S&W Model 68 CHP

[murphydog]

One just sold on Auction Arms:

Guns For Sale - Revolvers For Sale - Mod. 68 38 sp 6 inch stainless. Calif. Hwy Patrol - Auction: 10579719 (Ended 10/02/2011, 18:03:00 PST)

 

[Colokeb]

Have pair 67 and 68 in SS CHP. Smothest actions of all my Smiths, but they were the CHP Armorer's revolvers.

 

[bummer]

Did they ever make the model 67 or 68 in 2 " like the model 15?

 

[Hannibal Barca]

As the other forist said it was because of internal and burocratics regulations. But stil they complecated the life even more, why did´t they use models 19 or 66 with .38 special +P ammo? Just like the FBI did, they used models 13 with .38 special +P ammo.

 

[indy78]

I just came across this thread during my search for a CHP Commemorative Model 68. I've read the post as to why the CHP issued the .38 instead of the .357. I was on the CHP for 30 years and was issued the model 67. We had a choice of either the Model 67 4", or the Model 68 6". I chose the 4" so it did not hit the seat while while on patrol and push up on my hip. I chose not to use a swivel holster that would prevent the 6" from pushing up into my hip while driving all day. I read we were limited to the .38 because then Gov Brown thought we would hurt too many people with the .357. All I know is the weapons staff taught us to shoot to kill. We could carry a .357 from an approved list of guns, but we were responsible for the purchase and repairs. I eventually went with a 4" Model 686.

 

[jeff22]

Mike Wood just wrote a very interesting book called "The Newhall Shooting: A Tactical Analysis" about the famous gun battle in which 4 California Highway Patrol officers were killed in 1970.

He has a very interesting appendix in the book called: "A History of CHP firearms, equipment and firearms training". It was in about 1976 that the S&W 67 and 68 revolvers became standard issue. The duty load was the Winchester 110 grn +P+ jacketed hollow point (the "Treasury Load").

CHP officers could carry .357 magnum revolvers if they purchased the guns themselves, but had to carry the issue .38+P+ issue loads.

Most cops aren't shooters. Most of them seldom or never shoot in practice. For somebody who only shoots the minimum required during in-service training, a round that has less recoil will probably work better, because they can get back on target more rapidly.

I became a cop in 1981. The vast majority of cops still carried revolvers then. For those officers who carried .357 magnum revolvers, was common practice to use .38 ammo for training and carry .357 mag ammo for service use. Some agencies said that all officers had to shoot .38s regardless of what caliber revolver they had. Several agencies around here allowed officers to carry .357 mag rounds loaded in the cylinder but required all reloads to be .38s, presumably to allow officers to exchange ammo in the middle of a protracted gunfight . . .

I briefly carried a .357 mag revolver on duty, loaded with .357 magnum rounds. Some of my practice was done with .357 rounds and anytime I shot the gun in an IPSC match I used .357 rounds because they made major power factor. (The few times I shot in PPC matches with that gun I shot .38s I think)

I had never heard of the Smith & Wesson model 68 until I recently read Mike Wood's book on the Newhall incident.

 

[OldPlaca]

Model 68

I joined the CHP in 1980. As cadets, we were issued the Model 67 (4"-barrel revolver) or the Model 68 (6"-barrel revolver). Both capable of the .38 +P+ ammo. We selected either one, I went with the Mod. 68. The pistols were stamped "CHP" on the frame. What we were told by our weapons instructors at the time is that prior to the time when the CHP started issuing these guns, officers were allowed to carry either .38 or .357 revolvers. The 2 most popular were S&W and Colts. When the CHP started issuing a specific revolver and basic ammo, they went with one firearms company (basic state-mandated bidding process) and one cal. ammo for bulk purchase (also though bidding process). The CHP weapons staff evaluated all proposed firearms and ammo under specific criteria of performance and safety. The one "political rule" was they could not call the ammo "hollow point bullets", probably because it sounded too cruel. So they labeled it "Controlled Expansion" rounds. There was no issue about whether the higher powered ammo would hurt too much. We were trained to hit center-mass for maximum effect and maximum chance of hitting the target. Deadly force is just that!

Regarding the use of .38 Cal. instead of .357 Mag., my understanding (from my instructors) is that it was an issue of ammo interchangeability. That is, in a fire fight, if an officer ran out of ammo, their partner could provide one of their speed-loaders full of the same ammo that would fit. Both .38s and .357 could take the .38 ammo, whereas only the .357s could use .357 magnum ammo. So the .38 won out. Granted, this was a rather far-fetched rationale, but it sort of makes sense.

While on the job, I noticed that even though the CHP issued the S&Ws, many officers purchased and carried their own sidearms while still using the required issued .38 cal. ammo. The CHP eventually lifted their restriction on .38 Cal. ammo, only - around 1988, I think. I purchased and carried a S&W Mod. 686, .357 Magnum and carried .357 Mag. ammo in it, which the CHP provided. This was in the days before the CHP went to automatic pistols.

 

[dwhite]

Here's a link to a great article about the S&W 68.

Great website. One of the few active websites devoted to wheelguns.

 

[OIF2]

Here's a link to a great article about the S&W 68.

Great website. One of the few active websites devoted to wheelguns.

