Duty weapons

[Broke Hoss]

I know most here aren't as long of tooth as I, but as my son gets ready to graduate the academy, I find myself pondering stupid stuff. I was looking back at the pistols I've carried over the years:
1. S&W mdl 66 (357 mag), 2 speedloaders= 18 rounds total
2. S&W mdl 1086 (10mm), 2 mags= 28 rnds
3. Glock mdl 31 (357 Sig), 2 mags= 46 rnds

I've never felt "undergunned" & can still thread a needle with that old 357 mag. I've even thought about dropping back to 1 mag with the Glock; I'd still be carrying more ammo than with either of the 2 earlier rigs.

So, what have you carried?
What do you carry now?
What is the "perfect" duty weapon? & why?

Can you tell I'm bored?

[DD78]

I've only had one duty gun, issued by my department. A Sig P229 DA/SA in .40 cal. I carry two magazines on the belt and one in the gun for a total of 37 rounds.

If I were you I wouldn't drop back on the ammo. Sure, for your garden variety traffic stop quick shootout you'd probably be just fine with 31 round (assuming 3 15 round mags + 1 chambered). Those are typically pretty brief. A few seconds, a mag worth of rounds and it's over.

However, wouldn't it be a bitch to get involved in something more sustained and not have the ammo on hand. An active shooter for instance? Call me paranoid but I'd rather have and not need than need and not have. While I've never had to face an active shooter for real, I have done it in simunitions training and in FATS. You can blow through a magazine real fast.

I've got my three mags on my belt plus a box of 50 in my duty bag. Should I ever come up against the local version of Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris (Columbine) I'll probably need it. I have my shotgun too of course.

The "ideal" duty weapon is a tough one. Any of the major manufacturers (Sig, H&K, Glock, some S&W's, Springfield, etc.) make solid guns that do the job well. Alot of it comes down to personal preference.

Key elements:

-.357 Sig or .45 ACP
-Rail on the lower reciever
-No thumb safety
-SigLite nights sights or similar
-Hi-cap magazines (10 rounds or better)
-Plenty of associated accessories. For example I can't find a holster that will accept the P229 with an attached light. However the P226 (almost identical gun) has those holsters available everywhere.

[Etho]

Glock 17 with skate tape, night sights, mag well and a TLR1....yeah I'm a young one and like the doodads! Forgot, 3 mags on me at a minimum with more in the car. North Hollywood shootout was prime example that sometimes you may not get to a long gun and need lots of ammo.

[Broke Hoss]

DD78-That's exactly what keeps me from cutting back on immediate available ammo. I figger as soon as I do I'll be in some dodo storm & have to slap myself for a stupid choice. And I got extra available in my bag. I'm working on building up my bailout bag. Your run down of the "perfect" gun is pretty well in line with my thinking. I should've listed mine in my original post.

Etho-Don't think that just cause I'm old I;m against new stuff, if it helps me do my job. My glock wears a light at all times. I went with the Blackhawk light & holster; some don't like em but it does what I want. I don't carry a patrol rifle myself; all supervisors & atleast half of the other guys do. So, rifles are usually available in abundance. I'm the wierd guy who gets out with an 870; extended mag, rifle sights, attached light, sling & side saddle full of slugs. It's loaded with 00 buck & I can hit with the slugs out to about 100 yds, with a rest. I always tell the guys to call me when they need a door opened.

[Etho]

Shotguns have and always will have a place for LE. Even in a gunfight against bad guys with rifles, the shotguns is still useful.

[Trip_Wire]

I'm pretty long in the tooth myself! I also suffer from 'CRS' :huh:

(I declined the issue pistols in favor of my own, until they issued the S&W Model 19 (.357) 4" barrel)

I started out with the S&W Model 27 .357 Revolver w/4" barrel. (My own)

Next All my own.: (Influenced by my duties as SWAT (OIC)

H&K P9S .45 Cal.
SiG Model 220 .45

(Non SWAT Officers were still issued a S&W Model 19 .357; however they could pick from a list of DA 9MM's and .45's if the could qualify with them.)

The standard issue in my old department now is the Glock model 22 in .40 Cal. This includes SWAT. :gag:

[Feet]

-Glock 17
-Glock 22
-Para Ordnance SSP .45 ACP
-Springfield XD 45 Tactical

[Etho]

I'm pretty long in the tooth myself! I also suffer from 'CRS' :huh:

(I declined the issue pistols in favor of my own, until they issued the S&W Model 19 (.357) 4" barrel)

I started out with the S&W Model 27 .357 Revolver w/4" barrel. (My own)

Next All my own.: (Influenced by my duties as SWAT (OIC)

H&K P9S .45 Cal.
SiG Model 220 .45

(Non SWAT Officers were still issued a S&W Model 19 .357; however they could pick from a list of DA 9MM's and .45's if the could qualify with them.)

The standard issue in my old department now is the Glock model 22 in 9MM. This includes SWAT. :gag:

You mean in .40S&W? 17's are 9mm.

