New LEO Service Revolver

[Miami_JBT]

That's how we did it back then, easier times!


Now the babies have babies....



Unfortunately in this backwards world, the Thin Blue Line of my family might have to end here....

I'm the last in my line that carried the badge. I will make sure that my kid never becomes one.

 

[MG-70]

1) A 3.5"-4" Model 64, 65, or 66-8 with fixed rear sight.

Option 2) A 3.5"-4" Half-Shroud Ruger GP100.

A nitrited stainless steel would allow for a matte, non-reflective, finish, that is durable and a lot cheaper than bluing.

In all cases, sights should be quick acquisition big dot type front sight, with a tritium center and orange contour, and a U-notch fixed rear. All police model destined guns should include at least two different grip sizes and 2-3 speedloaders.

With that said, if the Reds get it their way, there will be no police, and the world will be one big, peaceful-assembling, government-subsidized, happy place, just like Portland, Seattle, and Los Angeles today!

 

[Darkenfast]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned the Smith and Wesson Model 619. Seven-shot, L-frame, and a bit lighter than the 686's.

 

[ContinentalOp]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned the Smith and Wesson Model 619. Seven-shot, L-frame, and a bit lighter than the 686's.

I didn't see it on S&W's website. Is it still in production?

 

[lihpster]

M-15. If it needs to be current prod. then M-10. Given the .38 Spl. limitation, I think you can't go wrong with the quintessential "cop's gun".

But then I would authorize the use of a 1911 for a "back up gun". And I'd also have each vehicle fitted with 3 long guns. 5.56 patrol rifle or carbine, 9MM sub or carbine, and a 12GA riot gun. Let'em fire me.

 

[EMS6260]

Did the baby arrive in the box?

That's how it was done I had. A model 10 with a 4 inch and 10 with a 2 inch barrel as a back up. Works fine still to this day.

 

[k22fan]

I didn't see it [the 619] on S&W's website. Is it still in production?

The 619 and 620 were very short lived 1990s L frames. The 619 had fixed sights, the 620 adjustable. Unusual for L frames neither had full lugs. There was talk they might supersede the Models 65 and 66 but the market was not buying. Both had tube barrels with shrouds. So called two piece barrels were still new in S&W's line and many revolver buyers didn't want that construction.

 

[k22fan]

Did the baby arrive in the box?

I'd have sworn the stork brings them in a blanket but I might have skipped too many high school health ed. classes.

 

[Ugly Hombre]

Smith and Wesson 520.

Or new model 66.

 

[VaTom]

sjs - you had the answer to your question in the first sentence. In the early
1950's a new FBI Agent showing up for training was given a choice
of either a S&W M&P with heavy 4" barrel or Colts Official Police with the
4" barrel. Either one would still be a good choice today. By the way, the
issue holster was either a Heiser model 457 or a similar one by Crump.
Heiser on the left and Crump on the right, both with my S&W Model 10.

Just for show and tell. For those of us who carried revolvers in the line of duty, I wonder if current production quality is as good as it once was? I don't have any revolvers newer than 1981.

Colt Official Police (1956) and S&W Model 10 Nickel (1978). I carried the Model 10. The Colt OP has a little larger frame but the service grips and double action on the Model 10 are better. The OP feels too slim in my hands.

 

[riverrat38]

Kimber 3 inch K6S, 6 shot, 26 oz, DAO, any 38 +++P, up to 35 KPSI.
I suspect that their 4 inch barrel could be grafted on. The 4 inch K6S is DASA. With the 4 inch tube, the weight would be about 3 oz heavier.
I think the the revolver would be very shootable with 38 SPL +P. Even Buffalo Bore.

73,
Rick

 

[MG-70]

I'd have sworn the stork brings them in a blanket but I might have skipped too many high school health ed. classes.

If you had remembered to obtain your parent's written consent, you would've likely had sat through one of the most enlightening classes in junior high. Of course, if you had older brothers, and access to a VCR, then you would've likely seen much more than that unfortunate female coach who was assigned the task of teaching it. I had two older brothers, and watched enough Swedish short films to last a lifetime.

 

[rincar]

I am a S&W lover but I would have to pick the Ruger SP101 for plain clothes Officers. The Ruger GP100 3 and 4 inch for uniform officers. Then S&W model 60 and 640 and the light weight versions of those revolvers for off duty and back up weapons.

 

[thomasinaz]

The Model 627 Pro Series, with 8 round capacity. If I was put in charge of such a thing, that's what would be ordered.

 

[Dave from Pa]

#1 choice would be a 2020 Python
#2 choice would be a Ruger GP100
The Ruger is pretty robust,in the long run I think either would be sufficient.I may be a little biased since I carried both for a duty side arm 60 pounds ago.

