Advice, Suggestions on 1st handgun for future cop
I am currently enrolled in my law enforcement classes and should get my degree in about a year and a half. What I was wondering is what would be your suggestions as far as handguns. I have been looking at Sigs and Glocks in 9mm and .40. I value everyones opinions and I hope to hear from you. I dont just want opinions on Sigs and Glocks either, tell me what you would use! Thanks a lot, I really appreciate your help. Also, if you have any suggestions about my career path, I would love to hear those also. Thanks again
Bryon Martin
EPFULBAK37@aol.com
Bryon Martin
EPFULBAK37@aol.com
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This will be "locked" at about ten posts or so; the general forum might be more suitable. However, I take an interest in what LEO's carry. A local sheriff carries a Glock .45 (double stack) as his duty weapon, even though it is his own property; usually they are issued S&W 4506's, and a Fish and Game fella swore by his Glock .40 double stack. Another local retired LEO said his duty 4006 was 100% reliable, but he has switched to a .45 for more stopping power.
If I was an LEO, I might carry the Glock .45 and a Para CCW 7.45 as a backup (very nice, slim piece). And a Makarov in the boot. And a slim 5-shot .22 Magnum revolver just in case.
But I'm from Philadelphia.[:D]
The only feeding issues I have heard about are usually attributed to "limp wrist".0 -
Most of the LEO's in my area carry either Glocks or Sigs in .40 caliber. Personally I like the Sigs better. They seem to be more accurate and a bit more reliable. But everyone has an opinion. Good luck in your future career.
Hope this helps.0 -
GLOCK. Carried one on the job for 10 years. Easy to shoot, easy to maintain. As reliable as they come. Good luck.
"We sleep safely in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence onto those who would do us harm." -George Orwell0 -
I've been selling firearms to police for two decades, watched the transition from revolvers to automatics for LEO duty sidearms first hand and have formed quite a few opinons on these subjects. I suggest that you pony up the extra bucks and go with the SIG-Sauer. The Glock is a good handgun and I won't bad mouth it here, but the SIG-Sauer is simply a better built pistol. Although I've sold plenty of Beretta 92/96 pistols to LEO's, I find them too large, not well balanced and I prefer the de-cocker over the traditional slide mounted safety of the 92/96, although you can purchase some Beretta's with the de-cocking feature- like my own Model 92G Elite Brigadier. My own choice for a duty sidearm (and I could never be a cop or a fire fighter because I'm a confirmed coward) would be a 9mm SIG-Sauer P226 and if I needed a bigger punch I'd move right up to the P220 in .45 ACP. Good luck Bryan.
Mark T. Christian0 -
I have been carrying a sidearm daily for nearly 28 years. My department issues .40 caliber SIG P226s and P229s, and I like the SIGs all right.
I don't like Glocks even a little bit, but they do work well.
If I could carry anything I want to, it would be a 1911 of brand undecided yet. Commander length, with alloy frame, in .45 caliber, with beveled mag well, extended safeties and night sights.
If you are not an accomplished pistolero, and want to be one, I suggest your first gun should be a QUALITY .22 LR pistol. You can afford to shoot it a lot and become a good shooter before graduating to the expense, noise, and recoil associated with the larger calibers.
I learned to shoot on a Ruger .22 Standard model, and what I learned from it helped me when I moved on to the .357 magnum, .45 ACP and other calibers.
SIG pistol armorer/FFL Dealer/Full time Peace Officer, Moderator of General Discussion Board on Gunbroker. Visit www.gunbroker.com, the best gun auction site on the Net! Email davidnunn@texoma.net0 -
You would be well advised to lisen to Mark and nunn. Thats all I have to say on this matter.
Greg0 -
I always thought Glocks were buttugly pistols, and they are. I had never fired one until my department issued us Glock model 22's, in .40 cal. I'd always been a S&W man, my first carry gun was a S&W model 27, 5 inch barrel, .357 mag. Our first issued gun was also a S&W in 9mm.
When we were issued the Glocks, I was dissapointed having to give up the S&W. That is, until I went through the 3 day transition training. My hands hurt at the end of it, with all the reloading practice, shooting, etc. I was totally amazed at what I could do with the Glock. My scores went up instantly. I was so impressed I sold my S&W .45 and bought a Glock model 27, 40 cal., and sold my wife's Walther .380 and bought her a Glock model 26, 9mm.
