Steve_in_PA
Member
Current LEO (20 years in Feb) and my preferred carry is a Sig P220 with 8-round magazines; two on my belt and one in the gun. I'm quite comfortable with what I carry.
LEO’s: Do You Think 9 Rounds of .45 ACP is Enough?
- Thread starter JayFramer
- Start date
IAhunter
Member
I believe that nine is enough (Sig 220?), assuming that the officer can perform quick reloads. I would probably carry more than two extra mags on the belt though. Used to carry one vertical holder at about 8 o clock as well as two mags up front for my .40.
We have Colt M-4s. If I felt trouble brewing, mine exited the ride with me.
We have Colt M-4s. If I felt trouble brewing, mine exited the ride with me.
Last edited:
keith44spl
Member
When out wadin the weeds......
And the threat of ambush by amateur/commercial horticulturist's was purty real...
I dug out what I thought, I might need in a pinch.
But, while working around the courthouse,
I believed the Gov't model + 2 eight round magazines to be sufficient, for me personally.
.
And the threat of ambush by amateur/commercial horticulturist's was purty real...
I dug out what I thought, I might need in a pinch.
But, while working around the courthouse,
I believed the Gov't model + 2 eight round magazines to be sufficient, for me personally.
.
Philadelphia Patriot
Member
I always carry a spare mag, but it is more so for clearing a phase 2 jam.
Edit to add: I always carry a spare mag off duty. On duty, if I had a say, give me a Glock 17 and at least 2 spare mags. I’m currently issues a Glock 21 and 2 spare mags. I consider that the very minimum I’d ever carry. We’re switching to 9mm next year so I’m theory I’ll have more rounds to carry which makes me happy.
Edit to add: I always carry a spare mag off duty. On duty, if I had a say, give me a Glock 17 and at least 2 spare mags. I’m currently issues a Glock 21 and 2 spare mags. I consider that the very minimum I’d ever carry. We’re switching to 9mm next year so I’m theory I’ll have more rounds to carry which makes me happy.
Last edited:
Whitwabit
US Veteran
What percentage of police even carry 45 caliber weapons ?? I thought most have gone from 40 down to 9mm in the past 5 or so years .. and most of them have 15 to 17 round mags ..
Good question. I was carrying a 45 when I left but that been more than 5 years. But switching to the 9 does seem to be the pattern.
I most often carry a shield 9 with two 8 round mags but when I get the urge and carry my officers model 45 with two 6 round mags I don't feel lacking. I generally carry two reloads whether they're 5 round speed strips or 15 round mags.
I most often carry a shield 9 with two 8 round mags but when I get the urge and carry my officers model 45 with two 6 round mags I don't feel lacking. I generally carry two reloads whether they're 5 round speed strips or 15 round mags.
usmc2427765
US Veteran
As I have stated here before, I never felt under armed with a 1911 in 45 acp. 2 extra mags on the belt and 1 more in a pants pocket plus 8-10 loaded mags in my war bag. Top of the line defense ammo and many, many hours of range time. I also preferred the Commander, easier to get into action while seated in a patrol vehicle.
SquarePizza
Member
EMS here, not LE
I know this question was geared towards carrying LEO's but there are other responders out there who are forced to go into the night to unknown events. Most of us don't carry, some of us do.
Sadly, with the dynamic movements required in the back of an ambulance make it hard to carry AIWB, or even IWB which will print horribly as you lean over a patient.
Having to absolutely make sure you are concealed our choices are limited to pocket or ankle guns like Glock 42s and J-frames.
My 649 rides in a pocket with one speed strip in the other pocket. I've never been in a bad time that it was needed, but I can honestly say that if I were allowed to print and/or open carry... a larger gun would be my preference.
I know this question was geared towards carrying LEO's but there are other responders out there who are forced to go into the night to unknown events. Most of us don't carry, some of us do.
Sadly, with the dynamic movements required in the back of an ambulance make it hard to carry AIWB, or even IWB which will print horribly as you lean over a patient.
Having to absolutely make sure you are concealed our choices are limited to pocket or ankle guns like Glock 42s and J-frames.
My 649 rides in a pocket with one speed strip in the other pocket. I've never been in a bad time that it was needed, but I can honestly say that if I were allowed to print and/or open carry... a larger gun would be my preference.
