big al - tennessee
Member
I know this has been discussed before, but I don't remember. Does anyone know of any law enforcement agencies that issue or permit new officers to carry a revolver for their primary weapon???
Current Law Enforcement Revolver Use
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BobR1
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It would probably not be a problem with a small agency, you would just have to ask. I carried a 4" M610 with Meprolight Night Sights in a Tex Shoemaker Semi Break-front security holster when I was a reserve deputy sheriff. At the time this was the only holster that was very secure, that you could make a fast draw from. As Chief of Police I would open carry my 638 when I came in on morning shift mainly doing paper work.
Some things to consider. The academy classes will all be geared towards Hi Cap semi automatics. Strings of fire will be geared around magazine changes at probably 12 rounds or more. I am not sure they would even let you use a revolver in the academy now days.
Then we have qualification. Also geared around Hi Caps now days. I have qualified with my moon clip 10mm and my 1911, but you have to really be on your game, and way better than average to make the times.
I really like revolvers, but a full size M&P in 45 acp or 40 S&W with a thumb safety would probably be a much better choice in 2011.
Bob
Some things to consider. The academy classes will all be geared towards Hi Cap semi automatics. Strings of fire will be geared around magazine changes at probably 12 rounds or more. I am not sure they would even let you use a revolver in the academy now days.
Then we have qualification. Also geared around Hi Caps now days. I have qualified with my moon clip 10mm and my 1911, but you have to really be on your game, and way better than average to make the times.
I really like revolvers, but a full size M&P in 45 acp or 40 S&W with a thumb safety would probably be a much better choice in 2011.
Bob
CrossRifles2008
Member
Maybe as a detective as a back up.
tripledipper
Member
Only old school Det's and office types in NYC. After a certain entry date they must carry semi's. A Det. son still uses his .38sp centennial as his only carry and leaves his Glock in the locker. Not many left around.
Photog
Member
I live in a town of about 125000 in Colorado. The local PD uses either Glocks or 1911's, per officer choice. There is one officer who still carries a M15. Very well worn gun, diamond magnas. Haven't had the chance to look any closer at it. When I first moved here in 1980 the M15 was the issue sidearm, and had been for many years. I think it was about 1983 or so that the officers were allowed to go to autoloaders, so he has carried that revolver for close to 30 years.
BillyWayne
Member
I recently served jury duty and noticed the bailiff wearing a 686. He said that they are required to carry revolvers there.
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my agency switched to 92d beretta's in 1995...i haven't seen a revolver around here carried as a duty weapon in probably 15 years (which is sad) i was told a sheriff's dept.near here may still carry revolvers...i shall check....i prefer a 657 three inch in an ankle holster
Seaark1660
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A deputy friend of mine can still carry a wheelgun as long as he qualifies with it. So he grabs his 940, 640, & M19 in addition to 1911 and Glock on qualification day. He drives the range officer nuts and out shot him on a dueling tree. M19 vs Glock 17. Bottomfeeder lost. And to think the RO called the M19 "archaic". Wish I could have been there.
Chili Vega
US Veteran, Absent Comrade
My agency is roughly 2000 sworn deputies. We have a very liberal firearms policy considering the size of the agency. Deputies are authorized a very wide variety which includes S&W, Colt or Ruger revolvers in .38 or .357 as long as they are not nickle plated (I don't know so don't ask, but probably a hold over from times past). Having said all this there are relatively few wheel gunners. There does seem to be a renewed interest though. Now if I can just find some duty gear for my M&PR8
Condition Yellow
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I was in DC last year, and the security in an un-named, highly visited place all carried 686's.
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Wee Hooker
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Beware of the old guy who only carries 6 rounds in a revolver. Chances are he knows how to use it well!
David LaPell
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I know of a couple of NYS court officers that do.
stantheman86
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I would guess some older officers in larger cities still carry wheelguns. The NYPD still allows officers to carry the Model 10's, 64's, Ruger Service Sixes, SP101's or Model 60's if they had been carrying them previously, but does not allow new officers to choose the wheelguns. With every wheelgun carrying older cop that retires, there's one less guy that carries one.
I have a 4" .357 Ruger Speed Six that a local township cop carried up until 2008 or so,when he retired he sold it to a local gun shop and I bought it. Guess he wasn't a "gun guy" , I would be kind of attached to a gun that rode on my hip for decades. To some they are just tools, I guess.......
I just don't see LEO's fresh out of the academy, guys in their late teens-early 20's choosing revolvers anymore. I would guess it's mostly the older guys who had been carrying them for years.
I saw an armored car guard with a Colt Official Police about a year ago, and also some states require private security companies to only use .38 Special revolvers, thus the reason Taurus 82's are still in production. I have 4 Cook County Hospital, Illinois marked .38 Ruger Service Sixes that were just recently traded in.
I have a 4" .357 Ruger Speed Six that a local township cop carried up until 2008 or so,when he retired he sold it to a local gun shop and I bought it. Guess he wasn't a "gun guy" , I would be kind of attached to a gun that rode on my hip for decades. To some they are just tools, I guess.......
I just don't see LEO's fresh out of the academy, guys in their late teens-early 20's choosing revolvers anymore. I would guess it's mostly the older guys who had been carrying them for years.
I saw an armored car guard with a Colt Official Police about a year ago, and also some states require private security companies to only use .38 Special revolvers, thus the reason Taurus 82's are still in production. I have 4 Cook County Hospital, Illinois marked .38 Ruger Service Sixes that were just recently traded in.
