Would any cop today feel an advantage with a .357 Magnum revolver?

[Doug.38PR]

Would any policemen today feel better armed with a .357 Magnum over say a 9mm or a Glock .40 high capacity gun?
The .357 Magnum used to be favored for some because it was a much more powerful load than the standard service arm (back then a .38 Special)...it still is! What it lacks in capacity it more than makes up for in literal firepower (adding penetration abilities and "stopping power")...even rated against the .357 Sig it oversteps it especially with heavier loads in 158-200 gr.
On the side, a 4-6 inch barreled N frame, L or even K frame .357 Magnum with a half or full underlug looks mighty intimidating compared to a little glock box

 

[WR Moore]

Not a cop, however, we were issued the .357 1988-1992 when it was replaced by the 1006, replaced in 2006 by the M&P40. The round gun comes in dead last as a combat weapon.

 

[pinkymingeo]

Years ago the FBI in Miami gave some agents handguns and sent them to a rifle fight. The result was pretty bad. They could have admitted it was a dumb thing to do and improved their procedures but, being what they are, the Feds proceeded to spend lots of time and money on extensive studies which concluded, I guess predictably, that they needed to buy lots of new stuff. They needed handguns that held more ammo and went bang louder. Smaller agencies gleefully agreed. The whole thing is nonsense. Handguns stink even for personal defense, and are a joke for "combat". They're just easy to carry and conceal. If you've got to go where there might actually be some shooting at people, a shotgun or rifle is highly recommended. Better yet, stay home.

 

[sourdough44]

I just read the aftermath of a shootout in A Handgunner. LEO working pvt security in uniform in FL. Anyway a shootout ensued at close range,while wounded,under extreme duress. He may of had one or 2 rounds left in his hi cap Glock 22. I wouldn't fault him at all for using that many shots. He was shot in the jaw & a few other places right from the get-go. I think there is a notable difference in proper armament between the 'low probability' CCW guy & a front line LEO. I would prepare accordingly.

 

[kbm6893]

Revolvers of any caliber are not really good choices for an officer. I really like my revolvers, and sometimes carry them, but if I was in uniform again, I would not want a revolver. Now, for outdoor activities like hiking or camping, they're the way to go.

 

[sgt.207]

I was hired as a police officer in 1988 and was issued the S&W 681 with 125grain 357 magnum loads. About two months later, I was issued an S&W 669 with standard pressure Remington 115grain jhp's. I felt then, that I had to turn in my 357 magnum for a semi-automatic "38 special". If i was still on the job today and had my choice between the two, I would choose the magnum although we have come a long way with bullet design, like the CCI Gold Dot round, etc, making the 9mm a reasonable choice now.

 

[wewaslim]

Just my two cents, but firepower and magazine capacity will never replace the actual ability to hit the target. In most "shootouts" you read where the police or bad guy will fire dozens of shots with only one or two hits. One hit with a .38 special round nose beats 17 misses with a .40 hollow point any time.

 

[Devildogs1907]

Gentlemen,
I worked in Cleveland's worst area for over 13 years with a model 10 heavy barrel. I felt 'undergunned' only one time (the only time on the job that I was really worried.) The revolver will do 98% of what you have to do, providing you do your part.
I love them - and always will. To this day (retired 11 years) I carry a 2" model 60 from 1974.
Semper fi,

Dave Swaffield

 

[Dan Cash]

There are surely a lot of anti six gun sentiments expressed by the gun rag commandos. The next step is to condem the auto loader (high cap) in favor of a submachinegun.

 

[Joe Kent]

I never felt underarmed with a revolver{40 years ago in the dark ages} and quite frankly I still do not. My favorite "service" revolver is the 7-shot 686 Mt. Gun. The main advantage, in my opinion, for the auto loader is the speed of reloading and initial on gun ammo load. As long as it is over in the first few rds. I shoot better with the wheelgun and will continue to use it to "fight" my way to my rifle. There is truly a good reason when you see all those old photos of the Texas Rangers that they are usually pictured holding long guns.

 

[raveneap]

When I became a LEO some 48 years ago, we were issued .38 spls. (Colts) That progressed to 357 mags (SW and Colt) (both great revolvers.) From there the semi auto years arrived and we went to Beretta 9mm 92F's. (Extremely well made and dependable) which I was carrying when I retired after 29 yrs of service. Since then my department has switched to H&K .45's. An excellent pistol from all reports. The only time I ever felt under gunned was with the .38's. The 9mm were also not as powerful as one might like but did provide more rounds between reloads. These observations are only my opinions and I'm sure that there are many out there with different points of view.

 

[st regis]

NOTHING wrong with "the round gun." I learned how to fight with a revolver, and still can. I would gladly carry a .357 on duty. We have long guns that should be broken out if you are on your way to a call where you already know the bad guy is armed.