Fastbolt
Member
9 rounds of .45ACP "enough"? Depends on you and the circumstances.
I thought I'd already posted in this thread? Maybe another one like it?
Anyway, I started my LE career carrying a 6-shot revolver on-duty, and either a revolver or Colt Commander off-duty (7rd mags in those days).
I finished my career carrying an issued 4513TSW (7+1) and 1 or 2 spare mags (plainclothes), and increasingly often one of my 5-shot snubs off-duty. (Full-size issued .45's were 4566TSW's, with 8rd mags, but I thought that became a boat anchor over the course of 10-18hr shifts, and preferred the lighter aluminum compacts.)
Sure, eventually, in my retired capacity still serving as a reserve, they eventually pulled the TSW's out-of-service and issued me a 15+1 capacity M&P 40. No biggie. I could go a little longer between loading during shot strings in quals & training.
Between those times I'd carried some issued and personally-owned hi-cap guns at various times, and I certainly own a fair number of pistols which use 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or 12rd mags.
Nowadays, whenever I feel like carrying one of my well-worn/used .45's, it's usually NOT one of my 1911's, Ruger KP90DC or M&P 45 ... but either my CS45 or my original 4513TSW, both of which use 6rd mags. The kicker? I generally don't top-off after chambering a round anymore, so I usually carry them loaded with only 6rds (and carry a single spare 6rd mag).
Guess I don't see a horrific problem with lower capacity weapons used in my retirement CCW role.
Then again, some days I lean toward the "higher capacity" pistols that use 7-10rd mags, because I still like the ones I own and have put in a lot of trigger time them when I was working the range.
I thought I'd already posted in this thread? Maybe another one like it?
Anyway, I started my LE career carrying a 6-shot revolver on-duty, and either a revolver or Colt Commander off-duty (7rd mags in those days).
I finished my career carrying an issued 4513TSW (7+1) and 1 or 2 spare mags (plainclothes), and increasingly often one of my 5-shot snubs off-duty. (Full-size issued .45's were 4566TSW's, with 8rd mags, but I thought that became a boat anchor over the course of 10-18hr shifts, and preferred the lighter aluminum compacts.)
Sure, eventually, in my retired capacity still serving as a reserve, they eventually pulled the TSW's out-of-service and issued me a 15+1 capacity M&P 40. No biggie. I could go a little longer between loading during shot strings in quals & training.
Between those times I'd carried some issued and personally-owned hi-cap guns at various times, and I certainly own a fair number of pistols which use 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or 12rd mags.
Nowadays, whenever I feel like carrying one of my well-worn/used .45's, it's usually NOT one of my 1911's, Ruger KP90DC or M&P 45 ... but either my CS45 or my original 4513TSW, both of which use 6rd mags. The kicker? I generally don't top-off after chambering a round anymore, so I usually carry them loaded with only 6rds (and carry a single spare 6rd mag).
Guess I don't see a horrific problem with lower capacity weapons used in my retirement CCW role.
Then again, some days I lean toward the "higher capacity" pistols that use 7-10rd mags, because I still like the ones I own and have put in a lot of trigger time them when I was working the range.
When out wadin the weeds......
And the threat of ambush by amateur/commercial horticulturist's was purty real...
I dug out what I thought, I might need in a pinch.
But, while working around the courthouse,
I believed the Gov't model + 2 eight round magazines to be sufficient, for me personally.
.
You carried a Ruger 22LR?
Suppressed. Who doesn't?
keith44spl
Member
Yes Sir, in a holster on the front on my LBV.
When climbing those steep bluffs ya might come face to face with ol ricky rattler or carly copperhead.
Lots of lawmen out on the rural route carry a handy 22...
I used em to dispatch deer that were hit by a vehicle, but still thrashing around.
(Ya don't have to clean yur service pistol afterwards)
.
Last edited:
I always carried a bolt .22 rifle in my trunk. Yes, as mentioned, perfect for traffic wounded animals so you don't dirty service weapon plus not as much noise. Had a man ask me the euthanize his dog after a larger feral dog jumped inside his fence and broke his dogs back. That's a .22 job. The feral dog took sick and died shortly after. I don't think most cops can do such common sense stuff now days. Mine saw a fair amount of use over the years.
