Long-Slide Glock for Duty Use

Brownstone322 · April 23, 2018, 11:00 AM

So I was in Baltimore (Camden Yards) over the weekend, and I asked one of the cops on duty what piece he was carrying. I was surprised when he told me it was a Glock 24 (which I'll assume was standard issue, but I didn't press the issue). For those who may not know, that's a .40-cal with a 6-inch barrel/slide.

I know they usually carry openly and don't have to worry about concealment, but how common is it for cops to carry long-slide pistols? Where I live (Henrico County, Virginia), the department carries the Glock 22, which is wholly unremarkable.

Siggy-06 · April 23, 2018, 11:04 AM

I haven't seen any cops down here in south FL with long slide Glocks. Glock 19, 17, 23, 22, and 21s.

Brownstone322 · April 23, 2018, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Siggy-06

I haven't seen any cops down here in south FL with long slide Glocks. Glock 19, 17, 23, 22, and 21s.

Same. Exactly what I have come to expect.

Sharkbite · April 23, 2018, 11:35 AM

We had a cpl guys carry G35’s. Thats the “Tactical” 40s&w. Our issued gun was a G21, but that thing didnt fit a lot of us very well. A long list of authorized alternatives allowed us to find something we liked better.

The guys with the G35’s had a hard time finding holster’s (at that time).

cmdc · April 23, 2018, 01:55 PM

I have a Glock 24 and I love it. I got 9mm and .357 Sig conversion barrels for it. It is very accurate with all barrels, and with the 9mm barrel it recoils like a .22.

L-2 · April 23, 2018, 04:50 PM

Quote:

So I was in Baltimore (Camden Yards) over the weekend, and I asked one of the cops on duty what piece he was carrying. I was surprised when he told me it was a Glock 24 (which I'll assume was standard issue, but I didn't press the issue). For those who may not know, that's a .40-cal with a 6-inch barrel/slide.

I know they usually carry openly and don't have to worry about concealment, but how common is it for cops to carry long-slide pistols? Where I live (Henrico County, Virginia), the department carries the Glock 22, which is wholly unremarkable.

It isn't common for cops to carry long-slide pistols. The comfort-level of today's holsters, whether high, mid, or low-ride heights often precludes an officer from choosing a longer slide handgun or Glock. I've heard of the Glock 34 or 35 being either issued or authorized for use, however.

https://www.powerdms.com/public/BALT...ocuments/51016

Here's an excerpt from Baltimore PD's firearms policy which does allow the G22, G23, and G27 for an alternative personally-owned handgun for duty use, but doesn't state what the issued BPD handgun is.

Questions I'd have (rhetorical; no answers expected) and my suspicions are:
-Was this a Baltimore PD officer or some other agency?
-I suspect the officer could have misspoken or the OP misheard.
-More likely, the officer had a G22 in .40 and mistakenly said "G24".
-I'm unaware of any company making a duty holster made for a G24.
-All the BPD photos I saw show relatively-standard G22-sized holstered handguns.

jmr40 · April 23, 2018, 05:24 PM

I don't know of any dept. that issues the long slide guns, but SOME officers have some discretion as to what they can carry in SOME depts. I could see someone who worked on SWAT or one of the other special teams being allowed to carry something non-standard if they felt it would be an advantage in certain situations.

bamaranger · April 23, 2018, 06:27 PM

About a decade or so ago, AL G&F got rid of their .40 Beretta's , and started carrying Glock 35's, the .40 cal version of the G34 . They seem mostly universally despised by the 3-4 officers I was acquainted with. Biggest gripe, in the issue holsters, they do not ride well on a duty belt in a vehicle. I think the G35/34 family has 5 inch barrels.

I do not know who sold overhead the idea. Rank and file seems to have had no say. I do not know if their G35's have the lighter match trigger, which would seem an issue for a rank and file duty pistol. I do not know if senior personnel could still carry their older Berretta's. As I'm out of the loop these days, it may have changed again, but before I retired, it was the prac/tac glock in .40.

Brownstone322 · April 24, 2018, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by L-2

-More likely, the officer had a G22 in .40 and mistakenly said "G24".
-I'm unaware of any company making a duty holster made for a G24.
-All the BPD photos I saw show relatively-standard G22-sized holstered handguns.

These are good answers, and I am inclined to agree. The vibe I got was that he really wasn't a "gun guy," and perhaps he misspoke. (I, on the other hand, would never misidentify any of my guns; just sayin'.)

With all that in mind, I could see the grip on his Glock (and those of others), and it was definitely Gen3-style, which would in fact match a G24. Of course, that would match lots of pieces still in service use.

Thanks, L-2.

