What revolver ammo did / does your LEO use?

[poordevil]

Though I live in Yuma now, I was born and raised in CAL. Imperial County and San Diego County.

In 1982 I attended the SD Police /Sheriff academy as an open enrollee. At that time San Diego Police issued S&W m 10 with 6"skinny BBL in the Bianchi open front holster, like a Berns Martin. The ammo was Lead Simi Wad Cutter, solid. Cops could buy their own Colt, S&W or Ruger revolver, only. It could be .357, they could only carry the .38 special issue ammo.

San Diego Sheriff issued 4" m66 with 126 gr Remington .357 simi jacket hollow point. The kind with the scalloped jacket. They could buy their own gun, but it had to be a 4" m66. If I remember right, the leather was the same as SDPD, only basket-weave. SDPD issued plain leather.

Both agencies issued double speed loader pouches for HKS speed loaders. Some Sheriff Deputies used over under pouches holding 2 up and 2 down.

Riverside County Sheriff issued m 67 with 110 grn +p+ ammo.

P

 

[badge]

At my former agency it was Colt, Ruger or S&W revolver's with 4" inch tubes with Remington 125 grain, Plus P Goldensabre at the time of my retirement and as far as I know it still is the duty round for wheelgun's and it's a good one.

 

[pete950]

When I was allowed to carry a revolver it was S&W mod 66 with Winchester 158 SWCHP.

 

[Old cop]

Uniform was issued a 4" Model 15 w/ 158 gr. FBI +P hollow point. Detectives and commanders (lieutnant and above) were issued the 2" Model 10 w/the same ammo. No other weapons or ammo were allowed w/the exception of off-duty. These had to be a S&W or Colt chambered for .38 and we were required to carry issue PD ammo in our off-duty guns.

 

[elm_creek_smith]

I'm one of three people in my agency still carrying issued 4 inch S&W Model 686 .357 Magnum revolvers. My ammunition is Remington 125 grain SJHP .357 Magnum. My BGU is a personally-owned nickel S&W Model 37 .38 Special revolver. My ammunition for that is Buffalo Bore Standard Pressure 158 grain LSWCHP-GC.

Everyone else carries Glock 22s with Federal 180 grain JHPs. We are city armed security officers. Y'see, there are some things the police won't do.

ECS, "Old School"

 

[JamesArthur60]

Oh my, I have to go back to the mid 70's. We were issued the M10 and carried 158 grain semi-jacketed Federal. Six chambered and 12 total in belt snap pouches. Hollow points were not allowed. Everything was departmental issued. No bring and carry permitted.

 

[blujax01]

Store in Columbus is advertising "Police Trade" ammo in this month's circular. Remington 38 Special +P 125 gr JHP ($14.99/50) and Golden Sabres ($14.99/25). Probably part of the same DOC deal that brought all those $300 revolvers to town earlier this year.
http://www.vanceoutdoors.com/flyer/flyer.pdf

 

[red9]

I am really dating myself, but when I started (1970) we carried 200 grain Winchester plated lead round nose in personally owned Smith or Colt revolvers. I was not in uniform and bought a model 12. Within a year, after five hits didn't stop an armed robber, we went to the Federal 158 grain lead hollow point. We later issued model 15's, followed by Ruger Police Service Sixes. I always regret not buying my model 15 when given the chance, but I was not a collector at the time. At the time of my retirement (2006) the issue combo was still the same, with personally owned 9mm's with Gold Dot as an option.

Bob

 

[Old Corp]

Started in Raleigh, NC in 1980. Issued were a mix of Colt Troopers and Trooper Mk III's in .357. Duty round was the S&W-brand .38 spl. +P 110, and slightly later 125 gr. JHP. At the time S&W made a big deal about the bullets being of different design for .38's and .357's, ie., different jacket thickness to ensure reliable expansion.

About 1981-82, the agency adopted the S&W M66 4" and stayed with a similiar duty round, the Federal .38 spl. +P 125 gr. JHP.
I once queried the training department as to why were were carrying .357's, and using .38's for duty and was told it was in case an officer's gun was snatched and used against him.
I could hardly contain my wonderment at this form of rationalization and decision making.

Unfortunately, I had to use my M66 in 1982 against a suspect wanting to use a butcher knife on me. It took all 6.
Still have that M66 - it'll be a hard one to let go of.......

