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Old October 24, 2012, 09:36 AM   #1
StainlessSteel215
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If you are/were a cop, what would be your duty pistol preference?

I think its pretty interesting (as a fairly new shooter) to see the progression of duty pistols over the last 40 years or so. So, all things considered which of the guns below would you choose and why? Obviously this covers ALL trigger actions which all have their respective advantages/disadvantages.

-Colt/Springfield 1911
-Smith & Wesson revolver model 14 or 15 in .38 spl
-Beretta 92 series
-HK USP45 or 9mm
-Sig P220/P229
-Glock 17, 19, 21, 22, 23, 35 (9mm, .40, or .45)
-Springfield XD9 or XD40

Im sure I missed a few but these seem to be the most popular agency-issued duty guns over the last 40 or so years. I would personally choose the Glock23 ALL THINGS CONSIDERED for its striker fired trigger, accuracy, dependability, capacity and the compromise in power between 9mm and .45 by choosing the .40 cartridge

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Old October 24, 2012, 09:46 AM   #2
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I would carry my cz85c. Its what I shoot the best and it's never given me any problem.
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Old October 24, 2012, 09:56 AM   #3
StainlessSteel215
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Has CZ ever made its way into police agencies or ever issued as duty guns? I honestly dont know...

The purpose I created this is to force you to choose a gun from that list of popular duty guns....and explain why would you choose that gun.
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Old October 24, 2012, 09:57 AM   #4
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Glock 22 or 23, because I carry a G23 daily and am very accustomed to it. If I didn't have to worry about concealing it then the G22 makes more sense.
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Old October 24, 2012, 10:24 AM   #5
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XDM 9mm.
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Old October 24, 2012, 10:29 AM   #6
James K
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Unless I work for a very small police department with very relaxed regs, the answer is simple: I carry what the department issues and shut up about it.

I might be allowed some choice for an off duty gun, though I may have to use an approved caliber and ammunition.

Jim
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Old October 24, 2012, 11:15 AM   #7
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Unless I work for a very small police department with very relaxed regs, the answer is simple: I carry what the department issues and shut up about it.
Correct, and sadly, that gun is likely chosen by the lawyers and accountants.
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Old October 24, 2012, 11:55 AM   #8
StainlessSteel215
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So you guys dont have a personal preference (hypothetically) to any of those wonderful pistols that have been made available to various officers over the years?
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Old October 24, 2012, 12:04 PM   #9
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Beretta 96....but I've carried a 92FS for twenty years.
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Old October 24, 2012, 12:12 PM   #10
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Your question is flawed. Personal preference has no say when someone is issued a weapon. I like AKs for some reason. I doubt if I was in the military they'd find me one, they wouldn't even care if I did. I have small hands are they gonna give me a 1911 with slimgrips as a sidearm because thats what a prefer to shoot? No.

After you get hired on a PD the LAST thing you wanna do is bitch about what weapon you were issued... suck it up smile and carry on.

Also using a standardized weapon on a PD even if its not a gun you prefer has several benefits that win out. You are immediately familiar with another officers gun if the situation requires you to use it. If yours becomes damaged or inoperable. you have the ability to share ammunition if needed, etc. Some officers I know carry a 23 as their main weapon the mag in the gun is a standard 23 mag while the ones on their belt are 22 mags for this reason. They gain more ammo per mag if the need to reload and they can be used in other officers G22s.

If your asking our personal opinions about these common duty weapons that would be different you see?
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Old October 24, 2012, 12:19 PM   #11
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I've been fortunate to work for some well-funded agencies/departments so the sidearms that I've been issued were always high-quality names-

-From the mid- to late-'80s (while I was employed with a large midwestern Sheriff's Department) it was a S&W 5906 in 9mm

-In the early '90s (while I was employed by another LE agency) it was a Glock 17 in 9mm

-From the mid-90s 'til recent times (while I was employed with a large midwestern PD) it was a Sig P226 in 9mm, then in .40S&W

All of them were great pistols and I would happily bet my life upon any of them again.
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Old October 24, 2012, 12:20 PM   #12
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I love the 92FS but if I was a cop I think I would move to an M&P in .40 sw. You still get a pretty high round count and I think as a cop there are advantages to having the extra punch of the .40 over the 9mm.
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Old October 24, 2012, 01:02 PM   #13
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I work for a very small dept and provide my own weapons. I can carry pretty much any quality handgun of appropriate caliber. This spring I started carrying a FNP45 Tactical, prior to that I carried a 1911. Still carry a 1911 off duty.
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Old October 24, 2012, 01:19 PM   #14
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I would like a Beretta 92A1 or a S&W M&P40.
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Old October 24, 2012, 01:22 PM   #15
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I was a cop for 20 years. My prefered duty weapon (and the one I carried)was my 4 inch S&W Model 28 in 357.

I used 150 gr cast LSWC (Lyman mold 358377) pushed by 14.5 grns of 2400.

Worked great and accurate.

Too old to be a cop now but if I was to do it again I'd want the same service revolver.

REAL COPS CARRY REVOLVERS

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Old October 24, 2012, 01:28 PM   #16
StainlessSteel215
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Great feedback guys, thanks to the officers past and present for sharing their experiences and preferences with duty guns!

Very cool Kraig - there really is a special something about a polished stainless 6 shooter! Looking into one myself as we speak (Ruger)
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Old October 24, 2012, 01:28 PM   #17
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Glock 17. I am a much better shot with 9mm than I am with .40 or .45. I can double tap with both rounds hitting within mm of each other with 9mm.
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Old October 24, 2012, 01:31 PM   #18
Venom1956
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Quote:
Very cool Kraig - there really is a special something about a polished stainless 6 shooter! Looking into one myself as we speak (Ruger)
The model 28 is matte blued... totally opposite of polished stainless!
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Old October 24, 2012, 01:38 PM   #19
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Quote:
Very cool Kraig - there really is a special something about a polished stainless 6 shooter! Looking into one myself as we speak (Ruger)

The model 28 is matte blued... totally opposite of polished stainless!
Yeah its matte blue, just looks polished because I'm not very good at taking pictures.
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Old October 24, 2012, 03:20 PM   #20
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Glock, full size, any caliber. My current duty is a G22 Gen4.
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Old October 24, 2012, 03:25 PM   #21
StainlessSteel215
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Wow at a quick glance it totally looked stainless....in reality it was just the angle/lighting....oops!

Obviously as you can tell by my handle on here I am completely obsessed with stainless finishes, particularly matte and polished depending on the gun

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Old October 24, 2012, 03:30 PM   #22
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Currently have the option of dept owned Glock 22, or carry what I supply that is approved. I carry a Colt 1911.
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Old October 24, 2012, 03:35 PM   #23
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M&P357, Glock 31, or SIG P-226 .357sig
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Old October 24, 2012, 03:47 PM   #24
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If.... Probably an HK P30, maybe a HK45.

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Old October 24, 2012, 03:56 PM   #25
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I have been issued three guns in my career.

Sig p229 in 40sw
Glock 23 gen3
Glock 22 gen4

I have never been allowed to carry anything else on duty other than the issued sidearm.

The 229 worked fine as long as it was wet with lube.

The G23 was the worst. Horrible size for uniformed patrol. It was chosen by pencil pushers to appease a dept wide policy of one gun for everyone and the ones doing the choosing were plain clothes admin types.

The g22 gen4 is fine but it does throw brass every so often at your head even with the "updated" parts

If I could choose for myself it would be a Beretta 92 series or fully tested 1911.
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