Fastbolt
Member
I was enjoying a couple cigars with another retired cop last night. He started at LAPD and was from the last academy class that used revolvers. He said their class motto was the Last of the Gunfighters, but young people can be exuberant that way.
Anyway, one of the things that made me think of this thread topic was when he was talking about an old time LAPD cop he knew who had been the victim of an attempted armed robbery while he was using an ATM one day. He said he'd gotten the details directly from the guy.
A van pulled up at the curb behind him while he was at the ATM. Two men jumped out with drawn handguns and a driver was visible in the open front passenger door. The cop noticed the activity as the suspects were jumping out of the van, saw what was happening, so he spun and drew his revolver against the rapidly approaching armed suspects (meaning they were pointing guns at him and acted/looked like "robbers"). He quickly shot both of them before they said anything (or managed to shoot him), and when the driver saw what had happened and quickly reached downward for something out-of-sight (which the victim cop assumed might be a gun), he shot him. The suspects were all down and unmoving, so he reloaded his revolver because he knew he only had 1 live round left, and waited for the cavalry to arrive.
I commented that it had probably been a good thing that the suspect behind the wheel in the van apparently hadn't had the gear in Drive, or they'd have also had to dispatch a traffic unit for the TC if the van had traveled forward out-of-control with a dead driver. Details.
It's not necessarily the capacity, but the person with "whatever capacity" using what's available to best effect.
Anyway, one of the things that made me think of this thread topic was when he was talking about an old time LAPD cop he knew who had been the victim of an attempted armed robbery while he was using an ATM one day. He said he'd gotten the details directly from the guy.
A van pulled up at the curb behind him while he was at the ATM. Two men jumped out with drawn handguns and a driver was visible in the open front passenger door. The cop noticed the activity as the suspects were jumping out of the van, saw what was happening, so he spun and drew his revolver against the rapidly approaching armed suspects (meaning they were pointing guns at him and acted/looked like "robbers"). He quickly shot both of them before they said anything (or managed to shoot him), and when the driver saw what had happened and quickly reached downward for something out-of-sight (which the victim cop assumed might be a gun), he shot him. The suspects were all down and unmoving, so he reloaded his revolver because he knew he only had 1 live round left, and waited for the cavalry to arrive.
I commented that it had probably been a good thing that the suspect behind the wheel in the van apparently hadn't had the gear in Drive, or they'd have also had to dispatch a traffic unit for the TC if the van had traveled forward out-of-control with a dead driver. Details.
It's not necessarily the capacity, but the person with "whatever capacity" using what's available to best effect.
Last edited:
tomrkba
Member
- Joined
- Aug 27, 2012
- Messages
- 111
- Reaction score
- 69
I carry one spare mag at home. Outside the home in states where I can legally carry, I carry two spare mags. Sometimes, I carry a third up front in an appendix carry holder. Other times, I carry my single reload up front.
Last edited:
I retired a couple years ago after 42 years of service (Military, State, & Municipal), all on the street. In the last agency I served in, a city police dept. I worked nightshift for over ten years. My Chief had/has a pretty good firearms policy and I was allowed to carry my Colt 1911 .45 ACP w/ 4 spare mags. In all those years, I had some close calls but I never had to shoot at another human being (I did get pretty good at de-escalating things though).
I started out with a 1911A1 (w/ 2 five round mags) in the Army and carried an issued 28-2 6” as a State Trooper (w/ Dump Pouches). During most of my career I also carried a 12 ga. Shotgun and a 5.56mm Carbine.
I never felt I was out-gunned. I shoot my 1911’s better than any other pistol so I felt it gave me an edge (especially in light of the fact LEO’s are responsible for every round fired).
I started out with a 1911A1 (w/ 2 five round mags) in the Army and carried an issued 28-2 6” as a State Trooper (w/ Dump Pouches). During most of my career I also carried a 12 ga. Shotgun and a 5.56mm Carbine.
I never felt I was out-gunned. I shoot my 1911’s better than any other pistol so I felt it gave me an edge (especially in light of the fact LEO’s are responsible for every round fired).
66snub
Member
I’m of the opinion that my Sig P226, with 12+1, is the bare minimum that I would be comfortable with for duty use. As much as I’d love my quartermaster to issue me a brand new railed E Series 1911 for duty, 8+1, regardless of the number of extra mags, its still too close for comfort.
Similar threads
- Locked
