Annual Qualifications

[panamajack310]

MOONDAWG - I'm confused by what you are saying here. Are you citing a 50-year average, or are you citing an annual average and saying it is unchanged over the past 50 years?

What he is trying to say is that from 1940's to the 1980s while law enforcement was using revolvers the average officer shot 2 rounds during a fire fight to take out the bad guy..As semi autos were introduced into the law enforcement scene the national average creeped up. Now the average officer will shoot 5 to 7.

 

[K Frame Keith]

Just shot my qualifications last week also. As an R.P.O. I qualify with my Kimber .45acp and S&W M60 twice a year on the same courses of fire required of active duty officers, ( 1 yd. to 25 yd.). I admit to carrying the M60 the majority of the time.

 

[blueknight7]

I carried a revolver from 1973, to 1990. It served its purpose, more than once. Yeah, it was a Colt Python, and .357 125 gr. Remington JHP. From 1990 til retirement, in 2003, I carried a 10 mm. No, it was not a S&W 610. It was a Colt Delta Elite, then a S&W 1006, and 1026, then a Glock 20, and a Glock 29. Nothing I owned out shot the Python, but, the Colt Delta Elite tied in one time, on a possible.
Now, all i have to do is qual once a year to keep my retired status up. Its pretty simple with the Sig P229, in .357 Sig, and I do have the .40 S&W barrel too.
It kinda whatever mood I am in, on what caliber I use. Yup, still have the S&W 1026, the Colt Delta Elite, and the Glock 29. Trouble is, the Sig just fits me better. Really liking the Sig. .357. Doesn't kick, and ballistics like what saved my life a couple of times. Gotta go with XTrooper. I lived through the transition. If I have to go where the fire is hot, and the target isn't a big fuzzy, I will go with the auto.
But, the days of being a motorcop, with nothing more than a 1200 eletra glide, and my Python, with 18 rounds total, and a butt load of confidence sure brings back fond memories.

 

[Knightrider03m]

That's great if they let you. Most (at least around here) wont let you anymore.

+1

I did everything including begging my boss to let me carry my 66 but he said .40 or nothing

 

[XTrooper]

It would appear enough of "us" are when you consistently see headlines like OFFICERS FIRE 98 ROUNDS, GUNMAN SUFFERS 3 MINOR INJURIES.

What I am saying is do not let the plethora of ammo in your pistol and on your belt lull you into a false sense of invulnerability.

I totally agree. Lots of ammo doesn't equal invulnerability.

My point was that headlines like the one you describe are indicative of a training problem and not one of weapon type.

 

[XTrooper]

What he is trying to say is that from 1940's to the 1980s while law enforcement was using revolvers the average officer shot 2 rounds during a fire fight to take out the bad guy..As semi autos were introduced into the law enforcement scene the national average creeped up. Now the average officer will shoot 5 to 7.

I don't have any stats to back this up, but I strongly suspect that the number of rounds being fired in the direction of officers has also climbed significantly. This would naturally have an effect on the return fire count.

 

[Palmetto Sharpshooter]

Wow! I didn't mean to start a debate. I just wanted to "show off" my guns and what my tired old eyes can still do, just a little.

I'm not an expert here for sure. But in fact, I think when it comes to actual gunfighting there are none; because only a fool would seek to do that and eventually your number will come up. I've only been in one and only fired two shots with a high-cap semi-auto. I was 50% there and was not the only one firing. I really don't want to say more than that because I don't like to talk about it for several reasons that I will not discuss.

As for guns, whatever your competent and comfortable with is fine by me. I've seen folks killed with all kinds of stuff from .12 gauges at point blank to a sponge mop (literally). I'm not as hung up on "this is the perfect weapon." While it certainly wouldn't be my choice, we had a local barber that took down two bad guys with a High Standard .22 Magnum derringer once.

After qualifications, our firearms instructor and I (BTW: I'm an instructor too) discussed revolvers versus semi-autos. Both of us came up in the old school of S&W M-10s and a Chief or Detective Special backup or nothing. We agree that police marksmanship appeared to be much better back then. We didn't have 45 rounds to miss with. You only had 18 plus your 5 or 6 shot back up. We did okay I think. Personally I think the streets were meaner back then too. I know for certain the homicide rate was much higher.

Sorry to cause controversy. I have a way of doing that...unfortunately. And yes, I do switch guns occasionally. You're just as likely to see me carrying a 4563, 4006 or 5906. My last time to discharge my weapon on duty was with a Glock 19 to dispatch a pit bull. I compete with the 686 and carry it for ceremonial purposes mostly. I will be carrying it today at work and will be confident with it.

 

[grizzley]

hello everyone new here i do have question for palmetto sharpshooter were did you get the grips on you 36.

 

[18DAI]

Nice shooting Palmetto Sharpshooter. NC changed a statute last December which enabled DA Investigators to carry anything they qualified with including revolvers and 1911's. Since 2008 revolvers had been prohibited. 1911's had been prohibited since 1995.

I added a 4 inch 66-2 and a 2.5 inch 66 to my S&W 3rd gen 45's and my 3913.

Next qualification is in May. I'm going to reduce the number of guns, but will keep a 2.5 inch 66-2 and a 640-1 BUG on my card.

Hard to beat the speed, power and accuracy of a good sixgun. Regards 18DAI

 

[M3Stuart]

Nice shooting!

 

[mag318]

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.

 

[Darkenfast]

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).

 

[Palmetto Sharpshooter]

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.

 

[Palmetto Sharpshooter]

hello everyone new here i do have question for palmetto sharpshooter were did you get the grips on you 36.

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.

 

[PeterCartwright]

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

 

[mclark202]

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.

 

[ahpd1992]

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.

 

[jdh]

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

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

 

[XTrooper]

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.

 

[jdh]

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.