Texas DPS switching to M&P 9

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Texas DPS Switching Service Pistols for Troopers | NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth

New Texas troopers will be issued lighter pistols that experts say have less recoil and can carry more ammunition.

Department of Public Safety spokesman Tom Vinger said Smith & Wesson M&P 9 mm handguns will be issued to troopers finishing their training in January. Current troopers will be allowed to carry their .357-caliber SIG Sauer pistols while DPS expands availability of the new handgun.

The Austin American-Statesman reported Sunday that the Smith & Wesson handgun can carry 17 rounds, plus one in the chamber. The SIG Sauer carries up to 15 rounds. The Smith & Wesson weighs 24 ounces, compared to 34 ounces for the SIG Sauer.

Sgt. Gary Chandler, who's president of the Department of Public Safety Officers Association, says the Smith & Wesson is a great gun.
 
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That is sad to hear as the .357 SIG is probably the best round ever offered to LE.

I was at the SIG Academy ammunition seminar when the .357 SIG was introduced. There were LEOs from all over the nation there including the Texas DPS as they were one of the first agencies to adopt the round.

Bank Miller was the head of the academy at the time. About a year later I spoke with him and asked how the round was peforming for DPS. He stated that the reports he had gotten back that in the first eight shootings with 125 Gold Dot HPs all were one shot stops including one through the door of an 18 wheeler cab. 6 or 7 died at the scene and the others died in the hospital....just doesn't get any better than that.

From a 4" pistol barrel the velocity of a 125 grain bullet starts at 1350 fps and works up from there depending on the round/gun combination. If I was back in LE wouldn't really care what bullet launcher they gave me...just make it a .357 SIG.

...and no I don't carry or even own a gun in .357 SIG as I carry a 1911 in .38 Super or 9x23 that gives the same performance as the SIG and is easier to reload....

As to the gun being lighter...DPS officers ride around in cars and carried a S&W Highway Patrolman...and two more rounds...wow... To give up power for two rounds and a few onces is foolish...

Bob
 
North Carolina and New Mexico both carry the M&P in .357 Sig. Maybe Texas is letting S&W get its foot in the door with the 9mm.
 
I wonder if Walker, Texas Ranger will be making the switch from his 92/96 to the M&P?

300px-Walker%27s_92-2.jpg
 
Walker mostly carried a Taurus knockoff and does it matter what a fictional character thinks of the M&P?

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
 
SuperMan said:
That is sad to hear as the .357 SIG is probably the best round ever offered to LE.
...

As to the gun being lighter...DPS officers ride around in cars and carried a S&W Highway Patrolman...and two more rounds...wow... To give up power for two rounds and a few onces is foolish...

Bob
Click to expand...

I've always been intrigued by the .357 Sig and thought it might be a fun round to reload (and save money). But recoil, and cost, have kept me away. Speaking of recoil, how would you rate it compared to the .40?
 
JSandi said:
I wonder if the FBI eyeing a switch to 9mm has anything to do with it?

pistol-training.com » Blog Archive » FBI & 9mm
Click to expand...

Thank you!!! You have made my day.... As someone who has made a many deacade study of the 1986 Miami FBI Shootout this has me on the floor laughing....

Anyone who believes that this new 9mm with a fancy name would have any more effect on Platt than the Silvertip did isn't dealing with reality. New ammo will never overcome bad shooting and worse tactics....

There was nothing wrong with the 9mm in the first place...but blame had to be laid somewhere....anywhere but where it belonged...

Bob
 
S&W Rover said:
I've always been intrigued by the .357 Sig and thought it might be a fun round to reload (and save money). But recoil, and cost, have kept me away. Speaking of recoil, how would you rate it compared to the .40?
Click to expand...

Recoil with the .357 is "fast". I much prefer to shoot a .357 SIG over a .40 loaded with FULL loads of equal "punch". You'll also find you can shoot the gun more accurately and probably faster.

Bob
 
The issued round will be a 147 grain, also the 357 will likely be phased out. Three main reasons for this, the current 9 mm loads are just as or more effective than .357, .40 or .45, they are easier to shoot and carry more ammo and the biggie ammo costs.
 
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Mack said:
The issued round will be a 147 grain, also the 357 will likely be phased out. Three main reasons for this, the current 9 mm loads are just as or more effective than .357, .40 or .45, they are easier to shoot and carry more ammo and the biggie ammo costs.
Click to expand...

There never was nor will there ever be a 9mm/147 Subsonic that will come close to a 125 grain 9mm at 1300+ FPS in effectiveness.

Just not going to happen....Bob
 
I haven't seen any FBI or other performance specs on the newer 9 loadings recently other than a Winchester display of fired Ranger bullets in various calibers and all appeared to have expanded nicely. Take that for what its worth. I did hear, probably from the same Internet rumor that the FBI 147 bonded Ranger performed better thru auto glass than the authorized 45 ACP. The 357SIG round has demonstrated some pretty impressive performance since it's introduction, but it is not a good round for some LE shooters if they can't control the pistol well enough to hit the intended threat. I have dealt with a number of officers in a task force environment who carry the 357 SIG in SIG Sauer packages. While part of the problem is a lack of enthusiasm for training with pistols in general, the stout recoil doesn't help. I see the same problem exhibited by those with Glock 22s, however, so it's not just a 357 problem. The Border Patrol issued 110 grn 357 mag for revolvers even though the 125s were known to be the most effective. The recoil of the 125s was a lot worse, though, and not every Border Patrol agent was a Bill Jordan. I understand why departments are reconsidering the 9, and I don't consider the 9 in good loadings inferior. It will help some who carry the caliber to improve their shooring skills, but if they do not maintain some type of training regiment, the old habits will creep back and the shooter will be back to square one.
 
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