you can carry any revolver or semiauto you desire. Five fellow retirees bought S&W 632s last year in 327 Magnum, so as a hoot we're all going to use our 632s using 32 S&W ammo. Which is not as loud as a 22 LR and not much more recoil. Every state handles HR-218 qualification differently and in Illinois we pay $75 for one type of handgun and $100 if you shoot both a revolver and semiauto. The state organization that runs this known as IROCC (Illinois Retired Officer Concealed Carry) is funded solely by retirees, so it is money well spent. It's nice to have the option of carrying whatever you want as to type of handgun. For hot weather carry I still prefer a light J frame S&W, when the weather cools I tuck a semiauto into an IWB holster.
I truly appreciate President Bush signing HR-218 into law and President Obama for signing the updated enhanced version. Stay safe out there and retire as early as you can, while we still have defined benefit pensions.

Ref the Russian badge: it says "Transportnaya Militsiya" or Transport Police. Must have been an interesting visit! I bet your handguns were a bit more powerful than their Maks (although i think that is a great design).

They actually brought some Makarovs and Stetchkins with them.

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N.R.A. BENEFACTOR Member

I bought them at a gun show from a grip maker from Louisiana many years ago. They were one of a kind Sambar stag. I asked him the price and he said, "$100, take it or leave it." I took it. I don't remember the guy's name.

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N.R.A. BENEFACTOR Member

Even civilians (like me) see the "times, they are a change'n". The unofficial "IDPA" gang with whom I shoot think of my alloy framed P series Sigs as "old school". That's O.K. And when some of us play with wheel guns, the younger guys snicker uncontrollably. That's O.K., too. I picked up a department trade-in 64-6 round butt/DAO this week. It's work smoothed and very tight. Time on the range yesterday confirmed what a lot of you dudes already know: it shoots beautifully! There's something about the confidence inspired by a well-behaved firearm. Guess that's why the wheel guns keep proliferating in my safe.

PC

I work for a pretty large department in my state. We can only carry Glocks while on duty(unless grandfathered in older Sigs for some of the old timers). We can qualify with anything .380 or larger for off duty, but it's our same qualification course which makes it near impossible for anyone to qualify with a revolver(unless they are just really good and quick at reloading). Sure some can do it, but I wasn't one of them.

Our department averages 11% hit ratio on bullets fired in a gunfight. 11% hit th target. That sounds VERY low, which it is. But most big agencies are around 25%.

You have to take into consideration the big picture. Most gunfights aren't you sitting behind cover shooting quality aimed shots, most are from your back or running another direction just trying to keep someone from gunning you down.

I haven't been in that situation to comment, but I can imagine how difficult it can be.

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Mike C

The tactical operator oriented police officers see a revolver on the same light as a blackpowder rifle. Carry what your comfortable with, and practice, practice, practice...

After 20 years only carrying a Glock in one caliber or another our new chief opened up what we can carry. In order to grandfather the last revolver guy, revolvers are allowed. I promptly got a 627, practiced, put on my hip and never gave a 2nd thought to being "undergunned".

We buy our own guns at our PD, so we have a lot more choice in what we can carry.

I did my quals today, I'm legal again.

Full power 10mm made an impression on the range. Sadly, it was not the 1006.

Glad to read that there's another 10mm fan out there!

For my HR218 requirements, I qualified a couple of years in a row with my 1026 when I was carrying it regularly using the factory Winchester 175gr Silvertip load. The 1026 made qualifying a breeze.

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Steve
NJ State Trooper (rtd)

Since the state form does not mention the type of gun used I may do the R8 next year. Have to check and make sure first.

I carried a model 66 with our issue 145gr Silvertips for 16 years. Now I carry the issue Glock 31 and the authorized back-up Glock 33. Our retirees carry the same. No choice.