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big differance between a security agency and sworn LEO...why can't you say where this was?doesn't sound like a national security issue
ContinentalOp
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Be even more wary of a guy who carries an empty revolver and a single bullet in his shirt pocket.
BUFF
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
"Beware of the old guy who only carries 6 rounds in a revolver. Chances are he knows how to use it well!"
I read people writing that thought but it doesn't square with my experience.
I was hired by my sheriffs office in 1981. Our department of about 350-450 armed issued the Combat Masterpiece/Model 15, mostly, but allowed personally purchased S&W, Colt and Ruger .38 and .357 revolvers that met department specs. About 1/3 to 1/2 of the deputies carried the issue revolver.
A new sheriff began our transition to semiautomatics in 1991. There was no money for new department guns at the time so he allowed a pretty wide range of personally owned semiautomatics in 9mm, 10mm, .40 and .45 ACP. You had to also buy your leather and spare magazines if you wanted to carry a semiautomatic. The department provided training and ammunition.
Eventually the department began buying and issuing semiautos, beginning with Model 4006's. They were initially offered on the basis of seniority. You still had to buy your own leather
After 2 or 3 years of this, we still had a batch of deputies carrying the office revolvers, and they were pretty well all older, long-time deputies who were not among the better shooters in the department; most didn't qualify by much on our easy courses, and some often needed to shoot it 2 or 3 or more times to pass. I talked to quite a few of them about it. To a man, they all eventually told me that the reason they hadn't swapped out for a semiautomatic was THE EXPENSE OF BUYING THE HOLSTER AND MAG CARRIER and the trouble of learning a new gun!!! They hadn't ever been involved in a shooting and didn't expect that they would be in the few years left they planned to work, and they weren't going to spend $100 or more just to carry a more complex gun for 2, 3, 4 or 5 more years!
I did not know of any deputy in my department or officer in any other local agency that were much above average shooters that kept carrying a revolver by choice and were really good with it.
I think there are some such folks in American law enforcement (we have a few on this forum), but they are pretty scarce.
I think it is a real stretch to say that carrying a revolver as your duty weapon is any indicator of skill-at-arms, or lack thereof for that matter.
I am in favor of an officer being able to choose his duty weapon if he/she can demonstrate proficiency and wants to bear the expense, and I love revolvers, but I went to something else as soon as I was allowed.
I read people writing that thought but it doesn't square with my experience.
I was hired by my sheriffs office in 1981. Our department of about 350-450 armed issued the Combat Masterpiece/Model 15, mostly, but allowed personally purchased S&W, Colt and Ruger .38 and .357 revolvers that met department specs. About 1/3 to 1/2 of the deputies carried the issue revolver.
A new sheriff began our transition to semiautomatics in 1991. There was no money for new department guns at the time so he allowed a pretty wide range of personally owned semiautomatics in 9mm, 10mm, .40 and .45 ACP. You had to also buy your leather and spare magazines if you wanted to carry a semiautomatic. The department provided training and ammunition.
Eventually the department began buying and issuing semiautos, beginning with Model 4006's. They were initially offered on the basis of seniority. You still had to buy your own leather
After 2 or 3 years of this, we still had a batch of deputies carrying the office revolvers, and they were pretty well all older, long-time deputies who were not among the better shooters in the department; most didn't qualify by much on our easy courses, and some often needed to shoot it 2 or 3 or more times to pass. I talked to quite a few of them about it. To a man, they all eventually told me that the reason they hadn't swapped out for a semiautomatic was THE EXPENSE OF BUYING THE HOLSTER AND MAG CARRIER and the trouble of learning a new gun!!! They hadn't ever been involved in a shooting and didn't expect that they would be in the few years left they planned to work, and they weren't going to spend $100 or more just to carry a more complex gun for 2, 3, 4 or 5 more years!
I did not know of any deputy in my department or officer in any other local agency that were much above average shooters that kept carrying a revolver by choice and were really good with it.
I think there are some such folks in American law enforcement (we have a few on this forum), but they are pretty scarce.
I think it is a real stretch to say that carrying a revolver as your duty weapon is any indicator of skill-at-arms, or lack thereof for that matter.
I am in favor of an officer being able to choose his duty weapon if he/she can demonstrate proficiency and wants to bear the expense, and I love revolvers, but I went to something else as soon as I was allowed.
MacGuffin
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No longer a primary...
I fondly remember carrying my M66 2.5 when I began my career with my agency. Man, I miss those days! Although, I still have that beauty! In any event, while not a primary weapon, we are authorized to carry an assortment of S&W J-frames as back-ups to our Sig P229Rs.
I fondly remember carrying my M66 2.5 when I began my career with my agency. Man, I miss those days! Although, I still have that beauty! In any event, while not a primary weapon, we are authorized to carry an assortment of S&W J-frames as back-ups to our Sig P229Rs.
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Leatherman-Cowboy
US Veteran
I'm not a LEO,but when I seved in the Army,we all had 1911a1 as the standard issue.Now that I been shooting Cowboy (SASS) for 5 years,I just love my revolvers.And with proper training,you become VERY good at drawing,acquire targets,and hit.I even taught my self to shoot left hand.All depends on what each person feel's comftable with.I think each officer should have a choice no matter what.
Thank you,
Henry
Thank you,
Henry
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