I've never fired a Sig, but know they are fine pistols with a long time reputation of high reliability and quality. A department close to us issues Sig's in .40 cal., and most of their officers wish they had Glocks.
Most police gunfights take place at distances of less than 20 feet. Close and fast! One section in particular impressed me with the Glocks speed. We started right up against the target, holstered. At the range officers command, we stiffarmed the target with our weak hand as we backed away, drawing and firing 5 shots. The 5th shot was in the target before the first piece of brass hit the ground. I could have never done that with the S&W, maybe because of it being double action only, but I know of no other pistol that cycles so fast. The Glocks 'recovery', that is the distance after you fire it that you have to release the trigger for the next shot is about 1/4 inch.
Another factor in considering the Glock is the speed of reloading magazines into the pistol. With the slide locked to the rear, when you slam another mag into the Glock it automatically closes, without touching the slide release. These reasons might not sound like much, but in a gunfight, that itty bitty piece of time just might be the difference in who survives.
I know this is just my opinion, like all the others, and you should take all of them for just that.
I do agree the idea of buying a good Ruger .22 and learning to shoot with it first.
"If they won't give us good terms, come back and we'll fight it out."
-- Gen. James Longstreet0 -
Thank you all so much for such a quick response. Im amazed at the plethora of information you guys have given me already. I think I will take everyone's advice. I am going to buy a Ruger .22 first of all. As far as a sidearm is concerned Im probably going to go w/ the Sig. But I still want to hear your suggestions, I appreciate all of your inputs. 0 -
I carry a SIG 226 or when I want a little more stopping power the SIG 220.
But you might look into the H&K USP "Expert" in 45.
They have a higher capacity magazine than the SIG 220 and are a very well built firearm.
I am looking to get one in the near future.
The gene pool needs chlorine.0 -
I suggest that you select the firearm that you can hit with, second consideration would be reliability. It was my experience that the recoil of a .45 ACP made it difficult to control. Like most LEO's, I switched from the revolver to the high capacity semi-auto in the 1980's.
I carried a Beretta 92 SBC 9mm then switched to the P-85 Ruger in 9mm.
Both were very reliable and I could hit with them. I consider shot placement more important than the so called "knockdown power". That is my opinion and I doubt that it will sway any of the .45 ACP fans. I am thankful that I can cite no personal examples of shooting someone or of getting shot as I went through 30 years in law enforcement without experiencing either.0 -
I was a rookie not too long ago myself, Congrats!!
All I have to say is any of these brands in a caliber larger than 9MM: Glock,Heckler & Koch USP series, or Sig Sauer Pro or P-series.
I'd like to say Beretta.....but I didn't care much for the heavy weight of their pistols. I'd also like to say Springfield Armory XD too, but they need more time in service...just my opinion[:)]
Good Luck!!........[:)]
gunner84790 -
Here's my take...
The Glock is simpler to use but the Sig is a better built firearm. I carried a Sig for 10 years and wish the department would change its policy back to "officers choice". They said at the first of the year that Glocks were mandatory because they wanted every one to carry the same gun in case of a fire fight, that way if one of us was shot someone else could use either our gun or our magazines. (interesting reason)
I prefer the Sig P226 in 9mm due to what I believe is lower recoil than the .40 S&W and that gives me better target acqusition for follow up shot and get me back on target quicker.
I use a Glock model 17 on duty now and it works just fine (even though I still try to decock sometimes because I still shoot my Sig alot) For a beginner the Glock may be better because it has fewer things to do/remember.
It all boils down to what you are comfortable with and what shoots the best for you.
You're a statistic whether you want to be or not.0 -
quote:Originally posted by dano
Beretta that noticably heavier than the others you mentioned?
Hmmm.......[;)]
Yeah, to me and alot of other people who carry our sidearms on duty..
I've carried a Beretta 92FS(about 34 oz.)almost everyday for six years......It was a relief when we switched to Glocks.
A Glock 22 weighs about 24 oz., while a Hk USP40 weighs about 27 oz.
It's a big difference to me....Hmmm...[;)]
gunner84790 -
my duty gun is the sig p226 in .40sw very happy with it
it is good that we meet in the struggle of life or death.. .....it shall be life!0
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