Duty Weapon Poll For LEOs

[JayBird686]

So I come from a legal family. My father is a retired New Mexico State Police officer, my mother is the Supervisor of the legal staff of the Las Cruces branch of the U.S. Attorneys office(busiest district in the nation), my brother and sister-in-law are both lawyers, I have various other family members in local law enforcement and corrections; needless to say its the family business.

I have a bachelors in Criminal Justice and am applying to several law enforcement organizations, local and federal. I have passed both the US Border Patrol and US Customs exams and am waiting for background packets, but I really am interested in local law enforcement.

A local law enforcement organization is hiring, and asking a friend who works there about it I asked do they issue a duty weapon or can you carry your own, approved weapon. He stated you buy your own, and said that, you can carry a revolver.

I do understand the need for officers to carry a higher capacity duty weapon, but I also understand training on the weapon is going to have a lot of influence on the outcome of an officer involved shooting. I think the more you have, the more you are gonna fire is what ends up happening.

What I wanted to ask, if given the opportunity, would you carry a revolver over an auto. And if so what revolver. Just thinking, I would probably carry a 627, 8 shots bridges the gap with some autos. Plus with the moon clips, reloading would be quick.

 

[A10]

.45 autoloader and a Jframe bug.

 

[jbull380]

For every day duty carry it's a G19 and a G26 on the ankle however as a detective I can and will on occasion carry my Model 19. On patrol and most of the time as an investigator and off duty it's a Glock.

 

[4506517]

My preference would be any 3rd generation auto. The M&P is over rated as a duty weapon.

 

[oldman45]

There is nothing wrong with a revolver and a lot right with them. Not to say there are not better guns but a revolver is very dependable and accuracy is improved when the number of shots are limited.

That said, a 1911 in .45acp is as good as it gets. A few shots less than the .40 or 9mm but a couple more than the revolver. Delivers more punch and gets attention by those facing it.

 

[keith44spl]

As an investigator for the DA's office I can carry whatever I want...Sumdays it's a wheel gun, sumtimes I carry an auto.

Always a BUG and a spare of some kind in the trunk of my car.

I think proficiency is more important that round count.

Su Amigo,
Dave

 

[lawandorder]

Started out in 1976

with a personally owned model 66, carried it with two municipal PDs then State Parks. Later model 10 HB. We are now issued Glock .45s, mine a 30sf.

But still carry a .38 Special in my pocket every day.

 

[jimmyj]

S&W "N" Frame 4".45acp w/full moon clips is my #1 choice. Ammo -230gr hydro-shocks.

#2 choice: S&W wheelgun with a caliber that starts with a "4".
With the proper holster a S&W Model 25-2 6.5" barrel and Hogue soft rubber combat grips.replace the target hammer and target trigger with standard hammer and trigger.

 

[monet61]

I carried a revolver as a back up and for off duty, however for duty I carried a Colt Gold Cup and wouldn't trade it for anything. That being said, I love revolvers.

 

[Damn Yankee]

 

[smith revolver cop]

Would be plenty comfortable with either a Model 65 (my first and favorite duty gun) or one of my Para Ordnance 7.45s (LDA 1911-style).

 

[MaximumLawman]

With the reliable autos available today, I don't think revolvers are too much more appropriate as an on-duty issue gun today than cap and ball revolvers were beyond the years when double action cartridge revolvers became commonplace. I'd be "comfortable" with a revolver only because I know how little guns are used in law enforcement. I'd be more comfortable with a hi cap auto as an issue gun. The only argument "for" revolvers in law enforcement today as far as I'm concerned is either as a back-up/pocket gun, or nostalgia. I didn't answer the poll because I would not "not" carry a revolver because I'd feel "under gunned". I would not carry a revolver as a primary gun or advocate issuing one as a primary gun because I think there are better choices. If I wanted to look cool and retro, I'd carry my blue 4" Model 25-5 with extra rounds in loops. Otherwise, it would likely be some kind of Glock or Sig in .40 with 16 rounds and two extra mags. For a total of 46 instead of 18. And an 870 and some type of AR15 in the car.

 

[WC145]

I didn't vote in the poll because, while I am allowed and am be perfectly comfortable carrying a revolver on duty (and do not feel outgunned), I prefer to carry a 1911. I do stay qualified with my 586 L-Comp and carry it occasionally, in brown basketweave leather, when the circumstances call for a.... "classier", more traditional appearance.

Would be plenty comfortable with either a Model 65 (my first and favorite duty gun)

With a name like smith revolver cop you're obligated to say that!

 

[pps]

How can us non-LEO see the results without voting, thereby skewing the results???

 

[Faulkner]

How can us non-LEO see the results without voting, thereby skewing the results???

At this point the results are;

23 = yes
6 = no

 

[kenpofan]

My 1st duty gun was a M-65 as well.
I loved it then and carry one as my personal weapon now.
I currently carry a M&P 40.
..FWIW ,I do not have a issue with it..
I do not understand all the negitives that seem to be
shown on this site.
It is, what it is, a plastic pistol..you know what he masses want.

