Revolver Not Dead for LE Use

[NA225]

I carry a M&P 340 on my ankle every day and a 3 " model 65 or 66 in a strong side belt holster. Its hard to beat a S&W .357 revolver. The always "squirt when you pull the trigger".

 

[Ohio Deputy]

No the revolver is not dead.

I still carry the wheelgun on the street and have for a number of years. With my current agency I am the only officer in my entire county that carries one in uniform. Last qualification I shot my S&W model 66, model 58 .41 magnum and model 649 .38. All of them get exclusive carry time. I do get a good bit of ribbing from some of the other deputies. I'm 43 and my chief deputy is older than I am but still asks when I'm going to quit carrying those antiques. My reply of course is that he is old and we haven't gotten rid of him. Of course my wheelguns have been alikened to carrying a hammer, my reply to that is would you rather be hanging on the cross or banging on the nails.

 

[Catshooter]

Leiden,

Yep, Mountain Gun for sure. They're dang hard to find too, and not to much on the cheap side. Oh well. I'd even go with fixed sights.


Cat

 

[Leiden]

I'd love to have a true "firing pin on the hammer/no-lock" S&W 58 to use on-duty...

It my opinion, that's the ideal LE revolver.

 

[Andy Taylor]

A while back I shot my requal (CA BSIS private security) with my Colt Trooper. I was the only one on the line with a wheelgun. Got some ribbing about being slow, this was before the shoot. I was one of two who scored perfect, (the other was a small female shooting a P226 .40) and I was the fastest one on every stage. Even the stage that was 14 rounds with one madatory reload, so I had one more reload in there than all other shooters.

 

[Hizzie]

I carried a 681PC for years till I changed agencies.

 

[Andy the Aussie]

Wheelguns are still common with Corrections out here. In NSW I believe that Model 10s/64 and some 686s are on issue. Back in the day the Hostage Unit used 6 inch 586s

 

[.357magger]

Most department do not drop guns for plastic unless money is the issue. My agency set a final drop date for revolvers. A little voice told me the issue was that they did not want to carry extra revolver ammo and repair cost.

Several of us that wanted to keep revolvers went before the board and offered to pay for our ammo and all repair cost. The attorney added a little surprise trying to get us to drop the idea. He added the requirement that all duty and off duty revolver get sent back to S&W once a year for a safety inspection which meant that we would have to have spare guns. We all had spares so it was not an issue.

QUOTE]

I don't think it is so much that we can't have revolvers, but that the qualification is changing. The state qualification we've all been using with autos the last 15 to 20 years is actually a "revolver qualification." The courses of fire are in six or 12 round multiples, with reloads when more that six rounds are required.

The new qualification is obviously for autos only as the first string from 25 yards is draw and fire seven rounds...it's all timed of course. There are also additional reloads, empty gun and tactical, that need to be accomplished, along with movement. All in all, it's a great qualification and it's definately ups the requirements for LE officers, but it'd take a true revolver guy to clear the course with a good score. So, it's not that they're saying we can't have them, but that "most" guys that have a .38 J-Frame, and don't practice with it, probably won't make the score as reloads will have to be second nature. Empty gun and tactical reloads with a revolver are slow and the time limits are set up for autos..

While I'm a 250/250 shooter with an auto on the present course (it's an extremely easy course you could pass with your eyes closed), I shot a 245/250 when we shot the new course and the one I pulled was on time, not accuracy. I'd like to try it with a 686, but it'll be tough. It's obvious most see the revolver is dead and want plastic guns.

Just based on the info here, I'd say your "solution" is a 686-5 Plus if you don't like the IL or the newer 686-6 Plus. Seven rounders ROCK and would allow you to compete in this qual, head to head, with anyone using a 1911 or even hi cap semi's. You spoke of your reload drill for your J frame and the same thing applies imo for your K/L/N whatever frame. Practice, practice, practice.

After retirement, I got to open up a lil and have more choice on what I carry now a days. Went back the wheelgun from the very nice M&P Smith in .40 that is current issue. But...I went back with a 7 shooter, not a 6. Can open LOTS of eyes when qualifying (I have to go every year now, rather than per quarter) and regularly beat "the yungins" with combat tupperware. Sadly, many of them don't practice as much as they need (was the same "back in the day" too) to imo and to be "beaten down by an old man" just makes my day. And I still compete on our qual at Expert which means 50 yard shots. Sorry Gents, plastic/fantastic just doesn't stand a chance imo at those distances and 5" 25 yard groups kicks you out of Expert at 50 yds.

Keep pushing your rangemaster or chief or whomever as much as you can. Make range bets with the instructors. Let them shoot your guns. Write a professional proposal as to why you should be allowed to so arm (are you an IDPA or ICORE shooter with scores you can cite?) and let it move up the chain of command. Be creative in your approach is the point.

Good luck in your effort but I too agree that wheelgunners, if they practice, don't have to take a back seat to anyone.