 

[Groo01]

Groo here
Had a gold star for a "few" years.
This is not as far feched as it seems.
The main reason for the "wonder 9's" was cops getting killed with empty guns and cases in there hands.[incorrect or no training ]
With modern speed loaders/moon clips ect that would be much less of a problem.
Fewer rounds causes you to be sure of hits and reduces the hail of bullets problems.
Revolvers are not ammo depend like an auto and can use most any type weight or materal of bullet with out feed problems.[also lowest bid ammo]
The important thing is to fit the gun to the shooter.
Too big a grip is hard to fix to small , change wood..
Sights need to be big and fixed is nice "IF" the factory sights them in[like they use to]
A good trigger in double action, [I DO NOT like a DAO though as aimed fire or longer range hitting may be needed]
The number of shots is not as important as where the hit is and the ammo,[cops miss with 80% of there shots, TRAINING]
The barrel should be around 3in +- as most cops are in cars alot.
and and a grip in the ribs is not fun.
As hands come in all sizes and as this is 38/357 any 3in J fram to a 3in
Gp 100 /686 would work.
N frames are out "unless" the officer has larger hands and a larger round is used,
Weight is in the mix but removing n frames helps along with lighter ammo and lighter holsters.
Most officers would be better served with revolvers and remember
most officers NEVER draw let alone fire a gun on duty..

 

[scott1970]

Since we're talking today, I'd go with an old school RG to get ahead of the defund me crowd. Then they'd like me, and I could hopefully keep my job down the line.

They ain't pretty to look at, but I've seen them used successfully on suicides. So, sometimes they work.

 

[kbm6893]

To properly outfit a large Department with revolvers, you need to look at the whole job, not just the shooters. I'm a retired guy from the NYPD. The good shooters, who take it seriously will do well with whatever you give them. The reality is that a LARGE percentage will show up at the range twice a year, attain a passing score, then go back to spilling coffee into their holsters until next time. In 1990 when I went on patrol with a 4" NY-1 loaded with 158 grain LSWC's, (pre NYCLAD),and a 2" NY-1 in my belt, I was complaining about not having a 9MM, but never felt I couldn't address anything that came up during the tour. The 64's available in 4" and 3" as a patrol gun allowed a broad range of average shooters to do fairly well on the range as well as on the road.


Give'em K frame's!

Yeah. I remember a guy in front of me at Rodman's Neck drawing and presenting his revolver from his Jay Pee holster and a few petrified French fries fell out as he drew the gun. I still have a few boxes of Nyclad ammo. Matter of fact, they're still in the speedloaders I have in my safe. In this day and age, .38 ammo is hard enough to find, much less quality self defense ammo. Hell, I still shoot ammo from the 50's in my Garand's.

 

[3rdgeargrndrr]

The SW -19. New US policy is to disarm police and send 19 Social Workers.

 

[brucev]

OK, this is a fantasy question for revolver enthusiasts. I am a reading a book about classic revolvers and am on a chapter about the old SW M&P and the Colt OP revolvers and a question came to mind.

Assume you are the man in charge of firearm procurement for a large city PD and your local government has lost its mind (that could never happen, right?). You have been ordered to replace all current service pistols with a revolver. Must be 38 SP (or .357 but only 38 ammo would be allowed) double action, US manufacture, and box stock, no modifications of any kind. You have some budget flexibility but can't go crazy with the cost, and PC models are out (not that it has to be a S&W at all).

What revolver would you pick from the current stable of products, and why?

Okey Dokey!!! I'll play!!!

Revolvers! I'm 40 years past the first one I bought. Love good revolvers. So ... if I were in the position of procuring revolvers to arm a large city PD ... if I were limited to .38 Special ammo ... if only allowed DA ... US manufacturer ... box stock ... no modifications permitted ... I'd order up a great big pile of S&W 686's. Officers would get four inch barrels. Detectives would get 2.5 inch barrels. All of the revolvers would be closely inspected to prevent any being accepted with manufacturing problems, etc.

Rational? Easy. There is not a current US manufacturer who produces a .38/.357 revolver of the quality and durability of the S&W L-frame revolver. It offers the very best in fit, finish, trigger pull, sights, stocks, and weight. It has nothing that is not needed. It lacks nothing that is needed. Factory service and target stocks are excellent. Aftermarket stocks are plentiful and adaptable to any need and taste. The revolver is easily serviced. It is rugged as a tank. With reasonable practice any recruit can master its use. Any person with a normal hand size will not have any problems with the grip.

What else is there to say? After all, we are talking revolvers. And, when talking revolvers ... it's always Smith and Wesson. Everything else is of course ... everything else. I am tempted. Oh I am so tempted to say ... when it comes to revolvers, S&W is the pinnacle of ... "Perfection!!!" Oh!!! I did it!!! Apologies to one an all and of course Gaston and company! Sincerely. bruce.