 

[BE Mike]

I would not feel under-gunned with a .357 magnum revolver. I've talked to a lot of dinosaurs who started out with revolvers, say the same thing. In my experience, when we went to autos, the agency marksmanship requirements and individual marksmanship abilities took a nose-dive. I'm not against training to shoot close and fast, but I believe the fundamentals of marksmanship should be ingrained first.

 

[old bear]

Two for one answers.

I carried one of two .357’s to work every day for 27 years, and I never felt out gunned. By the time my department replaced the issue M-19’s with autoloaders I was working investigations and had a certain amount of latitude in duty weapon choice. Over the years I have owned any number of high quality automatics and from time to time carried one of them as my “off shift” weapon, but I still prefer a quality .357 as my weapon of choice.

As for the F.B.I. gun battle in Miami.
1-Sadly some brave men died that day.
2- I have studied varying accounts of that tragedy, and I will NOT second guess what the agents did or did not do. They were the ones on the scene and took what they believed was the only course of action open to them at the time.
3- I will note that the shotgun was not brought into action until the fight was almost over. If I remember correctly all but three (3) of the agents were armed with S&W .357 revolvers. (The two (2) H.R.T. agents were armed with 9 M/M pistols) Yet none of the agent’s .357’s were loaded with .357 ammo, and the agents were shooting 38 special +P ammo. If Platt and Matix had been shot with .357 rounds would that had taken them out of the fight sooner, no one knows.
4- Matix was shot once in the right arm early in the fight that wound along with the fact by firing his Mini 14 directly in front of Matix; Platt took him out of the fight. Platt was wounded several times but was still able to continue the fight. Only the COURAGE and DEDICATION of Special Agent Edmundo Mireles, Jr. prevent Platt from temporally escaping.
The FBI’s actions after the shoot out was typical for any government agency, throw money at the problem do a study and the problem will end up going away. It’s sad that a number of brave Federal agents had to die before changes were to be made.

 

[Pigirondan]

I've probably mentioned this before, I work as a firefighter in a city where there is a lot of gun play. Shootings mostly are ambushes/drive-bys where 9mm and 7.62 x 39 are the primary choice. Clearly, if you get shot multiple times with either one of those rounds, you're screwed.

However, the most devastating one shot stops (dead) that I have seen were from .357 Magnum 125 grain JHP and 12 gauge 00 buckshot. Currently, the 45 ACP incapacitates like no other and the .40 S&W does well when placed well.

YMMV.

 

[Gary7]

Handguns stink even for personal defense,

Really? If someone tries to assault me with his fists or a knife, I think I have an advantage with my handgun. If he has a handgun, then we're equally armed. In neither case am I at a disadvantage. I don't see how a handgun "stinks" in self-defense situation.

 

[redlevel]

Handguns stink even for personal defense, and are a joke for "combat". They're just easy to carry and conceal.

I recall a few years back when there was a "man with a gun" alarm in one of the big cities. It was Halloween, and some idiot had dressed up in robes with an Osama bin Laden mask and a cut-out-of-plywood silhouette AK-47. A camera truck responded with the officers, and there was video of two officers, Glops drawn, advancing on the underpass where the fool was reported to be. They arrested the idiot and all was well, but if it had been an actual bad guy with a real AK, there would have been two dead cops. I just shake my head when I see all the police video on the various shows where officers head into a confrontation with a known gunman with only handguns.

I served briefly as a Deputy and part-time small-City PD in the early seventies. I carried a Model 19, a Colt Diamondback, and a S&W Model 39 at various times. If I were suddenly called on to be an LEO today, and had a choice, my first choice would be a good mil-spec 1911A1 with high vis sights and 230 grain hardball, and second choice would be a Model 19 with 158 grain .357 ammo. I would want a carbine and a shotgun to be available within seconds in my patrol vehicle.

 

[Beans]

When I started my LEO career I was issued a Model 10 HB and then the dept replaced them with S&W model 15's.

I carried a Colt Combat Commander as a BUG and I never felt underguned

I my have been bias as I has just served 10 years in the USMC (1961-1971 retired) and was fond of the 1911

 

[WC145]

Would any cop today feel an advantage with a .357 Magnum revolver?

I carry a .357 on duty fairly often and a 9mm auto the rest of the time (recently changed to a S&W 1911 9mm Pro Series). I don't feel that I have any advantage when carrying the .357 but I certainly don't feel that I am at any disadvantage. When I do carry a revolver it's a 586 L-Comp, it's fast, accurate, holds 7rds, and is quick to reload with moonclips. I feel perfectly comfortable carrying it and do not feel "undergunned" when compared to a hi-cap auto.

 

[4inch357]

Choose a good load for any of the service calibers and any differences are minimal compared to awareness, tactics, your ability to hit with the weapon, and so on. Ideally they would be best served to carry whatever they hit the best with and are the most competent with.