 

[Nightowl]

I sometimes carry my 627 PC when I am in plain clothes. Not much wrong with 8 .357s.

 

[DoubleAdobe]

I have mentioned on here before, my first duty weapon was a Ruger Security Six in .357 Mag. In the early 90's the department I worked for went to the Sig P229. I was happy with that for many years. That was replaced in another dept. with a P226, then that was traded out for a Glock 22. I absolutely hate the Glock. I have seen more malfunctions on the firing line in the little over two years with them than the previous 20 something with the Sigs. Really and truly. The J frame as a BUG always though.

 

[DoubleAdobe]

Hey Damn Yankee,
Let's get that gig line squared away, huh?
Just kidding ya, brother.

 

[Magnumdood]

Glock 20

I started out with a S&W 629, target hammer, target trigger, magna-ported, 4" barrel. I transitioned to a Colt 45, then finally found my favorite duty waepon hands down; a Glock 20. 16 rounds of ammo that had 750 fpe each. Not near what a .44 mag delivers, but I could hammer follow-up shots much quicker and with more accuracy shooting the Glock. I have two Glock 20s now, both are as tricked out as you can make a Glock. One is my duty weapon, and the other I added a 6" barrel and slide. Both have tritium night sights. My bedside gun is the Glock 20 with the 6" barrel & slide.

 

[Doug.38PR]

I'm not a LEO so I didn't vote (so your poll is not contaminated), but for what it's worth. I don't think revolvers are outdated and still serve the overall purpose of a handgun. Defense. Six for Sure and six is more than enough more most situations (and I can handle speedloaders pretty well). If you can't take care of things for one reason or another with 6 shots...1) you're probably going to die anyway and 2) you don't need ANY handgun, you need a rifle or a shotgun....or maybe even two guys with Tommy guns next to you (especially if you don't know how to shoot)

In a major one in a million years shootout that makes headlines like the North Hollywood shootout back in the 1990s, as they say, your handgun is to shoot your way to your long gun that you never should have put down in the first place.

I've been CCing for 7 years now. I've always felt more than adequately armed with a 4 inch .38 Spl. service revolver or even a snub nose Detective Special with 2-4 speedloaders. Policemen carried revolvers for 100 years and were adequately armed. Criminals have been using high capacity weapons since the 1920s and 30s with the BAR, Thompson, 1911 and Browning Hi-Power 9mm. (When needed, police brought shotguns and submachine guns for backup)

 

[AZretired]

Couldn't vote cause I'm using tapatalk but I carried a M19 then a 686 for most my career. Started out on the NMSP in the 70s. Switched to an auto in 92 cause the PD I was on made us would have carried my 686 til retirement if I could have.

Sent from my Ally

 

[Moonman]

The question may be Generational, but the 38 Special / 357 Mag sent many a bad guy to his reward. Lower round count stressed shooting not just spraying lead. The shotgun, high capacity auto and now it's accompanied by an AR is a sign of our times. In older times though some of the storied gangsters carried Autos, Revolvers, Shotguns, Machine Guns, BAR'S, you name it.

 

[truckemup97]

How can us non-LEO see the results without voting, thereby skewing the results???

Below the poll is the "Vote" button. Look to the far right of that.

 

[kraigwy]

I was issued and carried a 4" Model 28 for most of my 20 years in LE. (still got it, they gave it to me when I retired).

If for some weird reason I was to go back into LE, I would take my Model 28 without any hesitation.

 

[Lt JL]

I started with a 4' Model 10 pencil barrel. Retired with a Sig P226 .40. Much prefer the Sig.

 

[7shooter]

Interesting poll. I have asked the cops and retired cops I shoot with the same question with fairly similar results. I think the older cops who had experience with revolvers on the job are more positive about revolvers. If i were a cop i would likely carry a Glock 17 just because of how incredibly reliable my competition gun has been but I would be plenty happy with a S&W K frame like the Model 64.

 

[johnsonl]

Go with Customs. Local law enforcement is fun while you're young, but the Feds will pay you more, have better benefits, job mobility, promotional opprtunities, career resources and best of all, job security. Local agencies are cutting budgets and laying off/firing personnel nationwide. Feds do not. The worst we've endured is a 2 year pay freeze. That's the worst I've seen in 21 years as a fed.

 

[18DAI]

As of December 1st 2011 DA Investigators in NC may carry revolvers again. 1911's too! For the last two years both those choices were off limits.

I just purchased a LNIB 4" 66-4 for the occasion. I will be carrying it when the mood hits me. The model 66 was a revolver I carried for a long time. I am well armed with one. Regards 18DAI.

 

[thomasinaz]

Despite common belief, round count does not win gun fights in law enforcement. Shot placement and skill win.
I'm kind if bipolar when it comes to duty guns. Some days its a 1911, some a 627 Pro, then an M&P 45. It depends on my mood mostly, but I've never felt out gunned with a revolver. For the once in a carreer "active shooter" scenerio I've got one of my high cap long guns to call on.