Transition from .38 to .357 - why?

[Landric]

I missed the era of revolvers in LE. However, one has to understand that when a lot of agencies were going to the .357 Magnum the standard .38 Special load was the 158 grain RN. Pretty much any magnum load is going to offer an improvement over the 158 RN. I'm sure some of the same factors were in place then as are now; agencies and officers wanted guns that they thought would do the job better, whether they actually would or not is irrelevant, because everyone thought they would be better. My agency switched from the 9mm Beretta 92FS to the .40S&W Beretta 96FS in 1998 because of the perception that the .40 S&W was "better" than the 9mm. I'd rather carry the 9mm 92, I find the 96 really unpleasant to shoot and not nearly as accurate or reliable as the 92. But, since the powers that be decided the .40 S&W was better than the 9x19, I'm stuck with the 96 until the next time we change weapons (which will probably be sometime this year). Who knows what will be "better" than the 96? It will probably be made of plastic. I'd much rather carry a 681-3 or 686-4, but no one asked me.

 

[Triggernosis]

... I'd rather carry the 9mm 92, I find the 96 really unpleasant to shoot and not nearly as accurate or reliable as the 92. ....

I have a NC State Trooper friend that echoes your sentiment about preferring the 9mm Beretta 92. He said they (NC Highway Patrol) went to the .40 cal because they had a shootout once with a perp. in a pickup truck in which many rounds were exchanged and none of the Troopers' 9mm's penetrated the cab of the truck.

He said the ergonomics and low recoil of the 9mm 92's was just so much more tolerable than the .40's they carry now.

 

[Iggy]

Some of us remember back when a single officer was on duty in a county. There was NO backup or it was an hour away.

We did what we had to do to stay alive. We had to furnish our own sidearms or were issued .38's and maybe as late as the 70's we were issued shotguns.

We carried our own guns because those in charge knew and recognized what was issued was not up to snuff.
I carried my own .41 magnum and I needed every ounce of power that gun provided when the stuff hit the fan, and I needed it badly.

If you didn't hit your adversary and put him down within the first couple of shots, you would probably lie on the ground and watch your blood sink into the dirt hoping some one would find you in time.



A lot of the things LEOs did back then in rural areas to keep the peace and defend the public would get them fired today, but they got the job done and they held the respect of the communities they served.
I was and still am proud of the people I was able to keep out of jail more than the ones that went into the legal system for better or worse.

Now don't get me wrong, I would not have then nor would I now trade places with a NYC or any big city police officer for anything,I have the utmost respect for them and what they have to put up with, but there was and is a world out there where things are entirely different from urban law enforcement.


Times and procedures have changed, but the goals and ideals of LEO's everywhere are still much the same.

Let's be careful out there.

 

[Bullseye Smith]

florida, I won't get in a peeing match with you, but you didn't read all that I said. I love the people wearing the blues, and have high reguard for them. I can tell you have never been in a bar fight with a bunch of red necks and you are the only LE within 30 miles of you. I bet you never got to drag a drunk out of the car window , which you can't do today. Or start patting a drunk down and he pee's all over hands, Today you have to pat him on the back and say that is all right buddy. When I had it done to me I kicked his butt where he had to take his shirt off to pee. The ones giving you the finger is what I was talking about, no respect for the law. I'm proud of all of the LE's out there and hope they go home safe.

 

[florida1098]

I apologize

To all I apologize, be safe and have the greatest New Year ever. To all Leo's, treat everyone as you'd want a family member to be treated. Life is good.

 

[ajpelz]

Glad to see things got straightened out....

 

[Crazy K38]

you know alot of people regard me as some dumb kid, but my thoughts on the issue are this, the .38 spl round will sufficiently kill a man with 2 shots, with good placement even 1 shot, however the .357 magnum round does it with one round, 2 on bad placement, I dissagree with the myth that it will shoot through an engine block, it will however disable and engine if the engine is hit in a vital place, if you have any questions I can furnish info. And now onto the 'wonderful Glocks'..... I think these guns are highly unreliable and wouldn't trust my life to one. The local dept in town issues Glocks of some flavor or another and all but one officer I have spoken with HATES these guns for FTE problems along with a laundry list of others, but polymer based handguns as a whole are not bad, I carry a SW99 in .40 S&W and I have NEVER had a problem with the gun in any form and it has proven to be highly accurate as well, should we have stayed with the .357 magnum, probably, but with higher capacity I say go with the .357 sig or stay with the .40 but train officers to use shot placement versus shot hosement, if I did that in a SD situation I would rot in a cell, not to mention the risk to others it presents, not labeling all LEO's like this but I know many fall into this catagory, thanks for letting me rant.

 

[Bullseye Smith]

To all I apologize, be safe and have the greatest New Year ever. To all Leo's, treat everyone as you'd want a family member to be treated. Life is good.

No Problem, I have a hard time writing what I am thinking. Just need to over look me sometimes. Be careful and be proud!!!! PLUS welcome the the best forum on the net .