Jim Watson · April 24, 2018, 09:14 PM

Dave,
I have read that Practica Tactical Glock 34/35 sold to departments come with 5.5 connectors instead of 3.5 commercial guns. While they fit The Box about the same as a 1911, they are too long for modern duty.

See the new model 19x with regular butt and short slide. Kind of a Glock "Commander."

DubC-Hicks · April 25, 2018, 12:57 AM

Yup, Blue Label G34s and 35s come with the 5.5lb trigger. As to being too long for duty use, I don't think so. All but one of the PDs in our county are issued Springfield XD45 Tacticals. The 5" versions, and I don't feel they're too big. But I would trade that XD for a G34 any day.

**JohnKSa** · April 25, 2018, 12:58 AM

I have seen G34s and G35s in LE holsters, but only very rarely. Two that I can recall--both from the same department, a rural TX Constable.

I've never seen a 17L or 24 in an LE holster.

Jeff22 · April 26, 2018, 02:36 AM

I've been carrying a Glock 35 in a Safariland holster since the spring of 2012.

We used to have Chevy Impala squad cars, and the ergonomics of that car didn't work particularly well with a 5 inch gun.

Now we have Chevy Tahoe PPVs and a couple of the Ford Interceptor SUVs which are bigger vehicles with more interior room where you sit in more of an upright position, and the G35 works fine.

weblance · April 27, 2018, 11:26 PM

I was looking at used Glock Police Trade In pistols the other day, and remembered seeing this Kentucky State Police G35.

While it may not be common for a LEO to carry a long slide, apparently it does happen

https://www.recoilgunworks.com/glock...n-p-44481.html

bamaranger · April 28, 2018, 01:44 AM

The 5.5 connector on the LE G35's makes sense, but I was not sure that was the practice.

Austin HiPowers · April 28, 2018, 09:34 AM

From what I heard/read, the Baltimore PD is carrying a longslide indeed, but a FN-FNS-40LS (5 inch barrel)

http://www.guns.com/2013/09/03/balti...fns-40ls-duty/

The ArizonaDepartment of Public Safety began transitioning to the FNS-40LS also. Being a cop myself I prefer the barrel of a G22/17 though

Onward Allusion · April 28, 2018, 10:05 AM

Departments standard issue (for those who don't make the officer purchase their own) and usually an approved list. Personally, I haven't seen a Glock 17L or 24 on an officer. However, I wouldn't go 40S&W or 9mm in a long side for open carry.

Go big or go home - 357 Sig will get ya close to 800 ft lb from a 6".

T. O'Heir · April 28, 2018, 12:27 PM

What pistol is issued to any PD depends entirely on the contract they have. Baltimore PD issues a Glock 22. They issue sap gloves too, so even the littlest BPD copper can knock you out.
https://baltimorecitypolicehistory.c...d-weapons.html

April 23, 2018, 11:00 AM	#1
Brownstone322 Senior Member Join Date: June 18, 2017 Location: Virginia, USA Posts: 277	Long-Slide Glock for Duty Use So I was in Baltimore (Camden Yards) over the weekend, and I asked one of the cops on duty what piece he was carrying. I was surprised when he told me it was a Glock 24 (which I'll assume was standard issue, but I didn't press the issue). For those who may not know, that's a .40-cal with a 6-inch barrel/slide. I know they usually carry openly and don't have to worry about concealment, but how common is it for cops to carry long-slide pistols? Where I live (Henrico County, Virginia), the department carries the Glock 22, which is wholly unremarkable. __________________ "To me it doesn't matter if your hopes are dreams are shattered." -- Noel Gallagher

April 23, 2018, 11:04 AM	#2
Siggy-06 Senior Member Join Date: September 2, 2014 Location: Florida Posts: 1,148	I haven't seen any cops down here in south FL with long slide Glocks. Glock 19, 17, 23, 22, and 21s. __________________ Flicks just like a lighter, just a different kind of fire.

April 23, 2018, 05:24 PM	#7
jmr40 Senior Member Join Date: June 15, 2008 Location: Georgia Posts: 10,808	I don't know of any dept. that issues the long slide guns, but SOME officers have some discretion as to what they can carry in SOME depts. I could see someone who worked on SWAT or one of the other special teams being allowed to carry something non-standard if they felt it would be an advantage in certain situations. __________________ "If you're still doing things the same way you were doing them 10 years ago, you're doing it wrong" Winston Churchill

April 23, 2018, 06:27 PM	#8
bamaranger Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2009 Location: North Alabama Posts: 8,308	AL Game and Fish About a decade or so ago, AL G&F got rid of their .40 Beretta's , and started carrying Glock 35's, the .40 cal version of the G34 . They seem mostly universally despised by the 3-4 officers I was acquainted with. Biggest gripe, in the issue holsters, they do not ride well on a duty belt in a vehicle. I think the G35/34 family has 5 inch barrels. I do not know who sold overhead the idea. Rank and file seems to have had no say. I do not know if their G35's have the lighter match trigger, which would seem an issue for a rank and file duty pistol. I do not know if senior personnel could still carry their older Berretta's. As I'm out of the loop these days, it may have changed again, but before I retired, it was the prac/tac glock in .40.