[DD78]

You mean in .40S&W? 17's are 9mm.

I've seen a conversion kit for the 22...but that seems like alot of work.

[Trip_Wire]

You mean in .40S&W? 17's are 9mm.

I didn't mention 17's, anywhere in my post Etho. :popcorn:

[Feet]

I didn't mention 17's, anywhere in my post Etho. :popcorn:

He was quoting your reference to Glock 22's being 9mm. You must have meant Glock 17 in 9mm or Glock 22 in .40 S&W.

[Etho]

Ok....but 22's are not 9mm's. 22's are .40s. If your department actually spent the money on 22's in .40 then spent around another $200 per gun to convert them to 9mm then they are idiots.

[Etho]

I've seen a conversion kit for the 22...but that seems like alot of work.

Not really. But it is very cost prohibitive to buy 22's then convert them to 9mm when the 17 is the same price....

It doesn't even make sense to convert your existing stock of 22's into 9mm to save money since Glock cuts departments very good deals if they are trading in old ones for new ones.

[Trip_Wire]

He was quoting your reference to Glock 22's being 9mm. You must have meant Glock 17 in 9mm or Glock 22 in .40 S&W.


Oh! Yeah I checked and I did say 9MM! I have edited it though now! :mrgreen:

Glock model 22's are .40 caliber! :handface:

[Feet]

Ok....but 22's are not 9mm's. 22's are .40s. If your department actually spent the money on 22's in .40 then spent around another $200 per gun to convert them to 9mm then they are idiots.

Word

Not really. But it is very cost prohibitive to buy 22's then convert them to 9mm when the 17 is the same price....

It doesn't even make sense to convert your existing stock of 22's into 9mm to save money since Glock cuts departments very good deals if they are trading in old ones for new ones.

You can get a G17 at dept pricing for $398 brand spankin new!

[cherokeegunsmith]

The only issued duty weapon I had was a Ruger GP-100, SS .357 with FIXED sights, a choice which thrilled practically NO ONE at that Dept. On my own dime at various times I've carried: Beretta 92, Para Ord P1640, USP40, Glock 22, M1911 .45, SW M12 .38 Airweight, SIG 220 .45. As a Parole Officer I've carried Glock 20 (10mm), USP45C, Walther P99 (9mm), SW Model 60 .38, Glock 17, Ruger P89, Glock 21, and my old standby, the M1911 .45.

[DD78]

The only issued duty weapon I had was a Ruger GP-100, SS .357 with FIXED sights, a choice which thrilled practically NO ONE at that Dept. On my own dime at various times I've carried: Beretta 92, Para Ord P1640, USP40, Glock 22, M1911 .45, SW M12 .38 Airweight, SIG 220 .45. As a Parole Officer I've carried Glock 20 (10mm), USP45C, Walther P99 (9mm), SW Model 60 .38, Glock 17, Ruger P89, Glock 21, and my old standby, the M1911 .45.

Well. That's alot of guns...

[cherokeegunsmith]

Firearms are one of my hobbies. I'm a FFL and part-time gunsmith, I've owned a LOT of guns over the years, so I've had an opportunity to carry different guns. The Sherrifs Office I worked for had a fairly liberal fireams policy (at that time), you could basically carry anything you could qualify with, as long as it was at least .38 or 9mm. We had a Deputy who carried a 9x18mm MAKAROV on duty! Parole's guidelines are not as laid back, but we do have some latitude. We can carry 9mm,10mm,.45, .38., or 357 or .40, and we can choose from 13 different makers (as long as we can afford them, since we have to buy our own firearms, hlsters and ammo). Oh, I won't even mention the different guns I carried back in the '80's when I was an Armed Security Guard.

[DD78]

Firearms are one of my hobbies. I'm a FFL and part-time gunsmith, I've owned a LOT of guns over the years, so I've had an opportunity to carry different guns. The Sherrifs Office I worked for had a fairly liberal fireams policy (at that time), you could basically carry anything you could qualify with, as long as it was at least .38 or 9mm. We had a Deputy who carried a 9x18mm MAKAROV on duty! Parole's guidelines are not as laid back, but we do have some latitude. We can carry 9mm,10mm,.45, .38., or 357 or .40, and we can choose from 13 different makers (as long as we can afford them, since we have to buy our own firearms, hlsters and ammo). Oh, I won't even mention the different guns I carried back in the '80's when I was an Armed Security Guard.

Ten years ago our guys had to buy their own guns and could carry just about anything. One of my Lt.'s carried a Dirty Harry long barrel .44 magnum.

About ten years ago the department bought everyone a Beretta Cougar. They didn't like them much so they got some grant money and got everyone a Sig P229 in .40. Great gun!

[cherokeegunsmith]

I have nothing against SIG's,good guns, if somewhat pricey, I have 5 at home, some times I carry my SIG220 (.45) on my own time. My younger brother sometimes carries a SIG 229 in .40 instead of his M1911.