 

[Texas Star]

Dallas, TX issued a variety of S&W's in .38: M-10, M-15, later M-64.

In about 1974, they performed a series of tests and adopted the Winchester lead HP Plus P. It performed well, from what I've heard and read. Some carried .357's with Winchester 145 grain ammo, Silvertips. They also did very well in battle.

We have a member who was a detective in suburban Richardson. He recently posted about these rounds, saying that they had ended a number of criminal careers.

In the trials, Dr. Vincent DMaio, with whom I spoke about the matter, told me that the old RN lead round was depositing only about 74 foot pds. of energy into the gelatin test blocks. The HP round was giving over 200 Ft. lbs.

Now, Dallas has 9mm SIG's and some .357 SIG's. I talked to a man carrying a .357 SIG P-229. He lacks faith in the 9mm with the 147 grain ammo issued. He can carry full power 125 grain SIG ammo. Two others, armed with 9mm's, didn't even know which ammo weight their bullets were!

A few still carry revolvers, grandfathered in. No new hires can carry revolvers since about 2001, or so. I've seen M-64's, M-66's, and a couple of 686's. Also saw one Beretta M-92 9mm, probably also grandfathered in. The man carrying the Beretta liked it very much, but I didn't think to ask if it was still optional for new hires. Probably not: I think they're going all SIG , but sell the guns to the cops at a reduced price, if they buy via the dept.

I've seen P-226, P-228, and P-229's in use.

In the 1970's and later, one could see about any suitable S&W revolver in use, in some cases in .44 Mag. or .45 Colt. Some had six-inch barrels. No more!

I talked to a guy who shot a fleeing felon with a four-inch M-29 and full mag. loads. He put four holes in his back, all exiting the chest. The felon ran a couple of blocks before dropping dead. That officer switched to a four-inch M-19 and .357 ammo.

 

[Texas Star]

Started in Raleigh, NC in 1980. Issued were a mix of Colt Troopers and Trooper Mk III's in .357. Duty round was the S&W-brand .38 spl. +P 110, and slightly later 125 gr. JHP. At the time S&W made a big deal about the bullets being of different design for .38's and .357's, ie., different jacket thickness to ensure reliable expansion.

About 1981-82, the agency adopted the S&W M66 4" and stayed with a similiar duty round, the Federal .38 spl. +P 125 gr. JHP.
I once queried the training department as to why were were carrying .357's, and using .38's for duty and was told it was in case an officer's gun was snatched and used against him.
I could hardly contain my wonderment at this form of rationalization and decision making.

Unfortunately, I had to use my M66 in 1982 against a suspect wanting to use a butcher knife on me. It took all 6.
Still have that M66 - it'll be a hard one to let go of.......

Thank you for the account of your shooting incident. It is difficult to get first-hand accounts from valid sources.

Where did your rounds strike the suspect, and what was his
reaction? Did the lab later tell you if the bullets expanded, and to what degree?

I sometimes use .38 125 grain ammo, but it's Speer Gold Dot or the Federal 129 grain Hydra-Shok, not the Federal load you had. If penetration is an issue, I use lead HP Plus P ammo in 158 grain weight. But, I've never had to shoot anyone, thank goodness.

I prefer .357 ammo when outdoors and not in a crowded setting, but load .38's for home defense and in .38-only guns. My M-66 -3 is my favorite revolver, I suspect. I certainly understand your affection for your M-66! It saved your life that time!

 

[David Sinko]

The Sheriffs in the county where I work were required to carry a Model 64 with 4" barrel right up until last year. The only leeway they had was a choice of grips. Now they all carry Glocks.

I'm allowed to carry whatever I want as a backup and off duty and usually that's my 625 with 2" barrel. My department is fairly large and very few of us carry revolvers as backups. One carries a revolver for sentimental reasons (the revolver was passed down through the generations) and another quit the small autos in disgust after he couldn't find on that functioned properly.

