LEO’s: Do You Think 9 Rounds of .45 ACP is Enough?

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JayFramer

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Guys this is directed more towards the LEO’s out there, and concerns the duty usage of .45 ACP handguns holding 8 rounds of ammunition in the magazine, namely the 1911 and SIG P220 as well as others.

For a main service weapon, do you think 8+1 of .45 ACP is enough in the gun, with 2 or more magazines in reserve for reloads? Interested in what our brave law enforcers on this board, both past and present, have to say on this subject. Thanks in advance! :)

-Jay
 
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JayFramer said:
Guys this is directed more towards the LEO’s out there, and concerns the duty usage of .45 ACP handguns holding 8 rounds of ammunition in the magazine, namely the 1911 and SIG P220 as well as others.

For a main service weapon, do you think 8+1 of .45 ACP is enough? Interested in what our brave law enforcers on this board, both past and present, have to say on this subject. Thanks in advance! :)

-Jay
Click to expand...

My personal feeling is that any LEO who carries a 1911 .45 will be proficient enough not to feel inadequately armed due to the guns magazine limitations. He will be an experienced hand gunner and confident in his shooting ability.

But.... he will not limit him or herself to just the 8+1 capacity of one magazine. Any serious Leo would have at least one, and probably two spare magazines about his person.

The problem lies in police departments which, for various reasons usually pertaining to liability and PR, will stipulate a 9mm (or possibly still at .40 caliber firearm. In which case the 1911 carrier will have a 9 +1, or probably even a 10 + 1, magazine capacity.

And one of this big issues will be that many LEO's, especially in large departments, will simply not be a "handgun" person. They will show up to qualify, pass what is a relatively easy course of fire, and seldom fire another shot until the next qualification.
 
As a uniformed Law Enforcement Officer intentionally walking into a dangerous and volatile situation that I am expected to resolve . . . No, 8 rounds of any ammunition is not enough

As a plain clothed citizen who carries to protect myself and those with me in those times that I accidentally walk into something unexpected and I have no duty to try and control . . . .Yes, 8 rounds should be enough

Now having had a professional situation where two felons were engaged after they opened fire, only 4 rounds of Federal 230 +P Hydroshok ammunition was discharged from a issued SIG P220. That entire event occurred in perhaps only a few seconds time .

At the time the duty belt was carrying the standard two spare magazines. But then that sort of encounter changes you. Even though only 4 rounds were fired and the P220 was reloaded as the vehicle was exited, the carry routine changed to 6 spare magazines, that is just the way things affect you.

Never again were any of those magazines needed

Today I do not carry a reload, nor do I intentionally walk into dangerous situations
 
Kiwi cop said:
My personal feeling is that any LEO who carries a 1911 .45 will be proficient enough not to feel inadequately armed due to the guns magazine limitations. He will be an experienced hand gunner and confident in his shooting ability.

But.... he will not limit him or herself to just the 8+1 capacity of one magazine. Any serious Leo would have at least one, and probably two spare magazines about his person.

The problem lies in police departments which, for various reasons usually pertaining to liability and PR, will stipulate a 9mm (or possibly still at .40 caliber firearm. In which case the 1911 carrier will have a 9 +1, or probably even a 10 + 1, magazine capacity.

And one of this big issues will be that many LEO's, especially in large departments, will simply not be a "handgun" person. They will show up to qualify, pass what is a relatively easy course of fire, and seldom fire another shot until the next qualification.
Click to expand...

IMHO---THIS IS ALL VERY TRUE.....
 
Guys I should have clarified, meant 8+1 in the gun PLUS additional magazines as any LEO would carry. I edited my OP to reflect. Thanks!
 
Now retired but I would have no problem with an 8 round .45 with 2 reloads. Heck I had to carry a 6 shot .38 for many years and (gasp) I even carried an 9 shot 9mm as a duty weapon (S&W 3904) in uniform for a while.

My solution to the limited round count was to keep my weapon proficiency as high as possible, use the best ammo I could carry, keep a level head in critical situations, and never allow myself to be surprised.
 
As someone who ran dry in the midst of a gunfight I’m a firm believer in having plenty of reloads for the fight that’s coming. Mas Ayoob ran an article in American Handgunner about a cop who’s .45 was not getting the job done and switched to a high capacity 9MM. If I was on the job today my choice would be a Glock 17.
 
Not a police officer ..... but my Dad was. Through the 50-70s he carried a 6 shot .38...... no speedloaders back then so 12 rounds on the belt ( I remember both loops and dump pouches). He shot twice a week or more as a member of the Dept's Pistol team.

All that said...... bad guys, back then, were armed in a similar fashion.

So my thought is practice, practice, practice so you're the best shooter on the field and at least have equipment on par with the potential threats/opposition!!!!!!!!

So IMHO a "good"/skilled shooter with 25 rounds of .45 should have the tools necessary get the job done; or allow him to get to his/her patrol rifle!!!!!!



As a civilian who conceal carries..... in my "Burb of the Burgh" for many years I have been content with a 3913 7+1 plus an extra 8.

Lately as the world turns......

I've been giving more and more thought to either my S&W Shorty-9 at 12+1 or a Beretta Compact with 13+1 and a hi-cap extra mag with 18 and a spacer.

Or even my Centurion (less than 1/2" longer grip than the compact; with the same 4.2" upper) which with Mec-gar flush fit magazines can be 18+1 and a spare 18 or even 20.

For now the 3913 is still my go to...... but I've got the options if needed.
 
Guys THANK YOU for all of your replies. It is an honor to learn from those who serve and have served!!
 
I'm now retired, but at my last department where we had to purchase our own firearms, I carried a S&W 4566 (8+1) with two extra magazines.

When I started my LE career over 40 years ago, we were issued S&W Model 15s with 12 extra rounds carried in drop boxes (most of the younger guys carried the rounds on Bianchi Speed Strips in the pouches). Eventually we were allowed to carry speed loaders. After I left the department for active duty n the Air Force, they converted to Sig P220s; again 8+1, with two extra magazines on the belt.

I never felt out-gunned with anything I carried, but I also kept my proficiency up.
 
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