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View Poll Results: What handgun caliber does your local police department generally use?
.38 1 0.68%
9mm 23 15.65%
.357 2 1.36%
.40 92 62.59%
.45 Colt 1 0.68%
.45 ACP 20 13.61%
.44 Magnum 1 0.68%
Other (please specify) 7 4.76%
Voters: 147. You may not vote on this poll

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Old July 31, 2014, 10:27 PM   #1
ATN082268
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What caliber does your local police department generally use?

What handgun caliber does your local police department generally use?

Last edited by ATN082268; July 31, 2014 at 10:32 PM.
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Old July 31, 2014, 10:31 PM   #2
Aguila Blanca
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I took a citizens police academy a couple of years ago and I was surprised to learn that the patrol officers carry single-stack SIGs in .45 Auto.

They also carry AR-15 carbines in the patrol cars.
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Old August 1, 2014, 12:40 AM   #3
JeffK
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Sheriffs use .357-SIG.
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Old August 1, 2014, 07:36 AM   #4
dssajj
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.40 S&W
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Old August 1, 2014, 07:42 AM   #5
lee n. field
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I knew a guy on the local PD in the early 2000s, who told me that officers carry personally owned weapons. (I'm guessing from an approved list.)

I've seen nothing since to make me doubt it. I see Glocks & 1911s, sometimes a S&W revolver.

Given that, I doubt there's any ammo standardization.
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Old August 1, 2014, 09:06 AM   #6
Madcap_Magician
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Local PD is .40 S&W Glock 22s and Glock 23s.

The Sheriff's Office is all personally owned guns, I haven't seen the entirety of the firearms policy, but they are gravitating toward bigger calibers. 9mm is still authorized, but most seem to be going to .40 S&W or .45 ACP.
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Old August 1, 2014, 11:41 AM   #7
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Most county police carry a Glock 22 here and I believe troopers carry a Glock 31.
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Old August 1, 2014, 12:19 PM   #8
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Around Atlanta I believe most law enforcement personnel use the .40S&W but not 100% sure. I think the Georgia State Patrol uses the .45GAP but could be mistaken. Also, due to GLOCKs location in suburban Atlanta most departments choose that brand, but occasionally you’ll see a S&W. I can’t remember the last time I saw a revolver or 1911 on a LEO although you’ll occasionally see revolvers on security guards.
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Old August 1, 2014, 04:29 PM   #9
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(I should know; I used to manufacture their ammo ).
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Old August 1, 2014, 04:39 PM   #10
jmr40
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City PD Glock 17 in 9mm

County PD
Sheriff Glock 22 in 40 S&W
Game Wardens

Court house security Anything they want

GA State Patrol Glock 38 in 45 GAP
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Old August 1, 2014, 05:27 PM   #11
Model12Win
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I'm not sure.

I believe .40 caliber Glocks, but I am too afraid to ask!
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Old August 1, 2014, 05:29 PM   #12
bedbugbilly
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Our guys usually carry "radar guns"!
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Old August 1, 2014, 05:41 PM   #13
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My local department allows a variety of makes, models, and calibers. It is officer choice so long as it is from the list. Officer provides own gun and is provided ammo by department. After X time on the force, officer is given some funds to offset the cost of the gun (used to be about the price of a Glock).
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Old August 1, 2014, 06:18 PM   #14
Ruger480
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Quote:
My local department allows a variety of makes, models, and calibers. It is officer choice so long as it is from the list. Officer provides own gun and is provided ammo by department. After X time on the force, officer is given some funds to offset the cost of the gun (used to be about the price of a Glock).
We have the exact same thing here.
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Old August 2, 2014, 12:44 AM   #15
Sight Unseen
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My sister is a Police Officer in our small town (Pop. 1,800) and carries a Sig Sauer P229 .40 cal. They switched to those about six years back from .40 cal Glock's, either 22's or 23's, I'm not sure. She also carries a Mossberg 590A1 and a fully automatic M16A1 in her squad car.

I find it interesting that her department switched from $500 Glocks to $1100 Sigs. Especially since the town and the force is so damn small. I also got to shoot her M16 a few times so that was pretty awesome.
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Old August 2, 2014, 04:18 AM   #16
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vermont troopers carry 9mm,massachusetts state police use springfield,MA based smith and wesson company .40 cal
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Old August 2, 2014, 07:03 AM   #17
Spats McGee
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I voted .40, because that's what the city PD carries. Arkansas State Police (also headquartered here, so arguably "local.") carry .45 acp. I don't have any idea what county sheriff's deputies carry.
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Old August 2, 2014, 08:34 AM   #18
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just prior to becoming retired my sgt. & I implimented prefered carry for our 55 man department.
We established standards such as minimum caliber, .380, maximum caliber .45 a.c.p. for autos, and .38 spl. / .357, for revovlers.
Max barrel legnth 6" and so forth.
We also set stadards for quality, no Rossi, F.I.E. etc.
The officer would purchase the weapon, demontate proficiency with it and could carry same on duty. We set standards for bug & of duty weapons & ammunition also.
Standard issue was the Smith M-66 4".
Many officers carry Kimber, Springfield & Glock. Many were content with the M66 issued revolver. Issue ammo for the M-66 was the .38 Spl. +P 125 grain
Reminton or Federal h.p.
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Old August 2, 2014, 10:15 AM   #19
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County Shriff's deputies, 40 S&W Glocks, neighboring county (I'm virtually on the county line), 40 S&W Sigs. "Big city" 25 miles away, 9MM Beretta 92.
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Old August 2, 2014, 10:28 AM   #20
Loronzo
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.40 S&W
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Old August 2, 2014, 11:48 AM   #21
Tombstonejim
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Cochise county Az sheriff standard issue 1911 .45ACP. Can carry other off of an approved list. I have seen a few revolvers. The past sheriff sometimes carried a Colt single action. New sheriff caries a 1911. They recently received a grant to buy 200 Glocks I think .40sw.
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Old August 2, 2014, 12:15 PM   #22
Model12Win
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I just wonder who the person is who chose ".44 magnum". They must be mistaken, I don't know of ANY actual polic departments in the country who still mainly use .357 revolvers, much less .44 magnum guns! Whoever chose that, if you aren't trolling, care to elaborate on this?
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Old August 2, 2014, 09:35 PM   #23
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Prior to 1994 our county PD officers purchased their own guns. Most anything was allowed of they could qualify with it. I know of at least 2 who carried 4" model 29's in 44 magnum. The BHP was pretty common among those not carrying S&W revolvers, mostly 66's, which more than 1/2 of the officers carried.

The city issued Smith 66's and officers carried a 38's loaded up to just under 357 specs. Things were PC even then.

In 1994 both the city and county started issuing guns. Glock 22's in the county. S&W 5906 in the city. The city has just retired those same guns purchased in 1994 and went to G17's.

Game wardens carried 686's as far back as I can remember until they changed to G-22's at about the same time.

Georgia state patrol has changed often. 686's replaced 66's right after they came out. They went to S&W 4506 for a while, then G-22 in the 90's. For a long time it seemed like every cop in Georgia was carrying G-22's. They changed to 45 GAP as soon as it came out. Not sure how well that is working out. I have friends in virtually every LE office locally, but my only GSP contacts are in South GA and I don't see them often to get their opinions.
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Old August 4, 2014, 01:18 AM   #24
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Mix of 40S&W and 45acp, mostly 40S&W. Mass and NH State Police carry M&P 45acp. Several agencies in my area, including my own, use to carry 357 Sig but opted out due to ammo price.
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Old August 4, 2014, 04:08 AM   #25
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40 S&W or 45 ACP.
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