Thanks for the heads-up on the website...good article. Only mistake was the statement that M68s were bought by the dept and issued to LAPD officers. 68s were only offered through the LAPPL (LA Police Revolver Club) and sold to members. An LAPD officer could purchase and carry a 68 on duty if it was "neutered" (converted to DAO). Great revolver-I still shoot mine weekly. One of the best 6" .38s ever made.
Bob

 

[Jim Kerr]

CHP Mod 68

I joined the CHP in 1980. As cadets, we were issued the Model 67 (4"-barrel revolver) or the Model 68 (6"-barrel revolver). Both capable of the .38 +P+ ammo. We selected either one, I went with the Mod. 68. The pistols were stamped "CHP" on the frame. What we were told by our weapons instructors at the time is that prior to the time when the CHP started issuing these guns, officers were allowed to carry either .38 or .357 revolvers. The 2 most popular were S&W and Colts. When the CHP started issuing a specific revolver and basic ammo, they went with one firearms company (basic state-mandated bidding process) and one cal. ammo for bulk purchase (also though bidding process). The CHP weapons staff evaluated all proposed firearms and ammo under specific criteria of performance and safety. The one "political rule" was they could not call the ammo "hollow point bullets", probably because it sounded too cruel. So they labeled it "Controlled Expansion" rounds. There was no issue about whether the higher powered ammo would hurt too much. We were trained to hit center-mass for maximum effect and maximum chance of hitting the target. Deadly force is just that!

Regarding the use of .38 Cal. instead of .357 Mag., my understanding (from my instructors) is that it was an issue of ammo interchangeability. That is, in a fire fight, if an officer ran out of ammo, their partner could provide one of their speed-loaders full of the same ammo that would fit. Both .38s and .357 could take the .38 ammo, whereas only the .357s could use .357 magnum ammo. So the .38 won out. Granted, this was a rather far-fetched rationale, but it sort of makes sense.



While on the job, I noticed that even though the CHP issued the S&Ws, many officers purchased and carried their own sidearms while still using the required issued .38 cal. ammo. The CHP eventually lifted their restriction on .38 Cal. ammo, only - around 1988, I think. I purchased and carried a S&W Mod. 686, .357 Magnum and carried .357 Mag. ammo in it, which the CHP provided. This was in the days before the CHP went to automatic pistols.

In 1983 as a CHP cadet I chose the mod 67 then requested to exchange it for the mod 68. The weapons staff stated they would not exchange it and I could request the change once I was assigned to West Valley CHP. While in the Academy the hammer nose on my mod 67 broke 5 times. Most likely due to all the dry firing we did. After a month on the job at a range day the hammer nose broke again. Back at the office I requested a mod 68 and was told I had to keep this mod 67 and the armorer replaced the hammer nose. Having absolutely no faith in the mod 67 I told the armorer to keep it. I went to the Captain, requested a letter to avoid the 10 day wait period, went down to the LAPD Academy and purchased a mod 19.

When we were issued the 4006 I purchased a CHP mod 68 from the department. Another officer didn't wish to purchase their 68 giving me the opportunity to purchase it. About a week after purchasing the 68 I took it to the range and the hammer nose broke, LOL. I had real bad luck with 67 & 68 hammer noses. I placed it in the back of my gun safe where it sat for the past 30 years with a broken hammer nose.

Recently I purchased a new hammer nose and replaced the broken one. The mod 68 has been resurrected and now one of my NRA Bullseye guns. The 68 does have another issue. The barrel is canted. I did not notice this when I purchased it. It's canted to the point that the rear sight needs to be adjusted all the way to the right. I contacted Smith & Wesson and they agreed to look at it. I'm waiting for the shipping label to send it in for repair.

 

[jtcarm]

I wonder how many were reamed to .357?

 

[Enigmedic]

I wonder how many were reamed to .357?

Exactly 0. The cylinder is 38 length, with the forcing cone set back to reach the shorter cylinder. The cylinder is too short to allow factory 357 ammo. Note the large gap between the face of the cylinder and frame. This is done on all factory revolvers to allow the bullet to engage rifling sans additional free travel created by 357 cylinder.

 

[indy78]

Range

I have to disagree regarding with this when it comes to the CHP:

"Most cops aren't shooters. Most of them seldom or never shoot in practice. For somebody who only shoots the minimum required during in-service training, a round that has less recoil will probably work better, because they can get back on target more rapidly."

Especially when it comes to the CHP. We shot a timed pistol and shotgun course monthly and if you missed the monthly shoot due to court or being sick, you had to make up the shoot. Once the .223 rifle became standard issue for every unit those shoots were quarterly and the actual qualification with all firearms were carried out annually. The aforementioned still holds true today.

most

Mike Wood just wrote a very interesting book called "The Newhall Shooting: A Tactical Analysis" about the famous gun battle in which 4 California Highway Patrol officers were killed in 1970.

He has a very interesting appendix in the book called: "A History of CHP firearms, equipment and firearms training". It was in about 1976 that the S&W 67 and 68 revolvers became standard issue. The duty load was the Winchester 110 grn +P+ jacketed hollow point (the "Treasury Load").

CHP officers could carry .357 magnum revolvers if they purchased the guns themselves, but had to carry the issue .38+P+ issue loads.

Most cops aren't shooters. Most of them seldom or never shoot in practice. For somebody who only shoots the minimum required during in-service training, a round that has less recoil will probably work better, because they can get back on target more rapidly.

I became a cop in 1981. The vast majority of cops still carried revolvers then. For those officers who carried .357 magnum revolvers, was common practice to use .38 ammo for training and carry .357 mag ammo for service use. Some agencies said that all officers had to shoot .38s regardless of what caliber revolver they had. Several agencies around here allowed officers to carry .357 mag rounds loaded in the cylinder but required all reloads to be .38s, presumably to allow officers to exchange ammo in the middle of a protracted gunfight . . .

I briefly carried a .357 mag revolver on duty, loaded with .357 magnum rounds. Some of my practice was done with .357 rounds and anytime I shot the gun in an IPSC match I used .357 rounds because they made major power factor. (The few times I shot in PPC matches with that gun I shot .38s I think)

I had never heard of the Smith & Wesson model 68 until I recently read Mike Wood's book on the Newhall incident.