Dave Sinko

 

[jimmyj]

1962 to 1975 I was required to furnish my own service weapon.
1. 1962-Colt Trooper .38spl / 158gr. LRN
2. 1963- Colt Trooper .357 / 158gr .357 LSWC
3. 1964 - S&W M10 / 158gr LRN
4. 1965 - S&W M1950 .45acp / 230gr FMJ
5. 1966 - S&W M29 .44mag / 240gr JSP
6. 1975 - issued S&W M64 / 125gr. JHP
7. 1988 - issued Colt Python / 158gr. LSWC-HP
8. 1990 - S&W M25 / .45acp JHP
9. 1991 - S&W M29 / .44mag JHP
10. 1995 -S&W M4506 / .45acp JHP
11.1995 - Issued S&W M6906 / 9mm JHP
12.1997 - issued S&W M29 / .44mag. 240gr JHP
issued S&W M28 / .357mag. 158gr. JHP (off duty)
13. 1998 -issued Sig-Sauer P-229 / 180gr JHP
14. 2007 - Retired / Glock 9mm JHP

 

[papajohn428]

The S&W M-66 4" was pretty much the universal department issue when I first joined the LE community in the mid 80's. Ammo was the Remington 38 Special 125+P JHP. The rare exception was my last agency, which issued the excellent S&W M-681 and full-power 357 Remington ammo.

 

[Chili Vega]

Just for clarification, Riverside County did not issue Model 67's. The issue revolver during that time frame would have been Model 64's. The issued load was a Winchester (although manufacturers varied from time to time) 110 gr. +p. Later 125 gr .357 magnums from Remington were approved (this was an option open to the shooter and required range master approval) and the issued revolver became a Model 65. In the early 90's the .357 load changed to 158 gr from Winchester. Around 2002 the .38 became a 125 gr +P from Winchester as well. Bianchi holsters (Hurricane and Judge) were issued. Currently the Speer 158 gr magnum load is authorized as well as the Winchester. Deputies have a great deal of choice as to what they can carry. This goes for Autos, rifles and shotguns as well. They just have to be willing to purchase them.

 

[sigp220.45]

The Air Force issued me my first revolver - a four inch Model 15. Great gun, but awful ammo. Its the odd looking one in the middle - 130 grain FMJ at a very leisurely velocity.

After that I carried a Model 36 and an N-frame .357. The Chief's was loaded with +P+ 147 grain Hydra-Shoks, and the bigger gun carried 145 grain Silvertips.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

My local PD uses Speer Gold Dot ammo. I'm not sure what the PA State Police are using now that they switched over from the 40 S&W to the .45 GAP. I'm not sure what the County Sheriffs are using but I think it's Federal Hydroshok ammo.

 

[safearm]

Uniform issue gun was a S&W Model 15, 4 inch barrel, with Winchester 158 grain LSWCHP+P (Chicago load). After probation, you could carry personally owned weapon (POW) after approval/qualification by the Rangemaster, still had to use the city issued ammunition. Majority of POWs were S&W, primarily Model 19 and Model 66. Had a couple of Colts (I carried a Colt Python that I got from an investigator in a trade for a Model 66 2.5 inch barrel) and a couple of Ruger Security Sixes. Investigators and command officers could carry short barrel revolvers. No rules for off-duty guns.

 

[Glenn H]

Circa 1978 Aurora CO PD. Officer purchased Colt or S&W, six shot .38 or .357 only. You could carry .357 in the weapon but had to carry .38 in your drop pouches. No speed loaders were authorized until 1979. W/W 158 grain +p hollowpoint .38 was issue ammo. You were given 18 rounds. You had to carry .357 W/W 158 grain hollowpoints if you wanted to have them in the weapon. Lots of officers carried a couple of speed strips in their pockets with .357.

I had a M19 in 4 inch. Very common weapon, cheaper than the Colt and a good size for most officer's hands. Some Highway Patrolmen, some Pythons. Had to be blued and had to have stock or Pachmeyer grips. Dicks could carry 9MM or .45 autos if they qualified.

 

[Bert Man]

My first issued weapon in 1972 was the M19 4-inch and Super-Vel 38 Spl 110JHP. In 1974 the m19 was replaced with the m66 4-inch. Duty ammo was changed to Rem. 38 SPL 125JHP+P. Officers were allowed to carry 357 ammo on the belt as backup but were required to carry the 38+p in the revolver.

In 1992, after moving to another department our issue weapon was the Glock 17 and Fed. BPLE 115JHP+P+. In 1999 a change was made to the Glock 21/30 and Fed. 45 ACP 185+P Hydra-Shok, later changed to the Fed. 230JHP Hydra-Shok until my retirement in 2002.