April 25, 2018, 12:57 AM	#11
DubC-Hicks Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2009 Location: Backwoods, Northern MI Posts: 1,031	Yup, Blue Label G34s and 35s come with the 5.5lb trigger. As to being too long for duty use, I don't think so. All but one of the PDs in our county are issued Springfield XD45 Tacticals. The 5" versions, and I don't feel they're too big. But I would trade that XD for a G34 any day. __________________ ”Gun control is like trying to reduce drunk driving by making it tougher for sober people to own cars.” ~Unknown

April 23, 2018, 11:35 AM	#4
Sharkbite Senior Member Join Date: November 4, 2013 Location: Western slope of Colorado Posts: 3,679	We had a cpl guys carry G35’s. Thats the “Tactical” 40s&w. Our issued gun was a G21, but that thing didnt fit a lot of us very well. A long list of authorized alternatives allowed us to find something we liked better. The guys with the G35’s had a hard time finding holster’s (at that time).

April 23, 2018, 01:55 PM	#5
cmdc Senior Member Join Date: April 1, 2010 Location: Florida Gulf Coast Posts: 721	I have a Glock 24 and I love it. I got 9mm and .357 Sig conversion barrels for it. It is very accurate with all barrels, and with the 9mm barrel it recoils like a .22.

April 24, 2018, 09:14 PM	#10
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,541	Dave, I have read that Practica Tactical Glock 34/35 sold to departments come with 5.5 connectors instead of 3.5 commercial guns. While they fit The Box about the same as a 1911, they are too long for modern duty. See the new model 19x with regular butt and short slide. Kind of a Glock "Commander."

April 25, 2018, 12:58 AM	#12
JohnKSa Staff Join Date: February 12, 2001 Location: DFW Area Posts: 24,986	I have seen G34s and G35s in LE holsters, but only very rarely. Two that I can recall--both from the same department, a rural TX Constable. I've never seen a 17L or 24 in an LE holster. __________________ Do you know about the TEXAS State Rifle Association?

April 26, 2018, 02:36 AM	#13
Jeff22 Senior Member Join Date: September 15, 2004 Location: Madison, Wisconsin Posts: 715	I've been carrying a Glock 35 in a Safariland holster since the spring of 2012. We used to have Chevy Impala squad cars, and the ergonomics of that car didn't work particularly well with a 5 inch gun. Now we have Chevy Tahoe PPVs and a couple of the Ford Interceptor SUVs which are bigger vehicles with more interior room where you sit in more of an upright position, and the G35 works fine. __________________ You can only learn from experience if you pay attention!

April 27, 2018, 11:26 PM	#14
weblance Senior Member Join Date: October 3, 2012 Posts: 1,229	I was looking at used Glock Police Trade In pistols the other day, and remembered seeing this Kentucky State Police G35. While it may not be common for a LEO to carry a long slide, apparently it does happen https://www.recoilgunworks.com/glock...n-p-44481.html

April 28, 2018, 01:44 AM	#15
bamaranger Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2009 Location: North Alabama Posts: 8,308	carry v. holster type The 5.5 connector on the LE G35's makes sense, but I was not sure that was the practice.

April 28, 2018, 09:34 AM	#16
Austin HiPowers Senior Member Join Date: July 24, 2006 Location: Little South of Miami Posts: 147	From what I heard/read, the Baltimore PD is carrying a longslide indeed, but a FN-FNS-40LS (5 inch barrel) http://www.guns.com/2013/09/03/balti...fns-40ls-duty/ The ArizonaDepartment of Public Safety began transitioning to the FNS-40LS also. Being a cop myself I prefer the barrel of a G22/17 though

April 28, 2018, 10:05 AM	#17
Onward Allusion Senior Member Join Date: November 17, 2009 Location: Back in a Non-Free State Posts: 3,133	Departments standard issue (for those who don't make the officer purchase their own) and usually an approved list. Personally, I haven't seen a Glock 17L or 24 on an officer. However, I wouldn't go 40S&W or 9mm in a long side for open carry. Go big or go home - 357 Sig will get ya close to 800 ft lb from a 6". __________________ Simple as ABC . . . Always Be Carrying

April 28, 2018, 12:27 PM	#18
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	What pistol is issued to any PD depends entirely on the contract they have. Baltimore PD issues a Glock 22. They issue sap gloves too, so even the littlest BPD copper can knock you out. https://baltimorecitypolicehistory.c...d-weapons.html __________________ Spelling and grammar count!